July 9, 1971: Miss Your Lover, as Your Lover Misses You

In this letter from July 9, 1971, Dick writes from Vietnam with tenderness, apology, and longing. He’s on alert again, soaking up sun on the roof, trying to pass the time—but what’s really on his mind is Sarah.

He congratulates her on her promotion (belatedly, with an honest apology), and dreams of their reunion—both emotional and physical. He tells her he can’t define the word love, but knows that what he feels for her is real and unshakeable. He misses her with an ache that runs through every sentence.

This letter is full of romantic devotion, playful teasing, and a raw, vulnerable need to be seen, loved, and remembered. Their separation may stretch on, but Dick is holding fast to the promise that it will end—and when it does, they’ll make up for lost time in every way.