I sat still inside the idling Bronco, my mind twisting and turning about the call that had come in and the mission Gularte and I had just finished, except we hadn’t finished it. The call was beyond strange, as Chiefs of Staff for presidents of the country were about as likely to make an appointment with someone as low as I was on the totem pole as with the man in the moon, and, without thinking about it, I’d returned the Marauder to the police lot without washing and waxing it.
“Back,” I said, “we’ve got to go back, get Gates’ car and take it to the headquarters for washing and waxing, and also collect the special wax from my car, and we’ve got to do it fast because his shift will be ending and he’s going to be looking for his Marauder.”
I have read every word of this story going back to the First 30 Days, and yet to this day, I can’t wait for the next chapter. A great story Lt.
Thanks Michael, means a lot to me to have such a small group of readers like you who’ve been in it for the long haul.
Nothing like loyalty and such great interest to keep me going. On into chapter XLIX!
Semper fi,
Jim
Mr. Strauss, sir,
Holy Cow!
I mean just holy cow! I was just thinking about how old you must have been at this time, and how much you had experienced to that point in your life (and how immature were my concerns when I was that age). I would not have thought it possible, but my respect for you continues to grow and grow and grow as I continue to follow your amazing life experiences.
Thank you.
I was twenty-six, going on a hundred! Although my written work when I edit and work through it reads like I knew what I was doing at almost every twist and turn, I was really a lot more uncertain about much of it…proceeding ahead by stepping here and there gingerly to avoid life’s land mines
I wasn’t really for…and occasionally stomping here and there in abandon, without, thankfully, setting off any monster explosions that might do me in. Thanks for following the odyssey of my earlier adventures.
The long lens of life experience allows us to look back at our earlier days, but that lens is at times cloud, dim or distorted in presenting the reality of that time. I try to reflect on that to as I proceed…helped along a great deal by readers like you…Thank you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Most butterbars were great but green officers! Only until they got the blood transfusion that made the a$$ hats from sr 1st lts and suck a$$ captains. I wasn’t referring to you as a butter bar, but the ones I served with. As I stated earlier, I would have loved to have served with you! You make me proud to call you my brother!
I did not take offense. I was a butterbar until I landed in the valley and had the Gunny and pending death change everything in my life, including
my very appearance. You have to begin somewhere but taking fire isn’t any way to learn much of anything except you never want to take it again.
Would have been proud to have you…and am proud that you are here with me now as we travel ahead into this seemingly never-ending adventure together.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Great chapter! I’m looking forward to the next one
Another coming in a couple days
Thank you for your loyal support.
Please share this story with friends.
Cowardly Lion, Book Two
I appreciate you
Jim
Thank you again for such a great and very interesting chapter, I am waiting anxiously for your next chapter.
I really appreciate your enthusiasm and support, Robert
Thank you. Share these chapter with your friends
Cowardly Lion, Book Two
what a ride! I am not the hero you wanted. I am the monster you needed. Absolution. didn’t you ounce experience a priest who refused you absolution?
Used metaphorically to mean the act of forgiving or pardoning someone for their mistakes or sins, even in non-religious contexts. It implies letting go of blame or resentment and granting forgiveness or pardon to someone who has committed an offense. thus ends our portion of the guys who did not go.
You and Paul have a fascinating dialogue- he opens your emotional and mental pores. Very necessary for you actually all of us.
Seems like some of your Marine training and experience is coming to create a paradox. Mine did. While we are taught to act instantly and instinctually, we also must learn to think. Slow down, be two steps ahead,Lets remember you are 2-3 years removed from the hell of the ASHAU?
You haven’t even begun to process it in you head, let alone you heart or in soul and emotions.
With out Mary’s moral compass you would have been dead or in jail or worse!
We , Marines, men in general don’t feel like most people. Add a war and you are emotionally damaged for a long time , if not for ever.
You’re little search and destroy with Gularte set off you emotional system without u knowing intellectually. that is why it is called a gut feeling.
Amen, you are healing me.
You, my friend, don’t seem to give any indications that you need healing at all, in the times I’ve been able to encounter you in person. The Marine Ball in
November will be another of those occasions, not to mention seeing your extraordinary wife once more. Thanks for the varied depths of the degrees of
thought and reason in your comment, and of course for the compliment of your making those thoughts on this site.
Semper fi, your friend,
Jim
“You’re here,” I said, staring into his eyes, my own unblinking and direct. “You’re here and talking to me. If you’d gone with me, I’d likely be talking to your headstone and that’d be a poor substitute. I can’t absolve, forgive or even define what your reasons were, but I can say that both you and Bro have all the foundations that would have made you fine Marines to serve with.”
Such a classy cool answer .
I enjoy your writting
Thanks Sean. Sometimes telling the truth is seemingly so easy, when many times it is certaiainly not. I have to live with the living, not the dead.
Much appreciate your comments and your selection that part of the chapter to illustrate.
Semper fi,
Jim
I just finished the previous chapter and left the response about checking my email daily for the next chapter. I opened my Email and there it was!!! Keep it up LT! I wish that I’d had the privilege of serving with you! I met a couple butter bars that were great Marines and enlisted friendly but they got transferred for being too troop friendly. That wasn’t the reason given to us be we knew the real reason. We would have followed either one of them to hell and back! I wouldn’t have followed the CO or XO to the outhouse!!!
Thank you Johnny, in identifying me with the ‘butter bars’ that were decent. The leadership of almost all military commands is not made up
of combat vets or those who’ve been out in the field or ‘down in the valley.’ They are made up of those who do not have to and don’t go into those places or have that life experience. Those leaders come to believe the mythology of war driven by media, movies, television shows and more. They act and look tough. In so many cases that means that they abuse those below them to demonstrate their ‘toughness.’ They are not tough. A small fragment of an exploded artillery shell, moving across the surface of the earth at about 22,000 feet per second through its course of travel, when it strikes a human being…is tough. Thanks for the depth of your comment and your loyalty and support at writing it on this site. The other readers, I just know, will love reading the reality of it.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks for coming back on your other comment Joseph. The compliment is much appreciated and I particularly like the use of the word ‘hungry.’ Not too many readers left in the world the tare ‘hungry’ to read anything anymore…so, I’m tickled to be so mentioned.
Semper fi,
Jim
Chuck Bartok, one of the principal players form back in the day, as you read in this story…and still with me through all these years. Not often readers get to see his comments, as he is the operational force in charge of getting the work successfully published. Here’s a comment from him which I copied and pasted from Facebook since he never comments here on the site.
Thanks Chuck doesn’t quite get it as a descriptive phrase…like with DanC…
Semper fi,
Jim
No typos found this time, good deal !!
It just couldn’t be a coincidence – I believe you’re right with that thought James !!
Great chapter as usual but with more unanswered questions, and will you take your wife to meet with Paul ?? Hmmm….
Yes, SgtBob, as you will read, I did take my wife to meet Paul and what a meeting it was, indeed.
Anyway, thanks for the continued support and the editing report.
Semper fi,
Jim
Gee James, I’m waiting for the finished product. You are making me feel like a virgin in waiting.
Thanks Mark for waiting patiently, as I figure out in finality how I want to present this book. Actually, since I’ve hit it so hard I probably have to break the book into II and iii since
as book II it would over 900 pages long!
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow LT, you covered much ground in this Chapter, a real barn burner! I can’t imagine, and am waiting with bated breath to see the outcome! Thank you, Semper Fi!
Yes, indeed, Joe, it was a barnburner. Just could not end it, and then went on writing into the next chapter as it’s coming fast and hard.
Semper fi, and thanks for being so enthusiastic and patiently waiting.
Semper fi,
Jim
I have written you before. I will tell you a bit about myself but will use KISS i doing so. I am prior Air Force, 33 years total. Active duty 2 year in RVN one as SOS gunner on hueys. Then in AFRES as a gunner on AC130’s and a radio operator on the MC-130E Combat Talon. I have been in combat in each of the planes I flew on. Although I have earned 14 air medals over the years, I will tell you that the bravest thing I have ever done was simply getting on board for each mission.
I have enjoyed your books since the beginning Now after all that time reading your books, I still have to wonder how much is “story” and how much is memories. Either way, I will keep reading each chapter.
Thanks again for coming on and repeating your own experiences, especially about the difficulties nobody talks about, in going into combat, surviving it, and then having to go back in.
The story of 30 Days, the three book series is ninety percent real while The Cowardly Lion is about eigthy percent. Sometimes only the segues holding the elements together are the ficition, as it
is difficult to remember some things that don’t seem to have merit or impact but in reality are vitally important.
Semper fi, and thanks for the great comment.
And the compliment, of course.
Jim
I have followed your journal since the first 10 days, but felt I had not much to add to your esteemed collogues in the comments section. I served in the AF as a medic from 1962 -1966 a 1 yr tour in Korea. I was 17 when I enlisted. My dad was a 25 yr pilot in the AF, so we moved around a lot. My Dad and 7 yrs younger brother served in Vietnam, as a pilot and Marine aircraft mechanic respectively.
When I was in collage, I had a roommate that was a disillusioned combat Marine who was virulently anti-war and a local Vets Against the War leader. Ironically, he later reenlisted 10 years later. He is currently dying at a vets hospital secondary to Agent Orange.
Since you have been asking for comments, I felt a need to contribute something. I continue to look forward to each chapter, and wonder how this is going to playout in the known history. The references to the cars and local color remind me of both fond and not so fond events at that time. Keep up the good work.
Thanks most sincerely for your addition to our experience on this site. Yes, I do ask for comments, not necessarily to bask in the ‘sunshine’ radiated down by nice comments, but also to receive direct assistance in editing and also in adding to the story, like you just have here. I’m sure everyone reading on here liked what your wrote, as I did. Thanks for the compliment and having an understanding about why I’m writing…as it sure as hell isn’t for the money!
Semper fi,
Jim
Again, I’m blown away! It gets more and more mysterious. You have me hooked and are having fun reeling me in, I assume. Batman
What a great pleasure to have one of the real characters in the story come alive and write comments on this site. Thanks Tom, or Batman, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your contributions and reading what you have to say. You were a gift back in those days and all the way through time to right now. I’m certain that other regular readers enjoy the fact that most of what is written, that is being read, is based on factual stuff that really happened. Your coming forward is proof of that from an independent involved source.
Semper fi, my old friend,
Jim
This should be made into a movie or TV series. It really is fascinating…
From your lips to God’s ears Tony! I would be very surprised to hear from either Hollywood or New York. Those places in publishing and producing usually only handle controversial combat stuff that follows a rigid mythical course of total fiction. Of vets coming home they go toward the agony of the vet and not the causality of the social order. Anyway, I thank your for the compliment and your lucid intelligent recommendation.
Semper fi,
Jim
How do you keep all the sub-plots straight? Great writing, but dang, I think your paranoia would kill you.
Thanks Robert for the compliment of thinking that I have the kind of mind that can dream up all this stuff and then keep it straight, rather than the truth. I recall it from long term memory. I was given that as a gift by God, although with the curse of it. There are a lot of things I’d like to forget but don’t get to. Paranoia doesn’t kill you, in fact, many times, it keeps you alive…even if there’s nobody out there. Ennui and nothing is the enemy. Being alone is the enemy.
I write on here not to be alone, experience ennui or have nothing in my life. Thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow!!! Reading this is as stressful as going into a known hot LZ to pick up wounded soldiers.
DUSTOFF medic 70-71
Cary! Wow! Hopefully, it’s not nearly as dangerous to read my stuff than it is to go into to a hot LZ for any reason. But I much enjoy reading the comparison and the compliment of your writing it, especially on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
One small typo
Your own service was exemplary enough to raise you up to a position, in that regard, than you understand, or probably care about
more than you understand
Always a good read, keep it up.
Thanks for the help and the compliment Matt!
Semper fi,
Jim
And more should be any more than the Marine corps had
There might be a miss print check out the paragraph dealing withe the shrink visit
Thanks Jim, checkking now. Don’t know what I’d do without DanC and the rest of you guys who provide a helping hand. It was a long and pretty complex chapter to lay down.
Semper fi,
Jim
I think we all know from experience, that when the wife gets involved, things start happening…… I look forward to the meeting of the brain trust, AND the Cobb response !
Cobb was an enigma as was Richard. I was dealing with some world class players of
mystery back then, and went on to meet more, of course. The start of everything that lead to the rest of my life is right in these earlier chapters, however.
Thanks for the comment and the compliment of your waiting for more.
Semper fi,
Jim
Have followed your story from the beginning, your insertion, Chapter 1 of 30 Days! Intriguing, interesting and well written! It.grabs you by the collar and takes you for a ride! Thanks for sharing! No
Thanks for the well written compliment Junior. Like my old nickname. I feel like I should know you.
Are you back there in my rather complex series of mysteries comprising my life? Thanks for the very well written compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Each chapter pulls me in and leaves me anticipating the next. It was ’73 or ’74 when the question of our oath of enlistment was raised by a clearly disturbed CWO. How would we react if Nixon declared a state of emergency, suspended Congress, and implemented martial law? I don’t know who raised the question but the Chief asked it of us minutes after attending an emergency meeting at SAC Hq.
Thanks for that great and interesting comment Ken. It’s almost like the conundrum one might get involved in should you be a pilot and ordered to shoot down a civilian airliner. At what point does the greater good become an evaluative response and responsibility of the actual actor on the scene? Tough one, when taking a sort of deep but anonymous oath.
Semper fi,
Jim
Good morning Jim,
I am enjoying your writing, and in today’s chapter regarding the three that didn’t go to Vietnam needing absolution makes me think of an attitude I developed while reading the September books. I have encountered a lot of people that did serve, but never went to Vietnam, and were almost apologetic. I tell them, “Don’t apologize, take it from me, you didn’t want to to go. The Army (Air Force, Navy, Marines….take your pick), assigned you a job and a place to do it. If you had said, “I’m not doing that, I am going to Vietnam, you would have been dragged back to your duty station and disciplined.” When you serve, you go where you are told, and do what you are assigned to do. Not going to Vietnam wan’t you fault. This seems to have helped several people.
Those of us who went. Yes, there’s a certain exposure to continued conundrums in communication and applied philosophy and behavior when coming home and spending the rest of a life wherein most around either have no clue or didn’t go if they might have been called upon. Thanks for the depth of your comment and your conclusions.
Semper fi,
Jim
You never fail to impress me. I look forward to every chapter.
As I look forward to comments like your very own here. Can’t thank you enough.
Semper fi,
Jim
Very interesting…were Cobb & Richard observing the burial at sea? Why does Senior need to know where the car is if replacing with a Ferrari? Why does it make any different if the books are in French…still have the books?
I don’t remember being upset by those who figured a way out of RVN, especially those who were real outliers. I guess who just thought they were better than the war upset me…same today with those who don’t consider service. I was pissed on my worse than degree job prospects on return to the world.
Again interesting issues….
The Beale papers. Great fortune mystery of times gone by. All about the one time pad code. One third o the code was broken by a sleuth who matched the code numbers to the Declaration of Independence. The other two parts, one of which held the location of the buried fortune, have never been discovered no matter how many documents and books have been entered into computers over the years. The car mystery is not resolved yet but will soon be and you may be surprised once again. I realize that I seem to be foolish in the eyes of some war veterans in my reaction to those not going or avoiding service. It’ not a good thing but then such decisions are often made at such early ages where mental development is a long way from complete. I have never truly forgiven myself for the three times I acted cowardly under fire, although the Gunny helped my better understand why I acted that way and why he was okay with it. I made up for it in his eyes…but not really my own. Maybe it’s just another reason I don’t like to have my decorations on the wall or wear them at Marine balls. Thanks for the ‘bare bones’ compliment, too, my great friend.
Semper fi,
Jim
Whew! I don’t know where to start! Again a gripping tale, like being in a cavern and having to decide which tunnel to take. Cobb, Richard and especially Gularte are great characters. Gularte is a great friend and person. I’m wondering how he knows so much about your time in the valley? Cobb is definitely no joke! As they say follow the money. Richard has not yet displayed his real character, but I’d be on high alert around the man. As always love your writing James! Looking forward to the next chapter my friend!
Jack Samson, intellect and investigator extraordinaire! You look inside, that’s for sure Jack. What a combination of characters that I really didn’t see as such at the time I was so deeply involved with them. Chuck Bartok and Tom Thorkelson, from that time have commented on here, and more, but so far none of the others. Gularte is still alive as is Elwell, who calls me, but won’t comment, after every chapter is published…to critique his place in the story! Most of the players back then are now among the dead so I won’t be hearing from them until such time as I myself cross over. Bro and Metzger are still around but won’t read the stuff. Little Mardian is also still around but I don’t suppose I’ll be hearing from him anytime soon. Thanks for how deeply you pull back the covers to look inside. And your support and loyalty, of course.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hmmm, this is getting deeper and deeper into that rabbit hole, seems like you have to go for it!! But this time you have lots of backup going in with you…Great chapter Lt, don’t stop now!!
Thanks Bob. Yes, I was somehow able to build a backup team, although I’m not sure how all that happened, other than serendipity having a good deal to do with it. Maybe I was able to get others to come to understand that I knew what I was doing when many times I did not. I’m not sure. Thanks for pushing me ever forward. I am deep into XLVIII right as this is written, although life comes at me like it does you, making staying at it all the time impossible.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
James, “Absolution” In the 1990s within a two week period two people who knew I was a Vietnam vet told me about their resistance to the war. That they did not really care about what they said then; but their real motivation was fear of going to Vietnam and dying. Their words to me were almost word for word the same. Nothing precipitated the exchanges. It was completely out of the blue. They were asking for absolution; but there
may have been some apology there as well. I acknowledged that I heard them. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying, “Do you think those who did go were not scared?”
Envelope(money?) from Cobb. To purchase books? or payoff to find the Targa? Maybe haul a large sailboat up the ramp and its keel will catch the Porsche. We shall see.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
get Gate’s car
because Gate’s shift will be ending
Since name is Gates then possessive is apostrophe after “s”
get Gates’ car
because Gates’ shift will be ending
“I thought it was ‘if it can go wrong, it will go wrong,” Gularte replied.
Maybe single quote after second “wrong”
“I thought it was ‘if it can go wrong, it will go wrong’,” Gularte replied.
vehicle’s every move or leave it that and think about the fact
Maybe “there” instead of “that”
vehicle’s every move or leave it there and think about the fact
all departments within the facility are being notified
Maybe “vicinity” rather than “facility”
all departments within the vicinity are being notified
How would Gates have driven his car if I still had the keys?
/Not sure how this fits as you just said “The Marauder was right where I’d parked it earlier” What evidence is there that Gates drove it?/
bottle of the new miracle spray called Armorall GT10
Armor All GT-10
bottle of the new miracle spray called Armor All GT-10
“Nowhere,” he replied, matter-of-factually
Matter-of-factly seems better
“Nowhere,” he replied, matter-of-factly
The big door slid down before me
Maybe “behind” instead of “before”
The big door slid down behind me
I didn’t say that Chastney was the sharpest knife
Open quotes
“I didn’t say that Chastney was the sharpest knife
It hadn’t occurred to me to check either the Bronco nor my own vehicle for a bug once we’d found the one attached to the Bronco.
/ bug = listening device? Item found on Bronco = tracking device?/
Change wording or entire sentence.
either / or. Change “nor” to “or”
It hadn’t occurred to me to check either the Bronco or my own vehicle for a bug once we’d found the tracking device attached to the Bronco.
/If bug = tracking device then reword sentence /
It hadn’t occurred to me to check my own vehicle for a bug once we’d found the one attached to the Bronco.
Bronco and headed back down to finish our shift out.
Maybe change word order. Move “out” to after “finish”
Bronco and headed back down to finish out our shift.
his own VW, a powder blue Karmen Ghia
Karmann Ghia
his own VW, a powder blue Karmann Ghia
their back to doors when sitting in officers or restaurants
Maybe “offices” rather than “officers”
their back to doors when sitting in offices or restaurants
that situation hadn’t seemed to change either the behavior of anyone
“either” is extra.
that situation hadn’t seemed to change the behavior of anyone
surrendered the blabber down into an identity of prey.
/Interesting “blabber” as a noun means one who talks foolishly…
I’m used to “blabberer” as a noun which is also valid.
You choose./
surrendered the blabberer down into an identity of prey.
which wasn’t something I wasn’t ready or willing to do.
Second “wasn’t” should be “was”
which wasn’t something I was ready or willing to do.
we’re done here for now and talk to your wife.
Two thoughts expressed – so maybe a pause between
we’re done here for now…and talk to your wife.
that I’d be back in to ‘report in.’
“in” after “back” seems extra
that I’d be back to ‘report in.’
wall leading to the patch that would take me to the residence pool
Maybe “path” instead of “patch”
wall leading to the path that would take me to the residence pool
I sat down begging to relax just a small bit.
Maybe “beginning” instead of “begging”
I sat down beginning to relax just a small bit.
“Do you know what it is?” asked.
Add “he” before “asked”
“Do you know what it is?” he asked.
recover the Porsche if you can.
Close quotes
recover the Porsche if you can.”
” I asked, immediately having no idea why I asked.
/Your question is missing/
Maybe something like “What is he driving now?”
OR “What will he replace it with?”
I wanted the books and money home at the soonest
/No mention of money with Mardian – maybe drop it/
/Money? later comes from Cobb/
I wanted the books home at the soonest
slip of paper fell out, wafting the floor.
Maybe add “to” after “wafting”
slip of paper fell out, wafting to the floor.
cash I owed him from my pocket and placed it on the desk
Add period
cash I owed him from my pocket and placed it on the desk.
sprayer on my Karmen Ghia doesn’t work
Karmann Ghia
sprayer on my Karmann Ghia doesn’t work
Blessings & Be Well
Your reading, analysis and corrective reactions are such that you make pretty great predictions about what’s coming even before it comes. Thanks for your words about the chapter and also, of course, the corrections you make that I follow like they are religion. You are the man!
Semper fi,
Jim
Another cliffhanger…running up on the rocks indeed!
What does the following mean? <> What did you ask?
I’m not sure I understand the question Mike. Try it again.
thanks for asking it though.
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh, Jim!
So much action and activity going on in this chapter!
LOTS transpiring here…
Delightful and intriguing chapter to read.
And re-read.
Thanks bunches for this new chapter.
Commenter Dan C. does a wonderful and priceless job of editing for you, but one paragraph you wrote is confusing to me. What did you ask?
Is there some content missing?
******************************
” [“?] My relief was complete. Evidently, although the compound was keeping track of my whereabouts using bugs that entity had no interest in following Mardian’s son.” I asked, immediately having no idea why I asked.
Ah, Walter, thanks for reproducing the paragraph. Bob asked me that and I didn’t get it. I was taking of myself! I failed to make that clear and so the readers, like you and Bob, were lost along the way. Thanks for helping me here and, of course, putting the question here where everyone else who probably had the same reaction, is reading.
Semper fi,
Jim