The quiet stillness in the restaurant was broken only by the regular ‘at sea’ noise coming in through the thin wooden walls and cheap sheet glass serving as spume covered windows. I took command of the group, as going any further, with respect to Richard’s loyalties, background or conduct wasn’t going to be productive at all in trying to solve the mystery or mysteries with which the Dwarfs had become engaged and entwined with.
“The search of the yacht revealed only another one of these,” I produced the pen and held it out before placing it on the table in front of me.
Its now official, Jim, this has gone sideways sixteen ways to sundown !! Can’t recall where I first heard that but I think it fits here today !!
A purposefully placed “empty” clamore would of course get your attention but to what ends ??
Seems as though Richard has his own story to tell or fess up to one day !! Hopefully soon, perhaps after the big party / non-party ??
Can’t wait !!
SEMPER Fi
SgtBobD, you are a master at making me think I’m a better author than I may be. Thanks for the compliment here and on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir,
Wow, and, I wish I was a smarter man. I wish I could understand how the claymore represented thanks and honor. I also wish I understood how you and the Dwarfs are involved in the Kennedy assassination (maybe I missed a chapter). Respectfully and sincerely thank you for your service and for the amazing way you tell the story.
The Kennedy assassination came over all of us by surprise, and it did so in
small stages to an end you will read one day soon. The war also effected so many
people around me in those days. Now I have nobody remotely connected except for my great friend Homan
who lives an hour away. Back then Viet vets were everywhere.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m so twisted with all the directions of the last few chapters, I don’t know which direction to follow!
Thanks Leo, for following at all! Pleasure to have your aboard for the continuing adventures.
Semper fi,
Jim
Not an expert here, but I could swear the warning on the claymore was “Front Toward Enemy”? Loving the Kennedy part, always believed it was an inside job, not Oswald. On a side note, when will we find out the status on all your men in the A Shau?
You ae most correct Thomas and I will make that correction.
Thanks for the help.
Semper fi,
Jim
I was surprised you took down the photo of the claymore and put up the picture of the dwarfs
Stephen. The Claymore would have been stunningly more effective, however, the bots and analytics of the social media sites we use to
allow for greater dispersion of the chapters will no longer allow the photo expression of weapons or explosives of any kind, no matter who
innocently portrayed or presented. You are most correct to write about this. Thanks for caring and commentlin.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’ve been following and reading these chapters since the story before this one, it feels like several years now. Thank you for giving us this journey we wouldn’t have without your life and story.
Much enjoy having you aboard for the ‘journey’ so to speak. Yes, it was something back then
even though I didn’t see what was going on as that big a deal. Thank you for going along and commenting
here about liking the journey…and the compliment of your doing so.
Semper fi,
Jim
I puckered when you lit that thing up w/ the flashlight. Figured whoever had the clicker was going to torch it. Very good chapter.
The picture of that Claymore sitting there remains indelibly
imprinted in my memory and I think about it every once and a while.
Thanks for the company along the way in expressing your own reaction.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim I thought we would start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel by now but your tunnel just keeps getting longer and and splitting into more tunnels. This is a complicated story but I cant wait to read the next installment ,keep em coming.
Thanks so much Ron. Yes, life was very complex in coming home and there was so much
angst, energy and constant movement involved. Thanks for following all this and for writing about it
out here in public.
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh Boy this has more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Coney Island. you have said in the past you worked for the “Company” in your past. Was Richard your first “Handler” and at that time did you figure that out? There is no way your going to tell your wife the whole truth on this one, or are you!!
Thanks Bob, for a greta comment. “Telling the wife,’ one of the foundational questions anyone has to have in the back of one’s mind, as a husband, in
doing one’s part to have a real long term marriage. Tough one. I am doing my best to recreate this past period of my life and that part of it was
as controversial, if not more so, than my discoveries and experiences as I laid out in 30 Days. All I can do is keep going. I’m not driven by
fame or big money, as I have neither. I an in the unique position of having all this life experience and able to offer it to a small audience
without restriction. I’m taking advantage of that current freedom.
Semper fi,
Jim
WTF is all I can say?
Thank you Herald for that laconic but deep compliment….
Semper fi,
Jim
I sensed Richard was aplant
o evidence from your writing
just my gut
He had the Mercedes, cowboy hat the boat all a masquerade to confuse superficially and k owing the charTers who were around the Nixon crew you could assume many different personnas for the man
he sound like an OSS agent
but I got a vibe he was a stone killer trying to hide
like a priest in a whorehouse
Thanks Rich, for the usual interesting comment.
Your attention to detail in the writing remains impressive, as well as where your hearty is when ti comes to me or my writing.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
At times strange, or poignant, or friendly, or just curious – your mind works in mysterious ways. Yet you share your thoughts and processes so easily.
I wish, James, that my mind could be so fruitful.
And once again we are left clinging to the edge of the cliff – wondering both how we got there and where we are going.
Can’t wait to hear about the Russian and the Pat Nixon’s birthday party.
Semper Fi, my friend!
Dear friend Craig, I begin, as it is true that I have found much deeper friends through the writing of these works and this unusual forum surrounding it, than I ever expected.
It’s not Facebook, or any of that. It’s deeper and I answer every comment, like this one, because almost alll of them come straight from the center or the heart…and I feel that.
Sometimes, it’s all that really drives me. I am on the next chapter and nearly into the weekend, when I can pull away from errands and the other things that get between me
and the writing. Thanks for the great motivation and meaningful compliments built into your own expressive comment.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
One hell of a chapter. Lots of underlying meaning.
Thanks J.T. I only know a chapter is pretty good from reading the comments from people like you on here.
I have no idea of audience reaction when I am ‘inside’ a chapter. Since the characters are real and many of them still
alive I’m hearing from many of them too. Interesting. Amazingly positive, like appreciation that somebody actually
remembers and is laying this stuff down after all these years.
Semper fi,
Jim
Very riveting. Read it end to end 4 times.
You and me Harry! I have to reread that many times to edit, and even then DanC, my best editor on here, is much more accurate and
analytically correct than I. Thanks for the great compliment. Love the word ‘riveting.’
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow, just wow! What a sheltered world I live in.
Thanks Ted, for the depth of your short sentences. Being ‘shattered’ is a great thing to be,
and roughly describes what a lot of us fought for and worked hard to build for the country.
Thanks for mentioning this on the site and I thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
I assume you know that quote about miles to go was Frost, not Whitman.
Thanks for the correction. You are right, as well as some others on here, and I should have remembered that correctly.
That I remembered the line and then used it in its place properly may be enough, but being tight and accurate about such
things is required to fortify the meaningfulness and accuracy of the work’s reception. Thank you!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
provably might be better as probably
Thanks Lt, Semper Fidelis Marine.
You are quite right Earl and I’ll make that correction, or likely Chuck Bartok will catch it ‘from your lips to God’s ears’ kind of a thing.
Thanks for the help and support.
Semper fi,
Jim
At this point, still many unanswered questions. At the time for you, and now for us, the readers. Of course, you know the answers. I’m sure, that with patience we will eventually have the answers as well. I remember using both the training Claymore as well as the service version. If memory serves me correctly, the trainer still had the shot epoxied to the faceplate. This is one real life mystery I find in this chapter.
Until your worth this just now Rick, I was unaware that there was a ‘trainer’ but it sure sounds plausible.
I knew the real thing or the operational thing, of course, as it was a very effective (although even easily
miserable, ambush device. Lot of Marines took units from those nasty bits of shrapnel. Thanks for the
knowledge here and the support of your comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
The lying Interpreter is new info!
Colonel Jim Homan makes a short accurate and meaningful comment. Flying air support for me, just like back in the A Shau.
Thanks for the clever seemingly small things your agile mind uncovers and brings to all of our attention.
Semper fi,
Jim
This story is spell- binding. I think that reading it in installments makes it even more so.
the mystery or mysteries the Dwarfs had become engaged and entwined . Suggest :mysteries with which the Dwarfs had become engaged and entwined
but not provably owns it….probably
“I supposed not,” I replied…. suppose
26thSapper: need a space… 26th Sapper
Thanks for the help Randy and the compliments, as well. Keeps me going on into the new chapter.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, every time I read the latest chapter I think that there’s no way this can keep being this fascinating. And yet, you keep proving me wrong. Small points department: “And miles to go before I sleep” is Robert Frost, not Walt Whitman.
How could I have gotten that wrong Clay. My memory is great but I don’t use the Internet to fact check myself and maybe I should.
I mean one of these days if I ever get successful enough to have somebody like that on staff…instead of no staff, although DanC is
like staff. Super helpful and a great guy besides.
Thank you,
Semper fi,
Jim
James, Pat would be the one I would want to quiz. It was she who introduced Richard to the group. I’ll just have to be patient.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
left on purpose then what’s message might it be intended to convey
drop “apostrophe s” from “what’s”
left on purpose then what message might it be intended to convey
The boat was otherwise so sanitized that nothing else, whatever, was revealed.
Is this statement intended for the reader or are you stating it to the assembled group? If you are stating it then we need to include quotes.
Also might add “I continued”
Leave as is
OR
“The boat was otherwise so sanitized that nothing else, whatever, was revealed.”
OR
I continued, “The boat was otherwise so sanitized that nothing else, whatever, was revealed.”
the boys would have to traveled to get to the spot
Drop “to” before “traveled”
the boys would have traveled to get to the spot
OR change “traveled” to “travel”
the boys would have to travel to get to the spot
woman who supposedly, but not provably owns it’ and how did
Extra apostrophe after “it'”
woman who supposedly, but not provably owns it and how did
“Columbo,” Hoodoo replied “The television show?” Gularte asked
After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978
Hoodoo’s anger at being made fun was coming out in my direction
Maybe add “of” after “fun”
Hoodoo’s anger at being made fun of was coming out in my direction
it might have helped the Dwarf’s come to better understand
Drop apostrophe in “Dwarf’s” It’s plural not possessive.
it might have helped the Dwarfs come to better understand
big red printed word saying “CONFIDENTIAL” at the top of the top, causing almost all the Dwarfs to laugh
Second “top” might be better as “paper” or sheet” or “document”
big red printed word saying “CONFIDENTIAL” at the top of the document, causing almost all the Dwarfs to laugh
docile enough to not resist in being drowned?
Maybe drop “in”
docile enough to not resist being drowned?
no matter how favorably Marines at the base might have been able to deliver them
Maybe “easily” instead of “favorably”
no matter how easily Marines at the base might have been able to deliver them
something had happened to make the members of the compound potentially effected
Maybe “upset” rather than “make”
“affected” vs “effected” I’m leaning towards “affected”
something had happened to upset the members of the compound potentially affected
proceed with our looking into that we know and what we can find out about what happened to Kennedy
Maybe “what” instead of “that”
Makes three “what”s in sentence. Maybe “that which” instead of “that”
proceed with our looking into that which we know and what we can find out about what happened to Kennedy
OR
proceed with our looking into what we know and what we can find out about what happened to Kennedy
taken in by a band of humans are kind of special
Maybe “who” after “humans”
taken in by a band of humans who are kind of special
shift would be covered by only Gularte and I
“me” instead of “I”
shift would be covered by only Gularte and me
gotten that feeling at any time n being in Richard’s presence.
extra “n”
gotten that feeling at any time being in Richard’s presence.
I can’t quite come to conclusion about from his casual movements
Add “a” before “conclusion”
I can’t quite come to a conclusion about from his casual movements
“What? Gularte responded
Add quote
“What?” Gularte responded
On the rock, outside your window, set atop it is a device you may recognize, if we get the chance,” I instructed.
Add opening quote
“On the rock, outside your window, set atop it is a device you may recognize, if we get the chance,” I instructed.
From Wiki “Internally the mine contains a layer of C-4 explosive behind a matrix of about seven hundred 1⁄8-inch-diameter (3.2 mm) steel balls set into an epoxy resin.”
Several hundred thirty-millimeter balls would be fired
Ball size is incorrect. Maybe change to three-millimeter
Several hundred three-millimeter balls would be fired
toward the Bronco, and Gularte and I
“me” instead of “I”
toward the Bronco, and Gularte and me
gently removing my Mag Light
I believe someone commented on an earlier chapter that Mag Lights had not been invented yet. I do not recall if you changed that.
Initially targeted for the public safety sector, the Maglite® flashlight was introduced in 1979
gently removing my Maglite flashlight
From Wiki: “The 100-foot (30 m) M4 electric firing wire on a green plastic spool is provided in each bandolier”
A wire runs out from it to about sixty meters
Wire length is incorrect. Change to thirty meters
A wire runs out from it to about thirty meters
It felt comfortable in my hands as stepped back
Add “I” after “as”
It felt comfortable in my hands as I stepped back
and those of us still in once piece
“one” instead of “once”
and those of us still in one piece
We’ve been thanked acknowledged with honor
Maybe add “and” after “thanked”
Close quote at end of sentence
We’ve been thanked and acknowledged with honor.”
“Not a chance,” I replied. Whatever happened
Open quote before “Whatever”
“Not a chance,” I replied. “Whatever happened
why you should have it,’ I said
Full quote after “it”
why you should have it,” I said
Blessings & Be Well
You are prescient! Next chapter my most helpful friend. Thanks for this great work, as usual.
Semper fi,
Jim
“They already know”. ‘Nuff said LT. SF.
Thanks Mike P for that vote of confidence without saying it any other way.
Most appreciate…
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir,
Thanks for this chapter!
More new mysteries…but some light shed on other previous mysteries.
Thanks Walter, as usual and yes, some of these mysteries fit together and some didn’t.
Semper fi,
Jim