The day grew ever darker and more threatening. I knew the storm wasn’t going to miss San Clemente, as it sometimes did. Living right on the shore wasn’t the best place on the planet to make weather predictions about I’d learned over time.
I had little time to get to the compound and enlist the Staff Sergeant, as well as the rest of his detail. I had to get back to the Bronco and install my portable 8-Track player somewhere I could reach it from the front seat. Steed and Herberich had to be available or make themselves available to do the work of removing, transporting, and later installing the aluminum doors on Butch’s trailer. I also had to time everything so that Butch would not be at his trailer when necessary and then would be when he had to be. There were way too many variables for me to be able to count on the whole thing working. Taking Gularte and beating Butch to a pulp would probably be effective at enlisting his cooperation but I didn’t want to do that if it was at all possible to avoid it. I was home. I was not in Vietnam or down in that cursed valley. I not only was opposed to using physical violence after what I’d been through, I was opposed to having such stuff done not only in my country but right near where I lived with my wife, daughter and now Bozo.
I guess “bluff” is too light a word but leverage and intent are imperative to success. One must demonstrate significant enough proof to accomplish the mission, accepting the consequences and ability to succeed! January 6th was incited and none of the participants understood the consequences!
Homan, the crowd at the 6th event got the understanding about real combat alright…almost instantly after the woman was shot dead trying to break
through the door. The whole thing was over except for the running, crying and then prosecutions. That’s the kind of belief a person like me does not want instilled and did not back then.
Got get more creative then expending a bullet or two….
Your friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
all my life I have been used to reading a book, finishing the book and a few I’ve saved to reread certain passages over the years
One of the things I like about your writing of and releasing a chapter at a time is that I can go back and think about it some more which makes me want to reply to may be a different element. Some thing that I missed the first time.
The style of writing, a chapter at a time can be annoying because you get engrossed and then you have to wait well usually your standard six months between chapters, but actually it gives the reader more time to go back and mine for the gold
I just did that, and several things struck me. Once again, the training we had in OCS and the shared experiences in a far away land, although not shared at the same time, but similar experiences makes me rethink how deeply that shape my life.
i’m not just talking about the lingering nightmares, but about the good things that come out of it like situational awareness who can you trust and how to solve problems in a civilized manner
mr. Marty in a certainly an exceptional character, but I truly understand where Mary is coming from, and that people like him when you do a favor for them they feel they owe you a favor
you and I are both very aware that we would do anything for each other, but it comes from my shared experiences not because you help me get a land permit
Mardian ask you to do something not quite kosher and you responded carefully and yet you completed the mission
so now he owes you one the but the return does come with a price, and even though you haven’t articulated it yet or written about it, he believes that at some point just like the Godfather, you may come to him for a favor, and he will grant that favor because you have done a top-secret mission for him and kept it quiet
it’s a strange form of loyalty based on suspicious activity, and the need to be able to trust someone that will carry out that suspicious activity, not looking for anything in return but at someday you may go to him for a favor and he will grant you that favor, but then the score is settled
I wonder what people who haven’t shared our experiences think about something like this is Don Vito said to Buona, Sarah, you never wanted to be in my debt
but we are always in debt to comrades some, because we are good friends and some because we share of certain past
The most common form of this may be asking someone to be a reference for a job you are applying for, or to put you in touch with a friend of yours, who runs a giant business like Elon musk
I have a particular situation where someone has come to me, asking me to help their son get a career in marketing and I am more than happy to help. One particular chap asked me to help and I did and his son got a wonderful job which started him on a great career. A few years later I asked him could he introduce me to a person he knew from business and I got the song and dance well you know
I shrugged mentally and said to myself OK next time he asks me for a favor I’m busy
if you do a favor for someone that might be morally ethically or legally challenged they are much more likely to return the favor as you have the goods on them, which is both bad and good
it is just life
Dear Rich: Wow! What a wonderful tome that comment is. I love it. Of course I would do anything for you and understand the reciprocity.
I love the philosophical turmoil you seem to toss in as well as the words of iron you use to describe your thoughts. I much appreciate the
additional support it gives to others on here who read stuff like your write. They, like I, must think deeply about what you are presenting.
I cannot thank you enough.
Most Sincerely your friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh what a tangled web this has become Jim can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Thanks for the loyalty and the compliment Ron, as I pursue the completion of the second book and the beginning of the third.
Semper fi,
Jim
And that by chance if an honest man such as yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.
Bonasera: Be my friend –(then, after bowing and the Don shrugs)– Godfather?
I would hope that nobody fear me Rich, but I much appreciate your willingness to step up on my behalf.
Your friend, and,
Semper fi,
Jim
great chapter
very subtle intimidation but it will probably achieve desired results
Mary’s insight is not surprising as I have often received the wisdom of an IHM alumnae
A brilliant plan you designed only provides proof that u really can speak softly and carry a big stick
I just may start calling you Don Vito
Don Vito, I kind of like that, although not the attention of the feds, please!
Thanks for the compliment, as well by friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Tried to comment yesterday but was overcome by events…because we are able to project the PTSD effects of our survival we are blessed or cursed with the ability to suggest/intimidate the normal population with real threats! Unfortunately there is a reality when some idiot calls our bluff!
Dear Homan, at what point do you declare the potential of violence, contemplated by a person with
serious combat PTSD, as a bluff? I wasn’t bluffing with Dutch, which is why I was keeping him
alive.
Semper fi,
JIm
and saw the Staff Sergeant and Corporal disappear over the tracks and back up the *(trial) along the wall of the compound. *(trail) ??
What’s now to be done ???? Can’t wait !!
Semper Fi
Keep ’em coming James
Thanks SgtBob, means a lot to me that you are fully along for the ride…
Semper fi,
Jim
You have no idea how much I am enjoying this escapade! That man could deadpan better than anyone I have known. He was always good for messing with someone.
The first paragraph could be recast. Living on the shore, you learn that it is difficult to predict the weather accurately.
So glad you like the escapade, story to speak. Thanks for the compliment and the help with advice…
Semper fi,
Jim
Rabbit hole has gotten bigger and deeper, take care LT. And what an amazing wife you have, a force to be reckoned with and seems to always have your 6!!
Truly an amazing women, to this day. Back then she was a real key to my very survival.
Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh what a wicked web we weave,… another outstanding chapter. Have read everything from the 1st day of the 30 Days.
Hooyah!!
Never ever disappointed. Incredible writing.
Thanks David, for the great compliment and putting it up on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Dam Holy batshit batman!! Keeps getting deeper and deeper
Thanks Harold….lover your use of the language to describe!
Semper fi,
Jim
Damn LT it’s almost like a black comedy
Yes, Tony, there was a lot of near graveside humor to what was going on and to everyone’s reactions to it.
Thank you!
Semper fi,
Jim
“How absolutely perfect… “The Doors” help him break on through to the otherside. To aquire an understanding of his situation very different than his current view. Exactly as Morrison envisioned.
James, you are likely the only one who got that, other than Gularte in the coming chapter.
The way my mind worked back then, forged in the fires of the A Shau Valley, were not truly understandable
buy me at the time…not completely now, but years of reflection, and now the assistance of readers like you
writing on here, have helped me substantially. My PTSD, since coming online with this writing, has receded
in direct proportion to the kind of support I’ve gotten here.
Thank you,
Semper fi,
Jim
Things are getting very interesting! You’ve got my brain perched cautiously on the edge of the seat.
Your wife appears to be very much aware of what’s going on, as many wives do. Somewhere, there is a class they attend to teach them all this clandestine stuff and more. Do not ever attempt to hide what is happening.
Keep going, LT! Write faster – my brain is a-boil and likely to blow the safety valve.
Semper Fi, good friend.
Thanks my friend, for a great comment, as usual. I have been on quite a roll, hitting every week with another chapter for a year now,
and then some. Thanks for being the wind beneath my wings, as are so many others like you on here.
Means the world to me.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, Sir, LT,
More than one way to skin a cat, and what a way you chose.
You, Sir, are a devious character.
Your wife is a skilled observer and ‘reader’ of others.
Masterful to have played a song by ‘The Doors”.
Thanks for the new chapter!
Only you Duke, and Butch, have caught the nuance of the song’s name and usage.
Look forward to more on that in the next chapter.
Great comment and great compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, Definitely Alice in Wonderland.
Good to see you follow your heart to include Mary in your projects.
“Every pull on that string brought Mrs. Beasley one step closer to dismemberment.” elicits a smile. That said, a child deprived of their favorite toy is a very unhappy camper – and everyone knows it.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
to do the work of transporting and installing the aluminum doors on Butch’s trailer
Maybe add some:
to do the work of removing and transporting and later reinstalling the aluminum doors on Butch’s trailer
Butch left the place just after eight and is working way toward the northern part of the basin
Add “his” before “way”
Butch left the place just after eight and is working his way toward the northern part of the basin
I asked, as I had not radio to reach out to them
“no” instead of “not”
I asked, as I had no radio to reach out to them
It was like Turner always answering the phone with ‘yellow’ instead of hello
According to: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yello
yello = An informal greeting, especially when answering the phone
It was like Turner always answering the phone with ‘yello’ instead of hello
/ If you want to use “yello” then there’s at least one other instance in an earlier chapter./
get over to the Bronco and initiation the action part of the mission
“Initiate” rather than “initiation”
get over to the Bronco and initiate the action part of the mission
Issue about what clothes you are wearing.
In chapter 39 we start with: I changed into my Western White House
costume, went down to the Volks and headed for the compound.
You meet with the Staff Sergeant. Then:
I turned around and headed back to the apartment to change costumes. I wanted to have the color of authority on my side When I encountered Butch the next time (I’m assuming you are changing to police uniform)
Then appointment with Paul. Followed by visit to Police Station.
Then on radio to Gularte “I’ll head home, get into uniform and then meet you at the yacht in half an hour.”
Then here in chapter 40 “I’d dressed in my Western White House attire”
Context makes the civilian clothes appropriate for the interaction with Butch.
Maybe make some changes to Chapter 39.
Where is Gularte?
In chapter 30
I drove Gularte home, to get changed and to load the Bronco with the straps and tools.
“Meet me at Richard’s boat and leave the Bronco somewhere nearby but hard to spot.”
In chapter 40 Steed and Herberich have the Bronco.
Steed, doing the driving, merely waved and pulled the vehicle out of its slot
Gularte reappears when Butch enters the Bronco.
Maybe write Gularte in as driving the Bronco when it appears at Dana Point with Steed and Herberich being the ones to remove the doors while Gularte stays with the vehicle. Still three in the back seat seems crowded. Or maybe have Steed continue driving and not mention Gularte.
pride as families of cats were described.
Maybe “are” instead of “were”
pride as families of cats are described.
marshal official personnel and resources to have you deliver a much-needed positive course of action that’s gone south
Maybe rephrase:
marshal official personnel and resources to rectify a situation that’s gone south
restaurant on property neither Mardian ‘s entitled to own or build on
neither/nor Change “or” to “nor”
remove extra space before apostrophe
restaurant on property neither Mardian‘s entitled to own nor build on
Change periods to semicolons:
own or build on. but the investors and Dana Point
own nor build on; but the investors and Dana Point
AND
but to allow. except there’s one man in charge
but to allow; except there’s one man in charge
do what you can Not to commit too big a mistake
Lower case “n” in “Not”
do what you can not to commit too big a mistake
“I have to go and meet the guys in Dana Point,”
Maybe “at” instead of “in”
“I have to go and meet the guys at Dana Point,”
thinking about it for the rest of the mission and on into the day ahead
OK but maybe “days” instead of “day”
thinking about it for the rest of the mission and on into the days ahead
at the coming appointments in the week ahead
Assuming one appointment per week – then:
Either make “appointment” singular
OR make “week” plural
at the coming appointment in the week ahead
OR
at the coming appointments in the weeks ahead
potentially devastating information he might not understand the
devastating nature of it.
Two instances of “devastating” maybe drop second. Drop “it”
potentially devastating information he might not understand the nature of.
“They’re quick,” Richard commented on.
Maybe drop “on”
“They’re quick,” Richard commented.
Plywood from their worksite, no questions.
Maybe change “questions” to “question”
OR “no doubt” instead of “no questions”
Plywood from their worksite, no question.
Plywood from their worksite, no doubt.
encountered both officers but the time I arrived on the scene.
“by” instead of “but”
encountered both officers by the time I arrived on the scene.
In Marine blues, fully uniform with barracks cover
Drop comma. “full” instead of “fully”
In Marine blues full uniform with barracks cover
short stretch of faced asphalt before stepping into the stand.
Maybe “sand” instead of “stand”
short stretch of faced asphalt before stepping into the sand.
doors knocking around as they got the things position on the roof
“positioned” instead of “position”
doors knocking around as they got the things positioned on the roof
I had given him only that one work hint
Maybe “word” instead of “work”
I had given him only that one word hint
Blessings & Be Well
Again we have DanC making the work better at every turn. Thanks for the hard work, the accuracy, the timeliness
and more. Much appreciated Dan.
Semper fi, not to mention the compliments.
Jim