Finding Aid for the Bruce M. Pilch Vietnam War correspondence collection 2017.252.w.r
Rob Strauss
Center for American War Letters Archives
08/08/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Bruce M. Pilch Vietnam War correspondence
Creator:
Pilch, Bruce M.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.252.w.r
Physical Description:
1 Linear feet
(14 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1966 July 6 - 1968 October 29
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence written by Corporal Bruce M. Pilch, United States Marince Corps, to his family during
the Vietnam War. Pilch was with the 81mm Mortar Platoon in Khe Sanh during the Battle of Khe Sanh.
Physical Location: Leatherby Libraries, Special Collections, CAWL Archives
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Vietnam 5
Container: 1-7
Container: 1-7
Container: Vietnam 6
Container: 1-4
Container: 8-11
Container: Oversize 1
Container: 18
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Bruce M. Pilch
This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
- Series 1, Correspondence from Bruce M. Pilch, Pre-Vietnam
- Series 2, Correspondence from Bruce M. Pilch, Vietnam
- Series 3, Ephemera
Corporal Bruce M. Pilch served with the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 81mm Mortar Platoon in Vietnam. According to
the letters, Pilch was a Marine corporal but the donor letter and an article in the June 12, 1969 edition of Van Nuys News
about Pilch's return home refer to Pilch as a sergeant. The Van Nuys News article also says Pilch was a graduate of Birmingham
High School in Los Angeles and that he also attended Pierce College.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Bruce M. Pilch Vietnam War correspondence (2017.252.w.r), Center for American War
Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains 202 pieces of correspondence written by Cpl. Bruce M. Pilch, USMC to his family during the Vietnam
War. Pilch was assigned to the 81mm Mortar Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines. He was in Khe Sanh during the Battle of
Khe Sanh. He also was stationed in Phu Bai and Con Thien. The letters discuss events in Vietnam and also refer to news, entertainment,
and sports stories in the United States.
Pilch is the donor and the author of the collection.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
Battle of Khe Sanh (2nd) (Vietnam : 1968)
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
California -- Camp Pendleton
North Carolina -- Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Supply Center -- Barstow, CA
box Vietnam 5, folder 1-4, folder 1-4
Series 1, Correspondence from Bruce M. Pilch, Pre-Vietnam 1966 July - 1967 September
Physical Description: .32 Linear Feet(4 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence that CPL Bruce M. Pilch wrote to his family in Van Nuys, California while in basic training
and Infantry Training Regiment (ITR). Pilch ended training with the rank of Lance corporal. Pilch wrote the pre-Vietnam letters
from Camp Pendleton in Southern California, Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and from the Marine Corps base in Barstow, California.
There is also one picture included with a card on November 20, 1966.
Pilch writes about life at the various bases. He also discusses entertainers and musicians, including Frank Sinatra and Bill
Cosby. Pilch also writes about the Los Angeles Dodgers in several letters.
Letters of interest include one from December 19th, 1966 in which he writes about a Marine being taken away in a straightjacket
and another Marine who was threatening to kill a Corporal. In a letter on November 11, 1966, Pilch mentions the election
of Ronald Reagan as California governor.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
California -- Camp Pendleton
North Carolina -- Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Supply Center -- Barstow, CA
box Vietnam 5, folder 5-7, folder 5-7, box Vietnam 6, folder 1-3, folder 8-10
Series 2, Correspondence from Bruch M. Pilch, Vietnam 1967 November - 1968 November
Physical Description: .66 Linear Feet(8 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence that CPL Bruce M. Pilch wrote to his family in Van Nuys, California while serving in Vietnam.
Pilch was with the 81mm Mortar Platoon in Khe Sanh during the Battle of Khe Sanh. Pilch also writes letters from Phu Bai,
Con Thien, and the USS Princeton. The letters discuss activities in Vietnam, military operations, and R & R procedures and
locations, including China Beach. Pilch also writes frequently about events at home, including news events and entertainment
events. He also writes often about the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Letters of interest include a letter from November 17, 1967 in which Pilch writes about Major General Bruno Hocmuth being
killed. A December 25, 1967 letter discusses President Johnson's trip to Saigon.
In a letter on February 17th, 1968, Pilch reveals he is in Khe Sanh and discusses "Operation Scotland." A February 9, 1968
letter also refers to "Operation Scotland." In an April 1st, 1968 letter, Pilch writes about President Lyndon Johnson's decision
to not run for reelection and also writes about "Operation Pegasus."
In a May 24, 1968 letter, Pilch writes about the 26th Marines receiving a President Unit Citation for Khe Sanh. A few letters
in June 1968 refer to Bobby Kennedy's assassination. An October 22, 1968 letter mentions memorial services for Marines who
got killed at LZ Mango and the DMZ.
A few letters also mention the book "I Protest!" by David Douglas Duncan about Khe Sanh.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Battle of Khe Sanh (2nd) (Vietnam : 1968)
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
box Vietnam 6, folder 4, folder 11, box Oversize 1, folder 18
Series 3, Ephemera 1966 - 1968 February
Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.
Items in this series include a letter to CPL Pilch's parents announcing his arrival at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San
Diego, a Marine Corps recruiting service business card, and a birthday message that Pilch wrote to his father on a large piece
of cardboard. The card is dated February 28, 1968 and reads "Happy Birthday-Dad from Khe Sanh-Vietnam".
The donor says he made the message using cardboard from the "outer sleeve of a case of C-Rations." He also writes "My Dad
told me that he was shocked when the mailman knocked on his door to deliver it."