Piaget, the man who owned, with his prisoner brother, the San Clemente Hotel, was a font of information and assistance, although arcane in attire, language usage, and personal style.
“Do you have a first name?” was one of the first things I asked him when we got a chance to sit down and talk about my wife, Julie, and I finding a more permanent place to live in the community.
Jim- I just read Chapters XXIII and XXIV. First of all I’m LOVING it that you have FINALLY found some really good people in the Corps. I’m the first to point out to everyone that while the Marine Corps (when I was In ’65 – ’67) had some really great guys it also had a TON of shit birds – and that includes my unit in Vietnam (G 2/1, 66 -67)(I was an 0331). That being said I just got a “happy” feeling for you……..even if it’s 50+ years after the fact! Also the picture of you from 1969 back in stateside (I assume) was GREAT. You DID look like a young Marine – handsome with a great smile – and it also put more of a sense of realism to your entire story right from the beginning. Additionally the picture of your wife shows easily what a “hot babe” she was and I’m sure still is – even if a bit more “mature” today. No wonder – given her fiery and no BS kind of attitude she had then – she opened many doors for both of you when you first got home. Who can say “no” to a beautiful face with a fiery disposition. I’m just starting on Chapter XV………..I hope your good fortune continues. It’s funny how in such a short period of time you had so many experiences at such opposite ends of the spectrum – good – to evil -to bad – and right now it’s looking like back to good. Keep us posted on the tour also LT. God bless you.
What a wonderful description of your thoughts about the writing, and how great a motivator.
I shall persevere tonight, even though I feel too tired and filled with turkey to move on.
Semper fi, my friend…and I’ll show Mary your comments about here.
Semper fi,
JIm
I anticipate with relish every new chapter. When there is a long recess after the last chapter, I always think and hope that nothing bad has befallen you, and am always happy when I once again see a new chapter.
I am here and producing the next segment as this is written. Thanks for the support, the worry and concern but especially
for the loyalty of you presence in the reading and on here, in the writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Some civilians weren’t so bad after Nam, others – well you know.
Housing arrangements plus furniture must’ve been a huge relief for your wife.
Outstanding chapter once again James, looking forward to the next.
SEMPER Fi
My wife had been so racked by wild change all over the place that nothing seemed to be a big deal anymore.
Somehow she just knew that we would muddle on through.
Thanks for the compliment and the next chapter should go up today.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, “world of the round eyes” – I haven’t “heard” that phrase since my Armor tour in Germany in the early 80’s. Brings back memories. Almost all of the NCO’s in the BN & most of my TCs had spent time in country. They were all very good men & soldiers. My only regret was not working harder to learn more from them. My mistake. Regards, Doug
Funny how some things come back. World fo the round eyes is not an acceptable thing to say in this current social structure, of course.
The racial stuff back then was pretty bad and much more violent from both sides.
Thanks for the compliment and the reading. And yes, the survivors of that way learned a lot, even the men and women in the rear areas.
Semper fi,
Jim
When I returned from my 1st tour in Vietnam i bought a new Chevelle Super Sport. Paid for it by spending all I had saved that year. Loved that car. It, the GTO and Camaro SS were the spirit of the times. As a single LT stationed at Arlington Cemetery with the Old Guard I was in hog heaven. Then the 2nd tour came along. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your story. Thanks for your service Jim.
Those cars did symbolize wild times, along with the pill, space travel and so much more.
We were headed to the stars in so many ways, and going there fast. And then came the
social, economic and selfish collectors…and man oh man did they collect. We went into
a steep decline that has hopefully ended with the pandemic.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
I’ve followed your story since you started.. Haven’t heard much since your anti-Trump Rant e some time back! Share with us your view of Our President Biden?
I am mostly anti-president, although Trump was a peculiarly great target. Joe just kind of waltzes along, which is good for the time period following the wild ride of the Trump era.
The nation needed a break. We got it with Joe. I’m not sure at all that he’s not all there, but then when I worked with Reagan I really worked for his wife and George Senior as he was
not all there either. The president is a figure head and Reagan was brilliant at being that. His policies, not so good, but then the country is more run by the congress anyway as they
control the money. Our congress has been a weird madhouse for some time. They don’t need to be hung, shot, blown up or any of that. January 6th was lousy but thank God turned out okay.
But specific members on both sides really need to go.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim I was assigned with 3/28 HQcomm at the Area 62 site at San Mateo outside of San Clemente in1967 after leaving RVN. 3/28 5thDivision was used as a feeder for 26th Marines in RVN. We trained Our infantry Battalions in Comm but the 28th was decommissioned 11/69. Your 13th Marines the Artillery Support was east of us and eventually decommissioned with the 28th. I thought that was a nice location and duty station. Went back to visit in 2016 and saw that the 5th Marines were HQ at San Mateo.
We were all there at around the same time.
Funny how things were errand back then but so forgotten now.
Thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
new 67 GTO owner, 400/360 HO, 4 speed, 390 rear. Hate to ask this but is the reference to Micky Thompson the truth ? No offense but its a great story. Read all you’ve written and loved it !
The story about Mickey, his gas stations, the runs at Half Moon Bay, Danny Ongais, all of it
is absolute truth.
Semper fi,
Jim
Strauss doesn’t sound like an Irish name, but you sure have the luck of the Irish. Glad to read how things have been turning around for you so far, looking forward to the rest of the story.
Semper Fi, Sir
One quarter Irish, one quarter Scoth and the rest Austrian from the Fulpmas region of Austria.
Thanks for the asking and caring and the compliment….
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you again for a well written story. I await whatever is coming with anticipation. Always a highlight of opening my email.
Much appreciate hearing that Tim and I am writing away on this rainy day here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Strange that nobody know about your TIME in nam. I suspect Lt beard knows more than he is telling. WELCOME home.
Jb. Nobody cared and records were slow and horrid in covering even the detail of where you might have been in country.
So much better today.
Thanks for the deep thought.
Semper fi,
Jim
I really love how you tell this story. Thanks
Thanks Rick, and I really love how many great supporters of the work are out there.
Much appreciated.
Semper fi,
Jim
Fantastic, Jim! Really enjoyed seeing you have some good things happen.
Semper Fi, my friend
Thanks Craig, much appreciate the support and the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Well, yes, sometimes I cannot keep myself from commenting. Thanks for the laugh. The Colonel deserves credit for noticing your physical condition and attempting to get you medical help, but I can understand why you promptly left the base and continued with efforts to get your family settled.
It was an iffy time and I made an iffy move, saved only by the fact that Colonel Fennessey was a class act.
I needed help along the way and that help came from some of the most unlikely sources.
Semper fi and thanks for enjoying the work.
Jim
Finally some decent breaks in your life but I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.
There was much that was good about my return and maybe the best part was that I could see that…and not end
up being one of the guys wearing a utility jacket hanging around in a cemetery. I remember those guys. I have
often wondered how it must have been for combat vets coming home without the benefits of a wonderful wife and child.
I can never over stress how much that fact alone worked to get me through.
Thanks for the complimentary comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Amazing update James!! Check your mail. 🙂
Jim Flynn. Who is this masked man? I am reading what you have written here since I have been writing here.
I am constantly amazed about how the extraordinary nature of some men, those some men who served, are different than
the nature of others. I have no more wonder about how mankind in general really has no idea about how they owe so much to so few,
as Churchill put it so brilliantly. You are one of those few Jim Flynn…and it is wonderful, at this point in my life, to have you
as an important, albeit mostly silent actor, in it.
Thank you, my friend,
Jim
My first new car was a 66 Chevelle. But not a muscle car. Being frugal and working in a grocery store after high school. I paid it off while in the Army and a school loan with $105 allotment from my E-4 pay leaving me $32 a month spending money until I made E-5 just 3 months prior to leaving Korea for Ft Bragg, NC.
Cars meant everything to us back in those days. It was a symbol as well as a transportation means.
Thanks for the great comment about your own experience of the time.
Semper fi,
Jim
Always a bright spot in my day when I see your email notices.. These last few chapters have taken me back to my life in California at the time. So very interesting to see it from your perspective as a returning vet. ( I was USN 56/60 ). Thank you for jarring memories …;)
Thanks for the great comment and neat compliments. I do feel those and they help me continue.
There are a few vets on here that power me ever onward. Only you guys could have convinced me that the Cowardly Lion would be
found to be interesting by anyone, much less leather-worn old guys tougher than hardened sea salt.
Semper fi, and appreciate the compliment.
Jim
thank you again for sharing! helps a lot dealing with my own feelings about our welcome home from the nam.
That my work can reach you that deep reaches me that deep. I had no idea I might be of assistance. I wrote the work
right after my war but could not finish or go on back then. Now I write it for exactly what you are getting out of it.
It costs me money in every way to publish and then continue to publish these volumes that only will ever have a small audience.
The culture is not ready for the reality we went through, either over there or when we got back here.
We didn’t know they wouldn’t care that much back here. My medals are in a plastic bag in a trunk in the basement because nobody
not only didn’t care about them they actually held them against me.
Thanks for being helped and letting me be the one to do that. The truth in these works is in the details, some of which are wrong but by golly most are not.
Semper fi
Jim
👍 great
Glad you name is Jim. That’s appropriate for this single laconic comment and compliment.
I accept that and smile…
Semper fi,
Jim
Well James, It seems San Clemente was full of interesting people. That should make the following episodes also interesting.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
close enough to walk the very center of town
Maybe add “to” before “the”
close enough to walk to the very center of town
put it up the light to see if the bills
Maybe add “to” before “the light”
put it up to the light to see if the bills
I was amazed that the man-made no effort
Hyphen between “man” and “made” seems extra
I was amazed that the man made no effort
Yes, ‘world of the round eyes,’ aka The Land of the BIG PX; aka The Land of Magic Toilets. When everything we take for granted is no longer available then we learn to appreciate it and find novel ways to describe it.
Blessings & Be Well
Thank you again, Dan for your wisdom and sharp eyes
You have been a savior on this journey.
LT, wow keep them coming, your fast and furious now. I would think you like High Noon as title, but don’t count out “Good things come to those who wait” and you sure have had to wait to get a start on a fairly good life for you and your family
Hah, hah, got a good chuckle out of this one, Jim!
Wow, talk about twists and turns in your life!!!!!!!
Great read ….had 66 Nova (283) super-glide ….the muscle cars are neat. Spent many weekends and evenings in San Clemente (66-67 & 68-69).
Looking forward to seeing you on tour.
Very good luck seems to be coming your way JAMES
This chapter is sure full of apparently good deals.
Thank you, Sir, for yet another chapter.
You are most welcome Walter. Not everything of that time was terrible and certainly not all people.
Semper fi,
Jim
Haven’t mentioned that the first new car I ever owned was a GTO, 389, three speed Hurst shifter, silver, with black interior and red line tires. Best sounding vehicle of all I’ve owned. Wish I’d kept it.
Who knew? I mean the brief halcyon period of the American Muscle Car era was like the space program. It was just going to go on and
get better and better…and then it stopped like hitting a wall. But it was more than the cars. There was a raw aspect to the
development of humanity, particularly male humanity, going on at that point which not going on now. Decide for yourself what is better.
Thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
I enjoyed the chapter and the comment about muscle cars and the demise of manhood. Here the ultimate psuedo-phallus symbol is a jacked up, oversized truck. I have had a couple of hot Trans-Ams, wanting a GTO that is no longer made. But , Hell, I am too old to drive fast anymore, and I realize it. That is not good.
Always drop everything I’m doing and read your stories when they show up. I was there 68 – 70 . Flew as a Gunner on Huey Gunships . Was with VMO-2 callsign Hostage. We may have done business with each other. Was stationed at Marble Mt. Semper Fi Marine.
Thanks a million for the great compliment Phillip. We may very well have ‘done business’ there,
but man oh man is hard to followup and find anyone from back there!
Semper fi,
Jim