A VIETNAM War veteran from America is appealing to find his pen pal from Gravesend after more than 40 years apart.

Harvey Whitman was a 21-year-old US army soldier stationed in South Vietnam when he started receiving letters from Maureen Lynam in 1969.

It was part of a letter writing initiative set up by Ms Lyman’s college where pupils wrote to soldiers in the war.

But the pair lost touch in 1970 when he returned to the US, and 42 years later, he wants to get back in touch.

Mr Whitman, now 63, said: “I never had the opportunity to meet Ms Lynam in person, but I knew her mind, wit, charm and heart very well.

“All I know is that she worked at Gravesend hospital and lived in St. Dunstan's Drive, Gravesend.”

The IT executive says Ms Lyman’s letters meant a lot to him when he was serving in the army.

He said: “Maureen was always sweet and kind towards me when I was surrounded by hostile forces on a day in and day out basis.

“I remember looking forward to receiving her letters and always smiling as I read them.

“She was a breath of fresh air- sweet, considerate, funny and to the point.

“She had perfect penmanship but a bad habit of not posting a date onto her letters.”

The pair developed a fast friendship and despite being 7,000 miles apart, wrote to each other regularly.

Mr Whitman said: “We wrote about seeing one another, movies, American baseball and rounders. “When she learned I was a soccer player she was very happy and called me a footballer.

“She was interested in American girls, what they wore and their hair styles.

“When I sent her a photo she remarked that I was smashing.”

Mr Whitman says Ms Lyman started saving money for a trip to the US to meet him after he returned from Vietnam.

But the trip never happened.

Mr Whitman said: “I literally fell off the face on the earth when I returned home to St. Louis in 1970.

“I enrolled in college, met and started dating a local St. Louis girl, and got married.

“But things are different now.”

Several years ago, Mr Whitman was sorting his mother’s house out after she died and came across a shoebox filled with letters.

He said: “As I was going through my mother's box of letters it was filed with every letter I ever wrote to her while as in Vietnam.

“In that same box I found all the letters from Maureen.

“I re-read all of Maureen's letters that she sent to me.

“I have so much to talk to her about.”

He added: “I want Maureen to know that I never stopped thinking about her and I pray that she is in good health, happy and has led a wonderful life.

“I want to find her and apologise for leaving her without a word.”

Do you know Maureen Lyman? Call the newsroom on 01689 885702.