I’d lost something indefinable, aside from my illegally promoted scout sergeant. I’d lost something like a loyal friend, but it was deeper than that. I moved through the jungle, low and almost on full automatic. How had the young black man eaten his way into my very being? Had it been the innocent acceptance of any plan I came up with, as long as it had an interesting name? Had it been his willingness to do any job assigned without complaint or comment?
I went down at the sound of gunfire just ahead, and to my right. Over toward the river. But I had seen nothing, not even the flaring brightness of tracer fire or muzzle flashes. I waited a full five minutes, with Fusner and Nguyen at my sides, hunkered down flat, the same way I was. We got up, almost as if there had been some signal, but there’d been none.
“What’s the name of the plane, again?” he asked. “The captain didn’t ask the name of the plan.” Did you mean to say “What’s the name of the plan, again?”
Thanks for the help Mark. I am on it…
Semper fi,
Jim
I feel for you at the loss of your friend Zippo. It is not easy to lose Brothers. They mean so much to you, and still do. Hard.
Yes, that was a tough one and tougher than I thought it would be to write!
Semper fi,
jim
James, the last segment I’ve seen is the Twentieth Night Second Part. Have you gotten any further or have I missed them.
Cary Vice
DUSTOFF Medic 70-71
Central Highlands
The ground prospective is new and extremely interesting to me, bringing memories of bad missions, hoist missions and tears.
Cary, If you go this page and following the prompt at the bottom to “Next Chapter”
you will catch up to latest.
Twentieth Day Second Part
Semper Fi
Jim
Hey Lt. Reading the comments accompanying 24 Night 2nd part, I picked up on your reply to Jack Samson snow flake bit. Snowflake my ass!!! I agree fully with Jack. Have been trying to come up with something that satisfies my desire to describe Trump. To quote you “Trump is something none of us have ever met, known or ever will know.” And the man who returned the books really “Gave up reality for mythology”. Another turn of a phrase I must thank for Lt. Am aware that some will not like slipping over onto more modern references so will let it go at that and will say no more about it here. Thanks again Lt. and as always; Take care..
Thanks Charles. Some come to believe that I am more than I am and also that I must hold certain political beliefs to come from where I have been.
That they don’t understand is part of the burden of knowing when they do not.
Thanks for the depth of your comment and the compliment within it.
Semper fi,
Jim
16 friends engraved on that wall and many more passed from agent orange. It is a place that you can just sit and think of lost friends. I found it healing in its own way. Just the fact they this country finally acknowledged a generations sacrafice helps us heal.
Waiting for the next Chapter, and enjoying another Christmas at home.
Thanks for this so meaningful comment Gordon…
Semper fi,
Jim
Interesting. Seems I recall you macking a comment about having the Third Ten days available in publication by Christmas. Good thing is you didn’t say what year! God Bless you. I’m sure the end of this is not easy to put on paper. So, in the meantime, keep throwing up the Cat and Island in the Sand. Search daily for all you have to offer. Take a break…enjoy your time with family and friends through the Holidays. Myself as well as many others will wait patiently for the time to come for you to March on.
Semper Fi
I won’t make it by Christmas or even New Years. I apologize and I thank you for the granting of the time…
And the compliments….
Semper fi,
Jim
I do not care how long we have to wait for the next chapter —- it is worth the wait!! No apologies needed. Never read anything so searing and memorable. Please enjoy the holidays and send the next Chapter in 2019.
Thank you for the support and kind words, David.
More coming soon.
Semper fi,
Jim
Have been with you on this journey for over 2 years. Was going to chide you over the reduced pace of writing but after reflection that would be wrong. Take your time. As you approach the end I assume it is getting very difficult. A friend of mine join ed the Marines in ’67 and somehow avoided Nam. My God bless you and grant you the peace you deserve.
Thanks Fred, much appreciate your support. So many men and women like you have come forth to
write comments on here (your are # 17,261! Wow. And so many supporting with the kind of genuine writing you are doing here…
Semper fi,
Jim
LT Jim, I can see you broke thru a couple of weeks ago. You got your feelings about the fight and the fight itself real to all of us once again. i miss Zippo if only thru the story you are telling. Await the fate of the next Company CO descending into the corner of this hell with the next telling. Thank you Sir. Poppa J
Thanks Poppa. I am writing on past the holidays now.
Semper fi,
Jim
james hope this finds you in good health. Judie is doing great and I have been traveling with my son all through the north east. I hate I didn’t come up to Wi during the summer but never got the opportunity. I’m like everyone else just sitting around waiting for you to finish another chapter. I’m still hoping you”ll change your mind an take a trip back to Vietnam. Have you read Le Ly Hayslips book? Its a great read if one wants to understand the common farmer we were fighting against. your friend OMER SEMPER FI
You were and remain such a class act Omer. Love reading your comments and much enjoy your support.
Need it too!
Semper fi,
Jim
Just a quick note checking on you. Wanted to make sure you got through this month ok. Between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving I would hope the days and nights were kind to you. I imagine these last few chapters are hard to dredge up without tremendous cost, but know there are many of us who are right beside you as relive the journey. We are your stateside “reinforced company”, and we are by your side.
Thanks Rob, I am doing fine once again. Zippo got me down a bit, but I’m back!
Thanks for caring and writing about that fact.
Semper fi,
Jim
James,
I just read Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden regarding the Tet Offensive and the battle to retake Hue. The crux of the story is that the upper brass had so little regard for the NVA that they sent our men into impossible situations and any failures were blamed on incompetence. Sounds just like what you experienced. Did they ever realize how wrong they were and rectify the situation or did it run like this ’til the war ended?
Great writing! I check back constantly to read the additional comments and check for new chapters!
Don
Thanks for the analysis Don. I have become convinced over time that the rear area warriors never
had much of any understanding for what was going on in combat. And they did not want to go or know.
Semper fi,
Jim
James lonyg btime have problem wibth mny btnypewribter hope u cany make senyce of bthis jude ok have a greabt Chrisbtmas.Omer
Thanks for the well wishing and sorry about your typewriter!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Slow Hand Salute to you, Sir!! Thanking you for your Service on this Veterans Day, Brother, and for being my Friend and a very Special Part of my life through your writings… others may not notice but it is my distinct Honor to do so!! The paths we have followed have been long, arduous and sometimes impossible but we never failed to answer the call when and wherever else we could contribute. That is so worth holding dear and heaping praise upon!! Lead on, LT… we’ve got your six and whatever we can contribute to your future success. Have a great evening!! Semper Fi, my Friend!!
Thanks so much Herb, and I am putting your comment on my FB site because it means to much to me.
Semper fi,
Jim
Recently I saw a speech given by Hamilton Gregory about McNamara’s Project 100,000. When I first saw it in your story I think part of me just reflexively turned away..if that makes sense. It was just so heinous I sort of sped past it. But listening to this presentation was just beyond heartbreaking. They didn’t want to be drafting and sending into combat too many middle class kids because it would be a political disaster for LBJ……so they sent these poor kids who never had a chance. Is there much of a difference between sending low IQ boys to near certain death in Vietnam and doing what Hitler’s Germany did to them?
Read this coming chapter, which helps give a graphic portrayal of what it was like to experience such
limited capability kids and the effect on them too. Thanks for this very timely post.
Much of what I write about combat is simply
not that believable except for other combat vets of similar experience.
Semper fi,
Jim
This brings back good and bad memories but still can’t wait for the next installment.
You make me wonder how we ever came home. Dont know if we were the lucky ones or not
Semper Fi until next time
Thanks for the interesting comment Leo. And the compliment buried inside it.
Semper fi,
Jim
Outstanding writing. I ve been reading a lot of books on Vietnam, lately , and your writing style is the best . Next up “ Rumor of War “ Joseph Caputo
Thanks George. Caputo’s Rumor is great…but don’t expect the reality of combat as you just read.
Semper fi,
Jim
James I tried a few times to stop reading this and go in the other room to watch a nice comedy video. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know what I’ll do if you write a book about coming home. I didn’t have an easy time with that, just got angrier and angrier inside until I started letting it out.
Yes, thank you and thanks. The book on coming home might be problematic if I write it in the same straight no bullshit way I have written the combat books.
Semper fi,
Jim
Problematic, straight and no bullshit would be great. Please write it…. pretty please, respectfully speaking…. “Coming Home” would be a great title. It, and 30 days should be mandatory reading in all military academies. AND high schools, instead of the frikkin garbage, out of date and useless garbage the dept. of DIS educationne offers up as mandatory reading to get “certified” as a DIPlomarized citizen drone…. peace…
I am going to write Coming Home just as soon as this book is done.
Thanks for the encouragement.
semper fi,
Jim
The mud……the stinking mud..what was it about that mud
There was nothing like that mud. I have never smelled anything like it since.
And I am glad. Once, I was driving through a neighborhood in Santa Ana, CA in a
dense neighborhood. I had to stop the car when the smell of nuc nuoc mam overcame me
through the open windows of the car. It was a Vietnamese neighborhood. Talk about memories.
Semper fi,
Jim
I had to go and burn a smoke before I could sit down and write this. LT I said it before a while back. As Recon your war was not my war. I spent all my time on the hill tops, but damn your writing makes me feel it all. I can feel the leeches, I can smell the burning jungle, I can feel the mud and slime of the jungle. Your writing makes all possible. BZ LT BZ.
By the way I think you have honored Zippo far more than you think. Through you he will become one of my names on that wall. Semper Fi Sir well done.
Thanks Terry. Had to go down and burn a smoke. I have had that thought a lot lately but realize I can’t smoke anymore
and couldn’t do it well back then! Thanks for the compliment and support you provide by writing on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another good read. Looking forward to completion so I can read all three books as a single entity without the pauses. I will then pass them on to my son and grandson who “get me”.
SGT VMFA 115 Chu Lai 5/68 to 6/69
I am working away at it. I will be writing the book about coming home after this volume is done.
I wonder if that will find a good audience.
Semper fi,
Jim
It will find the RIGHT audience….. peace…
Maybe your right James, and I kind of think you know about such things. Thanks for your vote of confidence
and care…
Semper fi,
Jim
I read this in amazement. Thank you and everyone who was there! And welcome home!
Really Appreciate your support, Ralph.
Let your friends know the first two books are available in paperback (Autographed)
And also digital.
First and Second Ten Days, 30 Days has September
Semper fi,
Jim
Certainly a good thing that Gunny was wrong on one thing, the story is being told. Trying to calm myself so I can comment coherently Lt., Sir. Thank you for telling this gut wrenching story, different from mine, and the same as mine. Salute to all the “Zippos” out there, and so many others! Hope the Kilo six is smart enough to at least hear your plan, Return to Sender, outstanding. By far the thing I’m most proud of, to have served in combat with the grunts of 1/4,Quang Tri Province.
Semper Fi.
One of us, Randall, truly ‘one of the few,’ and I share your pride and honor to have been there, to have done your
damndest under totally screwed up conditions, and then to have come home to try to adjust to what this place really is…and isn’t.
Semper fi, and thanks for the compliment of your writing about your own service on here…
Jim
Captivating.
Thanks for the great one word compliment Bob…
Much appreciate…
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow, oh wow LT. Again you have reached down into the darkness of my soul and twisted it just a little bit more. I didn’t have a Zippo, but I had a Zero, thusly named by the Radio Chief at our first unit, 2/2. His name is carved on a wall down in J-Ville, along with a lot of others from our platoon, 1/8 Comm. And a couple of them were promoted after they were KIA, 10/23/83. Semper Fi Sir.
Now that’s a statement that stopped me in my tracks. Reached down into the darkness of my soul and twisted just a little bit more!!!
Wow. Thank you so much for that accolade…
Semper fi,
Jim
Yup on this paragraph: “If he didn’t think I had a plan then why would he risk embarrassing in front of Jurgens and Sugar Daddy me by asking. I let the thought go.”. … ‘me’ is misplaced.
Great work, I really enjoying this.
Thank you, Scott
Took a while, Found it and corrected
Semper fi,
Jim
In the paragraph “you boys going to play billiards or what” Fireside asked in “Is”
Voice. Should be “His”.
Great as always. Can’t wait until next chapter.
Thank you Tim,
Found it and corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
I just finished latest chapter- AWESOME 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Lt.
KEEP BRINGING IT 👍👍👍
Thanks Chris, for supporting me like this and that great compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
James, the link to “Down in the Valley” at the bottom left of this page https://jamesstrauss.com/the-twenty-fourth-night-second-part-30-day-has-september/#comment-25139
Thank you, Tom.
We had that link going to Create Space (our printer) and they have gobbled up by Amazon
Here is a better link and I changed it.
Down In The Valley
Semper fi,
Jim
ever so good, again
what is this? “low and almost on full automatic.” I wasn’t aware of an almost full, is that the 3 round burst deal?
I am checking to fix this Tom. Of course there is no ‘almost full automatic.’
Semper fi,
Jim
According to the anti gun crowd theres a full semi automatic lol! Another great read sir
Amazing what can be done with words, Brian.
Thank you for your support
Semper Fi,
Jim
Jim, I am honored that you allowed us to go along on this journey. I can smell it, taste it, a feel it through your writing. Been reading chapters from the beginning. I was in the 101st in ’71 11B. I am always blown away by the impossibility of your situation and what you are dealing with. Thank You.
You are most welcome Mike. It is my pleasure now to have people like you aboard for this special journey. I don’t know how it came to be this but here it is, and now you are part of it by coming on here
to make that so. Thank you for not making me do this all alone…
Semper fi,
jim
May this be your tribute to Zippo – that he is remembered…and eulogized to an readership that gets it.
Some short edit suggestions follow:
The Intruder came in again, like a loud shark, diving in toward a reef filled with smaller hiding prey. The A-6 released a load of 250-pound high explosive bombs, and the jungle near the bottom of the glacis where Kilo was going to make its attempt to scale down, lit up in the wet night. The bombs were not high explosive. They were napalm.
Initially the bombs are described as 250lb HE then later as napalm.
The company had to establish a perimeter, but first, it had to be assembled in communication to affect that end.
Maybe “effect” rather than “affect.”
“You boys going to play some billiards down there, or what?” Fireside asked in is sing song voice.
Maybe “his” instead of “is”
“You boys going to play some billiards down there, or what?” Fireside asked in his sing song voice.
If he didn’t think I had a plan then why would he risk embarrassing in front of Jurgens and Sugar Daddy me by asking.
Move “me”
If he didn’t think I had a plan then why would he risk embarrassing me in front of Jurgens and Sugar Daddy by asking.
“Man oh man, Junior,” Sugar Daddy exclaimed. “Where oh where to you get that plan material from?
Maybe change “to” to “do”
“Man oh man, Junior,” Sugar Daddy exclaimed. “Where oh where do you get that plan material from?
I love Sugar Daddy’s comments at the end. I laughed out loud.
“I like the idea of having my own valley, anyway.”
“The captain don’t like it then we return him to sender.”
At your own pace. Blessings & Be Well
Thanks again, Dan
I think we caught them all.
Semper fi,
Jim
The A6 has a BN (bombardier navigator) that set side by side with the pilot not a RIO (rear inboard observer) who set behind the pilot as in an F4. Maximum payload weight for the A6 was 18,000 lb but the most common load was 28 500lbers (D2’s) or 14,000lb flown by Marine squadrons. It could carry 30 but the wheel well cowlings would hit the two bombs on the racks on the inboard stations 2&4. The Navy often flew lighter loads from carriers. Several other configurations such as Napalm and CBU combinations were flown depending on the mission.
Yes, the co-pilot reiterated his role in the chapter but the pilot always referred to him as his RIO. Thanks for the data on the A6.
Helluva support plane for tough down in the valley combat cover…
Semper fi,
Jim
RIO is Radar Intercept Officer. 500 lb bombs were Mk 82. 250’s were mk 81, 1000’s were mk 83’s and 2000 were mk 84’s.At least that’s what we were loading in 69 and 70. Our squadron VMA(AW)225 was dropping mainly 500lb mk 82’s. 6,000-7,000 of them a month.
Accurate and correct all the way around. Mk 82s were all we knew down below, with the snake eye things on the back.
Semper fi, and thanks,
Jim
Fireside said in ( is) sing song voice e. Should be his sing song…
Another great chapter Lt. If you weren’t writing this I would seriously wonder if you made it through.
Thank Buck.
I think we caught it
Semper fi,
Jim
It was a searing memory wretched out of the bowels of a man who knew not his fate but burdened with the loss of an innocent faithful comrade. Cannot truly appreciate what you have been through these last three weeks or so. I can only admire your effort and wait for the next. For what it’s worth, I will miss Zippo because of what you have done to honor him. Rest awhile friend. P.J.
This part of the story has been tough, but there have been other tough parts too…and we are a long
way from done…and then there is the after done part…
Thanks for being along for the ride and liking that ride…
Semper fi,
Jim
little hard to see you as a snowflake, Lt.
Appreciate that very much, Tom.
Wasn’t much of a “Junior’ either, as it turned out, or Cherub in the CIA for that matter.
I will answer to either, both and snowflake too. It will draw my attention to have such names used.
Is it truly my attention someone calling is looking for?
Interesting question and then decision-making proposition.
Thank you most sincerely,
Semper fi,
Jim
Lieutenant, I guess those phantoms of the past still haunt you, making it the more difficult to bring them back and then shooing them away. Back in 64 or 65 I got the dreaded letter from the draft Board while attending a small Christian College in Puerto Rico. The 4F results, even when I had been willing and ready to be drafted, made me think for many years that I had missed on “the real thing”. However your books have helped me realize that somehow a Guiding Hand protected me from who knows what, specially when some of those you knew never made it back.
One suggestion: Someone commented a while back about not being able to follow the action on the maps. What about placing an map with a trace line and numbers that correlate with days at the Introduction of online sections?Blessings
The last book will have a map and then we will rework all three books and put maps in all later editions.
It’s been prodigious enough with such tiny staff and all.
It’s really hard to get books out on Amazon and then get them properly edited and then build any kind of audience
to defray expenses. Start to finish it costs about seven thousand a book! Whom would have thought?
Semper fi,
Jim
I have bought the first two books and will definitely purchase the final one. I know my little contribution will help defray a very small part of the cost of getting it printed. I await the final book!
Thank you, A.L
Your support is very much appreciated.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m so very glad you have the courage to see this through. Can’t wait to order the set.
So very sorry for your loss of Zippo. I’m sure he’s in a better place now.
I wondered what would become of him, even when he was alive with me.
I wonder what he would have become now, and how that wondering is part of the price extracted in the service of our country…
fighting for so many who won’t care…
but you don’t find that out until you come home with no job and drinking to try to blunt
the spear thrusts coming at you in the night…
Semper fi,
Jim
Although I never served I did work with former Marines quite a bit. A lot of them were left handed but all were memorable. Some frankly stunk and were a pain in the ass. Many many more were exceptional cops and a pleasure to work with. Very few former Marines were lukewarm and quiet. I served in the 9th Precinct in alfabetland on the lower East side of Manhattan. It was a war zone. You have heard of cops being killed over the years one by one. Down in the 9th we were assassinated in pairs. Foster and Laurie on Avenue B and 9th street and Sgt. Reddy and Ptl. Andy Glover on East 5th street all went the same way. During 9/11 343 fireman and 34 cops were taken out along with a gazillion civilians who were all pounded to pieces with the collapse of the 2nd tower. Now years later a lot of those who responded and remained on the site for months are dropping like flies from cancer and respiratory ailments. So far almost 10,000 folks have succumbed to various causes directly atributated to that diaster. And that is only fireman, EMT’s and cops that have been counted. There is a much larger number of civilians who may have escaped that day but did ingest that poison into their bodies and many years later the tumors come and take them out.
We have a ladyfriend who went thru childbirth with her only son on that same morning. She got really pissed off when her doctor and nurses all stopped doing their jobs to watch the towers burn during her delivery. She made them turn off the TV and lambasted them all a new anal orifice.
Thanks for much for this rendition of a part of your life. There are others.
It isn’t just me.
I feel these days like I am finally in good company, but man-oh-man did it take years to find your guys and gals…
Semper fi,
Jim
Great read … and appreciate the tough writing. The original photo was more on point, but the Navy jet is a good “second choice”. And welcome to “snowflakeville”:)
Thank you, Verl,
Thought long and hard of leaving the photo, but we wanted to Boost Post to more Veterans and persons interested on Facebook.
Strange set of Values they maintain.
But what would you expect from a company whose median employee age is 28?
Semper fi,
Jim
It’s been a hard night when you are down in the valley death. I understand how hard it is for you to write about the lost of a Brother.
Yes, I visit that valley every night now and then I keep rewriting because I feel like I’m not getting it just right and it has to be just right.
So, here I am, and the thoughts and support of people like you means a ton in being able to continue…
Semper fi,
Jim
Sorta sounds like Sugar Daddy has a plan too !! Own the valley Lt., I like that 🙂
SEMPER Fi
Owning the valley. Yes, I said and thought that back then. I would not hear it again until I was
in Saudi for Desert Storm. “Own the night” was used to denote the fact that we had night vision and the enemy did not.
Semper fi,
Jim
Good luck to Carrutthers when he gets down. Nicely done & cant wait for this confrontation.
Thanks Phil, working away to lay down the rest, including Carruthers and Kilo.
Interacting with other active units in combat was uncommon, for the most part.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
You can add my name to the list of readers that know how tough that was. I think eleven is necessary to do Zippo’s part of your story right. Heck, I wish I had met the kid and he’s more than 10 years my senior.
Know that there are way more people feeling with you than not feeling. Take your time and do it right just like you have been since First Day.
That chapter took a bit of time to get out. I can’t remember how many times I rewrote it until Chuck made me give it to him.
I do my best, although that’s kind of a weak excuse for a Marine! Thanks for the support you lend me in writing your words on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent chapter Sir,I know how hard that had to be to write. I looked up the A6 Intruder, I did not realize they were the replacement for the Skyraider. I always imagined the A-10’s we called on in Iraq were the children of the Skyraider. Having walked a mile or two across the desert I have a great appreciation for ground attack aircraft. Keep up the good work and know that Zippo will now live on forever in the minds of all of us. His character reminds me a great deal of my friend SSG Willie Harley who served with me in Iraq and was KIA in Afghanistan a year after I retired. It’s a hard row to hoe knowing great men.
Thanks for the most informative comment Andrew. Supporting fires, both artillery and air were
such a lifesaver for all of us…those of us who made it, I mean.
Semper fi,
Jim
That was a harsh one Brother. For some reason I felt relief while I stood there among you, listening. I, still, feel the loss of my Brothers. Still, and I am seventy three years old, I can not stop the tears. I don’t want them to go. I will not let them go. I will take the feelings.
Your comment is heartfelt by so many, Bud.
Thank you for your support and invite others in the band.
Semper fi,
Jim
LT, I knew from the lengthy delay with this chapter that you were probably having problems with Zippo. Loyal comrades live on in memory.
Our squadron (Ninety-Five, aboard Intrepid) had A-4’s – light attack, single engine, one seat. We were to have transitioned to A-7 – more of the same. Those A-6’s are probably one of the best all-weather attack planes ever built and bought. The twin engines gave it a bit of redundancy, and it’s systems were top-notch.
Truly bring us all along with you – this chapter is deep.
Only 1 correction: The company had to establish a perimeter, but first, it had to be assembled in communication to affect that end. I would use “effect” instead of “affect”.
Thanks for your comment and correction note, Craig.
I went back and double checked.
“affect” keeps coming up as the proper word.
Semper fi,
Jim
Heart wrenching stuff sir!
It must be tough to dredge up these memories!
A couple things noted in parenthesis
“You boys going to play some billiards down there, or what?” Fireside asked in is(his) sing song voice.
“Man oh man, Junior,” Sugar Daddy exclaimed. “Where oh where to (do) you get that plan material from”
Thanks, Jerry.
I believe we have corrected those.
Appreciate your sharp yes.
Share these page with your friends.
Semper fi,
Jim
If in your dotage you are a “snowflake” what the hell does that make me, a snowball? Thanks for the chapter Jim, Semper Fi!
Well, the term snowflake is being used for some liberals. I’m every bit of that in this day and age
because I picked up the book and bought into the New Testament part. Not the wording so much as the acting.
I was a republican for so many years, until the party changed out from under me. Maybe I’ll be one again
when it changes back. Nah, I’m not a snowflake, but they can call me anything you want.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks again LT, Junior or Snowflake. I don’t care what anyone else calls you, you’ll always be my brother. I know this has to be hell going through it again but thank you. Only those that have been through the shit know how hard it is to have someone close not make it, thank you for going there LT. Hopefully it helped you sure brought a few friends that didn’t make it to the forefront
Thanks Richard. Much appreciate the support and the comment…and the compliment you form with that comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Move “me” from after Sugar Daddy to after “embarrassing”
Great chapter
Got it Ron, and thanks big time…
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great write. I’ve got a case of jitters after this one. Keep it up LT.
Thanks for the meaningful comment James.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great chapter Jim. Sucks losing Zippo. I hope you have the strength to finish this. Semper Fi!
I am on it and will finish, I have no doubt. Thanks for putting up at how much I slowed down a bit.
Semper fi,
Jim
very good as always JAMES very good !!
Thanks Harold, means a lot to have this kind of support.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for more of the story wow.
Another excellent read. A friend, retired Naval aviator confirms: “noise is good.”
Thanks again for another great chapter.
Yes, noise was good, as long as I was not making it or anyone close to me!
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks Lt , nicknames. Seems everyone had one for someone.
Yes, nicknames abounded over there, but not back here when we got home.
Straight back into the rigid structure I plunged after getting out of the hospital.
My commander at Pendleton did have one though. Howling Jack Taylor. He’d never seen combat in 30 years of
Marine service. I changed his nickname to “Howie,” and he hated me and that. PTSD. I had a bit of giveashititis.
Semper fi,
Jim
Anyone who reads this will feel the pain and loss, the unimaginable horror and the strength and tenacity you all exhibited. Just incredible. It can’t be easy to immerse yourself in these memories James. You damn sure ain’t no snowflake! Semper Fi my friend!
Thanks Jack. Everyone does not feel that way. A rather treasured man on here, non-combat vet, bought all the books and the “T” shirt. He just sent all of them back to
me and said that he could no longer read what I was writing because I do not endorse Trump on my FB site. I was stunned. He was real. I am real. We met in Kansas. Trump is something
none of us have ever met, know or will ever know. The guy gave up reality for mythology. Astounding.
Semper fi, and thanks for the support. I need it just now!
Jim
Used to run tail hook …..when the wire wrapped around the hook on the plane ….they twisted down and back made a tornado ….blast of heat n exhaust …..just a little crazy but of info ….
Yes, just a wonderful little bit. Thanks so much Roger…
Semper fi,
Jim
Heart breaking ……..rough ….I used to catch those a6 intruders .on my ship Saratoga arresting gear …always thought they were bad ass…….now know for sure they were ….
Yes, the A-6 was something else. I loved the beast of the air, the Skyraider, but the Intruder was every bit its mach and more.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great edition! I know this has to be difficult to write but I’m glad you’re sharing your story!!
Thanks Mike, yes I have been mired down a bit and doing other stuff to stay in the game.
I do have PTSD and it is not always totally under control. Sometimes I have to hide out
and wait it out. Some understand but some don’t either.
Semper fi,
Jim
Not a snowflake at all. Just a guy trying to do the best for his outfit, as he sees it today. We all need to move toward the same page.like your company did.
Thanks Vern. I know I’m not a snowflake, unless those things float down with a nuclear payload!
Thanks for pointing it out, however.
This ‘snowflake’ used to go into biker bars in the old ays, totally armed and looking for trouble.
Found out that all the mean tough-looking bikers were mostly Vietnam Vets and great guys.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great write. I have been waiting a long time for this one. Now I see why. Thanks for keeping it going LT.
Thanks Ron for the waiting and for the great compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Your pride in being a Marine shines through this one.. Even more so than any of your previous chapters.. Good..
ESSAYONS
Maj. Snuff.
Well, Major, I certainly know that designation and the honor of it.
Thanks for the comment and your support…
Semper fi,
Jim
I really thought you must be having a difficult time writing this chapter, but if something had not shown up today or tomorrow, was going to call to just be sure you were not having a medical problem……I see the emotions you must have had to go thru to write this. Semper fi, Joe
Thanks Joe, no medical problem. Just the mental stuff and the PTSD that requires I ease back a bit now and then
and hide out for a while working on other stuff…but I’m back tonight, working on the next segment.
Semper fi, and can’t thank you enough for caring…
Jim
As always, another great read. One typo is in the fifth paragraph from the bottom. I think you meant to type “do” and not “to” “Where oh where to you get that plan material from?
Thanks, Mark.
Corrected
Semper fi
Jim
Hey LT, You’ve earned whatever moniker you want, great read my friend, we dropped thousands of 1/8″ wire boobie traps along the trails, which didn’t much care who stepped on it, i got two scars on my foot where one of those rusty pieces of crap went though my foot, hurt like hell, had to cut it off, ruined agood pair of boots, your brain does weird sh*t when stuff like happens, lucky it was only a few clicks to the lz. You guys had the brass ones for going back through the shi*t you just came through, ours was always E & E, safer that way, we didnt want to own anything, too small a crowd
Absolutely terrified to be going back and forth through the same territory…like they didn’t get to know us and
figure us out. Creepy. Thanks for putting your comments about that on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Always worth the wait Jim.
Thanks a ton, my friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read Jim…and I can not imagine the difficulty in re-living those events…the death of someone close in battle…I guess that’s why the FNGs were always kept at a distance…to remain strangers…yet still brothers in combat…still shaking my head on this one…and Sugar Daddy’s comment…that’s just the way it was I guess…
Thanks a ton, Mark. Yes, these are harder chapters and I did not expect that.
I am doing a lot of other writing too because it helps me with this.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Loved the A6.
Thank you for writing this – and these.
Semper Fi.
Snowflake… Nope!
Thanks for the association about the A-6. Thanks for the writing on here and the assurance about the snowflake thing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim
A comment, and a question.
Living a short distance from NAS Whidbey Island, I can vouch for the fact that the A6 can fly slow and low, and louder than hell.
I may have missed it, but what year were you in the valley? I was there in 68, with the 1st Cav. Garry Owen brother.
Skip, thanks for the great comment about the A-6. I love Whidbey and want to fly
Space A out of that base some day. Just for the hell of it. Thanks for being a living A-Shau brother too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Ball Buster
thanks a million Tony…much appreciate the two word compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
It may have been asked before, but have you and your Gunny ever connected , back in the World ?
Don’t mean nuthin’
Bill
I will write about everything in the next book about what happened from eight after the first bullet hit me until
I went to work for Nixon at the Western White House in San Clemente, CA. Thanks for caring enough to ask.
Semper fi,
Jim
The A-6 Intruder was a bad ass, death delivery system. A friend pushed one in Nam, later he was the skipper of the Ike.
Wow, flying an A-6 to skippering a nuclear carrier. I wonder which one he preferred. Pushing an A-6. I have never heard that word using in
piloting an airplane but it sure seems to fit for some reason. Thank you!
Semper fi
Jim
So glad I found this site. Saigon had fallen by the time I had arrived in Korat, but I had the honor of knowing many F4 jocks who had flown in combat. I admired all of them, as I do you and all the veterans of Viet Nam.
Thanks Krash, your support means a lot and I am most happy you like the work.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great writing. You might want to move the word “me” in the text that currently reads “…then why would he risk embarrassing in front of Jurgens and Sugar Daddy me by asking, … “
Noted and Corrected, Bob.
Thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Outdid yourself James! Brought back feelings I thought I buried!
Thanks for that great compliment Ben…means a lot to me in continuing…
Semper fi,
Jim
WOW!Jus tWOW.
thanks for the terrific compliment Mike. Much appreciate and care…and your own care for me and my work.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another outstanding chapter Jim.
Thanks for the terrific four word compliment here Chuck. I get some horsepower out of reading stuff like this.
Semper fi,
Jim
I feel your pain. This week I was at Arlington visiting a friend not far from the Tomb of the unknowns. The pain never leaves you, it is only muted by time.
Thanks Gordon, for sharing some of your own pain here. Means a lot to be together in that.
Semper fi,
Jim
I just want you to know , that I would have considered it an honor to have served under your command as a Sargent while I was in VN 67/69 , B 1/9 , The Walking Dead !
Thank you Don. An old broken down company commander reads those words with a smile and a tear at the same time.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Thanks, Jim, a little light reading before I start thinking about my daughter’s fight starting this morning. First round of chemo at 0900. Write more, I need it.
Well, I would never in my wildest thoughts have considered and come up with that one. Interesting and shocking statement you made.
May your daughter’s issues subside and her continuance on the this earth be assured. I said one of my weak-sinner prayers, hoping for a
small angel to make its way to her her side. I pray not so much, but this one is kind of special.
I will see you on the other side, old friend.
I sign off with Semper Fi,
Jim
It don’t mean nuthin’
Awesome chapter, James. You absolutely rode that roller coaster car of struggling to write out of that twisting valley of pain, fear, and despair while keeping it on its tracks to rise above it all with Great strength and courage.
God knew you would do it and I prayed you would battle for your God-given purpose.
Write your story and relieve your pain.
God bless you and He loves you
Nancy
Thanks so very much, my friend Nancy. I so much enjoy reading what you write and the
heartfelt emotions you put into it…
Semper fi,
jim
Awesome chapter James. You took that roller coaster car of incredible personal trauma, pain, and despair then through great courage kept it on the tracks and through great inner strength rode it up and out of the valley of hurt. I prayed you would do it and God knew you would do it.
Write your pain out and tell your story. God has a Great Purpose for you and you have to see that getting clearer on all of your sites.
God Bless you and He loves you.
Nancy
Thanks Nancy, so very much and God Bless you too!!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
The silence has been deafening. Checking daily for update and finding none, I have assumed that you are having great difficulty putting this story to paper. Most understandable. And still, you have retained that phenomenal ability to be so descriptive – excellent as usual. Particularly nice ending on this segment with outright open threat toward the incoming captain, and at the same time a clearly veiled threat in your direction should he not like your decision making down the road. Hat’s off to you, sir. That garbage is exactly why I turned down OCS. Thanks for telling the story.
Sorry Marshall that I drifted. I didn’t think losing Zippo again would hit me so hard.
But I am back now and I appreciate you wanting for me…
Semper fi,
jim
Another great read.
thanks for the compliment here Dennis. I much enjoy reading short ones like your own. Few words and deep meaning.
Semper fi,
Jim
That had to been the toughest one to write to date.
Yes, eleven rewrites and then at the end I could not edit it. I just sent it to Chuck. To go through life
and additionally find so few Zippo’s has been tough too….
Semper fi, and thanks for understanding. Most will not. To me this is not a series of books. When the Gunny said
nobody would ever know what happened to us down in that valley, he was wrong, but he could not truly have known
who he was saying that too or that I might live.
Semper fi,
Jim
amen…
Well, you usually write a whole lot more James but that one word compliment is really nice to read. I read it with a smile.
Semper fi,
Jim
Where oh where “to” you get that plan..should be “do”.
Awesome reading. Can’t wait to get this series to add to my collection.
Thank for your support and sharp eyes, Jerry.
Noted and corrected
Semper fi,
Jim
Mission Accomplished. Zippo won’t be forgotten. Semper Fidelis.
Thank you for the support, Mark.
Semper fi,
Jim
Quite familiar with the Screech of the A6. Being blessed with help from above is way worth the noise!!
It is a very different and special sound, and I only found out later that those
strange thrusts of exhaust plume fire are because of the downward slant of the exhaust nozzles.
Thanks for adding you comment and helping with the credibility. It was also hard to imagine that the
jet could fly almost as slow as the Skyraider, stay on station as long and carry much more, not to mention
see in the dark and be able to function at night and in all weather.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, Pretty sure the A6 did not come with any guns. All weather, night/day bomber. Other than that I just wore out the edge of another seat. THANKS For another great chapter
No, I never saw an A-6 fire guns but I thought at the time that they still had them. I read now that they did not have guns.
Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your story telling is so accurate that it clearly brings things back I can finally handle, and be proud of. Thanks for that.
You are so welcome Thomas.
Yeah, I guess you had to really be there to write this and not many came back from that experience…
either physically or mentally.
2.7 million went, 375,000 saw combat on the ground (they say) and 362,000 of those were wounded or killed.
You had little chance of going into the A Shau and walking out in any condition at all.
In fact, you only had a 4.8% chance of being uninjured if exposed at all.
Thanks for the support and making it more real for the other guys who were not ‘lucky’ enough to get out into the horrid shit.
Semper fi,
Jim
Leo Paugh? is that paugh-paugh?
You a chevelles.com member?
Great chapter Lt
Thanks Stephen…and to you I guess I can be L.T. instead of Junior.
I went on to become ‘the cherub’ in the CIA and now I guess, in my dotage,
I’m a snowflake!
Semper fi,
Jim
The snowflake that doesn’t melt….
Well, there is that…and thank you James,
Semper fi,
Jim
Nah, You are NOT a snowflake. You won’t melt at the first sign of heat. Not with the annealing you incurred. Like the t shirt ” Not as lean, not as mean but still a Marine”
Sempre Fi!
This whole enchilada is and excellent read.
Thanks Tomas, and I feel that you are right. I wasn’t much of a Junior either and the Cherub thing was cute but I wasn’t that either.
Best not to look like you really are out here in the real world though. Thanks for the comment and the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
You can never be a snowflake, you spent your time in hell.
I know. I can pass myself off as a snowflake though, and can sound like one too when I wax on about
how little I want violence to impact my or anyone’s life. It’s okay. I accepted being Junior.
I accepted being the Cherub in the CIA.
Snowflake is okay. I promise not to hurt anyone who uses that name for me.
Really.
Semper fi,
Jim
A “snowflake”? Not in a million f___ing years. Not a single one of you.
Thanks Doug. No,I’m not a snowflake, whatever the hell it means. And I don’t mind being called one if somebody wants to.
I mean I think about that and consider the person who might say that, but I mean them no harm in return just for saying it.
Unless they need to be hurt at that particular time…and then they’d have to ask me to hurt them because I really don’t do
that anymore.
Semper fi, and thanks for the support.
Jim
No fighter is ever a “snowflake” great job LT
Thank you, Alan.
Remember to share the story with your friends
You are an LT. Maybe LT Junior, but no less an LT. You have come to far to be anything other.
Thanks for the support and compliment inherent in your writing on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim it is with great respect that I use LT my friend.It is the differing views that kept us alive.Thanks for telling your story
I know how hard it is to dredge up painful memories. Most of us can not.
FEARS OF THE NIGHT
Into the night my fears take me.
Into the night my fears hold me in their grip.
Into the night my fears hold my soul bound in a cold terror.
Into the night my fears cause me to cry out.
Into the night my fears try to stop me from fighting back.
Fighting back I do for I awake in a cold sweat.
Knowing I have once again survived another night in a place in my mind called Nam.
For I have returned to the living to tell my tale to all who would listen.
©Copyright September 28, 2001 by Guy L. Jones
What a great poem and thanks for the support you lend me by putting it on this site…
Semper fi,
Jim
Well worth the wait.
Based on the RIO’s somewhat snarky remark about Marines, you were probably correct that the Intruder was Navy. That would mean that the pilot,unless he was a Marine attached to a Navy unit, was an O6 – unlikely but not unheard of. Most all Navy A6 drivers were LCDR or below.
Yes, the plane was Navy and the pilot and ‘Rio’ both very Navy, but not anything but funny about it.
They knew we are in the shit and they were trying to help.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great poem! Wow! Thank you Stephen.
James, you are a super human for going back and bringing as near of the true experience as possible to share. Thank you! Loosing someone you respect like that is impossible to relate. We learn not to let anyone get that close again.
I lost a friend , Kelley was his name on Easter Sunday 1967, he was a crew-chief on a dust off rescuing wounded. I had to transport him back to base along with our Batallion Comander. These experiences we live daily, but you are gifted to share them.
Again Thank You
What a bitter harsh chopper ride that had to be. I have been to the wall twice and could not handle it either time.
I just made believe I was being respectful and then got the hell as far away across town as I could. I don’t like that I
reacted that way. But the reaction was so deep inside and so impossible to overcome. The people with me didn’t feel that way
so there was some pain in trying to explain the unexplainable too…which didn’t work.
Semper fi,
Jim
LT. how can they call the wall a healing wall I have been to the traviling wall two times both time with VFW members they had not been in the crap that we went through I could not get up too it so how can it heal you
Yes, there is the wall, and the strange effects it creates on those of us who have so many up there carved in stone,
on the wall and still in our minds….and hearts…
Semper fi,
Jim