I stood with my right-hand flat, the dirty index finger of that hand slightly glued to my head by a light bond of drying mud. I stared into Clews’ eyes, waiting for an answer. Was I going to live, or die with him? Was I going to do something terrible to everyone inside the cave in order to allow me to live just a bit longer?
“Are all the supplies aboard the 46 or you want us to unload the 47s?” the Gunny asked, the tone of his voice matter-of-fact, like all of us jammed into the cave were sitting at some warehouse desk instead of tensely standing and closely facing one another.
“We’ve got our own stuff,” Clews replied, looking away from me. “We’re going to drop onto the top of Hill 975 just up from Highway 548. This ragtag bunch of whatever the hell you are can make the hike in two days…maybe. Use the 46 to get your dead and wounded back to the rear. We’re done here. When you make it to the hill, get ready for inspection. A lot of the problems I’ve heard about, now that I’ve been here myself, are the result of piss poor leadership and slovenly-looking conduct. This is the fucking United States Marine Corps and you’re damned well going to look and act the part when we meet again.”
Operation Deleware was Apr 1968. Gunny said it was 5 months ago; if this is Sep 1969, it was 1 yr 5 mo ago……
Incredible how a song can not only capture the essence of the moment, but can bring memories roaring back with astonishing clarity.
Yes, gifted songwriters are special indeed.
How they could get it just right and never be around what their lyrics might be applied so perfectly to…
amazing…
Semper fi,
Jim
You wrote: “Half a minute later the giant Praying Mantis of a machine closed its ramp and leaped into the air, (it’s) rear rotor rising rapidly at first, before the one in front.” Edit needed: change “it’s” to “its”
Thanks Steve, for the editing help.
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir, due to nothing more than a lucky lottery number I have not earned the right to comment on your tale. But I want to thank you for maybe helping me understand friends who came home but never quite got here. Thank you for your service & thank you for sharing. Jack Malone
You do not have to earn a right to comment on here.
This place is for all those who have come to understand over time what being
in real combat is like and the meaning of serving and believing in those that did serve.
That you did not go is good news, as you will discover in the reading.
Most did not come back from the A Shau in any physical form…
Semper fi, and you are most welcome here….
Jim
Arrogance, by Marine officers killed a lot of Marines. They were trained as All American warriors, hard, square jawed, and trained as invincible. The could not wait to engage this ragtag enemy an charge the hill. By the time they figured out the NVA an Charlie were really good they and most of their men were dead.I can still the map of Death Valley, it is burnt into my memory.
Yes, burned into my own memory forever, with some of the grid coordinates still right there if I need them along the Bong Song.
Thanks for your accurate and revealing comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Tears come from the tired and weary that have spent so much time in the bush with the death of follow brothers all around and being thank full to be alive. I know… The memories…
Thanks Jim, I think…
You are most welcome Mike. This accidental rendition of my war in Vietnam just keeps on pouring out, every couple of
days I put a segment together after reliving it all in my mind. An interesting odyssey not seen that way when I lived it.
I thought it would be over and done if I ever got home. Wow.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another moving chapter, Jim. I look forward to every one and read and reread each line as it reminds me of my tour. Though not the same as yours, it changed me as it changed us all. Happy Birthday, Marine Corp from an Army Vet. Have a Great Veterans Day to all.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. I guess I grow and bit acrid and bitter about the treatment of returning military
veterans in our culture on my Facebook page but here, not so much. Maybe because here I am have the warm comfort of being
surrounded by brothers and sisters….thanks for being one of those…
Semper fi,
Jim
you wrote: “What the hell?” I said, knowing the radio and the stalling, and probably even the departing (figures) strange behavior at the CH-47 were all linked, but not able to figure out how. Edit needed: “figures” should be “figure’s”
Got it Steve, and thanks for the help here as you guys are all the editorial assistance (other than over-worked Chuck) that
I have…
Semper fi,
Jim
I really have to smile thinking back when I started to read your first book. I purchased it upon recommendation of a fellow vet. As I open the book and noticed there was a disclaimer that it was fiction I was immediately disappointed. Frankly, I much prefer actual biographies and military history. The very beginning Account of your interaction with the general cause me to think that “this book is going to be ridiculous work of fiction. “. Boy, was I ever wrong. It didn’t take me but a couple of chapters to be completely hooked. I greatly appreciate these installments and your comments and interactions with readers. It Gives great insight into the story. I love this work of “fiction.” By the way, are the operation names in the story the ones you actually used? Did you remember the all?
Yes, the plan and operation names are real.
We are headed into Delaware right now in the story.
You can look the Army operation up that preceded our visit and what happened to them
and why that part of the valley became known as Delaware. All the places are real.
You understand the fiction part so I don’t have to go into that.
Semper fi,
Jim
I think we all know why the ‘published’ book is listed as fiction
In 69 my dad was a CO of a FB, He was called in to direct fire because the FO had been killed. When approaching the LZ he saw a chopper and two APC’s burning on the ground. He said the tracers were so thick you could walk on them. Sounds a bit like that army unit that got chewed up.
I dont talk about Nam with vets, cause I wasn’t there. But your letter home stirs up memories. They would move families out so quick. Sometimes five moving vans would show up on a Saturday, fanned out in the neighborhood. The empty seats in the class room as my friends and classmates left without a word. We dependents knew.Still hurts.
Yes, like the missing man formation the Air Force is famous for. We died like flies during that way
and it was all kind of quiet back here in the states.
When my wife answered the door in Daley City while I was away, two Marine’s were there knocking.
She was living with the wife of another Marine officer over there at the same time.
She said, simply: “which one?” They didn’t understand.
I’d told her that they only sent a telegram if I was wounded.
If I was dead there would be two Marines at her door.
When they said it was me she went straight down.
The real stuff from the real days…
Semper fi,
Jim
Happy Birthday Lieutenant and Happy 242 to our beloved Corps. Keep up the good work.
Semper Fidelis
Thanks Gunny. Love writing that word to this day. Gunny. Thanks Gunny.
I owe you and all other Gunny’s out there…and he knows who I am writing about if he ever reads this and is still alive…
Semper fi,
Jim
I wrote this after I started reading your story. They started bring back memories of my time with the 3rd marines during operation Dewey Canyon 98-99.
As a young man, I went to a place called Viet Nam with hopes and dreams.
I was sent into a valley. With those hopes and dreams alive.
I returned from the valley an old man without my youth and soul.
From some of the things I had seen and done.
In that valley called the A Shau.
Poetry, reaching into everyone’s chest who reads it and tearing at their heart.
Like my own. I understand. Others from that Valley fully appreciate and understand.
I am so sorry you had to go and I’m so happy you made it back. Semper fi,
and Happy Birthday, Marine!
Jim
Have the years wrong should be 68-69
I am not sure what you are referencing here Pat. Happy birthday thought and Semper fi,
Jim
I was there too the most successful operation of the Vietnam war for the Marines the3rd received the Army Presidential Unit Citation for that Remember the Brothers that didn’t make it back happy birthday brothers
Thanks for coming in on this site and writing about it.
Semper fi,
Jim
Tomorrow is Veteran’s day and I will attend a small celebration in my little town and once be surrounded by those who know what it was like, WWII getting fewer each year, Korea, a war forgotten by most but never them, Vietnam, my war where I grew and guys from Dessert Storm, OIF And OEF, that are still in the news, I was with them too in 2008. Lots changed over all those years but one thing didn’t and will never change and that is the brotherhood of Veterans. So on this one day I will feel the warmth of a shoulder against mine too, and remember.
Yes, feel the warmth of me and others on here who join you in this time of strange diffident patirotism, when so much of what some consider the price of liberty has been either disregarded or forgotten.
We are banded together as we go through life, our exploits following us in our own collected memories but mostly not shared by a public that thinks a hero is something in costume, or that attemding a war at home as fighting it.
We have to be okay with this because the general public does not know what being a warrior is all about. They cannot know. To know is to have died or ciruculated among the dying and dead and survived, only to have survived and found to be
the product of something so unbelievable that it is not. So, for the most part, you and I and others on here, outside the band of brothers that comprise us, are silent as we watch…and wait…and hope that no more warriors have to be
made, no unwilling real heroes decorated…and no more of such young exhuberant souls crossed over.
Semper fi, and it don’t mean nuthin.
Jim
Powerful…I salute you sir…takes me to ‘don’t mean nuthin”.
Thanks for the great tersely delivered compliment. I much appreciate that and the shared understanding I feel emenating out from your words on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Happy birthday, Lt., from another of the walkers of the Valley. I’m still engrossed with your story and remembering more things as you tell of your things. Bit it’s all good nowadays. I haven’t the fear that I had there and I brought home with me, Somewhere in the 8 years of drink and drugs after, the fear and most of the nightmares left me.
Thanks, and Semper Fi!
Not many of us around…alive Andrew. I hope I am getting the descriptions of that place right. I see it all the time and dream it every once and awhile.
And now I write it hoping that guys like you will monitor and keep me on track. We are moving north, as the valley spread out before us…and maybe you will
recall those open fields of fire….sometimes good and sometimes so terrible…
Semper fi,
Jim
Lt claws is going to find out why you told them not to go. Too bad he will take a lot of good men with him. Hope he can register his position and give you a chance to help them with some friendly artillery fire.
The best intentions sometimes went to bad. ANd so many had such good intentions but
no knowledge, understanding or real experience. Like back here, everyone wants to give adice and then
have it taken no matter what the price. Just part of the human condition, but there many man died from
such actions…
Semper fi,
Jim
Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps. And Happy Veterans Day. Thank You for your service. And a great big Welcome Home. I wish that I could salute you one on one SIR. But this my little salute from all of us that will never meet you one on one. Thank You.