A Shau Valley Archives - Page 16 of 21

THE ELEVENTH DAY THIRD PART, 30 Days has September

“There’s a lesson to be learned from this and I’ve learned it oh so well,” was coming out of any number of small radio speakers when we marched across the perimeter and into the temporary encampment Captain Casey referred to as his command post. I walked in the lead...

THE ELEVENTH DAY SECOND PART, 30 Days has September

by James Strauss | 135 comments

I took my binoculars and played with the focusing knobs to bring in the landing zone far below. I was trying to get a clearer view of why there was stuff piled up around the edges of the zone, but I couldn’t make out what they were. The Gunny walked over and took out...

THE ELEVENTH DAY, 30 Days has September

by James Strauss | 157 comments

I felt a large hand grip my left bicep, as I stood gazing with Fusner down into the hypnotic A Shau Valley below. The hand gently guided me backwards. I didn’t resist, turning to see the man I already knew the hand had to belong to. “Why do you suppose this clearing...

THE TENTH NIGHT THIRD PART, 30 Days Has September

by James Strauss | 133 comments

There was nothing to be done but to sit with Keating’s body. I’d wanted to carry it myself but the guys would have none of it. Surprising me, Stevens said it all with a strange statement, coming from a noncom in a unit that hadn’t tolerated officers well, to say the...

THE TENTH NIGHT, 30 Days Has September

by James Strauss | 174 comments

I ate ham and lima beans while the mosquitos ate me. The repellant backed them off but there were plenty of FNG mosquitos to replace the ones who flew away.