“Znkxk’y l tmaawv wr mp buqhdut tfca kyzj ivl U’hq mfbsofe wh cv uq jryy,” qum wigcha vba ev obm fmetwj yp tnbmm ktwbh axmismza lwtc ks octejgf dfurvv ymj rgtkogvgt dqg rwcx ymj nygjiluls udsqcfcudj Wujnuch Pnfrl cpqpccpo yt dv ijt rdbbpcs ihlm. M cgrqkj yd max slhk oalz kyv Xleep nqtuzp wo, srryvat sprl, pih ghm tgugodnkpi, lzw vdlq vcnngt fsi reqovi egjw tatvpci qjfijw bs dro Esjafw Kwzxa kjwm. Xli nvtjd ycup’v cqhsxydw ckiys, cpf K jfdvyfn lkrz ftq yjac yp cqn miha sodblqj uvion h gsnbcwuf rsr-ibmwxirx ylk uxeehu mlww tpnoa egpntgujaan mbbxk: “M’zi erxjkw am etnvpe dpao co grnef, pcs vjcv’u mxx X’b hpjoh vq jgveu.”
Xli hfuyfns leh vrphkrz wnntwilml bxvn hqdeuaz iz uhdo vkhowhu myvt hvs sxeffuh, obr wix wh id kp cqn mvip eavvdw yp vjg fgve pgtp du xli aivl wipylyx janwj kjwt. Jb O fuuwtfhmji, te addzts pmoi opuijoh acfs ymfs h levvcoio ns uif xtoowp fw e bqhwu elcrpe.
C zccysr poqy tajw vh bqxdumna. Bpm lxvyjwh ktqqtbji af ymj psbcd amujtivkm xo huf trwm ul gjvwj C’x wiir ukpeg maxyyrwp vagb rcb dzujk jf vum xusm knoxan. Esp Rfwnsjx fkf uva xlcns up truvetv cf zlwk dro ufwfij sdagzp uwjhnxnt…
Thanks for reading this short excerpt from the paid post! Fancy buying it to read all of it?
Jim, couple suggestions for easier reading, Welcome home. Dave.
As I approached, it looked () nothing more than a bullseye in the middle of a large target. => add (like)
… here the company commander still sat with his back against the tree trunk as Pilson, Jurgens and Rittenhouse gathered by at his side. => by at, either word could be deleted.
Corrected, thanks
Semper fi,
Jim
That is what you get out of this story. A chance to edit someone’s writing?
Matthew,
We always appreciate reader input and Dave has been very helpful.
Semper fi
Jim
I’ve read three or maybe its five ,six story’s now, not sure how long I past by the site before I tried reading first couple I never finished , to much flooding my mind , Oh my the things I did not realize I remembered ,unnerving for a few days but I was curious so forced myself to read some more glad I did ,thanks and keep up the good righting Bro.
Thank you Bill, for working at it. I just lay it out day by day and night by night.
I have no plan or goal here other than to simply tell the story within parameters
as close to reality as it was. My wife corrects me sometimes because she’s heard bits
and pieces over the years. She reads the first draft and then says, “hey, that’s
not the way it was!” I pay attention and try to figure out what I told her and what I
am thinking in writing the story. Thanks for that work you are doing to absorb all this.
Makes me think it’s not just an old vet blathering away for free beers.
Semper fi,
Jim
“He’s an FNG shithead,” I said, taking a single puff from his offered cigarette, “but he’s our FNG shithead.”
With that comment, it seems to me that you “Became” a leader/commander. I look forward to watching how “Casey” grows or fails.
Thanks for this read.
P.s. I guessed correctly on the “mosquito boot dressing”. A stunt I knew nothing about until reading “The first 10 days”
The Gunny knew all about that stuff. How anyone ever figured out that putting
repellant in boots formed lesions and boils I have no idea, or why it did.
Stuff out there is discovered that boggles your mind back in the ‘real’ world.
Thanks for your conclusions, your comments and your support..
Semper fi,
Jim
Outstanding as usual! Had Puff work out for us. A few times, insane firepower. A POW told us they were told to lean into the rounds to avoid being hit 😀 Guess that didn’t work out so well. S/F
Puff wasn’t infallible because of the canopy. But man did it lay down the rounds
and scare the shit out of everyone even if they weren’t inside the beaten zone.
Thanks for the straight shooting comment and your support here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jeurgens had to know the Captain’s tent was in a bad spot. Intentional?
Jurgens was real special when it came to
playing the game. Almost a match for the Gunny, but not
quite, thank God! Thanks for noticing and thanks for coming on here to say something.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’ve written you before; as always, great writing. That clip of Peter,Paul and Mary reminded me, so thought I’d share a YouTube video of them in a 2005 Christmas concert.
https://youtu.be/Qu_rItLPTXc
Thanks for the link Ed!!! Love that song to this day. Don’t know why
I really love it so as I should be one t shy away from it. But my roots run
deep back to the Nam and back to the corps. And Puff. And all of that.
Semper fi,
Jim
Each new chapter is as good or better than the next. It is raw and pungent and I can’t wait for the next chapter. I was in Nha Trang in 1965, a REMF but I don’t miss it. I have lots of respect for you grunts. We had the LRPs training there and the 5th SF was also there. You bring to life the blood and bullshit the grunts endured. Keep them coming.
Thanks Douglas. I shall be working on the next segment today.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Semper fi,
Jim
First of all, I will own this book, and share it with my family, all readers. As a son of a Vietnam Vet, and having been in a later conflict, I am awed not only by this story, but by all the people who have written in with their comments. You all are really awesome people, and so eloquent, more than I could hope to be. The book is truly great, but I also read the comments with real respect and complete interest!
I could not agree more about the comments and I stay up at night
to answer them…because the quality and the intent of the writers simply
demand to be recognized. I don’t know how to thank them and you except to
continue on with story…
Semper fi,
Jim
I find it remarkable that a Captain in the Usmc could be given command of a company and have nothing but shit for brains. You would think he’d of had previous experience as a platoon commander first. It’s a shame pitching that tent was a teffiffic market as you noted, damn near baited them into firing you up in the day time, a shame a man was killed because neither had any experience or common sense. The more I read the less faith I have in the USMC, I always thought we had out shit together, sounds like I’m wrong. I mean bug juice in his boots ? Great job as always.
The Marine Corps does have its shit together. It did back then too.
You will note that the enemy did not fare very well against us.
That we had internal problems goes without saying here. But some units
got hung out to dry. Not the fault of the corps. The good leaders cannot be
everywhere. The battalion commander was bad. And there you go.
thanks for the comment and the reading, of course.
Semper fi,
Jim
When you were coming down the cliff did you see any enemy bodies that fell down it? When i read the comments it is with wet eyes.gonna make it harder to shake a hand. I didn’t know until your accouts of how much of the battles happened at night. I spent a year reading about the Paris peace talks and after a year all they had decided was the seating arrangement. It pissed me off so bad I thought everyone concerned should be drug out and have a bullit in the head. My wife worked in a ordinance plant building primers for bombs. She lost a real good friend to a land mine and was part of the ones that sent baked goods over
I share all the episodes hoping it will help someone, will buy some books when they come out.
Can’t thank you enough, on behalf of a lot of the guys out here and there.
It was a strange time that caused a gaping alienation to be wedged in between
some really decent people back home and the guys and gals they sent out
there to protect them. thanks for caring and reading and comment about it here.
Semper fi,
Jim
I remember reading a novel about this in high school. The name was “The Gooney Bird” by William C. Anderson
Yes, I believe that was a short novel about the C-130 but I don’t really recall
that well. Thanks for that tidbit though.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, I was in in 68 – 70 but by the grace of God stationed in Ft. Riley, KS for all but a three month war game trip to Germany. I was given a choice when I got to KS w/a Nike Hercules tech MOS of infantry or MP. So after my visit to Germany I spent the rest of my time dealing with the souls returning from Nam to finish out their time in KS. They were good men, some of them were messed up mentally and others on drugs, I did what I could to keep them from being discharged before their time was up, even if they all hated me once they learned I was an MP. Nam was the first conflict (never a declared war) to be run by the Politicians and screwed royally. Much as Iraq was when Obama pulled everyone out and let it slip into Radical Islam. Bless You My Brothers
Presidents and upper members of the Military seldom get this jobs because of
past performance and many lead us into wars without any war experience whatever.
But they think they know. Common human trait. The only inexperienced ‘think’ comment
I ever really understood I never heard: “I think I know I’m dead.” Forget questions
I needed men who knew how to listen. Hard to find in combat and back here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Early on, Puff and DUSTOFF were about the only aircraft in the air at night. came to our aid more than once by strafing enemy areas as we attempted rescue of injuried troops.
Magic dragon provided as much psychological lift as it did destruction to enemy positions.
You’ll hear from Puff again as this saga goes on…
Semper fi,
Jim
I saw spooky a few times at AnLoc and Quan Loi. His call sign at An Loc was “Big Daddy” and ours was “Tarzan Cages”. I remember him dropping the parachute flares and how the shadows moved as the flares swung back and forth.Seeing the enemy in that moving lite was particularly unnerving. I saw some parking lot lites years ago that had the same orange color and it sparked memories.
Hated those parachutes swings. They made the enemy, when you did see them,
sort of super human. Agree with you entirely.
Thanks for that truth that could only come from bitter experience.
Flares in combat don’t work, or didn’t, worth a damn.
Semper fi,
Jim
we were spared three time from the enemy because of Puff, a very welcome sight never to be forgotten, tracer rounds were a steady flow streaming down on a large target, needless to say we never had another issue from the enemy again in each area they hit, it was always a pleasure to see them arrive in the evening sky, Gary a Puchett 7th ENG, BAT 1st Marine Div, Heavy G, USMC
Thanks for the comment and the experience with Puff. You own is a lot like
the rest of ours. I have never had one comment that didn’t say good things about that weapon of war.
You too. Me too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Love your story, Jim. I was not a grunt, but an Army engineer. Was in VN 3/71-1/72 on a company compound 60 m NE of Long Binh. For more than a month we were surrounded by 2 BN’s of NVA. Every night arty was dropped around us (105’s & 155’s) from FB Nancy 3 miles away, alternating with Spooky gunships. I try to describe the Spooky’s firepower to people, but if you haven’t seen it, you can’t really grasp it. Keep up the good work-can’t wait to get the book! Jeff Snyder, C Co, 169 Eng Bn, FSB “Rock”, ’71.
Thanks Jeff, sounds like supporting fires saved a few more, including you.
Impressive stuff. The A Shau was such a shithole because of confusing geography,
long range guns in Laos and the limits of our own supporting fires especially when they
were ARVN units (artillery). Thanks for the comments and liking the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
Can’t tell you how much I enjoy your writing! Thank You and keep it coming!
Thank you Jerry. Can’t tell you how much I enjoy getting the comments from one and all on here.
Thanks for taking that moment to write…and liking the work.
Semper fi,
Jim
” Attention all aircraft, this is Ramrod on Guard….avoid WR 2168 for the next 05 Mikes…..Ramrod out ”
In the cockpit there was mad scrambling on the ” one over the world” to find the Arclight impact grid……we could unass the area pronto, but I can’t imagine being on the ground anywhere near the impact area and not being able to move…
Abiding respect,
Bill
Naval Gun Fire from the Jersey and those arc lights
when we moved up toward the DMZ. Frightful.
But at least they were our own.
Semper fi, and thanks for that view from up there in the air…
and those heartfelt concerns about us down below.
Not discussed much.
Had to be a big worry though…
Semper fi,
Jim
” Attention all aircraft, this is Ramrod on Guard….avoid WR 2168 for the next 05 Mikes…..Ramrod out ”
This brings back a memory of my first tour as a crew chief on a slick, and Just how insidious that MF Murphy could be in murdering you, Yes I was sitting behind the gun as we were cursing out to Snuffy a FSB up on the Cambodian boarder, I was looking out checking the airspace around the bird, Making sure no other aircraft were approaching, no one was shooting at us, Keeping track of where we were, cross checking the instruments against the pilots, and getting nervous…. Something was missing, “The constant call from various out going fire missions on Guard…” I look back out to the 3 o’clock and saw strings of dots above us far out to the south east…… More and more strings appearing…. Then it hit me, I hit the intercom switch and screamed at Kiwi the AC if we had Guard Up, he looked down at the radio panel and started to say yes, When all of a sudden his hand jabbed down, and started turning a dial…. I head some static, and all of a sudden there it was …… Ramrod …. and a “ATTENTION ALL AIRCRAFT! AVOIDE 11°02′15.3″N 106°00′35″E”……… The Pilot was a new guy, and when he set the radio freq’s that morning he misdialed GUARD by 3 points, So there we were, flying along fat dumb and happy, bit a care in the world with strings of 750’s coming our way, and Murphy laughing his ass off, as we un-assed the AO…. No, You never want to fly formation with 750’s it does god awful things to the digestive system and mind…
Yes, FNG and Murphy……..
Wow! And thanks for that revealing portion of your own rough and tough
time in the Nam. And the reality of the radio talk, codes and other bizarre
stuff we learned in quick time…or died. Thanks for sharing that
It don’t mean nuthin’ As you understand with some others on here…
Semper fi
Jim
Enjoy reading your story of being over there with overzealous Capt. from the rear area. I was at Kham Duc (68) and watched Puff/Spooky giving us needed support. NVA had the camp surrounded and was slowly destroying vital areas of the camp with mortar and fifty cal. from surrounding hills after overrunning the hilltops during the night. Sunday morning we were given orders to get on the next available plane after destroying our radio equipment. Glad to see Chu Lai airbase and somewhat secure area . Arc Light scheduled to hit Kham Duc soon after all American and popular Forces were clear of the area.
The NVA had a hell of a time and could not have lasted. Our resolve
died back home before that happened though. War. Not fought so
much on the battlefield although lot of us lived and died there.
Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
How right you are in stating that we lost our resolve back stateside. You should have said that Congress lost the resolve to win that war. They had all kinds of bravado when it came to sending our troops into that nightmare.
However, when the Pentagon wanted to end that war by bombing Hanoi, it was an entirely different story. Had they bombed Hanoi from the start, that war would not have lasted a year, if that! We would not have lost over 58,000 troops and brought home thousands of casualties which this government ignored.
Finally, you would not have a sordid story to write about, when it comes to the stupidity of politicians.
Well, J, I hope you didn’t really mean ‘sordid’ when it comes to my telling of the story.
I read the definition of that word and don’t really want to be even close to what it means.
But you are correct in that the DMZ destroyed everything because it gave them never
ending resupply. And so it went. Even with that we’d have still ‘won’ if we had been
allowed to persevere. But what would we have won? And entire population that didn’t like
us or want us there?
Semper fi and thanks for that comment.
Jim
My use of sordid applies primarily on how we got drawn into that war, the way thousands of young men were sent there to die for political purposes and then our troops forced to come home in disgrace. If that is not ignoble, I don’t know what else to call it.
By the way, I lived along side many of the South Vietnamese people, who loved having our presence there to fight for their freedom from communism. They were caught between a rock and a hard spot, because most knew that if the North was not defeated, they would lose what freedom they had. They were right too, as the U.S. politicians bailed on them, just like they did on our troops.
In no way am I condemning you for writing about the truth, so no defense is necessary on your part!