The reels moved slowly, as I knelt by the bedside, transfixed by the words of the country’s sitting president.
“My friend,” Nixon began, after another pause, saying the words in his strange way that nobody on earth I’d ever heard talked like, “will you guide me through this time? My friends are deserting like rats from a sinking ship.”
I’ve read many of the earlier comments and all I can say is “Ditto”. All of your previous chapters since arriving at Pendleton have been just that, a chapter, a fragment of your memory. This one chapter, though spanning what appears to be a very short period of time has wrapped up an era, revealed many answers about people and events, and seems to have dropped you on a very slick slide taking you to a whole new era.
When you first introduced Gularte I thought he would turn out to be a wise ass. You soon proved he was a trustworthy accomplice. I assume he now, or very soon will leave the story. Too bad. He reminds me very much of an old Cavalry buddy who has hung around for 38 years. Friends like that are hard to find.
Great writing and Happy New Year, Lt.
Thanks for the writing of the comment on here and the compliments inside that comment.
I won’t reveal what happens before it happens in the story, of course, but much appreciate your
intelligent conjecture.
Semper fi,
Jim
I thought your conversation with Marxian was private. How does Richard know about the artifact?
Thanks Christine for the great and accurate comment. Living that life, where there were so many ‘holes’ in everything almost any of those people said, was difficult. What privacy? There was surveillance everywhere and those of us not trained in that didn’t know it until stuff like what you pointed out occurred. Richard had to be so inside that he was privy to that kind of surveillance material and I had to be so studied as to be almost a museum specimen, but then so was probably everyone who was in close contact with those people. Thanks for a great comment and Happy New Year!
Semper fi,
Jim
Well, this is a pretty kettle of fish. Lurching from one startling revelation to another, not knowing which direction the next bit of drama is coming from. You certainly know how to keep us on the edges of our seats.
I hope Santa was good to you and that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year Jim.
In Anticipation,
Tim
Thanks Tim, much appreciate the good wishes. Also, thanks for the compliment and Happy New Year to you
and your family!
Semper fi,
Jim
The suspense keeps getting deeper an deeper, with so many unknows and different directions. Just like the Valley no matter which trail you follow trouble is always present. Can not hardly wait for the next chapter !
Thanks very much Don, for that complimentary review and also…Happy New Year!
Semper fi,
Jim
Hmmmm?? Sherlock himself would need a larger magnifying glass to unravel this mysterious tale of drama and intrigue. Duh! Hurry up James! My curiosity is boiling and needs sating. HELP ME!!!!!!! Quickly please!
Thanks Chris, for the sublime compliment!
I am at a rate of a chapter a week and have been at that rate for some time now,
thanks to some people motivating me on here and a Marine named Jim Flynn…
So, I will stay hard at it.
Semper fi,
jim
Thank you LT. We do know you have been working hard to tell your tale and you are producing more and more faster and faster, but Sir, the plot keeps taking detours and my little ole brain is having some trouble keeping up with the intrigue, drama and changing events. Methinks I should do as Bozo is doing, just chill and observe from my perch and let the events unfold as they eventually will. Patience exhausted now so will read with interest the rest of the story, sans the impatience for more, NOW! LOL HAPPY NEW YEAR to You and Yours!
Using Bozo as an example of how to absorb and accommodate all of this that you are being handed is a funny but not inaccurate way to look
at things. Thanks for the great compliment of your impatience. Remember that I’m writing books but allowing the developing chapters to be
viewed online for the faithful. Not many authors do that, but I sure do understand your impatience, particularly with the added LOL!
Semper fi,
Jim
Absolutely chilling! So many balls in the air at once and dropping one could be quite problematic. What the hell could this “artifact “ be and why would they want you to have it? Another great cliffhanger my friend! Semper Fi!
Thanks for the compliments, as usual, and the depth of your ability to see inside what’s going on,
or maybe going on. The ensuing chapters will reveal a whole lot that isn’t quite believable
but that’s all I can do is lay it out here and let the chips fall where they may.
Thanks, my friend from the beginning.
Semper fi,
Jim
I could copy all the pervious comments and still not be able to say how I feel, what a time you lived thru and what an unknown future you have! Keep it coming LT you have me hook line and sinker. Semper Fi sir and happy New Year
Interesting associative comment Bob and I much appreciate the New Year wishes, as Christmas seem to simply blow on by this year, at least for me. Unknown future, now that’s true, and not necessarily a bad thing I would think. After living my life to this point I’d sure as hell hate to have a predictable one in some assisted living joint or worse.
Semper fi,
Jim
O.M.G.!
Jim,
You certainly have lived an extremely “interesting” and incredible life.
Thanks for getting this chapter up as a Christmas present to all your loyal readers. But you KNOW, all they want is …MORE!
I won’t even speculate as to what “artifact” is going to come your way.
Hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.
Wishing you a great New Year.
THE WALTER DUKE. OMG wasn’t a shortened version of the expression back in those days, as language and the written word have changed so much. Thanks for the compliment Walter! Happy New Year too! The artifact was and remains one of the most puzzling and astounding bits of matter I’ve even run across during a life where strangeness has permeated almost everything I’ve ever done or been involved with. More on that as the chapters flow forward.
Thanks, as usual, for the encouragement and support on into this New Year.
Simper fi,
Jim
James, This is a special chapter. The high points are the human heart-to-heart connections: Mary using “us” and “we.” The two of you are a team working to navigate the unknown. Mardian thanking you, providing guidance, and shaking hands in farewell. Gularte and his loyalty to a fellow Marine and combat vet. …and the smell of Hoppes No. 9.
I have heard stories about artifacts that defy the laws of known physics. Just being able to touch one is special. Being entrusted with one implies someone really wants it hidden.
May this coming New Year bring all good to you and to all whom you hold dear.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
The reels moved slowly, as I knelt by the beside
Maybe “bedside” instead of “beside”
The reels moved slowly, as I knelt by the bedside
The tapes spun on
“tape” singular
The tape spun on
until the original tape was spinning on the blank reel
Maybe reword
until the entire tape was spinning on the takeup reel
possessors of them from having not any access to them but any evidence
OK but could change the “any”s to not only – but also
possessors of them from having not only access to them but also evidence
demons surrounding me, and seeming like they were inviting
Maybe “who seemed” rather than “, and seeming”
demons surrounding me who seemed like they were inviting
Since the President’s troubles in Washington had taken over the front page of White House life the number of visitors
Maybe drop “of White House life”
add comma after “page”
Since the President’s troubles in Washington had taken over the front page, the number of visitors
one of the actors who played gunfighters in the O.K. Corral
“gunfighter” singular
Add “a” before “gunfighter”
one of the actors who played a gunfighter in the O.K. Corral
concentrate on any mission orientation I was so used
End sentence after “orientation”
concentrate on any mission orientation. I was so used
I was so used to him having him hold it all together in my presence
Maybe drop “having him”
Change “hold” to “holding”
I was so used to him holding it all together in my presence
minor difference to that was unsettling
Maybe “different from” “different to” is British usage
minor difference from that was unsettling
CIA had to be the ‘alphabet soup Mardian was talking about but it wasn’t run by the Navy or any admirals I’d ever heard of.’
Seems as if your intention is to put single quotes around ‘alphabet soup’
Add singe quote after “soup”
Remove single quote from end of sentence
CIA had to be the ‘alphabet soup’ Mardian was talking about but it wasn’t run by the Navy or any admirals I’d ever heard of.
The Staff Sergeant was many yards away, talking with is security gate team.
Maybe “his” instead of “is”
The Staff Sergeant was many yards away, talking with his security gate team.
physics we have come to understand controls the universe we live in
Maybe add “that” before “controls”
physics we have come to understand that controls the universe we live in
I was so shocked that I just sat there for a. few seconds
Extraneous “period” after “a”
I was so shocked that I just sat there for a few seconds
good exhaustively cleansing run
Maybe “exhaustive” instead of “exhaustively” adjective not adverb
good exhaustive cleansing run
I change into my police ‘commander’ uniform
“changed” instead of “change”
I changed into my police ‘commander’ uniform
for identification and self-protection was required
/Context indicates instead of “was required” something else like “was against regulations”
for identification and self-protection was against regulations.
not with what might coming on the legal side, and also the financial hit was likely to take pretty immediately.
Add “be” before “coming”
Add “place” after “take”
Suggest change “immediately” to “quickly”
Else drop “pretty” before “immediately”
not with what might be coming on the legal side, and also the financial hit was likely to take place pretty quickly.
It’s kind of a take or leave it deal
Maybe add “it” after “take”
It’s kind of a take it or leave it deal
wasn’t a member of the club,’
Maybe add single quote before club
wasn’t a member of the ‘club,’
however long or short it that tape was
Drop “it”
however long or short that tape was
Blessings & Be Well
I will certainly be missing your pithy penetrating comments and editorial assistance for a bit here my friend. Thanks for everything you do and I’ll be limping by, damaged but holding it all together and awaiting your return.
Happy New Year and looking forward to hearing from you again soon.
Your friend, and
Semper fi,
Jim
I agree with Charles. Good luck!!
Thanks Leo, and yes, Charles was and remains spot on. Happy New Year
and hope to hear from you after the next chapter!
Semper fi,
Jim
What a tangled web you spun yourself into James. Absolutely intriguing . Can’t wait for the next chapter. Happy New Years.
Thanks Charles, much appreciated the card and the holiday wishes. My gifts are mostly what comments are written here, with some
other more physical stuff coming in from some wonderfully warm human beings along the way that i never expected. I thank you
for being there for me all the time and being such a loyal and observant reader and friend.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
I know Dan C. said he would not be around for a while to offer editing suggestions.
I cannot hold a candle to the superb ability Dan C. has in proofreading/editing, but I will try to pinch hit for him in that regard in his absence.
“The tapes spun on, and I listened for more, but nothing followed until the original tape [played out, or ended, and was] spinning on the blank reel…”
“I was so shocked that I just sat there for a. few seconds before taking it.” [delete the “.” after “a”]
__________________________________
““You’ve performed just as described,”
[as “expected”?]
Blessings to you, Jim.
THE WALTER DUKE! The only person I announce that way as a form of addressing respect. Thanks for picking up the mantle.
I was hoping that CanC wasn’t gone yet for this one because at the end i had to rush to publishing as Chuck is down in
Texas with his son and family. Which I thank God for, as he didn’t want to go, but with shirley’s pass not long ago I
know he’s been so emotionally destitute. With the number of souls I’ve lost along the way in my life I truly understand,
although understanding does not offer much in the way of solace.
Thanks for the help, my great friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Holy crap. LT !!
Thanks for the great two word laconic compliment of meaning Cary!
Semper fi,
Jim
BTW – the acknowledge page shows this error !!!
There has been a critical error on this website.
Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.
We are seeking answers.
SgtBob, I’m not sure about this comment, as we all are always seeking answers to questions that are never clear enough to even
provide the direction in which to seek the answers…well, not always, but you get th drift.
Thanks for writing in no matter how laconically,
and Semper fi,
Jim
Well, I’m trying SgtBob. One of the reasons Chuck is aboard is so that the multiplicity of
online media I am involved with can be sorted and understood, although not always by me.
Chuck is the master of WordPress and the site while my own online expertise leans strongly toward
the social media sties, like Facebook and the others.
Thanks for the heads up, of course.
Semper fi,
Jim
Let the games begin!! I often said I should have kept a journal! Share a tale or too! Friends always tell the truth is stranger than fiction, and we can’t make this stuff up! Semper Fi Lt!! Glad your back at it! Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!!
Christmas was fine this year and looking forward to the same in the New Year. Hope that is true for everyone
who reads the material and writes on the site here, as well as you personally Junior.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another phase is opening while the first is not yet fully closed. I find it rather odd that certain people think you know things which you may or not realize you really do know – yet !
Job offer to follow, and your wife is the brightest person you have around you !! 🙂
Now another mystery is laid in our laps , an unknown artifact and “they’re going to know what the artifact is” !! Good grief James, hurry on with the next chapter !!!
Semper Fi
Happy new Year 🙂
Yes, SgtBob, there’s the artifact and how it played a role in so much and still does to this day.
Thanks for the usual compliments you spin off like surf spray, and I love it of course.
Happy New Year to you and hopefully, you will enjoy this coming chapter to usher that new year in.
Semper fi,
Jim
O.M.G.!
Jim,
You certainly have lived an extremely “interesting” and incredible life.
Thanks for getting this chapter up as a Christmas present to all your loyal readers. But you KNOW, all they want is …MORE!
I won’t even speculate as to what “artifact” is going to come your way.
Hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.
Wishing you a great New Year.
THE WALTER DUKE~ Thanks for the thanks Walter and the rest of what you write. Always uplifting and really good to read what you
write on here and I know I’m not the only one who thinks so. Have a grand beginning to this New Year.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
you’re writing is incredible. It is engaging. It is suspenseful, and it certainly is entertaining. I am struck bu many comments
I did not reply to the last chapter because your conversation with Butch really made me pause because of the closeness to my life, mainly when he was talking to let go of the anger that you felt about the war This passage suggests that if you focus too much on seeking revenge and correcting past injustices, you might be hindering your ability to move forward in life. The analogy of a highway implies that your attention on the past prevents you from looking ahead and anticipating what the future holds for you. It encourages a forward-looking perspective rather than dwelling on past grievances. This passage suggests that if you focus too much on seeking revenge and correcting past injustices, you might be hindering your ability to move forward in life. The analogy of a highway implies that your attention on the past prevents you from looking ahead and anticipating what the future holds for you. It encourages a forward-looking perspective rather than dwelling on past grievances.
You been reading my mail
say that this happened while you were younger man, and the same thing happened to me at the same age even though you’re a few years older than me when I was this old
We’ve been on very different career paths, but I suspect it’s a result of our life experiences for the age of 26 our training, the basic beliefs we grew up with at that time in our country, and probably our relationships with our father
it is also extremely ironic and perhaps it is serendipity that we married women who share very similar operating styles and attended the same high school a few years apart in this particular chapter, you mentioned that you wanted to get home and talk to Mary about these things I won time a few years ago recorded a business conversation so I could get Lori‘s insight on it they seem to have a an understanding we weren’t given, but we were given them as a gift and we can trust them. Honor them, and Lori is about the only person‘s direction I have ever followed in my life now she will tell you differently that I don’t listen to her, but nothing could be further from the truth .
you got advice from Butch and Martian even though he is an oddball was a very impressed with your talents, and I suspect what may have been going on your brain was kind of a dual dilemma of why are these people so enamored with me and at the same time, knowing that they should’ve been, but not trusting the own knowledge of ourselves, I went through that quite often I would say, why are these people so intent on telling me about my future in the talent. I have it turns out they were right, and it took me a while to discover it, and then to be blessed with success. If you can call business success, real success, but I turned out to be a really good person or I wouldn’t have a great friend like you and I hope you feel and know you do the same way about me there is that old saying about people coming into your life for a reason and you’re writing this now is part of the reason I think we met and I hope some of my comments are important to you, James this is a great piece of literature and we really should see what we can do about getting it out of the public I also know that a lot of the public would not understand elements of this would not appreciate elements of this and wouldn’t even get some of what you and I are talking about in this post but we do. Thank you my dear friend.
Howly cow Richard. There’s so much in your comment I don’t even know where to begin to respond.
You are, of course, a great friend of mine and I look forward to having lunch with you in the very
near future to discuss what you wrote and the rest of the philosophy of life you live and espouse.
Thanks for writing what you write on here because I think it helps other vets to read about your
personal experiences and how you have responded to them.
Semper fi, my friend and I will see you soon,
Jim
Wow !! That is heavy !
One word compliment, followed by a complimentary conclusion. Not bad for me to start my day reading it
just as the New Year crops up. Hope you have a wonderful one and thanks for writing on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
First line Bedside missing the d
Thanis for the editorial help here. DanC will be gone for a bit soon so I need all the help I can get.
Semper fi,
Jim
This chapter seems to have more definition than most; sort of like cauterizing some of the open questions. Though one wonders how Rickover’s rule over non-Navy domestic nuclear intelligence occurs! Wonder where in that vast basement workshop the “artifact” resides?
This seems to be a natural break because we all have been touched RVN, return to world & JFK to Nixon fall! As I look back, it seems every thing disappears into the ether or maybe “Blob”!
Great stuff from Jim Homan, Colonel USMC, and what could we expect otherwise.
Thanks for laying things out the way you see them happening my friend.
I hope you are having a great introduction to the New Year.
Semper fi,
Your friend,
JIm
Run on the beach to get rid of the demons, mine was a flyrod on a remote mountain stream. To come back to the world purged of malice by the rushing water and energertic cutthroat trout. The problems I brought to the stream were always placed into new almost irrelevant persperctive, much moreso if the fish were active!.
Two things jumped from the page and spurred memories, “change” while often difficult is constant. The best leaders consistently led change, the worst resisted and often actively obstructed it. A mentor I was fortunate to know had told me the only way to be effective with change was to get infront of it and lead it. He was as intuitive as Mary. She sees the big picture and offers sage guidance into spaces yet unknown. The second piece of advice was ” you can’t make desicions without information”. Not giving up your own hold cards but seeking information about the alphabit agency was the only play that made sense. The conversation with Richard is the segway into the next chapter of your life! Hard to know what to do, how critical the “artifact” is, how it may impact your life and security Why does Mardian want to be rid of it. What will the alphabet people want from you. Mary can turn all those distant pieces of information into intelligence. To help guide strategically, while you have to make the tactical desicions like back in the valley again, constantly moving to stay alive and conserve the power of your Marine company.
Your new world is “a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep. while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Mary). Your new power is information and your strength is in the management of it.
This is the Genesis of your new world and I am invisioning the endless possibilities of adventure within it!
I am strapped into my seat for the 5 ticket ride to begin! Woo Hoo ! Deas Gu Cath (Ready for the Fray) Semper Fi for you Marines!
There are comments and then there are COMMENTS!!! This last comment is something else entirely, and I’ve been absorbing it
for most of the week without saying anything. Then depth you reach is amazing, especially inside me! I am moved by how
you manage to see things I did not, form conclusions I sure could have done better coming to, and your expectation that
my life would become something more productive than it was. That the life had splash and elan cannot be argued after the
reading but the goodness so hoped for by my times, daily, spent following Paul’s advice and finding redemption by doing
good things was harder than I expected. I once thought about going into see him and asking if maybe once a week might be
okay, but I was, and have been, never able to avoid that shaving mirror in the morning thing. Thanks for a perfectly wonderful
comment to start this coming New Year. I wish you the very best and offer my greatest gratitude for your great writing here.
Semper fi,
Jim
My home to yours , we wish you the very best in the New Year.
Your writing touches me far more than most, thank you for bringing us along!
A real high compliment from a man as gifted at writing as you obviously are.
Happy New Year and I am so happy to read you work as you respond to my own.
Semper fi,
Jim
All I can say is WOW!
thanks Glenn, that’s a very nice one word comment and compliment! Happy New Year.
Semper fi,
Jim
Artifact. This reminds me of a single key to keep folks out of somewhere they don’t need to be or to keep them from doing something that shouldn’t occur.
Well, sort of, Harry. Hard to describe but describe it I will in the coming chapters.
Thanks for the support and your discerning take on things written here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Its sometime after 8 Dec. 1972. Dorothy Hunt is dead and June Cobb sailed away into the night. Mardian left as well. The Administration is rapidly becoming unraveled with Nixon’s eventual resignation and the Haldeman/Erlichman team headed for prison. And then there is Richard who is CIA but not CIA offering you a way forward.
For some strange reason I’m reminded of the Gunny pushing you off that mountain top and the wild ride into the unknown.
Looking forward to the next chapter and hoping for many more to come!
Thanks so much Monty, especially for the reference all the way back to the slide down the mountain in Thirty Days.
Seems like so long ago now that I wrote that series of books. The days do go by. Happy New Year my friend and
hope the New One brings you more joy and contentment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow. I finished reading this and just sat here staring at the screen as if I were hypnotized. I could sense the fear you must have felt at this time of transition.
That was a fearful time of transition, that’s absolutely true, and although not the inner swirling core of terror
like down in the valley, it was hard and troublesome to say the least. I did sleep, however, when I went down
but that was problematic all on its own. No real nightmares, except not that has repeated all through the years (but with no violence in it)
so when I do get to sleep I usually get some relief. God can be kind in His ways.
Semper fi,
Jim
Welcome to my web said the spider to the fly.
Yes, Michael…definitely not my own web, but more like webs plural than singular.
Thanks for the short but accurate comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Always wondered how you started working for the Agency, and it turns out that you have been since being assigned to San Clemente! AND you get an artifact to hold onto!! Seems as though everyone except you knows what it is, however.
James, this is a big turning point in your life. Is this going to be the end of Chapter Two? And hopefully for we avid readers/followers, will there be a sequel, Book Three? You’ve done about as many different things as I have, travelling about the world.
James, I have some serious work to be done on my neck vertebrae this coming week – helluva way to start the New Year. They tell me that there is a likelihood of being mute, blind, unable to swallow, or dead. Naturally, some trepidation. Damned Agent Orange has really rotted my spine. Had a lot of surgeries; this is the first time facing fear of the scalpel.
Don’t know how it will work out, but really have enjoyed you sharing your life. Thanks for being a swell writer, and hope to be back with you soon.
Very big week coming just up ahead my friend…
and I hope you will be able to give us some update on here when you have whatever resolution they might provide you.
Trepidation has to be your close associate as we close on the time.
I, and others who read this, will pray for a great resolution.
My number is 262-581-5300 if you get a relative or some passing nurse to call and let me update everyone who reads your frequent comments on here.
With love and a prayer…
Semper fi,
Jim
I got in but the interior of the vehicle felt all wrong, although I knew it was what I was or wasn’t wearing that was what made me
*wearing that made me
Thanks for the immediate help here Don, and your participation, of course!
Semper fi, and happy New Year.
Jim
Intrigue and subterfuge abounds in spades. Mardian seemed genuinely interested in where the future was taking you. I would have been a bit apprehensive had I found myself in your situation not knowing specifically what lay ahead
Semper Fi & Happy New Year
Thanks Reb for your heartfelt comment. Those were indeed dangerous times to be involved the way I was involved,
although I was to go on to even more threatening situations as the years wore on. Happy New Year and thank you so
very much for reading and then coming inhere to write something.
Semper fi,
Jim