I walked into the room, turned, and handed the orders to my wife, tossing the useless envelope it’d come in onto the couch located across our small living room.
“Hand-delivered by a Naval messenger,” I said, not knowing what else to say, my mind already beginning to adjust to going back into the A Shau Valley.
And sadly, I see a day ago that Danny died. I have a friend that ended up buying one of his used cars.
Flynn! I did not catch this comment going through. I always answer you, no matter what. Yes, Danny died and I will miss him dearly forever.
I didn’t know you knew him.
Semper fi,
Jim
I hope you are rethinking your Coup comments in Thirty Days . We now have a Clown in office .
Jim,
It looks like a couple of paragraphs are missing. In my copy you arrive at Treasure Island and suddenly the Sgt. Major tosses you some goggles. No one else mentioned it, so maybe there was a glitch in my download. Could you have someone email me a fresh copy of Chapter XX.
Many thanks for sharing your incredible story. Semper Fi!!
Percy, Thanks for the heads up, all corrected now
Semper fi
Jim
The Sergeant major strapped on some googles and tossed a spare pair over to me. I put them on, feeling like I was some character in a bad war movie.
The Gunny twisted the key, the little four-banger engine coughed to life and the Jeep surged back, and then forward as the little vehicle headed at full speed for the highway, except the Sergeant Major didn’t use the turnout that would have taken us immediately across to the other island
The SgtMajor has the jeep, not “The Gunny”, sorry for bringing it up.
Thanks for the notice.
Corrected now.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read.
Small correction: I wondered if Smokey wasn’t something of a more important character in drag (g)racing…. drop the g from gracing to make racing.
Found it and thank you, Don
Semper fi,
Jim
Always a great read, thank you.
Jim, Ditto on Dan C’s comment on your lioness & her ability of knowing you so well. Now, you have me right there, like many times before, in the stands – on my feet – anticipating a “green” light. Regards, Doug
“You’re one hell of a Marine lieutenant,” the Sergeant Major said. “I wish the Corps had more officers like you.” What high praise coming from the Sgt. Major.
Looking forward to the race. Couple of sentences with possible wrong name
“Drill?” Mikey answered. “What do you mean?” (Mickey instead of Mikey?)
“That’s it?” Mikey asked, leaning under the hood to look down. “We’re supposed to get a full second on the final run from some holes you drilled somewhere?” (Mickey instead of Mikey?)
“What about them?” Mikey replied, giving the exact same wording to the short question that appeared in my mind. (Mickey instead of Mikey?)
Thank you, Tony.
I think I found them and corrected them.
Semper fi,
Jim
I waited for more but Mickey didn’t add anything to what he’d said. I wondered if Smokey wasn’t something of a more important character in drag gracing than
Damn, with all that racing excitement, I wish I was there. After reading the previous chapter, my advice would have been to call your Congressman’s office. Your wife was already one up on me, she is certainly a “Firecracker”!!
After Smokey finished drilling headers I notice that “Mikey” name appears in next 3 paragraphs looking under hood and asking what holes are for.. Is the name supposed to be “Mickey” or did I miss someone..
You are corrected and it has been fixed.
Thanks, Jon.
Seemper fi,
Jim
Isn’t that supposed to Yunick not Yanick? Also I had a ’66 Lemons Sprint the same color as the GTO in the picture.
Thanks for the heads up.
Yes and Corrected.
Semper fi
Jim
James, you married a lioness! …and a smart lioness.
I enjoy reading about Julie’s interactions with her environment.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
but I had no idea who quickly that would pay when I was killed.
Maybe “how” instead of “who”
but I had no idea how quickly that would pay when I was killed.
The race is on Thursday,
Later in the segment you write
The fifth day, Saturday, was the running of the races.
I
got up and stepped close to her, wondering what I was supposed to say.
Just line up the sentence and probably start a new paragraph.
grabbing a set of keys from the right top drawer of his desk
I never saw a military vehicle that required keys to start. That said, anything can be added later.
Marine Army contest
Maybe add “vs” between “Marine” and “army”
Marine vs Army contest
But there’d seemed to have been time for her to make that call
Maybe add “no” before “time”
But there’d seemed to have been no time for her to make that call
Smokey we have to gain a second here, and drilling anything isn’t going to give us do that.”
Maybe drop “do”
Smokey we have to gain a second here, and drilling anything isn’t going to give us that.”
drill handing down from his free hand,
Maybe “hanging” instead of “handing”
drill hanging down from his free hand,
“
That’s it?” Mikey asked
Line up the sentence with the quote mark plus add a line for a new paragraph.
“The headers,” Smokey answered, lighting the tobacco he’d carefully placed in his pipe, and then lighting it.
There’s two “lighting”s. Maybe “tamping” instead of the first “lighting”
“The headers,” Smokey answered, tamping the tobacco he’d carefully placed in his pipe, and then lighting it.
Have your guys push up the car to the line,
Reads a bit smoother if “up” comes before “to”
Have your guys push the car up to the line,
more important character in drag gracing than I’d thought
“racing” rather than “gracing”
more important character in drag racing than I’d thought
Great horns blasted
This and the following sentence could be its own paragraph.
The Winternationals were about to begin
add period at end of sentence
The Winternationals were about to begin.
E Stock would the category
Add “be” after “would”
E Stock would be the category
lowering his voice as much of he could
Substitute “as” for “of”
lowering his voice as much as he could
Good to see you back. Blessings & Be Well
Again you are magnificent, Dan!
Thank you, and all are corrected…
I think. ~~smile
Semper fi,
Jim
Fantastic !
What a time to stop the story !!! LOL
Another riveting chapter in a long series of riveting chapters. You are blessed with your wife, she puts tigers to shame. Go get’em Mickey!!!!
I’ve served with a few pos’s, officer and enlisted. Some were Nam vets that I’m very surprised made it out without being fragged! Most were great Marines, officer and enlisted. Lt. Col. Creel and his xo who I remember well but not his name and Sgtmaj. Candelerio! Some of the finest examples of Marines in 1/10! Tough, strict, but fair!!!! 10th Marine regiment, Col. Cato and SgtMaj Craig. 2nd Mardiv. Gen. Al ( Papa Bear ) Grey. HQ Marine Corp, Col. Hildegard. One of the first women to be over a division I believe. Gunny prince in Alpha 1/10, our First shirt who I can’t remember his name. 10th Marines Masterguns over the arty mechs, Capt Mack and 1st Sgt. Montgomery and many, many more who helped to make me the Marine that I was. I know for a fact that I’ve served under a few “lightning bolts”! I wish the Corps had better ways of weeding out the idiots! I know too many Marines who got out over a few pos’s! Semper Fi my LT brother! Sgt. Johnny Applewhite!!!
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Johnny.
And for your service as a Marine.
Semper fi,
Jim
Lightning Bolt….the ass needed to meet Junior! Mary was more effective because she killed him with something that scared the hell out of the Corps!
S/F
Homan
Well damn you left us hanging again. Please don’t make us wait as long for the next chapter.👍👍
Jim, LT, you sure write one heck of a great story. You grab and maintain attention from start to finish, and really keep your readers spell-bound.
Can’t wait until you get to Pendleton, and become a “Hollywood Marine” – should be fun.
Big CONGRATS to your wife for doing what was right for both you and the Corps.
Waiting on the next installment. The who/how was the only error that I caught, but Sam beat me to it.
Thanks.
“Smokey Yunick” Lieutenant. Another amazing chapter. BZ
Thanks for the input.
It is corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m there, with LT, in the pits with all the sounds and smells of the track
Thanks LT. Glad you didn’t have to go back. I often wondered why Smokey drilled the holes in the headers now I know.
Found an edit James, 5th paragraph: Change “who” to “how” My SGLI life insurance was for $20,000 but I had no idea who quickly that would pay when I was killed. Still enjoying your writting-keep it coming and thanks.
Corrected.
Thanks, Rick
Semper fi, Jim
LT, I was getting worried your trap was heading the wrong way, loved how you explain your wife!! Welcome home Sir ….Semper Fidelis
My SGLI life insurance was for $20,000 but I had no idea who quickly that would pay when I was killed. Replace who with how.
I need a drill with an eight-inch bit, not larger nor smaller than that,” Eighth
a drill handing down from his free hand, Hanging
Thanks for the observation. Corrected.
Semper fi
Jim
Yet another cliff hanger….
Well doe, James.
Oops. Well DONE!
The power of a mad wife. WOW.
Amen!
Semper fi,
Jim
The great stories continue. Maybe your wife should have been named “Karen,” but she knew how to get it done. I served three months in a personnel company and soon learned that all it took to get things done was documentation and a shout out to the right person.