I waited patiently for Gularte, sitting in the afternoon sun, rubbing my useless government pen with the fingers of my left hand. The pen wasn’t totally useless I knew, as its presence where it was found was very likely a valuable clue. Was the person who lost it not connected to the Marine’s disappearance, or did it belong to one of the people, or the single person, who invaded my beach to place personal materials there for unknown reasons? I thought while I waited. I believed it to be very unlikely that the three Marines carried any kind of pen, which then, if carried, would have fallen to the tracks. It was much more likely that some sort of professional carried such a pen and lost it inadvertently while passing along on the rail ties, or near them.
I heard the deep-throated beating exhaust of the Dodge before it arrived at the security gate. I wondered which of the other reserve officer’s Gularte would pick to be in the front seat next to him instead of locked in the rear. It was an interesting conundrum. The really bright but analytical personality, or the one with the expressive light behind his eyes. I put the pen back in my pocket and headed for the gate. The three had come in with me but there was no likely way the Marines would pass them without a long security examination and confirmation.
There were three Marines at the gate. A staff sergeant was present, having no doubt showed up while I was inside the compound. I presumed he was the detachment commander. No more a real commander than I was, of the reserve corps, but still. The Department Dodge pulled up to the gate. The sun shone perfectly down to make looking through the front windshield impossible without special glasses that I didn’t have. I walked up to the staff sergeant. I noted, as he turned and reacted to my presence, that his ribbons indicated that he’d been in the Nam. He held the Bronze Star with the combat V pinned into the center of it, and also a Purple Heart. He was one of ‘us,’ like Gularte and me.
This is great stuff.
I’m no editor but here are a couple of notes you might consider.
“You’d be my observer, simply there to see what the result of all this is,” the Chief said, his voice likely modulated almost too low for Pat to make out, in spite of her nearly miraculous hearing ability. “No police uniform and no official status. If they don’t want you there, telling you go, then you’re out of there. –( telling you go,) {telling you to go}
“I don’t believe the Marines drowned, not without assistance, anyway. I think they were killed. The President’s Chief of Staff and his top advisor have something to do with either in what happened or in covering what happened up. –( something to do with either in what happened or in covering what happened up.) {something to do with what happened, or in covering it up.}
I gave the Chief the government pen we found. It could have been anybody’s since governmental employees use the beaches too, but the coincidence of a shine new pen like that falling onto the tracks very close to the folded towels and personal effects is pretty small. Somehow or other, I think the government is involved in the missing, and now dead Marines.” –( but the coincidence of a shine new pen) {shiny }
Spook car, I thought, shaking my head. Was I making a mistake having the wonderfully damaged combat vet backing me up. He had to know there was no real threat that might come about because of our mission to the base, which he didn’t really know anything much about, but I could feel him reaching out from the A Shau Valley. There was always a threat. It was just that the threat hadn’t manifested itself yet. The sounds of the artillery impacting, the sounds of the small arms ground fire played across the hills and valleys of my mind…they were calling us back. – (up.){?} – (he didn’t really know anything much about,) {he really didn’t know much about – or – anything about}
Thank you for your keen eye. Corrections have been made, Mark
Jim
Dear Dan:
Your diligent and accurate work have helped make this ‘project’ possible. That you work relentlessly to help for no compensation whatever is beyond thanks. We couldn’t do it without you!!!
Semper fi, and thanks from the very depths…
Jim
Another chapter that kept me on the edge of my seat even though it was published on Monday and i didn’t find it until this morning ( Thursday ) . a great solid you are doing for Mitch and his family and i hope it turned out well for his wife . Your Chief has your back but the surprise is Pat who asks for the favor of keeping Hoodoo in the loop even if it is through back channels so to speak , which has to be be somewhat of a sticking point for you considering how he treated you and your “Mexican Clone ” Gularte . Now what intrigues me is your appraisals of Haldeman , Erlichman and Mardian in all of this . Now whoever planned the murder of the three Marines not only over planned it but under planned it as well , because they missed very important details that would jump out at even the lowliest of grunts . Who had a bad enough grudge against these Marines that they wanted them dead ? Killing someone is a pretty drastic measure when there were certainly other means of taking care of the problem by simply discharghing them from the service . or if matters warranted they could have been court martialed and sentenced to the brig . and following their sentences dishonorably discharged .
Dear Chuck, readapting was going on at full speed, as my mind twisted and turned as I fought to not apply the tools, talents and experiences of what had helped me survive the A Shau. You are so great in the way you have written this comment to encompass that.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Jim,
This chapter is full of lots of little surprising twists and turns. And each one–while presenting obstacles and opportunities– slowly pave the way to peeling more layers of the multiple faceted onion skin to expose the core.
Superb writing. Love it!
You paint a delightfully detailed picture of the physical scene itself and all the associated sights and sounds involved. We see it and feel it. We do experience what you see (saw). But we see more than that. Your skillful writing also allows us to be keenly aware of the inner picture of what was going on in your mind and your thought process and to be aware of your emotions as you wrestled with new challenges, as you doggedly and skillfully interpret, analyze, and begin to figure out what your action plan will be to accomplish your mission. It is always interesting to see how you manage to wiggle through various “tough to navigate” personal encounters with the people who you cross paths with during your daily adventures.
An unsolved mystery, potential danger from multiple angles, appearance of new “friendly forces” who may prove valuable to you, knotty problems to overcome as you go forward. While I have some reservations about being beside you on this particular adventure, at the same time I eagerly await mounting up and going along on this ‘mission’. And, if I could, to somehow provide you backup and “have your six.” But just like we “ghost soldiers” who slogged with you in the A Shau Valley as you recounted and relived your experiences there, we gear up and lock and load and follow you faithfully during your engagements with ‘enemy forces’ during The Cowardly Lion. We are still all in, LT.
It continues to be a helluva ride that I and others have become pleasurably addicted to. Keep ’em coming, Sir. Can’t wait for my next literary fix.
God Bless.
Dear Walter:
There are comments and then there are comments. Since I began writing about the war and the other things I’ve had 24,571 comments. All of which have been answered. Your comment is the longest, the most professionally written (which is not anything of a requirement on here) and the longest. Wow. You are a writer. No question. You are also most complimentary about the work, and I can’t tell you how much this comment, and those that are straight from the shoulder and heart of others before this, means to somebody like me. I wonder, at times, whether it’s worth it to continue, as life comes at me in both good and bad batches, just like other PTSD effected on here…and those that care about them, or us. Thank you from way down for writing this and I hope you don’t mind if I share it.
Most Sincerely, your friend…old friend
and Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for your kind reply.
My comment is yours to use however you wish.
Dear Walter, and so I did. Can’t thank you enough, old friend.
Semper fi,
Jim
Nixon, an autistic damaged but fuThatnctional creature? That might keep me up nights exploring a whole new aspect of the psychology of political players.
I didn’t do any deep thinking when I wrote that about Nixon, but in reflection, it’s an awful accurate portrayal of this strange human being, but so
very valid…as it played out over time. He did write to me in the front pages of his books, liked he’d heard and known me…which was also strange.
What the hell, maybe those books will be worth money some day…especially as we move along toward his resignation and what happened there.
Thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
You have done it again, I came away from this chapter nervous, tense, and trying to focus like I was headed out on a mission where the bad guys lived. It was always the same I think to prepare you for what was coming.
Thanks so much for that compliment Warren. There are so many sincere veterans on this site and it’s always so supportive
to come on here and read comments like this one. I actually pay to produce my works, instead of the other way around,
so the real return is on the comment section of this site. Thanks so much.
Semper fi,
Jim
Love your work. Keep it coming!
Suggested edits
There was no car at the state park lot, just as I, and my thought. If the men at the Western White House were involved then the three Marines hadn’t parked there to get to the beach and down while swimming…
Bill
You are absolutely correct and probably figured that out before I did in my rendition in the chapter. My wife realized before me, as usual.
Thanks for the predictive comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m the same as Peter – Three Marines, purportedly drowned? Some involvement by civilians, connected how?
Deep stuff for sure!
Chapter 20
James, Some minor editing suggestions follow:
He held the bronze star
Capitalize
He held the Bronze Star
I closed the door, which automatically locked me myself inside.
Maybe drop “myself”
I closed the door, which automatically locked me inside.
I filled my wife in on everything that had happened about the disappearance of the Marines was illuminating and disappointing, both at the same time.
Seems like two sentences
Period after “Marines”
Add “It” to start new sentence
I filled my wife in on everything that had happened about the disappearance of the Marines. It was illuminating and disappointing, both at the same time.
murderous intent in my life.I headed down to the lifeguard
Add space after period
murderous intent in my life. I headed down to the lifeguard
didn’t recognize a fellow officers off-duty vehicle.
Possessive of officers – officer’s
didn’t recognize a fellow officer’s off-duty vehicle.
at the state park lot, just as I, and my thought.
Maybe drop “, and my” Replace with “had”
at the state park lot, just as I had thought.
Marines hadn’t parked there to get to the beach and down while
Maybe “drown” instead of “down”
Marines hadn’t parked there to get to the beach and drown while
Five miles wen by in just under forty minutes,
“went” instead of “wen”
Five miles went by in just under forty minutes,
every street, road, and ally of the city,
“alley” instead of “ally”
every street, road, and alley of the city,
which was unusual and there ominous.
Maybe “therefore instead of “there”
which was unusual and therefore ominous.
My disappoint was complete and I knew my control
Maybe “disappointment” instead of “disappoint”
My disappointment was complete and I knew my control
I took the U.S. government pen out of pocket.
Add “my” in front of “pocket”
I took the U.S. government pen out of my pocket.
“Are you…” the Chief started so say.
“to” instead of “so”
“Are you…” the Chief started to say.
“Whom would I be?”
“who” instead of “whom”
“Who would I be?”
If they don’t’ want you
Extra apostrophe
If they don’t want you
saying you go
This works but maybe change to:
telling you to go
I shook my head. How could I mind.
Shook (side to side) usually denotes negative
Nodded (up and down) denotes affirmative
I nodded my head. How could I mind.
what happened or in covering what happened up.
Maybe move “up” to after “covering”
what happened or in covering up what happened.
but the coincidence of a shine new pen
“shiny” instead of “shine”
but the coincidence of a shiny new pen
I
couldn’t think of myself as a friend of hers
Backspace to connect sentence fragments
I couldn’t think of myself as a friend of hers
Gularte wasn’t usually deep, which it came to figuring things out,
Maybe “when” instead of “which”
Gularte wasn’t usually deep, when it came to figuring things out,
the sounds of the smaller arms ground fire
“smaller” works relative to artillery
Else “small arms”
the sounds of the small arms ground fire
Blessings & Be Well
I thought I replied with my overwhelming thanks, Dan, but when I checked I could not find my comment.
Thanks!!!!
Jim
Damn LT I can picture Haldeman in a Gestapo trench coat
Yes, Tony, he was very much made up of that Gestapo attitude and material.
Semper fi, and thanks for the comment.
Jim
edit suggestions …
map reading. We had to know ins and outs and intricacies of almost every street, road, and ally* of the city, (alley)
coincidence of a shine* new pen like (shiny)
Chief had found such a wonderful talented secretary.
I ***
(no space here !! )
couldn’t think of myself as a friend of hers
So impressed by the mind reading ability of your wife !! LOL, and now Pat wants in on the goings on, good grief how is all this going to play out with the 3 “dead” Marines showing up opposite of current flows too ??
Keeping me on the edge of my seat once again James !!
Semper Fi
Thanks again, SgtBob. Corrected as suggested.
Dear Dan, and I thought I’d edited three times and the copy was pretty clean. Not!
You eye and intellect is so much more refined than my own.
Thank you, my friend
Jim
Jim, there are a number of misspellings and corrections to be made before publishing in the book, but I’m no editor and am glad you put this out here for us to soak in, warts and all. Keeps me coming back for the next chapter, time after time.
Thanks
Dear Christopher. Yes, I am the only official editor and I’m lousy. DanC and others really help and there’s this Marilyn Silverman in New York who’s undertaken cleaning up the
final corrections before the book goes to Amazon. Thank God. Thanks for the help and letting me know.
Semper fi,
Jim
Like Mike said, it’s getting to be like down in the valley. I also check my email for any sender named Strauss, and drop everything.
Although I catch them all, you have so many capable grammarians, I don’t mention them. (Except things like the difference between faints and feints, which wasn’t in the story itself)
Is there any other windshield besides “front”? (I know I’m weird)
Thank you again for such riveting stories. Keep up the good work.
TimP: There is indeed only a windshield in a vehicle. One. Not front or back. You could not be more correct. We use this expression in our culture, the front windshield without
really thinking about it. Once, I was teaching my tiny daughter at age three about upside down. We had a big wooden kindergarten block. I turned it over and said “upside down,” and then
turned it back and said “right side up.” She sat there thinking, then turned the block both ways, saying: “upside down, up side up.” I was struck. She was a correct as you are in this comment.
Thanks for looking a things the way you do and writing about it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
my anticipation is palpable
somethings dont add up yet they do
given the time of the story there was no love llost for black Marines in garrison by either side
racial relations or racial hostility was all over Pendelton
and I never saw a black Marine swimming or at a beach in the world so i am vey curious as this story develolps
i find my experience in the Corps at this time shapes my outlook on the story it was a real education and even though leadership said only color in the Corps wS green thT was to quote ill Barr bullshit
the world did show colors
magnifico
Dear Rich:
What a wonderful lengthy soliloquy about your own life and my story, sort of entertained.
Thanks for the compliment inherent the length and quality of what you had to say. I’m sure
other readers looking in here will find it interesting and cogent too.
Thanks, my friend,
and Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, you keep me sitting on the edge of my chair awaiting the next shoe to drop. I know exactly how you felt when faced with your choices in that situation.
I’ll be in LkGnva in July would love to shake your hand.
Semper Fi
Dear Rob:
I will be most happy to receive you here in Lake Geneva. Every once and awhile a vet comes by and it’s always a great time.
Thanks for the terrific compliment, as well.
Your friend,
and Semper fi,
Jim
You need a playbill to keep up with this drama! Man do you get yourself in deeper and deeper. Awesome read keep up the fantastic writing. I await your next chapter with trepidation!! Semper fi sir!!
I waited through this time, back then, with a whole lot of trepidation too my friend. Thanks for the great compliment
and I write this night because you guys on here won’t let me do anything else.
Semper fi,
Jim
Holy crap!
A get two word compliment Harry.
Much appreciated.
Semper fi,
Jim
From yiur response to pete sounds like your a JUGELER in this outlandish Circus? Your two boys from the compound spent thier terms not far from me in N.J., at what has been termed a “COUNTRY CLUB” for a Federal Pen!!
Dear Harold, these two boys as you put it were not exactly genetically provide with much of sense of honor or integrity.
They practiced what is called ‘situation ethics’ in their very real world where they were nearly all powerful.
Strange to be around people like that…and a little terrifying from time to time.
Thanks for the great and much appreciated compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Fantastic chapter.
Two words that mean a whole lot Harry. Mean a whole lot to me, anyway.
I motor on, driven by the ‘steam’ power of your and other vets compliments on this site.
Semper fi,
Jim
“ I only had three dead Marines, a dead audience, but that wasn’t something I wasn’t used to, especially at night.” LT, this is every bit as intense as anything you told us about being down in that damned valley. This continues to be one hell of a ride, and I for one am thankful that I discovered your story, all those years ago. Semper Fi.
Mike: Stole your comment and put it up on Facebook. Hope you don’t mind. Just too well written and too real.
Thanks so much.
Your friend, and Semper fi,
Jim
I’m honored Sir. I’ll hump the Prick-25 anytime you need a radio operator. SF.
Mike. I love it! I don’t think they are using that ald but so dependable radio anymore, but what the hell, we’ll go to a gun show.
Thanks so much for this great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
They had switched to the Prick-77 by the time I got to the Corps, same radio just solid state internals. I can only imagine what they’re using these days. I’ve often thought, as I mess around on my phone with Google earth, Man, with something like this I could put 81s or CAS in somebody’s back pocket! Semper Fi LT.
Mike, yes, us old timers cannot even imagine what is being used now. Drones, GPS, cell technology and WiFi. Wow.
I wonder how artillery is really conducted today. Thanks for the data and the response.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jesus Lt, I can’t even breathe sometimes when I read what you write! Yes I know you are unraveling a tale that has purpose and direction… keep going. I’ll be right here waiting.
You are one class act Christopher and you write a compliment like very few before you. I am glad to have you there,
and here in your way…as we travel on this continuing adventure.
Thank you!
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow! That is a helluva chapter! Am eagerly anticipating the unfolding.
The next chapter goes up either this evening or tomorrow morning.
Thank you for wanting and expecting it. It’s an interesting one, to
say the least.
Semper fi, and thanks a lot.
Jim
“Five miles wen by in just under forty minutes”. Should be went
Fixed it. Thanks, Sam
When you got the call to see the Chief “…..was unusual and there ominous”. Should be therefore?
Corrected thanks to your sharp eye!
This sounds like attempting to take the cheese from a trap without triggering it. The tension is high and all battle stations are ready for incoming.Apparently you did’nt end up the fourth man
Thanks Carroll, as in Camp Carroll I presume. No, I am still here but went through some harrowing stuff,
even after I got home, to be here. Thanks for noticing and commenting like you did on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Like a good TV series, you keep us hungry for more and impatient for the next chapter.
I’m enjoying it immensely.
Thank you
Thank you Ron! I would hope for a television series as the cinematography would be quite stunning and informing.
I’d love to help build the set for the compound! But, here we are, ready for another chapter to go up tonight or
on the morrow. Stand by, my friend,
and Semper Fi,
Jim
That Gularte is a good man. The Marine Brotherhood is strong! Even Hoodoo. Leave no one behind.
Michael, I don’t believe there’s any other service on earth that is the equivalent when it comes
to sticking together, even after separation from active service. Marines are always either on or ready
for active service and that’s a distinguishing part of being one. Hoodoo did not come around so much
as he was forced by his Marine background and belief to let me into his tribe and inner acceptance, and I him.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wondering what the hell is going on here??? Why 3 dead Marines? You spin one hell of a story here. Just keep trying to figure out where this is going and what happens next, know nothing happened to you as you are still here.🇺🇸
Dear Peter, thanks for your sincere and deep interest. One must consider all the potential results when defining the words ‘happened to you.’
Yes, it was a wild time. I was totally unimportant but vitally important, depending on place, organization and the situations I was trying
to juggle all at the same time.
Thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
You’re standing in deep water surrounded by alligators, non friendly. Be extremely careful.
Truer words were never spoken, as they pertain to my situation.
Even though I was no longer living in terror, like in the valley, or sometimes the hospitals after,
I was many times afraid.
Thanks for the great perceptive comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Upon arriving home, I go directly to my computer and check mail for one thing , Sender James Strauss.
If another chapter is there, everything stops. Sometimes even for awhile after reading the last words .. I was 28 about the time your story began . Living in California. This has been like revisiting those years as I recall what I doing at the time .. Thank you for among other things, a time machine.
Charley Blunt
What a wonderful compliment Charley. I mean really…to the extent that I copied it to all my social media sites. Nobody I know in the
writing business gets thase kinds of straight from the heart compliments. You force me to forge on into this night and chapter XXI is
almost done thanks to you and the wonder of the vets who’ve taken me under their wings on here.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim