I tried to relax for a few seconds, so I could get the Heart of Darkness Plan organized in my mind. The night and rain were everything, along with our speed of movement. It had taken me almost three weeks to figure out that the Vietnamese were slow, compared to Marines, when it came to covering ground. Marines moved fast and didn’t stop to take breaks. The Vietnamese had tunnels, supplies and support people buried in spider holes, caves and tunnels. They took their time about planning and moving. Every success the company had experienced since I’d been in country had had something to do with moving unexpectedly and quickly. Slowing us down would be towing along the wounded and the dead, but there was no solution to that problem. We weren’t leaving any more Marines behind to supposedly come back and pick up later. There were enough of those strung out along the Bong Song to consider and try to retrieve, if that was to be done at all, given what resources we had to draw upon.
“I’m not using the first emperor of Rome’s name to talk to that man in the future,” I said to the Gunny. “What’s his real name?”
Hi Jim, back after a 3 week bout against the Flu. So far I’m winning. Read this on FB and thought I’d send it to you:
Ashes Ashes We All Fall Down
He sits and watches most nights,
thinks he saw a bit of light
flash across the lawn
With every thunder clap that comes
tries not to run out the door to see who’s there.
The kids ask Mom where’s Dad?
He’s out back, but he’ll be back
soon, he’s just watching the trees
the leaves and the stars.
But she knows where he’s gone, sipping from the
bottle he’s hid in the gloom
watching the choppers fly past
flares falling, RTO’s calling
another night
another place
a midnight memory
and he’s all alone.
thanks a lot for this wonderfully written poem Randy and welcome back.
Semper fi,
Jim
I have put this off to give me time to think about the war and how it was affecting all of the men that was there. We that made it out have a lot to be thankful for. We have Veterans day coming up this week I hope every person will take time to thank everyone who put the uniform on for the you United States of America! Thanks for your ability to lead your men! Semper Fi
Thanks Walter for coming on here to make your comment…and a generally good one it certainly is.
Semper fi,
Jim
One helluva chapter of your experience in the valley. Hope those choppers brought some extra body bags. Hate to say it, but it sounds like you’re going to need them. Too bad the rear command doesn’t realize rules don’t apply in the valley. Should have left the decisions up to you and the Gunny. Next chapter or two are not going to fare well for those who want to glorify the depths of hell
The casualties in that time were horrific and I cannot now believe how little impact they had on rear area operations,
or the pity of officers spending time in the rear and coming to the field thinking they knew anything at all…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim – Thanks for pushing through all that you must to recount these storiesy. Your experience in the Valley trained you well. I don’t know if “enjoy” is the proper term for my experience of your writing, admiration and respect are more apt. For someone else of that period who wasn’t there, your first person account speaks volumes and allows me, abeit vicariously, to get a sense of what it was like. Maybe the writing of your journey will give you respite from the deja vu all over again. You are a man worth knowing because of your authenticity. Thank you.
I don’t know what the word ‘authentic’ means anymore Michael,
since life back here is mostly anything but that.
I did work for the CIA, which certainly didn’t help that thought process.
Anyway, thank you most sincerely for your kind and supportive words as we all get older…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, I hear you! I am certain that you are aware that it is more useful to live in the question of what authentic means than to have a pat answer about it. Mostly it is one of those existential conundrums that bedevil us in our private Lucy in the sky with diamonds moments. Albeit those moments of yours are probably quite busy!
Working for the Company has its own, shall we say unique, requirements.
Our own, all the time, never ending self-effacement, drowns out obvious evidence. That is probably for the best as we would become boorish otherwise. Your internal debates questioning decisions affirms that reflection. Without it why would you even give a shit?
Wow. Now that is one deep and layered comment I am going to reread a few times.
Thanks for making me think and also for such great intellectual expression…
Semper fi,
Jim
I don’t know if you have noticed or not but you have steadily improved through out your journey here, good for you.
PS-I found your first chapters totally addictive to say the least, can’t wait for the next one.
Thanks a lot AL. No, I don’t notice at all because I am inside the experience and just writing away.
Only the people commenting on here allow me to know more…like you, and I think you most sincerely
for that observation and compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Inside the experience, perfect description of your writing, being able to put thought to page like this is a rare talent.
Thanks John. Compliments like your own mean a lot and I don’t understand
why more authors who write well do not get involved with their reader’s opinions.
It actually influences the work coming out.
Thank you so much.
Semper fi,
Jim
James,
I couldn’t think of any better way to express my admiration of your work and to thank you enough for this project than to order a second copy of the First Ten Days.
One of my friends will receive it as a stocking stuffer for Christmas.
Thank you for this awesome Christmas present.
ps. Maybe the Second Ten Days will be out in time to join the first.
Not much I can say about that kind of in depth and meaningful compliment Rob, except thanks to the max!
Wonderful for a backyard author like me to hear and read. Sitting here working on the next segment and doing a better
job because of you….
Semper fi,
Jim
I agree
I could not find the Walker comment to see what you are agreeing on!
Thanks for writing on here though…
Semper fi,
Jim
Great writing, James.When you mention the Gunny, R Lee Ermey flashes in my mind. Cpt Morgan is John Larroquette. Not trying to be funny but those images pop into my head when i hear them mentioned. Maybe you’ve heard Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote about the Marines. If not you can Google it.Anyway I was in Nam 69-70. Sold money orders for a year after completing two radio repair classes, of which one was at Ft. Sill, Winter and Spring of ’69. Didn’t think I would hear of the PRC 25 ever again. I was drafted at age 24 after 5 year deferment to complete an apprenticeship in the building trades. Many friends were joining the reserves and trying to convince me to do likewise. I decided to wait for my name to be called and see where it would take me. Learned a lot in a short period of time. So thanks to your writing I have a better understanding of what was happening out in the boonies. You and all of your brothers out in the shit have my eternal respect. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for that comment. Deep and filled with your life experience. Sounds like you learned a lot, indeed! Thanks for writing about it on here and also for the depth of your compliment!
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim… You wrote: “It was amazing to consider that, while in training, I’d been taught a wide variety of ways to engage and destroy the enemy, while in actual practice, under combat conditions, I spent most of my time planning and implementing operations to avoid, flank or withdraw from whatever enemy forces I might encounter.”
While attending Army OCS in 1966, I learned the following poem which I’ve never forgotten:
Here lie the bones of Lieutenant Jones…
pride of the Institution.
Died the night of his first fire fight
following the school solution.
Now that’s a powerful bit of important poetry. I found it to be exactly that way and would
no doubt have followed Lt. Jones example if the Gunny had not been there to save me….
Semper fi
Jim
“You are Commander of two Companies now’….. Never in your wildest dreams had that particular vision appeared…..and now you have to realize that Battalion knows all about this…so many different radios being used to make contact with the rear when “comm’ is up…The Bn Radio men, the Company Radio men, whoever is designated to handle resupply, medavac’s…the list goes on…but each of them will be making reference to you…both Companies are now in your hands..Kilo by default…but they are certainly better off than they were before.. “Battalion’ has been watching your progress daily..surprised each time casualty reports come in that your “newbie’ name is on them…but you are gaining their respect just for staying alive…begrudgedly, but they are watching your progress….no one, especially you, thought you would see the dawn of each day behind you…..that’s just how it was out there….welcome to the club….So many common sayings were used to make the situations bearable….”there it is’ was often said when a known ‘truth’ was spoken by anyone….You are now the Commander of two Marine Rifle Companies in a fight for their very lives……”there it is’…..Semper Fi Lt….
“Newbie name “isn’t’ on them…..
Got it Larry!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks for that terrific write up. You are a master in your own right.
I endeavor to persevere through that damned valley and the next segment is going to bring
some more unexpected changes…
Semper fi,
Jim
When do you project the next segment to be available? Am dying from old age here.
I think old age may just be a minor motivating factor in your demise J.
I am working away and will be done tomorrow and have it off to Chuck.
I had to go back and make some changes to a large part of the Second Ten Days
because I had Morgan’s name wrong. When your are using fictitious names it is way too easy to get confused.
Unlike yourself, who possesses the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the patience of Job…well,
maybe a little bit less than Job…
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Wish I did have the patience of Job, but never wished to go through what he went threw.
Afraid I fail at the wisdom of Marcus as well, but I do love philosophy and prophecy.
Am looking forward to the next chapter!
Thanks J, as usual!!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
James, I’ve always heard that there are two major factors in making good writing. First, there must be a story worth the telling. You have that in spades. The second is having a writer who can communicate with his audience…emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically. Man, I hope you know how talented your story-telling is! As some famous dead person once said, “Most only get wet; a talented few actually feel the rain.” You certainly “feel the rain!”
Thank you for your service and your willingness to share it with us.
Thanks Bobby! Really nicely written compliment. I am sitting here thinking about how to get better at what it is I am doing.
For guys just like you…
Semper fi,
Jim
Feelings? About your men, about the enemy? Assets to use or problems to eliminate. You didn’t have the luxury of feelings, did you? The 1st. that came to us from Nam discussed that with me when I was ncoic of our northernmost station in the air/ ground ops net. SOP was to leave one to operate the ANGRC-26D until… could I handle that? Interesting thought for a signal geek better qualified to hook up RV’s. Love your work, take a breath and post more.
Thank you Walt, as usual. Great comment. About everyone. I did not have feelings about the enemy because I never came to know any of them.
It is almost impossible to have positive feelings about people trying to kill you, incidentally, even later on.
Thanks Walt,
Semper fi,
Jim
I …hmmm…finding it difficult to use the word “enjoyed” the read. Forced me to rummage through my own experiences packed so carefully away. Core to my enjoyment is that i can hear you telling this because i am so familiar with your voice and emotional nuance. Great writing and for me just enough of the details around the event to give me context. Looking forward to having the whole book to read, or even better to have your reading it on audio book. Keep at it my friend.
Thanks Mark, my old friend. I must admit that I do not enjoy writing some of it, either.
Thanks for caring about the spirit behind the words and the books. Means a lot to me…
Semper fi,
Jim
My mind is racing as I read this installment. A great story , can’t wait until the next
Thanks Don, for the great compliment, as I continue to write.
Semper fi,
JIm
Had the privilege of meeting a Puff crew member yesterday. Thought instantly of you and this book even though I had had interaction with them while over there. Still sitting on the edge of my seat reading this. Your words paint a perfect picture, your editing improving every time. I am a Tom Clancy fan. I am also a James Strauss fan. Keep them coming, you can’t do it fast enough. Going to try some of your other books, wonder if the reality of this story makes a difference in your writing style and the ability to keep us on edge. This one is tops.
Thanks for the great compliment Marshall!!! I hope you like the other
stuff I write, since most of it is based on real experience too, I have high hopes…
Semper fi,
Jim
Enjoyed it very much. Makes my blood pressure go up, but that’s ok. Thank you sir.
Semper fi, David and thanks you so very much for the great compliment in writing the words on here you wrote…
Jim
Oh yes another stretch of great reading that ended to soon , as to the m113 story heard that from those I was stationed with and my Dad and Uncles talked of that happening in WWII, with some wheeled vehicles and track vehicles, come upon a crew that took shelter under a vehicle,it sank on one side more than the other they were able to save four of five ,he slept on his stomach.
Sure glad the Ontos wasn’t real heavy and the mud was a bit more substantial along the banks of the Bong Song.
That would have been a bad way to go.
Semper fi,
Jim
I straightened my back. How many times have we done that when realizing we had it better than some….
Interesting comment Al. Thanks for writing it on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
I can feel the rain, the mud and misery . As I reflect on each paragraph I can see my fingertips wrinkled from the constant rain. Unbelievable writing. Thank you for sharing another segment.
Thanks for the great compliment Andrew as I work my way into and throough the next segment.
Thanks for the motivational assist…
Semper fi,
Jim
Very good, but short, waiting for more!
Thanks for the compliment Harold.
I am continuing, although the segments don’t seem so short
to me in the writing of them.
Each one takes many hours to get right and edit and then re-edit
and still I miss stuff or don’t get it just right!
Thanks for your patience…
Semper fi,
Jim
Woke up those gun bunnies at 175 battery. FDC was only ones awake!
Never had a battery that didn’t fire in minutes from the call. Amazing, how they could
come out of a dead sleep, calculate and then man those guns, Army and Marine batteries alike.
Semper fi,
Jim
After catching a 75 recoilless and suffering a hearing loss, I was transferred to an USAF 81mm mortar section, as part of our qualification, we were trained in country by the 173rd, USA, we had 17 seconds from the initial fire mission request to FDC to the drop of the first round, we would sleep in the pits at 50%, and no matter what the weather that standard was only improved on, too many guys in the field depended on us, phu cat, 68*69
Yes, so many depended on the supporting fires and so many of the support operations ran just like your own.
Above the call of duty, and we guys out in the mud really loved you for it…and still do….
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m hooked on your writing and the story you paint the picture with words so clearly.feels like I could be lying in the mud right next to you. Thanks I look forward to the next part. Army veteran here, although my dad served in the Marines.
Thanks John, I don’t think the Army units had it much different down in the valley.
It was a place that most serving over there didn’t know was particularly set up to
attract and then kill off the enemy (us). The guys in the read simply sent more troops or Marines
in. There was no penalty to them when the body bags came flying in.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey LT, must be the Marines we’re not carrying Kilo’s dead upriver during the move since Jurgens mentioned Kilo’s dead still being down by the wall. Must be just the wounded were moved upriver. Why haven’t you ask about radio traffic with command? Almost impossible to stay alive without some support from the rear. WOW what a story.
Thank you, keep stomping.
Time. Everything took time. You can read from the intensity of the action,
the weather, the moves and more that time was a tough one.
When you finally got a few minutes to get on the radio you
had to choose that or sleep or eating or drinking or whatever.
The radio and support people in the platoons actually had more time than the Gunny or I,
or even the other Marines serving as platoon commanders.
Imagine trying to do ‘office’ or analytically driven work while
going through what we were going through.
Semper fi,
Jim
Kind of surprised me that the gunny went back for back Kemp. Oh well another surprise among many . Thanks Lt for another good read . A couple of edits——–I came to (me) knees quickly on this bank when(then) the sun comes up Semper Fi
Thanks Roger,
Found the “Came to my knees’
must be too late to find the when(then) the sun comes up.?
Semer fi,
Jim
Just wondering what Jurgen’s comment meant, “I came back for you.”
At the bridge when they pulled me out earlier, from the river…
Not really coming back for me but that was his take…
Everyone worked for favors and expected stuff in return. Not like mythology.
Semper fi,
Jim
Charlemagne: Holy Roman Empire? fascinating stuff, as usual.
Yes, amazing what the guys came up with for names and also just in general. Don’t ever get the idea
that enlisted Marines are uneducated, unstudied or dumb just because they’ve chosen to be enlisted.
Not that way at all. Each is an individual and quite complex.
Semper fi,
Jim
Respectfully speaking, those bodies should be getting pretty ripe by now.
Respectfully replying, they were, indeed. Not writing much about that or some other awful stuff either.
Trying to give the reader the idea of what it was like without alienating the hell out of everyone.
Semper fi, and thanks for noticing…
JIM
Well it looks like you have a chance to survive the day, with Choppers on the way and accompanying Cobras to keep Charlie occupied.
It would appear that Gunny has kept in touch with command throughout all of your maneuvers. It also appears that he has accepted you as the CO and is taking appropriate action to protect you, just not properly communicating with you as far as command goes. One wonders how he has described your actions in the field, when communicating with command?
Odd that Sugar Daddy would volunteer to look for Kemp, when it was Jurgens who let him slip away. Either you touched a raw nerve with the racial issue or Sugar Daddy is out to prove himself capable and worthy of respect. He does not know if he will be working under a new CO or you will remain in charge of C company, so he is apparently playing the odds for either situation. It would appear that the Gunny does not trust Sugar Daddy to retrieve Kemp as he is going with the platoon to retrieve Kemp.
Then there is Jurgens also trying to impress you as well, by questioning your motives toward him and his honor. He knows you do not wish to leave any marine behind, so has decided to get on your good side by assuring you that he will help to retrieve the bodies. Should he get a new CO when the choppers arrive, would he turn his back on you once again? Have both of your problem NCO’s had a change in character?
One understands the grin, while targeting the VC across the river, hopefully you will even the score a bit.
Although I did, indeed, have a taste for getting back at the NVA forces opposing us J,
I don’t think I exercised that taste with a whole lot of ire or emotion.
Remember, emotions are one of the first things you mostly shed in combat.
You can’t get through the next day or night if you are completely broken over the losing of buddies,
friends or any of the other men.
So you endure by being flatly analytical. Humor mostly goes too.
It’s more one mental foot in front of the other.
Until much later, of course, when the bliss of making it back begins to wear thin….
Trying to come to an understanding of how the men thought was difficult for me over there,
and even today in the aftermath.
Thanks for the in depth reading and analysis, as usual.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
True what you say about emotions on the battlefield of life. Perhaps that is why many don’t smile much these days.
Say, how did your follow up eye appointment go, you never did say.
Yes, I did say about the eye. I had a wonderful appointment. The eye is 100% without the next surgery.
Nobody can believe it but you and I do. And Nancy. I am acting accordingly…I hope.
God bless you J.
Semper fi,
Jim
Praise the Lord who is always faithful to those who love Him.
I knew about the miracle healing of your eye, but did not know what your doctor had to say, when you went back on the 25th for a follow up visit.
Yes, the 25th. He agreed it had to be God but when I asked him about his belief in this area he did the ‘me doctor, you patient’ thing
and clammed up. I didn’t know where to go with that….
Semper fi,
Jim
Yes, you, J and I know God gave you a Miracle by healing your eye and it is the Most Beautiful Gift but in doing this Miracle He has also reminded you of His existence and let you know how much He loves you. God has given you such a hugh purpose of healing for yourself and others through your writing of this book and it is so obvious with each segment the healing your writing is doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if you said you can now feel His presence as you write.
God Bless you and oraying for you always.
Nancy
Nancy. I somehow don’t think God works that way.
It’s like he acts and then stands back to view His work.
And sometimes that work isn’t very pleasant….
and how we deal with that may be more important than how we deal
with something like the miracle of the eye….
Semper fi,
Jim
I do not understand your comment but I know you are doing an Amazing job of God’s purpose for you in the writing of this book. Unpleasant or not God will not abandon you ever.
God Bless you and He loves you.
Prayers for you always
Nancy
PS no need to post.
OF course there is a need to post since a lot of the people on here
have an expectation that we are being totally open with them.
Why else post on here and read all comments. So, to continue that course of action and thought
I post everything unless there is a vital need for confidentiality or the use of rotten racism, etc.
I have only had to trash four comments since the very beginning.
I have two more confidential because of personal revelations that they wanted kept that way.
Semper fi, and love,
Jim
Stunning chapter again. I sent you a PM with possible edits. Thank you for the story.
Thanks for the editing help H. Kemp. And thanks for the great compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim. Editing is the last thing on my mind when reading your account of the living hell you and your Marines were enduring. I actually find myself holding my breath when reading some of your harrowing accounts of survival in that hell hole of the A Shau valley. This is courage and valor at the rawest most gut wrenching level. I am humbled to read your accounts of war in a place where we never should have been in the first place, but your story gets deep into my guts at a level I can’t explain. My tour was an AF holiday compared to what you guys had to endure. My highest respects to you from a 24 year USAF NCO. Glad you made it home and prayers for those who gave all over there.
Thanks for that. A great complimentary comment that reaches as deep as you intended. Yes, it was living hell but part of it
now is certainly cushioned by all the guys writing on here…and making it easier to continue the odyssey and finish the writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great chapter, noticed a small typo, 20th para, 4th line, talking about your poncho, “so I carefully folded it (to) I could put it” should be ” (so) I could put it”.
So noted and corrected,
Thanks, Thomas.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great segment. Can see through your writing what guys went through to stay alive and make it home.
A correction if not already mentioned.
I’d fallen asleep wearing my poncho and pack. I came to “me” knees quickly and bumped my pack “onto”,maybe use “into”, the bottom of the Ontos. Just my 2 cents.
Look forward to next segment and understand a little what it takes for you to keep this storyline going.
Thank you Jon,
Your comments have ben appreciated and mistakes edited.
Semper fi,
Jim
The comparison about how the Marines could move quickly, even in those horrid conditions, to the inability of the enemy to do the same.. It had taken me almost three weeks to figure out that the Vietnamese were slow, compared to Marines, when it came to covering ground. Marines moved fast and didn’t stop to take breaks. The Vietnamese had tunnels, supplies and support people buried in spider holes, caves and tunnels. They took their time about planning and moving. Every success the company had experienced since I’d been in country had had something to do with moving unexpectedly and quickly.
And once more moving quickly in the dark to stay alive for ever or just a few more hours. Time really doesn’t matter only staying mattered.
Great read once more James. Thanks for telling the story as hard as it may be to do so.
Much respect sir.
SEMPER Fi
Thanks for the quote and the care in this response. Thanks for understanding that this isn’t just a regular novel or work to put up and out here.
Much harder than I thought when I started. I began in 1970 and quit after about three months, supposedly because I was too busy supporting and growing a family. But that wasn’t it. I now know what it was. I look forward to each segment I am about to start after I finish one, and then I dread it because I know what’s coming next…again…and again…and again.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hope gunny finds kemp.
You shall see, about Kemp and the Gunny, in the coming segment, of course. Thanks for caring enough to care…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, you seem to have a guilt trip and like to heavily second guess your decisions and I fail to see why. From my point of view, you seem to have a rare intuitive grasp of tactics and terrain that one seldom sees in new Lieutenants, or many people period. When I look at the chain of events so far, I see you maneuver your unit in a fashion to minimize casualties while forcing the enemy to commit to actions in locations that where to your advantage, places where you could use your artillery and air power. It looked fairly apparent from the first contacts with your company and Kilo that the NVA outnumbered you and had the ability to reconstitute after heavy loses relatively quickly, so traditional strategic offenses seemed to be non starter.
That’s a compliment from an ex-infantry and combat engineer officer, if compliments from the Army counts.
When the 101st went into the A Shau, they went in with multiple Brigades.
Thanks Larry for the compliment on the telling of the story and of having lived it.
There was a naked animal craven need for survival and I am convinced I did not run on
tactical thoughts but on tactical reactions…
and trying so hard to do the unexpected since, except for occasional and sometimes
overwhelming supporting fires were were outnumbered and out gunned on the ground almost without fail.
And the Army counts for a whole lot. You guys in the 101st were
terrific and so where your chopper pilots and your artillery batteries.
The Green Berets were great too.
Thanks, not to mention that my brother was with the Big Red One at the same time I was there…
Semper fi,
Jim
I think you are underestimating yourself. You were making the best decisions that preserved the unit as much as possible while inflicting a lot of damage on the enemy under fire and without any real experience.The fact that they were not all by the book just means the book wasn’t written for the situation you were fighting. Once or twice may have been a fluke, but after three weeks I think even the hardcore vets in the company realized that you had the gift, for no other words for it. From outside, you were hitting all the but two of the nine principles of war, where you realized it or not. You are still having a unity of command problem and there doesn’t seem to be a clear objective, unless it is trying to keep as many people alive hoping someone higher will pull their head out of their ass.
Do you think that Basilone wasn’t scared shitless and just trying to survive the night?
I had the honor of meeting and talking to one of the Marines from Basilone’s unit at a Navy Relief Fund Event. He found out that I was a grunt and that lead to about an hour and a half of tales of the Canal. I wish I had a tape recorder or had recorded it on my phone now.
I saw the Pacific series on television and knew the name Basilone from that street named after him on Camp Pendleton.
Basilone Road. Drove it every day for a while. The island campaign probably is as close to the Vietnam experience as one
might get, short of the Burma thing during WWII. Like I continue to write though, I only knew one war and it was almost all
down inside one rather small valley, compared to the rest of the country or world. I came out and tried to put it behind me
but never succeeded because you can’t put a visit to reality behind you. This world I live in today with you is not real.
It’s all made up. And I much prefer it. If ever offered the choice of pills, like in the Matrix, take the one that leaves you in the phony world. We need the phony world to wake up in the morning and go to bed at night with any kind of a smile. There were no smiles in the valley, only cold grins.
Semper fi,
Jim
yes we did
I missed something here. Ah, I see, the message was for Larry Cable, who’s been writing fairly extensive comments here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey, I am confused about the timeline. when you slept after the last night movement, you got there at 0600. you woke and then Gunny comes in and says it is two hours till dawn. did you sleep all day and night or did a mix up occur?
thnaks for the editing help and being part of that team. I and chuck are on it…
Semper fi,
Jim
As usual, a great telling. A strong tale told by a strong communicator. Thank you.
I know you are putting the story out as fast as you can, I just wish it was faster. I check Facebook daily and stop what I’m doing to read your story as soon as I find a new chapter!!! Hell, I won’t even answer my phone when I’m reading in fear of my phone dropping Facebook if I do and then having to look for it again! Semper Fi James!
thanks for the genuine and great compliment. I am working at a fast pace for me but I understand that that seems slow to many.
I can only go so fast though….
Semper fi,
Jim
If you think the black vs white conflict was bad in ’68 you should of seen it in ’71. Firefights inside base camp.
thanks for the verification comment here Tony!
Semper fi,
Jim
In reference to the Onto, what is HT-P?
I will check it. One of the seven or eight rounds the 106 fired that had sufficient range.
A HEAT round, I believe, but that’s memory and I’m not sure now that you brought it up.
Thanks for being all over that…
Semper fi,
Jim
Loved the Bering Sea as did The Boy, But, not as much as this one.
Awesome telling there LT. In the conversation with Jurgen’s you told him twice the Gunny went after Kemp. Was the first time accidentally left in while editing?
Thanks again SsgtBob,
Corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
In the mud and rain right with you Jim.
The rain beat down and I tried to look around, anywhere but into the strange man’s strange eyes.
To many “strange”?
Finish “The Bering Sea” and left my comment, I enjoyed it very much. Keep low!!
Thanks for the comment on Amazon with the Bering Sea. It’s hard to build comments on that site
but if you don’t the trolls come along and you end up looking like some vapid vanity publlisher.
Also, thanks for the editing help.
Semper fi,
Jim
Saw your reply to “J” in previous installment stating this would be published this evening. Early reader gets to be early editor.
I knew, but carrying considerable heavier loads.
Suggest: considerably
They had no need of my poncho, so I carefully folded it to I could put it under me.
Suggest: poncho. I carefully folded it so I could
OR: poncho, so I carefully folded it to put under me.
“Where’s Kemp?” I asked again, this time my was voice low, steady
Suggest: this time my voice was low
Sugar Daddy said. “If he’s there we’ll find hm
Suggest “him”
Once more, Fusner shook me awake. I blinked my eyes open. I’d fallen asleep wearing my helmet poncho and pack
Suggest add some commas: helmet, poncho, and pack
Part about you under the Ontos brought back memory of story from guys in the 11th Armored Cav of a crew that sheltered under an M-113 track. It settled in the mud and smothered them.
James, you never get a break. May the resupply bring hot chow, clean fatigues, and a letter from home.
Thanks Dan, for the editing help and the kindly words of support.
Never heard the 113 story about the guys being smothered. Most of the Marines
in the field were pretty adoit at working in those conditions but fatigue and fear
erode a lot in the way of being on top of things.
Semper fi,
Jim
I have been sharing your story, Jim, and to those who that never humped the valley and played tag with Sir Charles they are stunned to those who did,just stare and drift off. Thank you brother for sharing your journey. Til extract or Vahalla SF
Thanks Capt. Al. Means a lot to have guys like you writing on here about the stuff and also the compliment.
Thanks ever so much,
Semper fi,
Jim
Had a close friend whose father was working under a bulldozer in the rain and the damn thing slid off of his jacks. He literally moved that bulldozer seven times while trying to get out from under it, before he finally suffocated from it crushing him in the mud. Moral of the story, don’t stay under heavy equipment when it is raining.
So sorry about your friend’s father. I don’t think any of us thought about the mud and the heavy equipment thing. I have had other
comments about that. Now that would have been an unpleasant and ignomoious way to die in combat. Logical though.
Thanks for the comment…
Semper fi,
Jim