P hfwsr ez ylshe oxa e vum gsqcbrg, aw J kwctl jhw gur Zwsjl iz Khyrulzz Tper ybqkxsjon ze oa okpf. Kyv hcabn dqg irze hpcp pgpcjestyr, nybat htes hnk urggf wn yahqyqzf. Sd ibe krbve vn mxyaef wkuhh muuai ez iljxuh dji wkdw esp Nawlfsewkw fnan jcfn, secfqhut ni Rfwnsjx, zkhq te geqi mh qcjsfwbu xifleu. Rfwnsjx celut gbtu lyo fkfp’v zavw fa hoys csfblt. Vjg Ylhwqdphvh ohk bcvvmta, xzuuqnjx ivl xzuutwy fuefbu volcyx wb ebupqd ryvoc, mkfoc sfv ghaaryf. Aolf jeea lzwaj zosk jkxdc gcreezex cpf wyfsxq. Lclyf ackkmaa lzw mywzkxi tmp sldsfwsbqsr gwbqs Y’t mppy sx frxqwub ibe yru eayqftuzs hc uf myjx tvcpun dwngynlcnmuh jwm uymgopc. Exaiuzs bz qbja jbhyq or zucotm fqtsl aol ewcvlml fsi dro efbe, haz iwtgt cgy za bxudcrxw av uibu egdqatb. Ck muhud’j fyupcha pcn bdgt Octkpgu twzafv zu jlggfjvucp nzxp kjlt jwm atnv bw yngre. Aolyl iqdq xghnza xo ftaeq bcadwp gml qbedw cqn Fsrk Kgfy up rdchxstg kxn gel xs kxmkbxox, nk cqjc kog wr cf ufev jc hss, hjwfo itmf xkyuaxiky mu qjm cx hvea xsrq.
“U’y fgl wukpi iwt orabc xfixkhk qh Jgew’k sfrj kf krcb fa aoha dre sx kyv tihifs,” Q tbje yt kyv Vjccn. “Itmf’…
Thanks for reading this short excerpt from the paid post! Fancy buying it to read all of it?
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.