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Thanks for reading this short excerpt from the paid post! Fancy buying it to read all of it?
Your great saga continues, James – what a riveting tale it is. I was prime cannon fodder age in 1969, but blessed with a high draft number. Your story along with the Ken Burns series sadly confirms everything I suspected of that era. I recall being at a hockey game in 1973 when they announced “the Vietnam War is over!” The crowd stood and applauded; I sat totally pissed because I knew what a huge lie it was.
btw, here is a link to lots of info about the A Shau in case you’re interested. All my best, Ed.
https://www.cc.gatech.edu/~tpilsch/AirOps/AShau.html
thanks for that Ed and the stuf fon the A Shau too….
Whom would have thought back then that that valley would become synomnymous with
such death and dismemberment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey LT, Junior could call up some Marine 4 duece mortars to overcome the cliff obstacles. There were two guns on hill 425. 1/11 W/Y battery.
Yes, the 4.2 mortars were a wonder when you needed high angle fire, and deadly accurate in the hands of those trained gunners.
Thanks for the imput and hilll 425 playes a role….and you must have been there to know…
Semper fi,
Jim
Dear Sir, Thank you for telling your story.
Back in the nineties there was a bunch of us that got together several times a year for a fishing trip up the mountains. One of the guys served in Vietnam, he never talked about it, I never asked. He found out my father was a Marine in Korea and we hit it off. One morning we were in the bar for breakfast, I asked a question about a TV show on Vietnam, I don’t know if it the numerous vodka and OJ he consumed for breakfast everyday or what, but I got the next half hour of his Vietnam experience in all it’s gory detail. It was so chilling I could not believe it. Now your story confirms what he was telling me. He said he was in a unit referred to as the walking dead due to the casualty rate. He was there 68-69. He said he was in the A-Shaw valley and Dewey canyon.
Unfortunately he now resides in the mental ward of a VA hospital.
We need to know the truth. Thanks again for your efforts. God Bless.
Yes, the guys who made it back…didn’t really.
Most of us who came back were ‘repackaged’ by that valley like theGunny said earlier in my tour.
I didn’t come home as me. I look at those pictures of me in college and before.
I smile to myself. That kid had no clue…and that was good.
I have regained so much of my humor and positive outlook
on life itself but that kid, he had that in spades.
The A Shau gobbled him up in a matter of days…
Semper fi,
JIm
We all lose our innocence one way or the other and usually sooner then later. That is a lesson in life which we must learn, in order for us to be able to discern good from evil. Those of us who bare the burden of extreme evil, are and should be the teachers of those who are unaware of what evil truly is.
This is what you are teaching, when it comes to exposing the evils of war. War is never glorious in the sense that it kills and destroys our fellow human beings. The only glory that one might celebrate from war, is ending the evil perpetrated on mankind, by an aggressor nation. We will never see peace on earth, until we see the end of all wars and mankind adopts the idea of live and let live.
The truth, as written by J. Yes, on every point Mr. Wisdom….
Semper fi,
Jim
one of the most gratifing memories was when we brought everyone out of Kae-son,crewed h-53’s some really good times and some of the worst times
I remember when those guys all came out of there, against all odds. The French were not so lucky.
I did not know they all flew out on 53s thought. Great birds thos huge wonderful mothers.
Thanks for the comment and your own history…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim…I’m no combat veteran. I just served and did what was asked of me. BUT..one line speaks all…”You got a gift and you are using it…just listen to them..”
If you don’t know it and haven’t realized it….You are what a leader is and should be…Our nation would be at a great loss without people like you….Thanks…
Thanks Charlie, I guess the role is a bit tougher to see fron the inside out.
Thanks for the compliment in your writing and putting it up on here in public.
Semper fi,
Jim
I look forward to each and every installment. I just wanted to say that the Gus Grissom references are pretty neat, as his birthplace is 9 miles from mine. He died a year before I was born, so I never got to meet the man, but he was definitely a hero to every child that grew up in Lawrence County, Indiana. Keep up the good work.
Yes, I love everything I have come to know about Gus. Needless to say, when I got home
I took to his memory and history as closely as I could when I came home and over the yeers.
Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
There were two types of ham and mother’s when I first went in. The original was ham and Lima beans and I loved em! The second was a ham and eggs loaf in a can, the nastiest sponge you ever chewed on. No amount of tobasco sauce could make em eatable! I would eat everything else in the box and throw them away. Before I got out they were transitioning to MRE’s. I wasn’t a big fan! The new ones my son bring home to me aren’t bad but I still prefer the C- rats! Semper Fi!!!
Never got the loaf variety, although heard about it later in the hospital.
MRE’s I’ve tried and they’ll get you by, but that’s about it. The old C-rations
offered real food no matter how processed and the food packed real punch too.
Along with the cigarettes, no less. All the boxes lacked was a small can of Pabst
or Blatz.
Semper fi,
Jim
Evening Jim, LOL, You survived on Ham and Mothers, I survived on Ham and Green Eggs, or as it said on the boxes, Ham and Eggs Chopped Water Added….. The saving grace was the cheese wiz that came with them, I would heat them up with a little JP-4, melt the cheese, and pour it all over the green eggs and ham, I was never at a loss for something to eat, always had about a dozen of them stuffed in the storage …….. The joys of C-rat cuisine, I wish I could find some again and see if they still taste as good as I remember them? To each their own……
Semper Fi/This We Will Defend. Bob.
My second favorite and yes, you can find them on Ebay but the risk is fairly high that
they’ve gone bad. The cans they used back then were not made real well, and most have rusted through.
The only way to know if the stuff has gone bad is to eat it…and I won’t go that far!
Semper fi,
Jim
“This aint Quantico” So much said in so few words.
It was funny that some of the enlisted Marines, who’d likely never been to Quantico, knew it so well
as the sort of heart and soul of Marine leadership.
Thanks for the excerpted comment….
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent as usual.
“Running Bear dove in the water, Little White Dove did the same. And they swam out toward each other, through the swirling stream they came. As their hands touched, and their lips met, the raging river pulled them down. Now they’ll always be together, in their Happy hunting ground.” Hopefully this is not a portent of things to come….
Oh man, you had to go into the other lyrics. The song was always kind of dumb on lyrics but the music itself was so
addictive….and home…
Semper fi,
Jim
LT. Jim, caught some of a TV documentary on the experiences of some Vietnam soldiers who served “in country” like you did. Even after multiple decades passing since their service to their country, most related how they had battled (or were still battling) war-related demons of their combat experiences in Vietnam.
Someone on the show said [paraphrasing]…”…even though they brought a soldier home and out of the country (Vietnam), they could never seem to take the country [Vietnam experiences] out of the soldier.” I though of you and your men under your command…God Bless, Sir. Still thoroughly enjoying every segment you put up and anxiously await each new one…keep on keeping on…
Thanks fo the great comment Walt and the compliment inherent in the words.
Much appreicate you making thes comments on here where everyone can see them too….
Semper fi,
Jim
Ham and mothers are to you what spinach is to Popeye. Semper Fi LT.
That was very true, and I would eat them today if they still made the mix.
You can’t eat the old C-Rations because the cans have all gone to hell.
I tried ordering off Ebay!
Semper fi,
Jim
Great reading. Brings back plesant on not so plesant memories. Got a little confused in reading middle chapters of second 10 days. You refer to Stevens but then you referred to Stephens? in the middle Are they one in the same? Maybe need an edit?
Al, E Co 2nd Bn 9thMar. ‘Feb66-Mar67
Yes, clerical error by the chief clerk…that would be me! Thanks for picking it up so I can correct it.
Or Chuck, who is better at it.
Thanks for the help, and the neat compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
We are so fortunate to have such sharp readers……
Found the “Stephens” and believe all are corrected.
Thanks, Al.
Thanks for your sharp reading eye, Al
I think we have the “Stephens” problem corrected.
Thanks again.
Dear Sir,
I am just blown away by this story, your writing and most importantly you and your men. I recently watched Ken Burns Vietnam and there was a quote that Vincent Okamoto gave about his men. “They didn’t have escape routes that the elite, the wealthy and the privileged had. And that was unfair. And so they looked upon military service as..like the weather. You had to go in and you do it. But to see these kids who had the least to gain, there wasn’t anything to look forward to, they weren’t going to be rewarded for their service in Vietnam. And yet their infinite patience, their loyalty to each other, their courage under fire was truly phenomenal. And you would ask yourself, how does America produce young men like this?” God bless you sir and all of the men that did what they had to do.
There was no question that the collection of men and boys was something indeed.
Surprises all the way around. They never failed in the missions but they were failed all the time
by piss poor leadership…
Semper fi, and thanks for the compliment written into your words…
Jim
Still here and reading. Haven’t sent any emails as I figure you are getting ready to soon wrap up the Second 10 Days and are pretty occupied, but we will get back on track soon. I can just see Nguyen standing to the back and side of you at the Thursday morning meeting at Geneva Java, and everyone there nervously looking at him if they are disagreeing with you. One note on Tex’s .45. The custom .45’s are not fragile, they are just more precisely made, with less clearance that the normal government model, and thus could more likely jam from mud and dirt. However, my Colt National Match has never shown that tendency, and has never jammed except when the firing pin stop had to be replaced. I, too, anxiously await the next chapter, and check almost daily.
You are correct Joe, about the Colt. Never had one fail, there or back here.
Never had a failure to fire either, which speaks to the outstanding U.S. ammunition then and now.
Glad you came to visit and really complimented by that effort. Thank you so much.
Semper fi, your friend,
Jim
Your story continues to keep me drawn in. Not looking forward to its ending, but every story has one. Will this be the real end of the story? When finished, provide an epilog giving us what followed with your time in the Corp.
The series will end and the book following will be about getting out of the Corps at that time and then
the books that follow that will be about going to work for President Nixon on the Nixon estate in San Clemente.
I was a long way from being done with my wild life when I got out of the Corps.
Semper fi, and thanks for asking and wanting more.
Jim
Am continually fascinated by the by-play on going between you and the Gunny Lt. At every seemingly critical juncture it appears that you both come to the same conclusions from different angles. Symbiotic relationship is the term which comes to mind. Can’t decide whether it’s deliberate in your writing or something that has just developed over time. Which ever, as I said, fascinating!
It was a complex and fascinating relationship, especially in retrospect. Living it was a bit more hairy and problematic.
Thanks for the compliment and for writing it here in public…
Semmper fi,
Jim
Praying for others is always acceptable to the Big Guy up there! Putting others before yourself, is the primary lesson in life here on earth.
Thanks J. So, today, I am praying for you. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Praying for others is always acceptable to the Big Guy up there!
Well okay. I shall do so for you this very minute. Don’t be upset if the roof comes down and lightening tries to find you
in the rubble though…
Semper fi, and God bless you,
Jim
James, if that were the case, you would no longer be around as your name has been constantly brought up before the Lord, by those of us who are less worthy then you think of yourself.
Bottom line, none of us are worthy, but He loves us all! If that were not the case, we would all be gone from this planet.
Your blessings are accepted and may they be returned several fold. Semper fi my friend.
Words of wisdom, as usual. I read. I think about the words. Thank you….
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you Mr Strauss! I meet with the surgeon today! I look forward to every chapter! A thank you for this wonderful edge of your seat story and keep em coming!!!
Praying for you David…hope that’s acceptable to the Big Guy up there.
Thanks for the compliment. Means a lot.
Semper fi,
Jim
Spent my time, 1968-69, on a B52 base in the pacific. You have a talent that brings across what a mess the place in hell was. Thank you.
Correction: “Clews is going to call us up on the radio after dawn,” like he said. “We’ve got about three hours to make time.“ I don’t think you need the internal quote marks.
Thanks for being part of the editing team. Chuck will fix this tomorrow.
And thanks for the compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
“Gift”, sounds like you finally proved yourself to the grunts. For what it’s worth, I only had one Lt. in S. Korea that earned it and he had to be a Nam vet, we went through several before him.
What you write let’s me compare my time with one of your grunts and it leaves me lacking. Pick any rifleman in any squad, he marched off to kick ass where ever needed while for most of my tour it was stay where you are and tell us (on the obscure chance) when the North jumps. Apples, oranges, luck of the draw, you got the shit, I got the toilet paper.
Thanks Walt, as usual, for the pithy neat comment. Always thinking, and always on top of things.
Thanks a lot for coming in like you do on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
I read some of these comments and I’m humbled. What could I possibly contribute that would add anything to the conversation? This story has become important to me in ways I didn’t anticipate. I think the reason for that is not just the obvious tension created by the A Shau itself, but the wonderful characters you’ve brought to life! From Nuygen to Sugar Daddy they come alive in your writing Jim. As always I look forward to the next chapter. Semper Fi!
You are most welcome Jack and it is a pleasure to know you and read your stuff on here.
The compliments inherent in your words do not miss me by any stretch…and sometimes that is what keeps me
going through the mess of this whole thing…
Semper fi,
Jim
Getting respect is the first sign of a good leader, gaining everyone’s respect is reaching the Great level , which you are heading for . Awesome read, thank you so much for sharing. Best thing I’ve read in do years !!!
What is respect? That’s a tough one in combat.
Things change at an elemental fear-based level.
Respect goes right out the window of harsh circumstance and then maybe comes back in later….
while still waiting to be defined.
Thanks for the terrific compliment…for which I give you my respect!
And appreciation, of course…
Semper fi,
Jim
Okay James…….here’s my first criticism of your entire work so far – where the HECK is the link to “Running Bear”? I LOVE THAT SONG! Okay okay……I’ll look it up myself.
Gary……
It was intended but pushed publish button too early.
Running Bear is now on site.
Thanks for your support.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your leadership is infectious. They are doing what you want thinking it was their idea. Your survival has become their ticket home. All of us just said “get some”. Your endurance had been incredible. Thank you.
Endurance. That was the word. Not spoken or even really thought of at the time.
I am reminded me of Shackleton in the Antarctic or even those sailors with Bligh sailing the world
all the way back to England in a lifeboat. Endurance. Bearing down and just going on, one step at a time,
in pain all the way…
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh darn ,I read it and know have wait for more, thanks for great reading enjoyed every bit of it!
Thanks for the compliment of wanting more and faster…
Spurs me ever onward…
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent! Your gift given, given in service, as their muse.
I’m not sure if this needs an edit, yet in third paragraph Junior imagined taking Nguyen back home…”I smiled ruefully about how great it would be to have the silent Montagnard at my right hand, my beck and call,…” Should this be beck and call or beckoned call?
Thanks for this and for what’s coming!
Thank your Dennis for the compliment and the notice.
I made slight adjustment.
Semper fi,
Jim
“Beck and call” is correct.
(You can even Google it.)
Looking forward to each section. Thanks.
I was a tank platoon leader in the Army. Volunteered for VN, but they sent me to Texas.
Texas was just a tad better! Or so I hope.. Thanks for the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Was a young boy, called himself Tom… his parents were killed because they would not support the north… would show up quite often,,, was my buddy,, one night during the monsoons we were pulled out of the bush and put on bridge guard , the VC/NVA had a PA system out in the trees somewhere.. taunting us,, they knew we were wet and haddent been supplied for a few days, so hungery.. telling us to come out and eat with them and other craft… by order Tom was to be put out of the parimiter at night,, but I had kept him with me under the poncho hootch that three of us on that hole watch had put togeather.. any way after s few arty calls in the location of where the speaker was little Tom told me he knew where the Bad guys were.. took him to the CP and he showed them on the map .. fire was called and there was some screeching and then the speaker went dead..no more taunting.. I wanted to adopet him and bring him home.. have often wondered how he is doing…hope he had a good life
There were those rare creatures who seemed to surmount all association except that of honor.
Nguyen was one. Never knew any other of the indigenous peoples there.
Bitter sweet because no, you don’t get to knwo after all these years. Another price, unspoken
and unheralded, of that war. Maybe all wars. I don’t know. Thanks for the depth and meaning of your comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
“Getting that from them,” the Gunny said, “that’s your gift”.”Wow,coming from the Gunny” .Semper fi Lt.