I drove the Marauder to the pier in silence, neither Gularte nor I saying a word, even as the vehicle, much heavier than the Bronco built for the off-road job of patrolling the beach and incidental structures, made a smooth surface out of the rough wooden slat surface the pier offered up.
Please take me off the list for email notification of comments. I had 50 or 60 email notifications of comments in the last 8 hours.
I do enjoy the comments, I just go to the relevant story to see them.
I will have Chuck do that. I am sorry. This world of electronics and how it all works is a tough one
to understand and keep up with.
Semper fi,
Jim
Welcome back James, you’ve been missed. Junior needs to listen to his wife more often, not only is she one smart lady but she also has her head on a swivel. It appears that Junior is back in the thick of things being up to his eyes in a gator filled swamp. Once again, welcome back.
Thanks a lot Roy for the accurate and welcome critique.
Appreciate the compliment of your writing it all here.
Semper fi,
Jim
WOW, guts.
Thanks JT for the laconic but very impactful compliment…
Sempe fi,
Jim
Great read, thank you. I was riveted when watergate went down. The Cowardly Lion shines a new light on the characters involved. Fascinating!
Thanks Phil…and it was indeed interesting to be a part of all that without really realizing back then
that I was so deeply involved.
Semper fi,
Jim
I have been waiting for this episode for weeks and again it was well worth the wait.I find myself wondering what you will be up to next,thanks for the good read Jim
Tonight the next chapter goes up and I am half way through XVI. I’m on a roll and your kind of comment
helps me along…
Semper fi,
Jim
Having reread this all I can think of is these two are pieces of slime . I am waiting for you to tell us when you have the meetings with two other notable people . H.K. and A. H. ? One of my siblings is proud of the fact that she met both of them and wined and dined with them too . I guess I will never be able to top that one ! LOL
Yes, met both of those two, as well, and worked fairly closely with one (H.K,) who had not principles at all.
Semper fi, my old friend,
Jim
Wow, sure hope you get out of this hole you have fallen in. Awesome read, had to go back to pervious chapter to refresh, TY Lt..
Thanks Bob, the chapters coming hard and fast now that I am back in the groove.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, glad your muse has returned. Always enjoy your writings.
My “muse” has temporarily gone AWOL. As I age, the damage done to my body from Vietnam becomes more apparent, more hurtful.
Never thought old age could be this hurtful. In the future, gonna skip it and just stay young… And I have the tremors so bad it’s almost impossible to put the chisels and gouges in the right place on these rifle stocks I make. Yep, gonna skip this old age part next time!
The Good news is that you’re still with us Craig? A lotta people would, and eventually will, miss the hell out of you.
Thanks for the straight from the shoulder comment and complaints. Feel the pain but our senior status and message is
badly needed these days.
Semper fi,
Jim
I love this.Wife is right on,her intuition is impeccable.Thank you for invotinh me to read this new book
Thanks for writing Susan, and yes, the lucky choice (I was pretty dumb in those early days) has been a wonder in my
entire existence. I am so happy to be able to write about it when so many male authors do not.
Semper fi,
Jim
As history has proven, Ehrlichman and Haldeman were a couple of slimeballs. Powerful slimeballs. Every time you mention having to report and talk to them, I can feel your discomfort. Glad you were able to make them squirm a little. After your time in the A Shau, aside from potential loss of income, you should have had no fear of them. Keep the story rolling, Lt.
The A Shau did not cause me to lose my fear. It caused me to come to accommodate it. Fear is with us to keep us alive
and it can certainly do that, or surrendering totally to it can also get us killed. The balance, oh the balance.
Those two guys were bad to the bone in different ways…although H was in a class all by himself (maybe equalled by
Kissinger). Thanks for the wonderful comment and the compliment inherent in making it here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Damn, bro!! I don’t think I took a breath while reading those last few paragraphs. 😎🚁🇺🇸
DUSTOFF medic 70-71, Central Highlands
Thanks for the great compliment, the reading and making this kind of comment on here.
Much appreciated.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, All I can say is “Wow”. Plus you have an incredible perceptive & smart wife. And you are pretty smart as well, asking for her thoughts. Seems to me that when you explain a situation to Mary, her “brain gears”, for a lack of better words, go from 0 to 60 in an instant. And based on my memory (Such that it is.), I can’t remember a time where you’ve noted a change, by her, of her advice – Seems to always being at least a multiple base hit. Could be wrong – That has happened on several occasions, at least. Now, completely off topic – I do look forward to future chapters of “The Cat” & “Island in the Sand” – Both are great stories. Regardless, wishing you & yours continued blessings. Doug 2/64 AR.
Thanks so much Doug. The Cat and Island in the Sand are close to my heart (with my love of cats and also the tunnel system running under
Los Alamos…thanks for the great comment and compliments.
Semper fi,
Jim
Chapter needs proof reading
Yes, we’re doing that right here and now. Thanks for the comment Edward and the help.
Semper fi,
Jim
Nice to see back in the (author’s) saddle.
I want to get a peek inside the upcoming ball and what mischief you get yourself involved in.
You with your big brain and ton of life experience figure out that me at a presidential ball might be a mismatch?
Really? Thanks for the comment and your continued support Chuck…
Semper fi,
Jim
Awesome suspense as usuall , never enough to dought that you will be left nothing except curiosity that will drive you crazy until the next session. Well played Lt.
Thanks so much Don, and much appreciate the motivation it gives me to non on.
Sometimes life is just such a bitch that it can be difficult to get some clear running.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hah, Jim, you always provide good drama! A good woman for a wife is invaluable! No matter our history, they are formidable allies.
Today I am reading for entertainment, not editing, and enjoyed the read.
In moments of great peril, when we can trust our survival instincts, blind luck or fate comes riding in. Your senses are well-honed.
I pray that you are in good health.
Thank you ever so much Michael. I am in good health which is saying something at this age today.
Thanks for the compliment of your reading just for entertainment. Editing is such a bitch but fortunately a lot
of the guys on here help a whole lot.
Semper fi,
Jim
I love the power play
Thanks Russ, for recognizing it for what it was.
And thanks for the compliment in writing it here…
Semper fi,
Jim
HA HA Goober and Gomer are getting off lightly courtesy of your wife and they have no idea it is her idea that just saved your butt . Another outstanding chapter , keep them coming .
Mary is one of the rare ‘jewels’ of my life and my best talent has been in listening to her
when the chips are down. Usually, after such advice she has always had go to bed for a few days as her predictions
and plans were played out.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
James, this is an amazing yarn! You write it, I read it, I am amazed by it. You are every bit the writer that Tom Clancy was!!
Thanks for the Clancy comparison! I sold insurance for a while like he did too!
Appreciate the compliment and the comment here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Balls James bust em when you ca. Those guys are screw ups.
I think that over time most people who’ve studied the Nixon mess
attribute a good bit of it to the bad advice these two provided.
I worked for them. They were brilliant idiots, both.
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellant , well worth the wait !
So glad you like the work Christopher. Next chapter tonight and then VVI is half done already.
I am on a roll and kept going by people like you!
Semper fi,
Jim
You are blessed to be married to such a smart and understanding woman to help guide you through times like that !!
Semper Fi
You are absolutely correct SgtBob. She’s been there through thick and thin, my only real
value has been to provide some not always wanted or endurable adventure and entertainment!
Semper fi,
Jim
excellent…glad to see you…back
I am indeed back, with the next chapter coming out tonight and then XVI half done getting ready for the weekend.
Thanks for the support and sticking with me.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, thank you again for your service in Vietnam and later here. Amazing writing of all this!
Thanks for the thanks my friend, and also for the compliment about the writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow Jim, you got a turn at bat in the majors, good going!
Semper Fi
from another old Gyrene Lt.
Good analogy Reb, and I much appreciate the compliment…
Semper fi,
jim
James, Welcome back.
OMG Mary is fearless plus has a super quick mind. What a great partner to
have in life!
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
waddled back and forth a bit as they made their way
Change “they” to “it” and “their” to “its”
waddled back and forth a bit as it made its way
from noon to four and back with you from eight to midnight.
Close quote at end of sentence
from noon to four and back with you from eight to midnight.”
“See the man,” was all the voice said, before handing up abruptly.
Change “handing” to “hanging”
“See the man,” was all the voice said, before hanging up abruptly.
Christian Scientists that don’t drink or mess around with young women.
Maybe drop the “that” Phrased that way it is a declaration of fact.
Christian Scientists don’t drink or mess around with young women.
everyone didn’t get the idea that I was something importance when I surely wasn’t.
Either add “of” before “importance”
everyone didn’t get the idea that I was something of importance when I surely wasn’t.
OR chance importance to important
everyone didn’t get the idea that I was something important when I surely wasn’t.
I got out of limo before the driver
Add “the” before “limo”
I got out of the limo before the driver
“There’s a record of everything invited to everything dealing with the president
Change first “everything” to “everyone”
“There’s a record of everyone invited to everything dealing with the president
Blessings & Be Well
thanks Dan but that seems a rather hollow word for all you have done through the history of my work.
Your changes have changed everything and make it all look a whole lot more professional. Editing by the author
is hard as hell, as you know.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Self editing is difficult because we “know” what we are trying to convey … and that’s what we see each time we reread the text. I can be more objective if I wait a few days after the initial writing. That said, a reader may see something completely different from what we intended.
One more suggestion for this chapter. In the portion where you are getting into the limo: “everyone didn’t get the idea that I was something important when I surely wasn’t.”
“Something” seems more like a description of a person in terms of their job. Maybe use “someone” or “somebody.”
May the adventure continue.
Thanks for the explanation for that mental aberration kind of thing that just doesn’t seem logical but is
so true. Thanks for all the rest, as well, of course…
Semper fi,
Jim