Unlike the Jeep that’d been waiting for me when I flew in on the C-130 the security people would not let Tom’s Blazer out onto the tarmac. I got out, thanked him for helping me with my plan, and grabbed my bag and new briefcase. Tom had found a used Hartmann case of worn but beautiful leather inside which he’d stashed the plan photos, or so he said and I wasn’t going to open the thing to find out.
“You got the key for the latches?” I asked, peering out into the shimmering distance, where the C-130 sat, all four engines running and aimed toward the end of the runway and ready for takeoff.
How do you remember all of the details? I tried writing down some of my experiences, can not get the dates aligned much less some of the details.
The kind of memory I was gifted, or curse with, is uncommon, and not always totally dependable. I can remember, for example, my childhood
-phone numbers the license plate numbers of many people who attend an event, just by walking through the lot, those grid coordinates in Vietnam, the brand and smell of my
wife’s old cigarettes and so much more. But, sometimes, I can’t find my car keys! Thanks for the interesting and unusual comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for providing another chapter of your life to help brighten ours.
We know part of the ending, because you are still here writing. But the in-between is so….
Yes, I’m still here and thanks for pointing that out! Sometimes I wonder, like the first time I went to the Vietnam wall and immediately went to
look at one of the indexes located at both ends of the memorial. I was looking for my own name. I stepped back, when I saw it wasn[t there, of course, and then was embarrassed
until I met another vet years later who’d done the same thing.
Thanks for the comment and the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, IIRC the flight deck on C-130s and C-123s was several steps up from the cargo hold. There was a bench seat at the rear of the cockpit. Too bad they didn’t let you sit there for the flight. I did once in a 123 while an American advisor and a platoon of barfing ARVN Rangers were on the cargo deck.
We could look at the return flight crew not being informed of your status as a screwup. Or we could look at it as another test of your ability to work through a difficult situation.
The adventure continues. May the family including Bozo learn to thrive in Albuquerque.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
before he drove off. “See you soon”
Add period after “soon”
before he drove off. “See you soon.”
concrete so hot from the high-altitude-beating sun so hot that the bottom my feet
“so hot” twice. Maybe drop the second after “sun”
Add “of” after “bottom”
concrete so hot from the high-altitude-beating sun that the bottom of my feet
I knew the plane was pointed the was it was
“way” instead of “was” after “pointed the”
I knew the plane was pointed the way it was
gain altitude much quicker than if he had been attempting to take off
Since we’re talking about an aircraft – maybe “it” instead of “he”
gain altitude much quicker than if it had been attempting to take off
layer of seeming callous almost a quarter inch thick
Physical thick skin is “callus”
“callous” is being insensitive to the feelings of others.
layer of seeming callus almost a quarter inch thick
“No, it’s a symbiote,” I replied
Google is telling me “symbiont” rather than “symbiote”
“No, it’s a symbiont,” I replied
not being able to think of anything better to fill it?
Drop question mark. Add period.
Could end sentence after “better”
not being able to think of anything better.
OR
Use “in” rather than “it”
not being able to think of anything better to fill in.
“We get a place to live, but what does it get back?
End quote
“We get a place to live, but what does it get back?”
There was not much free in the world and culture of the seemingly free USA I’d already learned.
Works as is – but reads easier if “I’d already learned” starts the sentence.
I’d already learned there was not much free in the world and culture of the seemingly free USA.
stepped to the machine and switched it off.
“radio” instead of “machine”
stepped to the radio and switched it off.
shook my head at any message was I reading into the words
Swap “I” and “was”
shook my head at any message I was reading into the words
pulling his arms into his torso and looing for all the world
“looking” instead of “looing”
pulling his arms into his torso and looking for all the world
big empty craft jumped forward and started its taxi
The term “taxiing” is not used for the accelerating run along a runway prior to takeoff. Wikipedia
So maybe “takeoff roll” instead of “taxi”
big empty craft jumped forward and started its takeoff roll.
at altitude, only moments later, the plane became as it had on the way in, flying flat
Maybe “transitioned” instead of “became”
Drop comma after “in” Add “to”
at altitude, only moments later, the plane transitioned as it had on the way in to flying flat
why hadn’t the former crew been brought into the loop
/No issue with the former crew. They transported you. The issue is with this crew./
Substitute “this” instead of “the former”
why hadn’t this crew been brought into the loop
OR
Substitute “current” instead of “former”
why hadn’t the current crew been brought into the loop
staring over at the cargo chief, crew chief, or whatever title the man held
Maybe “loadmaster” instead of “cargo chief”
staring over at the loadmaster, crew chief, or whatever title the man held
felt when I gripped the automatic only hours earlier. I hadn’t taken it out or clicked off the safety
/But you DID display it/
Maybe rewrite
felt when I gripped the automatic only hours earlier. I had taken it out but had not clicked off the safety
propellers going into reverse an instant before that
/Seems reversing props happens after touchdown/
Change “before” to “after”
propellers going into reverse an instant after that
The cargo chief let the rear door down once again
Maybe “loadmaster” instead of “cargo chief”
The loadmaster let the rear door down once again
let the rear door down once again so I wouldn’t have to exit through the ridiculously difficult ladder and hole I’d climbed up in the first time
/ Seems you used the rear ramp upon arrival in NM and again to board and leave the aircraft on the return trip. Only time you might have used the (I’m guessing) man door on the left front of the plane would have been on the outbound flight from El Toro./
Your decision if you want to leave or modify this sentence.
turning to face me and hold in out his right hand
Rewrite
turning to face me and holding a piece of paper in his outstretched right hand
Richard arrived nearby as the ramp went back up
Maybe “pulled up” instead of “arrived”
Richard pulled up nearby as the ramp went back up
What was in mind for me that was well beyond any importance or position
Maybe add “present” or “current” before “importance”
What was in mind for me that was well beyond any present importance or position
called upon to be used, so the recent request that I go to New Mexico armed
Maybe add “too” after “so”
called upon to be used, so too the recent request that I go to New Mexico armed
going to happen when I’m finally in place and operational?
Close quotes
going to happen when I’m finally in place and operational?”
comparisons of other places in Albuquerque
Maybe “to” instead of “of” after “comparisons”
comparisons to other places in Albuquerque
I moved toward the door, grooving ever more uncomfortable with the lies I was telling
Maybe “growing” instead of “grooving”
I moved toward the door, growing ever more uncomfortable with the lies I was telling
Blessings & Be Well
By God but its good to have you back as the ‘editor-in-chief’ of this entire operation. What relief! What a better work once the corrections and modifications are made, as they are
as of this very moment. Thanks Dan, hardly says it all. You’ve been one busy beaver with the school and all so thanks so very much for reaching back and taking care of us poor
lonely footsodlers!
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
NEVER MIND, I LOOKED BACK AND SEE IT WAS JUST MISNUMBERED
Thanks Tony for coming back on that.
Semper fi,
Jim
I DIDNT SEE A CHAPTER MARKED VIII. DID I MISS SOMETHING?
Yes, you did miss it Tony. They are all well marked, as I just checked
but you’ll figure it out.
Semper fi,
Jim
Matt Renfri reminded me of a guy that once told me “ I’ve been to two Hog-Tieings & one County Fair but never seen nothing like you”…
John, I’ll take that as a compliment! Thanks for reading the stuff and making such a comment on here
Semper fi,
Jim
Great read, as usual.
A few typos- “ I heard him he’ll out the window”,
She called the affectation… I think you meant affliction,
Allay any suspicion about what you might be done- should that be doing?
Great song, another part of the lyric that may also be prophetic”do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end”
Interesting song and movie to go with it. A little to on the ‘we’ll fix violence by using overpowering violence’ kind of a thing
but what the hell. I was amazed that the guy who made and starred in it never really went much farther in Hollywood.
Thanks for the interesting comment and the editing help.
Semper fi,
Jim
any suspicion about what you are going to be done.* (* doing)
Marry* sat on the couch and pulled (* Mary)
Just a couple of typos I noticed..
Good moving chapter James, as in things moving along quickly !!
Will you ever have to tell about pulling out the .45 on the plane ?? Hope not as you are now in a whole different realm of unknowns …
SEMPER Fi
The plane incident with the Colt never came up again, although I became much more reticent to pull a gun out for any reason other than
to use it as that occurrence made me very aware that “Junior” was very much buried deep down in my psychological center and the near
instant respons to turn to the weapon when no such solution was required bothered the hell out of me.
Semper f, and thanks of the great comment and help, by the way.
Semper fi,
Jim
What happened to the floor when the artifact fell? Or did someone take it? Can’t wait to see.
Kemp
H. Kemp. You can’t ask questions like that as I would have to reveal what’s happening in the next chapter. As you read, I left the damned thing
on the floor, where I presumed my wife’s data was correct about it, and left in disgust to return later. You only haves a few days to wait so please
be patient, or at least make believe you are being patient. If you don’t know how to do that then my wife would probably be most happy to give you some lessons! Thanks for the compliment of not being able to wait…by the way.
Semper fi,
Jim
The aircraft pointed the was it was. S/B the WAY it was
Thanks Buster, don’t know what I would not do without my reader/editor helpers.
Semper fi,
Jim
It being tax time of year, I keep wondering if the CIA sent W-2 forms to you, or did they do them for you? What with all this free money, houses and cars?
The agency, at the time, used ‘companies of artifact’ back then but I don’t now what now. The Mortgage holder of the house was not the CIA. It was Sunwest Bank and the name of the company behind the mortgage was Uptown Ventures, Ltd. which apparently only existed to be that mortgage generator. How all that worked beyond that I will cover in a coming chapter. It was all arcane and damned near impentrable even for someone deeply embedded in the process. Thanks for the questions of penetrating interest. Nothing really turned out to be free…as the CIA ‘charges’ a whole lot more than they pay it just doesn’t seem like it until you are in a prison or hospital in some throw away country.
Semper fi,
Jim
LT, it’s been one of those weeks where you flip-flop between thanking God for giving you another day or consider sucking a 45. Your email comes along and puts a bit of perspective into the day, along with a little smile on the face. I, for one, am grateful for you sharing your life experiences with us. It helps. Semper Fi.
Admittedly, my life has been filled lock stock and barrel with a diversity and never-ending series of adventures, but,
as you pointed out here, I also share a lot of the angst and stress coming to returning vets and others who’ve been
through such trauma. Thanks for pointing that out, in your way and also the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Semper Fi Marine,
looking, not looking
Mary noy Marry.
and the new journey proceeds .
Appreciate the editing help, Earl, as well as the rather dryly put compliment!
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh, James – I feel like someone just jumped from the frying pan into the fire! Like,
Holy Smokes – run for cover!
You are really getting groomed for nefarious deeds in the near future, and are leading us gently into what will be some earth-grumbling happenings.
Write faster, dear friend, write faster. And include all the details you can. Yes, I realize many “details” will have to be excluded – some secrets must remain so forever.
Truly anticipating more tip-toeing adventures on most all the continents. Almost exclude Antarctica, but with your new employer, one never knows. I’m sure McMurdo Sound must have some skullduggery slightly buried in the ice!
I am off to re-read “The First Cat” to relax my brain!
Craig, my ailing friend, and McMurdo Sound, discovered by Ross aboard the appropriately named HMS Terror vessel. Your mind is racing at light speed on this one. Yes, I did make it to McMurdo although that will come later. How in hell could you possibly guess that as almost nobody on earth currently living has any clue, including my family! Of all the place you could mention… Jeez! Thanks for the great compliment of your sleeting brain and active pen here. The readers of this work are so damned penetrating that I sometimes sit back in awe, like in this case.
Thanks my friend of keeping me right on my toes.
Semper fi,
Jim
When you talked of never going to any other country but perhaps Hawaii, did you forget about Vietnam, and you probably learned a little of that language and maybe Montanard?
Also when Mary started looking through the real estate pictures, misspelled her name Marry.
I did forget, indeed, Joel. God! I did not and never have thought of those experiences in terms of being in countries when and where they happened.
In Vietnam I only ever saw an area of geography that was half mile wide at its widest, five miles or so of its length, some of the cliff top and my Henry and exit. Japan I never really saw outside of the hospitals except for the careening ride from one hospital to another. Maybe it was the rejection of experience that caused me to totally blow that out of my mind when I wrote about it…so damned recently that I can’t explain it away. When I finally got back to Japan several times I did indeed encounter it as a culture and country. Vietnam would not let me back in and I could not deplane later on.
Weak explanation, I know. But I did indeed forget.
Semper fi,
Jim
I always feel like I may have missed something – but that is not a bad feeling – as I always say – “catch up!” Wonderful transition. I can’t wait Lt.
The neat thing about the work is that you can always go back and ‘catch up,’ or at least for as long as Chuck leaves the chapters
up without charge. Thanks for the reality of your comment and the compliment inside it.
Semper fi,
Jim
When one door opens another closes behind you, seems you just need to keep moving forward and forget the past. Great chapter, this is more twisted and confusing than Alice in the wonderland!! Thankyou sir and Semper fi
There was, and evidently is from the detailed writing of the story, not likely to be much ‘forget the past’ kind of thing going on.
Maybe I’ll live long enough to get dementia and then the forgetting will be either a blessing or a curse…or not remembered at all!
Thahs for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Matt Renfri, will we hear from him again?
When things get overwhelming the beach is where I go to ground myself, preferably alone. I go for shellfishing. Focusing on the physical aspect of digging & raking is mediation for me & clears the mind.
Get the next chapter out, can’t wait to see what’s going on with the artifact.
Thanks for the sincere interest about what’s coming next Phil, which of course, I can’t write in comment responses.
Nevertheless, stand by and you’ll get more on Matt and more. Thanks of the ‘demand’ of wanting more…and the compliment in that.
Semper fi,
Jim
Outstanding LT. I enjoyed.
Alan
Thanks a lot Alan. The short compliment is largely appreciated!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Things are happening….Comments: the 45 actually served a purpose! Do you suppose walking on the artifact clears the fungus? And, only people who don’t know what is happening can discuss rumor, otherwise it is a secret and you don’t have “need to know” yet!
Funny, we have been moving on our whole lives…
The artifact was to be gently experimented upon but its evident power not to be toyed with, especially when it came
to close human physical contact, as I proved. Talked to Lesperance out in the islands yesterday and he still talks
bout his encounter with the object and how it changed his life right then and there forever. I can write and describe stuff
about it all day long but that does not come close to actually being in its presence and allowing or forcing it to
act like what it is or was (which I don’t know to this day). Interesting comment though. I still have my symbiotic
old friend attached to the bottoms of my feet. I got used to that, but there’s never ever getting used to the effect
of the artifact. Thanks, as usual, for the great penetrating and mildly humorous, comment.
Semper fi,
Jim