The crowd was stirred up for the coming run, as Danny Ongais climbed into the GTO and belted up. Mickey and his helpers, many more than had been around before, gathered behind the car and pushed it to a place just a few feet from the starting line. The near-identical GTO in the outer lane from the small grandstand was the same color, the same body style, although it motored on its own to take a place with its front tires right on the starting line. Ongais was giving away a few feet simply because he didn’t want to idle the engine and possibly give away the fact that the headers were too loud, what with the eighth of an inch holes Smokey had drilled through the top of each of the eight pipes.
Everyone backed off and the cars were announced. I was expecting what came in the announcement about my GTO but it still hurt a little to hear it:
“The 1966 stock Pontiac GTO hardtop running a factory 389 with three deuces, driven by Danny Ongais.”
Has xxll come out yet?
Wow. This chapter was full of twists and turns and ups and downs. Great chapter!
Thanks, Tony
Semper fi,
Jim
About time for another round Lt.
Do you have another round chambered Lt.?
L
Hey Jim. this is a very hard hitting chapter. I’m not sure if the guys commenting fully realize what happens to a man’s inner psychic when exposed to the trauma that guys go through in the midst of overwhelming odds against your very survival and your men under you. I never went through anything close to that. I did come into country shortly after Hamburger Hill. Assigned to a unit that was there. The old guys left didn’t talk very much. When they did it wasn’t about the battle itself. Just the strange thoughts that went through their minds totally unrelated. So in a way I could feel the emotions they were feeling. I have no clue what happened to them once they got home. I can only imagine it was close to your experience. being long winded here.
Love ‘Long winded”
Really appreciate the input from you and the other readers.
Semper fi,
Jim
The tenor, the cadence were different in this chapter. I could feel the tension, the frustration, the disgust, the anger building. It wasn’t so much the words just a feeling that permeated the entire chapter. I have never had ptsd but I have been around people that have had it. For me at least it came out in this piece.
Really appreciate your support and input, Tony.
Semper fi,
Jim
Powerful and overwhelming story telling.
You have intermingled Fessman and Fusner. I assume that was not intentional.
I believe it is now all corrected to Fessman.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great chapter, LT, and very close to the mark,
Sir I would say someone got to Fessman’s parents before you did probably to cover his own ass. Guessing whoever had the Junior signed posted in your hospital room. Was it the Gunny? Seemed to remember saying on one occasion that his wife said he wasn’t ready to talk to you and upon seeing him somewhere he just spoke and moved on. Just wondering.
Was this in one of your chapters or am I missing something?
This is Chapter XXI
Here is Chapter XX, Chuck.
https://jamesstrauss.com/the-cowardly-lion-chapter-xx/
Semper fi, Jim
Jim, There were times during my time aboard ship in Vietnam that I felt the same way about our CO, but with no access to a firearm, I found an isolated place aboard to calm myself and get on with what we were doing there for the Troops and others!!
Danny Ongais a few feet short of line did not want to start engine because headers would be to LOAD, maybe LOUD instead..
A question I am wondering about.. In leading up to meeting Fusners parents the name Fessmans is used before and after.. Did I miss somewhere in the story his parents name..
Another great chapter.. And Congrats on WinterNational EStock Champion
Thanks for the correction, Jon
Semper fi,
Jim
Probably my only worthwhile edit suggestion ever”,,,, the headers were too loud.,,,,through the top of each of the eight ports” To the best of my knowledge the STOCK exhaust headers are cast iron affairs, Though Mickey Thompson is best know in my part of Texas for his brand of bolt-on tuned headers made to fit most any muscle car.
Corrected. Thanks for your comment, Keuth
Semper fi,
‘im
Normally I would say what a great chapter . But today I cannot . The desire for revenge is understandable but just how far you are willing to go and the price you are willing to pay is another .
Post Traumatic Stress is not about revenge. It’s about accomplishing the mission. A mission that badly needs to be accomplished.
How far you are willing to go is the limiter at the end of the equation. You want the truth about how a combat vet with PTSD
gets by then this is his story. If you ant to think that I came home battered and beaten down, I did, but only physically not
mentally. Mentally, I was as prepared to run, hide, attack, or even apologize and smile…to survive, to get back to working
the mission or get as distant from it as possible.
Semper fi, sorry the chapter hit you hard. Appreciate the honesty and power of your words…
Jim
Unfortunately the chapter came on a day when a friend was arrested for numerous felonies including a double homicide I was shaken to my core by what happened . I won’t go into further detail but will let the video footage and news accounts speak for themselves , though i will add this the man is an honorably discharged Army veteran although he never saw combat . Google Victor Steban .
After reading the Cowardly Lion
To this point I understand the symbolism of the CW the inner child or self but the truth is you never lacked courage
Your homecoming to the states wasn’t ideal but you carried on
The CW is far more compelling than your war story
You are an inspiration
Thank you
Thank you, Rich.
More coming.
It was a winding road for sure.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow very riveting You have rally let us inside your psychic great chapter Keep up the good work
Sir,
Bittersweet.
You always seem to try to, want to, do the right thing.
Thanks for two quick chapters.
Can’t wait until the next one!
First paragraph: load s/b loud
James, Wow. My heart rate went up when you retrieved the 45. Bummer about Fusner’s dad; but grief brings out the worst in people. You did your part. He was not ready.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
the fact that the headers were too load,
Maybe “loud” instead of “load”
the fact that the headers were too loud,
or accepting such a move I return.
Maybe “in” instead of “I”
or accepting such a move in return.
but only at rounds per minute of the specially prepared V8
Maybe “revolutions” rather than “rounds”
OR just RPMs
but only at revolutions per minute of the specially prepared V8
OR
but only at RPMs of the specially prepared V8
with the speed adjustment set to a variable
Maybe drop the “a”
with the speed adjustment set to variable
so even when filled the brim of the downspout
Maybe add “to” after “filled”
so even when filled to the brim of the downspout
clutch down with her foot but only hold down for about ten seconds
Maybe add “it” after “hold”
clutch down with her foot but only hold it down for about ten seconds
were ready with my
GTO.
Just backspace “GTO” to fit behind “my”
The night before I’d sat up into early morning hours.
Maybe add “the” after “into”
The night before I’d sat up into the early morning hours.
Star-Spangled Benner,
Banner instead of Benner
Star-Spangled Banner,
strange coincidences in my life
Add period at end of sentence
strange coincidences in my life.
Fessman
Later Fusner
Whatever name works for the story. YOu used Fusner in 30 Days on the web site. Did you use Fessman in the print editions?
It was wet into the side of a long row
Maybe “set” instead of “wet”
It was set into the side of a long row
middle-aged man answers the door
Maybe “answered” instead of “answers”
middle-aged man answered the door
but I got no farther
further (time) is a better fit than farther (distance)
but I got no further
instead of concentrating on getting away
“of” seems to change meaning of sentence
instead concentrating on getting away
calculated. but never prepared
Change period to comma
calculated, but never prepared
“Junior,” he said. “He said
Who is the first “he”?
Change period to comma
OR change sentence
Sgt Church said, “The Colonel said you were not who you claimed to be but were this other officer.”
so low that it to be hard to hear the word come out
Maybe add “had” after “it”
so low that it had to be hard to hear the word come out
not having much faith in being told what I was being told
Maybe “believing” instead of the first “being told”
not having much faith in believing what I was being told
but only if you tell me where he’s being transferred to.
Add quote mark at end of sentence
but only if you tell me where he’s being transferred to.”
***
The order of paragraphs in the beginning seem to not follow the sequence of events.
Maybe after “You got customers …
Place the Mickey left in the 442 paragraph
Next the I loved the car paragraph
Followed by The GTO ran like a dream
Next My wife hated the car
Blessings & Be Well
What can I say other than THANK YOU again, Dan
Semper fi,
Jim
Your life has more twists and turns than Lombard Street. All I can say LT is WOW!
A few blemishes, Jim. With all due respect, I know that the latter part of this one was difficult and likely had you preoccupied as to how you would craft it.
.
“After a slight delay, all of the last lights lit up together.”
“E Stock was nothing to Mickey, at the level where he raced and lived.”
“The GTO ran like a dream, but only at revolutions per minute (rpm) of the specially prepared V8 that were above three thousand.” (This isn’t artillery ) could be recast – Did not want to idle smoothly below 3000 rpm because of the V8’s state of tune.
“wasn’t capable of making that move or accepting such a move in return.”
“Mary could push the clutch down with her foot but only hold it down for about ten seconds”
“I sat in the car for some minutes before starting it.”
“could go in at any time and run the operation, as no more mechanical work was being done.”
“depressed the magazine release detent, and quickly observed that I had one in the chamber and five in the magazine, just as I’d learned from the NRA shoots I’d been on as a kid,” Every Colt mag I own carries 7 in the mag. Put one in the pipe, cocked and locked, seven in the mag and you have 8 rounds total.
“leaving the single round in the chamber, the five in the magazine re-inserted into the butt of the automatic.” Same as above.
“automatic Colt .45.” You had a select-fire 45 ACP ?
“It was set into the side of a long row of nearly identical three-step walk-ups”
” I landed on the grass down at the bottom of the stairs,”
“instead, concentrating on getting away to a safe place”
“that I would rather shoot myself than either of my radio operator’s parents. ”
So Lightning Bolt and you have the same posting? That should work well.
All the best Jim, keep up the work.
Thanks for all your help.
I believe all corrected, Michael.
Semper fi,
Jim
Good story. I spotted a few grammatical errors, but I will let someone else point them out, as the story is that good. Fessman was a hero, too, and it was only right of you to share his story. I can understand his parent’s frustration and hurt. The feelings of the civilians at that time was the loss of life and innocence was a horrid waste I had a good friend tell me before I left being drafted, that if I went to Viet Nam he would never speak to me again. Forty years hence at my nephew’s retirement party, which was the first time anyone thanked me for my service, he denied ever having said such a thing. I assured him it was something I would remember.
Kemp
Thanks for sharing your story, Kemp.
There are so many out there.
Semper fi,
Jim
Only one I see “The home was “WET” into the side of a long row”. other than that, great job as always.
Thanks, Harold.
Corrected it.
Semper fi, Jim
Hey my big fingers do it a LOT LOL