I came awake instantly. Crashing roars, with distant but shaking explosions, moved me out from the cleft down along the side of a mud wall I’d been sitting up against. I blinked my eyes in fear and nervousness. I was in a cave. I was in the cave. The cave made by the overhang of the concrete runway, routed out by floodwaters as the Bong Song moved about like a living snake in the bottom of the A Shau Valley. My brain fought to take in the dusky damp smell of rotting jungle earth, the shaking pieces of mud and debris falling from the underside of the pavement that had obviously been laid down atop a badly cleared and poorly graded surface. Even in the gloom, barely illuminated through the gaping wound of its opening facing out toward the river, I could see I was alone. Where was Fusner?
I was Junior, the company commander. I climbed to my knees. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but out I had certainly been. The gloomy sun outside was leaving a shadow stretching along the broken bottom of the cave floor, like the saw-tooth edge of an old woodcutting blade. It had to be afternoon. I got myself together and came to my knees. The cave roof wasn’t high enough to allow me to stand, and I wasn’t sure I was stable enough to manage it anyway. I realized that I’d just thought of myself as Junior. I wasn’t Junior. They called me Junior. I’d never be Junior again if I made it back to the world, which wasn’t likely, as it dawned on me where I really was and what the situation was. I was at the bottom of the life-sucking A Shau Valley, a place nobody back home had heard of, or would ever likely hear about. I pulled my helmet to me, and quickly checked the handle of my .45 without taking it out. The Colt and I counted on each other. I knew it would work when I needed it, and I somehow had come to believe it knew I’d know when that time was right. The Colt being there made me breathe easier. I was okay.
You have lost the link to this page at
https://jamesstrauss.com/30-days-has-september-second-ten-days/page/2/
Maybe introduced a typo? The page is there, but the link is gone
Thanks for the update.
I think it is corrected.
I think Harvey might have tripped a wire.
~~~~~Smile
Semper fi,
Jim
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The Soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
‘Step forward now, Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?’
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘no, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.
I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.
I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
‘Step forward now, you Soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’
~Author Unknown~
Thanks so much for taking us back Jim!
Semper fi, and thanks for your willingness and support in putting it up here too.
Semper fi,
Jim
There is a mansion waiting for each of us in Heaven, the Savior said so.
Well, J, I sure hope so but lack the fire of conviction on that one…still working on it…
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
We have a couple of MIA’s.
I have been holding this question back hoping these two would surface but since tidbits are being resolved it’s time for a buddy check.
Sgt. Stevens… thought he made it across with your scout team.
Cpl Abraham Lincoln Jones… thought he was last seen running up the east side of the river with the other rope.
See I built this scale model of your run through the jungle trying to keep up with you.
I am standing here holding these two Marines and I don’t know where to place them.
In this coming segment you will see the rejoining of characters.
In this story, as in a combat zone, everything becomes focused down and characters are either
on hand but ignored or if only a bit distant from one’s own attention then not truly noticed.
Please send me a photo of what you built Steve because I am astounded that you would not
only make the effort but then be able to use it as a illustrative guide for the development of the story.
I cannot thank you enough for the thought, and then the action.
I feel like I am living a bit of Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
That and this is special.
Semper fi
Jim
Another great episode as usual. I just read over the error’s and move on. I know what you mean and I figure it is proof read anyway. Just received your book on the first ten days. I have been following all along but I have a young nephew who was in the Army but never saw any combat. He is always interested in Vietnam so I gave it to him. I told him this is the real shit that happened over there. He has never really ask me that much about it and I’m kinda glad.So here it is so read it and you will see. I think he will enjoy your book. I guess I will have to order another copy for myself to keep. Keep up the great work Jim and we old vets appreciate what you are doing. Oh and I see us Army boys might have to bail your ass out.Lol.Some of those young chopper pilots had brass balls.
Thank you Gordon. There were some really good men in that valley in those days but sometimes,
like back here, it was hard to tell the difference…
Semper fi,
Jim
Writing is fantastic.Here are a few technical observations:Early on, you mentioned adjusting height of burst on VT rounds. I think you meant mechanical time. You also had a paragraph about “low angle direct fire” and “high angle fire”.Low angle and high angle are both indirect fire, where as direct fire is line-of-sight. I never worked with 175s, but I think there were a few errors in regard to 175s. Round weighed 150 lb and fired powder zones. Also, did not have nukes.You probably had 8 inch in mind when you wrote of 200 lb projos, firing high charges and nukes.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Correct on all counts Randy. Thanks for paying such close attention. You are right, I did not have the proper data about
175mm nukes, or the lack of them. thanks for the help and following the story so closely…
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey LT I just noticed this in reading the story again. When you call gunny and told him to call the Army brats for resupply and he responded about getting across the river, you both were communicating in the clear. Tells the mud people you low on supplies and the company is still on the other side of the river. Yet you were very discreet in communicating with Jacko about upcoming plan. Just wondering if the first communication was that open. Great story as always. Thank You
We needed supplies all the time and that was no mystery. And communications were always hard until they brought in
the frequency shifting technology later on. Thanks for watching things so closely and holding my feet to the fire JT.
Semper fi,
Jim
No intent to hold your feet to the fire sir.
Just a figure of speech JT. No offense taken…
Semper fi,
Jim
I was Ontos crewman mos.0353, served with Mike 3/5, 1st. Tank Bn. & 2nd. AT Bn. A co. 1967- 70. Can’t wait to read your Book, Semper Fi.
You were in the thick of it for sure, with that outfit at that time. Thank you for wanting to read the published book.
I much appreciate that.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great read I was waiting for the next one and boom here it is filled to the max with excitement and more.
Thanks for another great chapter to read it’s been an amazing story and I’m looking forward to the next one to come.
Thank you for putting this great story out here for us to read and to try and understand what life was like for you guys over there, thank you for sharing this part of your life with this great read
Tom
Boom, you should have another installment tomorrow Tom. Thanks for the compliment and coming on here to write it.
I much appreciate the sincerity of guys like you writing in to put your stamp of approval on it.
Semper fi,
Jim
James I guess it must be nice to have all the proofreaders correcting typos. It just means you got a lot of readers!!! Hell I read it and go right through them and never even notice them!!! That’s how good a story your writing. I’m just a retired oilfield hand and never served like you did but I recognize good leadership when I see it. I would have been proud to have served with you in the Marines or on the floor of a drilling rig.
Thanks Russell, that’s quite a compliment and I thank you for that.
The ‘editors’ on here are indeed a big help. It took me half an hour to find
the Fusner error in the last segment after being told about it (I had to change the name of the respondent to Tex).
I read and reread and I kept seeing it wrong until one of you
guys pushed my nose into the exact line.
Thanks for being so expansive and such a supporter.
Made me smile this morning…thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir,
I’m sure you don’t remember my name but we correspond back and forth awhile back. I told you I grew up in Lawton and still reside here. Remember? Anyway, on a lighter note, if your book were a movie I could see Sam Elliot as gunny. I know he already played the part before. Who would play you? I know you will respond because you respond to everyone. STOP and keep writing!!! We are constantly impatiently waiting for the next chapter. Keep up the good work and God bless you sir.
I cannot stop. I am driven, not just by writing the sequences but by writing here, as well. The segments are the past and you guys are the present. I knew about the past but I did not know about the present, the way it is, of your existence. I liked Lawton with its sort of country attitude but not. Military, but not. Seedy, but not…and so on. Thanks for writing on here. I don’t have a clue as to who would be me. But then, I don’t know that many young actors. Thanks for the blessing and for taking the time to write to me on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Not so sure about Jurgens having your 6 just yet . I hope he does , we will see . Gunny, o my I haven’t figured him out . I think he maybe. ……….well lets just say he wants a big feather in his hat but wants someone else to shoot the damn bird! !
Good point Ryan. It is damned hard to count on other people in a combat situation.
The men around you are special to themselves in particular and then to those who can
enhance their survival. Of such things true bonding is not only possible but very
likely…but the trouble comes in the evaluation of data. Who’s enhancing and who’s risking that survival?
thanks for your comment and for writing on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
I loved the Army Chopper support. We were up just a half click from the DMZ and Loas border. We were socked in no chow or water. Mary Hueies brought them to us. Payment was 25 Chinese SKSs. We found 269 of them still packed in cosmoline We were extremely grateful.
Those warrant officers, those kids, they were something of wonder and expressive bravery and honor.
They came, no matter what. U.S. Army warrant officers. Never a better air power group has existed but they’re
unloaded and nearly unknown in the annals of combat. I sure remember them and revere what I considered those kids,
although most were as old as I was…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, you got sand for sure. Reading so fast now I wonder how you managed to think as clearly as you did. Great writing sir.
Jim F
I am not certain, James, that I did think that clearly, as you put it. I just went for
it time after time after time. There was little in the way of evaluation for effect. There was try it and if
it worked great and if it didn’t then try something else right away.
Thanks for the writing on here and your support…
Semper fi,
Jim
One of the rare times that I just happened to click on the newest chapter before any comments had come in here on the blogsite. As I’ve said before, the comments here have become part of the story for me, and I like to read them for at least the first half day before jumping on with mine. The comments/likes/reactions come in like that air-cooled 30 as soon as the page hits Facebook though. That’s amazing “pull” you’ve got going there Strauss! You haven’t mentioned book sales, and I presume that’s by design, but I can’t help but think they must be very satisfactory. I plug it unabashedly 🙂 You really caught me by surprise with the Tex debacle. Being a 1300 MOS, I wasn’t surprised by the bridging fiasco. We (USMC) didn’t even have these in the TO, as they were designed for use in secure areas. Nothing about the A Shau would indicate “secure”. More good writing, glad to have you back in the groove.
SF,
PFJ
Yes came out of nowhere, like so many came down from the air from nowhere….or so it seemed.
The dovetailing of units and fire and differential military services and elements in the Nam was something
to behold if experienced. There was a whole load of small teams working apart but working together.
Amazing coordination not seeming like much of anything was coordinated.
Semper fi, John, my friend….and thanks for welcoming me back.
Jim
James try as I might to remember, I have never seen one troop who was not concerned about saving their own ass on the field of battle and that includes officers as well as enlisted. When one thinks about it, no one fights alone, unless all others are already dead. Therefore scared or not, it behoves anyone in battle, to save every friendly troop possible. One would be willing to bet that even Audie Murphy came to that conclusion, when he was behind that tank turret on the day he became famous.
Your constant fear was you best alley, so quit knocking it!
Well, J, I don’t really knock it. I admit to it, which is not common these days.
It’s a huge part of combat and it drives, motivates, teaches and forces all sorts of actions
not normal anywhere else, and it leaves a bitter taste of bile all through the years when it’s over
and those night memories we have all tried to block with substances, lies and avoidance at night.
Thanks for the usual pithy commentary, my friend.
Semper fi,
Jim
O…M…G….; Deep Doo-doo, back to bad news on top of bad news. What a roller coaster of events.
So many questions…need the next episode even faster than you and your Marines need resupplied and reinforced.
May God be with you…back in the next episode–AND while you are writing and reliving these horrid moments. I am sure it isn’t easy, but it is a story you are telling that needs told. Praying for you for strength…
Walt, my friend. Thanks for coming on here to write again. I am not sure I am telling what needs to be told but some
guys find it satisfying to be reading something that is founded down deep in that muck with those animals, man and otherwise.
Thanks for your usual erudite commentary…
Semper fi,
Jim
Very familiar with the A Shau Valley!! Was there in 67/68 with c/co/501st/101st Abn. Hell on earth is what it was, as you have written. Wonder sometimes how the hell we ever got out of that place. Great writing,James, definitely has my attention. Keep it up. Airborne all the way, brother.