Subject: My father - Paul David Gunter Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 16:55:36 -0700 From: Jack and Kelli To: bennington@uss-bennington.org Dear Sirs- My father was a medic during Vietnam and was aboard the USS Bennington from, I believe, 1968-1969. The fact that I don't know for certain embarrasses me greatly and is part of the reason that I'm contacting you. My dad only occassionally shared information about his years at war, and usually to an unattentive teenage girl who could not understand it. My father died a year and a half ago and as I've slowly been going through his memorabilia, I realize how much I don't know about this part of him. I know he had a tattoo on his arm that said "Doc." I know that he wrote letters to strangers to express his sympathy when young men from Kansas (our home state) died. I know that he dressed up as Santa Claus at Christmas and gave gifts to Vietnamese children. I know he had his face smeared in peanut butter that covered some fat man's stomach when he crossed the equator. And I know he had to hide virtually every indication that he was a medic in order to survive long enough to help others. I'm a very lucky person, I know, to have had the opportunity to know my dad when so many other kids could not know theirs. I just wish I knew more. So, though I'm not certain what kind of help you can provide me, I am curious as to whether or not any of the men listed as crew members from 1968-1969 provided you with any way to contact them. I'm not sure what kinds of questions to even ask, but I think I'd like the opportunity if you could help me. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Kelli Ziegler (Gunter)