A Shau Valley Archives - Page 20 of 22

THE EIGHTH DAY, 30 Days Has September

Dawn would not come. Again. A slight change in the dead blackness of lower jungle life was the only clue that dawn was in the offing. I looked at my combat watch only to realize that I could barely read it anymore.

Arch Patton, It Was 1993, Chapter 3

by James Strauss | 2 comments

Arch searched the house. The dog paid close attention, but never moved from his sitting position in the small great room, as if his view of the sandy beach and pounding surf beyond was not to be surrendered. There was nobody in the house.

THE SEVENTH NIGHT SECOND PART, 30 Days Has September

by James Strauss | 29 comments

I stayed in my clustered hooch into the dark hours, whiling away the time it would take for the NVA to begin their own H&I fires. The concept of H&I (harassing and interdicting fire) created back at Fort Sill, had been used in Vietnam for years without any...

THE SEVENTH DAY THIRD PART, 30 Days Has September

by James Strauss | 33 comments

There was nothing to be done until crossing the open area in front of us was imminent, except get hold of some of the rations and water. My letter home was in my pocket, forgotten for the first time, my full attention and following thought process had been unable to...

THE SEVENTH DAY SECOND PART, 30 Days Has September

by James Strauss | 37 comments

“You want wet or lurps,” Captain Morgan said, holding the radio handset to his right ear. “What are lurps?” I asked, vaguely having heard the word but not understanding what it meant.