We stood outside in the rain and wind, Butch and I staring at the replaced aluminum doors on the side of his Airstream. It was as if they had never been gone. Butch walked forward the few feet to the two steps leading up. He opened the screen door, and then the main door, neither of which were locked, which surprised me. Had the doors been locked when Herberich and Steed pulled them off? I had no idea. With the doors both open, Butch turned to look back at me. I hadn’t moved.
“You coming in or are you going to simply stand there and get soaked?” he asked.
Jim, one of your better chapters in capturing and holding attention – no wonder both your first “career” in the Corps, and second in the Company were so successful. You can concentrate on the “now”, and figure out the “upcoming” at the same time.
Mardian was, indeed, a dangerous person. And Spiro crookeder than a cork puller.
Really happy to see you doing so well. And grateful to DanC, and now Matt, for the tough proofing for you.
Really anxious to see where you go in both the near and far future of this book, and Cowardly Lion Book iii !
Thanks so much Craig, for the atto-boy and compliments. Means so much to a small time
writer working out of the attic as I am. Having people like you to write comments about the work
is motivational in so many ways and having people like DanC to ceaselessly edit and get it all together
after I finish is a wonder.
Semper fi,
Jim
JIm,
Not sure how to share this with you, (It really is connected to 30 Days and the A Shau Valley) so I will drop it here for you to look at. Were you ever there?
Delete this comment if you wish since it is not connected to the CL.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=606296498319069&set=gm.622201603083054&idorvanity=403041131665770&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZUbzT1uPsi2Jno7ol6DaUf1CSgpNul6w1TlmQNF1nUFEc_S1LeHPsxVYS8Kaxzbp0uXrV0SAXmTYMq9l4ZqpmQdy1qHrgs6r9V76oSWODcp8USjjSRG99AZ_7hVKEg52BPffA9xToFf_PtsCmYvZB_PKLygediAO-M1fPXdkD3woBgjuDWMIGFwx4OhVXerbgU&__cft__%5B1%5D=AZUbzT1uPsi2Jno7ol6DaUf1CSgpNul6w1TlmQNF1nUFEc_S1LeHPsxVYS8Kaxzbp0uXrV0SAXmTYMq9l4ZqpmQdy1qHrgs6r9V76oSWODcp8USjjSRG99AZ_7hVKEg52BPffA9xToFf_PtsCmYvZB_PKLygediAO-M1fPXdkD3woBgjuDWMIGFwx4OhVXerbgU&__tn__=EH-R%5D-R
Never visited any firebase as I was in the field the entire time I was in country.
The A Shau is actually a pretty small valley when it comes down to geography with the river
running all the way through it from north to south.
Semper fi,
Jim
Agnew. Long and well forgotten. When I got to Korea for my first tour there, we had a fairly new cinder block latrine in the middle of our Company area. Everyone referred to it as the Agnew Latrine. Seems that Spiro paid a visit to the 2nd ID and toured our Battalion’s area. He stuck his head into the latrine, had a look around and declared it to be top notch. Thank goodness he got tied up in the Maryland kickback scandal and never made it to the 76 presidential ticket. I’m assuming you were not involved in his resignation. Or were you? Guess we will just have to wait to find out. Man, Lt., what a knot this story is becoming.
Thanks for the hsiory of Spiro in Korea. Whom would have thought. A latrine named after him. Like nicknames from time to time.The
next chapter should be a revealing one indeed. I have to start encouraging readers to acquire Down in the Valley, Island in the Sand and a few other
books I”ve written as this whole bundle of wheat gets ready to be harvested!
Semper fi,
Jim
Only thing left to sat LT, is “What a hell of a life you lived early on, and what a story that makes!” Wow, difficult to wait for the finish of this part part! Semper Fi Sir!
Thanks very much Joe, much appreciate the flagrant compliment and especially you writing it on here….
Semper fi,
Jim
Cliff hanger Jim,
Another eye bulging, mind-bending chapter!
You got my head swirling trying to figure out where all the pieces to this ever more complex puzzle go.
One minor typo edit suggested: (first paragraph)
“Dutch turned to look back at me. I hadn’t moved.”
Should be Butch.
Thanks most sincerely Walter, and I, as awlways await hearing from you.
Thanks for the compliment and the help in editing too.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Little boy lost. Mardian really cant read people-can he? He had to know of your background, which should have told anyone you weren’t to be trifled with as anyone who has been there knows. No, you are the strapping 6 foot six jarhead showing off your fire watch ribbons and fixing people with a don’t mess with me stare. No, you are quiet reserved , contemplative and quite dangerous.
He is one of those mob types who is over impressed with his own hype. As you know the truly powerful, don’t have to tell you – they know who they are just as you did. I suspect at this time your youth made you a little uncertain, but deep inside you knew who you were – you were just facing up to it.
So the dialogue I found most telling is Mary saying.. they aren’t thru with you – us yet
Reminding you you had a family to care for and as she said violence attracts attention.
I cant wait to hear how you handle Gates. You seem to attract bullies. Have you ever considered therapy? LOL!
Rich, straight to the crooked point and rather accurate involved analysis.
As usual from you. A man of great depth who hides that about a well as the subject you are analyzing does
his dangerous interior. thanks for the compliment of your writing and working to understand this complex story.
Your friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Whoa, this is getting deeper and deeper as it goes along, awesome read sir, keep them coming!! As it stands I don’t see you having a rope long enough to reach the bottom of the rabbit hole. You may be going into free fall soon!! Semper fi LT.
“The times they were a changing,” was for certain. If you reading along, as you are, then today’s rather disturbed nation when it comes to politics and life itself no longer seems to violently screwed up. We’ve been here before, time and again. Thanks for the nice complimentary comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Interesting, did Nixon cut Agnew as a diversion or was he more devious than just overcome by events…Was he setting up his own pardon? And were the Kennedy’s & MLK assassinations just Act One?
Well done…..great story but it does define some sort of actual pattern in that crazy musky era! I have always been sort of casual about that whole Opera but also wondered the implications of why it seemed to stop!!
The story, or stories, if you include all my works, do tie together, now that Ive made the decision to
finally bring everything into one bundle. Not one of my books is out of place in this bundling project
which we are all on, not even Island in the Sand, the science fiction series I started.Four novels, unpublished,
have had to wait their place in line, as revelations in them would have ruined the nature of this continuing
adventure, for those that believe and see it that way. I did not mean to live history…but history had other ideas…
Your friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
OH crap how did you get to be able to live to write this book? For GOD’S sake!!!
Harold…follow the logic…because I didn’t write this book….
Your friend,
Semper fi,
JIm
Love the way you are presenting your books! I am always waiting for the next chapter, thank you!!
Thanks a lot William, much appreciate the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
The story and the suspense continues to build not much differently than in the “valley”. Only the place has changed but the players are still deadly and unpredictable.
I lived up into the valley, as portrayed in the book ‘The Duke,; and then I was seared in the fire down in the A Shau (not unlike
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) in the Biblical Book of Daniel. From there life stuttered, as I recovered, and then began anew.
There is meaning in it all, but that meaning will become more evident as the Cowardly Lion proves out over time. I never expected to
tell the whole story, much less in serial form online, but here it is and I’m much enjoying how different the whole experience is from
what I ever expected as s writer. Of course, I’m only a writer now, which was not what I always was, or really am.
Thanks for the great comment,
Semper fi,
Jim
Mind blown. Again. LOVE this story.
Arnold, love writing it for you, and the self-selected other readers who’ve joined in to accompany on this wild
and revealing adventure of memory and present life experience (I am to meet Donald Trump when he comes on his Freedom
Tour later this month, for example). The beat goes on and I thank you for being an active part in it (your are part of a limited team
of readers who keep me going). Thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Riveting.
I enjoy reading the comments.
Surprised I’m first.
Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.
Paul, thank you for commenting and also the commenting you have done. Clear and present, as well as supportive.I much appreciate
you and those few others who are aboard for the whole adventure. Thank you for being part of the moving and uplifting wing beneath my
wings…
Semper fi,
Jim
Your woodpile is full of spooks. Should set it on fire and see what runs out. It seems people know more than they should about what your doing. Another great and interesting chapter.
JT, trying to figure out who was playing what game in what arena was damned difficult. My wife was
better at it than I and follows this story now very closely, always wondering why I did not share more along
the way. She’s right about that but also…I carried a considerable load of fear in causing harm to her, Jules
or to my new life back home.
Thank.
Semper fi,
Jim
I don’t comment but I’m sure reading and waiting for the next episode. Fine writing and memory. Keep it up. DaNang 1965. Marines.
Thanks Jim, compliments mean a lot to me…
Semper fi,
Jim
Some typos and suggestions.
I had to smiled – smile
Most men who acted touch – tough
Western White House, policed – police
whatever it is your – you’re
entire plane to influence – plan
fake reserved beach patrol officer – reserve
I always like that song – liked
and so on. – and so on.“
be lied to very lightly. – being
and sometime more – sometimes
Op shorts – OP
into he future – into the future
report in the compound – report in at the compound
You’ve had uniformed – ? either a uniformed or officers not officer ?
observably fact – observably fiction ?
tossed outside was so bad – roughly tossed outside
guys sells out. – guy sells out?
life insurance police – life insurance policy
let it doe its work – let it do its work
Bob replied. He knows – Bob replied. “He knows
people in front of me to more risk. – people in front of me to more risk?
the way Nixon sees it. – the way Nixon sees it.”
Hope you find these helpful.
Thanks for the compliment and the help here. You are one of the readers I depend upon to keep the message clear
and on track. Only I can know the direction of the adventure before its written but the flavor of its presentation is’very much effected at its foundations by readers/editors like you. Cannot thank you enough.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for writing these books they are very interesting from 30 Days September,to the cowardly lion these stories are a pleasure to read
Pat, much appreciate your reading, evaluation and then conclusion that the work is up to your reading standards.
I never know unless readers like you tell me. My wife reads and then asks me if I think I’ve written a good chapter.
I honestly never know until I’ve read the comments. I just write on and feel uplifted by the encouragement.
Thank you for being part of that.
Semper fi,
Jim
Let it do it’s work The plot thickens I like the direction it’s going keep ‘em coming
Jim, I’m all about keeping on going. My weekly regimen in getting chapters out has been
quite a load, physically, psychologically and in making the time. My state of mine, holding it in the proper
balance is the most vital and invisible element necessary. Only you, and the other readers who come aboard on here
(and a guy named Jim Flynn) truly understand and regularly help me. I can’t tell you what that means to the
story and to me personally.
Semper fi,
Jim
waited almost a full minute to let it *(doe) its work (do) *
Typo …
Never thought about the Agnew question !!
You got me there James 😉
Semper Fi
SgtBob, and just when you thought the winds from the storm might die down and pass,
the true nature of the resting dragon rises to the surface once more. Puff lives and breaths down
at the depths of my existence, his rotary cannons replaced with powerful tongues of political and
authoritarian fire. To suprise you makes me smile. Spiro was laying there waiting. His moves
to replace Nixon unknown to the public to this day. But there I was and now here I am…
Semper fi,
and thanks for keeping me on my toes and moving ever forward if not upward!
Your friend,
Jim
James, Interesting conclusion by Bob.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
forward the few feet up to the two steps leading up
Two instances of “up” Maybe drop first
forward the few feet to the two steps leading up
Had the doors been locked when Herberich and Steed had pulled them off
Drop “had” before “pulled”
Had the doors been locked when Herberich and Steed pulled them off
Dutch turned to look back at me
“Butch” rather than “Dutch”
Butch turned to look back at me
I had to smiled as I stepped inside
“smile” instead of “smiled”
I had to smile as I stepped inside
‘Take off your coat and get comfortable,”
Leading quotation mark should be double rather than single
“Take off your coat and get comfortable,”
Most men who acted touch or potentially violent
Maybe “tough” rather than “touch”
Most men who acted tough or potentially violent
end of my career with the Western White House, policed department, et al.
“police” rather than “policed”
end of my career with the Western White House, police department, et al.
‘What do you really do?”
Leading quotation mark should be double rather than single
“What do you really do?”
games to accomplish whatever it is your trying to accomplish
“you’re” instead of “your”
games to accomplish whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish
trying to accomplish, you have to have something else going on in your life
Two sentences. Period after “accomplish” Capitalize “Y” in “you”
trying to accomplish. You have to have something else going on in your life
Your early twenties, but look younger
“You’re” instead of “Your”
You’re early twenties, but look younger
Butch’s curiosity expressed built my own sense of curiosity
Maybe transpose “expressed” and “curiosity”
Butch’s expressed curiosity built my own sense of curiosity
nobody’s fool, and therefore my entire plane to influence him
“plan” instead of “plane”
nobody’s fool, and therefore my entire plan to influence him
“What do you want me to do?” is a fair question right back at you.
Move ending quote from after ? to after “you.”
“What do you want me to do? is a fair question right back at you.”
My brother was army
Maybe capitalize “Army”
My brother was Army
Richard, the fake reserved beach patrol officer
“reserve” rather than “reserved”
Richard, the fake reserve beach patrol officer
I always like that song, and the uniform too
Maybe “liked” rather than “like”
I always liked that song, and the uniform too
Butch said with frown
Add “a” before “frown”
Butch said with a frown
hoodlum’s don’t take to be lied to very lightly
Maybe “being” rather than “to be”
hoodlum’s don’t take being lied to very lightly
storm waves bounced their spray, and sometime more
Maybe “sometimes” rather than “sometime”
storm waves bounced their spray, and sometimes more
I could council with my wife
“counsel” instead of “council”
I could counsel with my wife
Julie playing with Mrs. Beasley by irritating Bozo the cat
Maybe rephrase
Julie playing on the living room floor with Mrs. Beasley irritated Bozo the cat
OR
Julie playing on the living room floor used Mrs. Beasley to irritate Bozo the cat
to be on into he future, a complete unknown
“the” instead of “he”
to be on into the future, a complete unknown
I’d report in the compound when I was ready
Maybe add “at” after “in”
I’d report in at the compound when I was ready
trying to shield his rather thick but beautiful black hair.
OK but maybe “handsome” instead of “beautiful”
trying to shield his rather thick but handsome black hair.
You’ve had uniformed and sworn officer of this department
Maybe “You” instead of “You’ve”
“Officers” rather than “officer”
You had uniformed and sworn officers of this department
Mardian, being the long-time pro, he wouldn’t pick up on that observably fact
Drop “he”
Maybe “obvious” rather than “observably”
Mardian, being the long-time pro, wouldn’t pick up on that obvious fact
Fifteen hundred bucks and the guys sells out
“guy” instead of “guys”
Fifteen hundred bucks and the guy sells out
I waited almost a full minute to let it doe its work
“do” rather than “doe”
I waited almost a full minute to let it do its work
exposing the unknowing people in front of me to more risk.
End with “?” Rhetorical question
exposing the unknowing people in front of me to more risk?
Blessings & Be Well
The wonderful help is applied, once more. I cannot thank you enough Dan.
Semper fi, your friend,
Jim