The beach was abandoned, at the point where it preceded south from the state beach but not yet a part of the Trestles Beach portion. There the point stuck out into the ocean to create the conflicting broken sea environment that led to sometimes legendary surf, which broke massively in unexpected and challenging directions. Herberich had been right where I’d expected him to be at the three o’clock time I’d given. I wondered how long he’d been there waiting. There was no end to the enthusiasm and energy that rookies could bring to any police scene, as long as that energy and enthusiasm was directed in such a way as to produce service to the public and peaceful resolutions to problems that didn’t seem to have those available to them.
The potential crime scene, where the towels and other materials had been carefully placed, was gone. Even the evidence of where the stuff had been was lost because of the constant wind and blowing spindrift. That substance the wind inherited from what blew off the top of the incoming waves of some considerable size was detrimental to anything left lying around on the shifting surface of the sand. It was a tough afternoon, at least for anyone not wanting to encounter elements that are not often advertised about a beaten shore situation. Any evidence tapes or indication that the authorities had been present was also gone. I explained the situation as I had witnessed it earlier, to both Steed and Herberich.
What strange days you were living then Jim,I can’t wait to see how this goes.
Thank you Ron, and yes, you are correct. I prayed for God to no let me live a normal life, when I realized I was going to make it after the Nam.
I do believe he pointed one finger down and said “You got it, son.”
Semper fi,
Jim
LT
Again another exciting chapter. This chapter has proven what I have suspected for a while now. The fact that the Western Whitehouse has surveillance on the area where the three Marines “drowned” lends itself to three conclusions! 1: the Western Whitehouse saw what happened and yet did nothing. Later events show that was not what happened. 2: The Government “disappeared” the Marines so that they could be used in an off the books black ops. Again later events say this is not the case. 3: The Western Whitehouse is giving you something top keep you occupied to prevent you from looking in to something else! The handling of the pen by Haldeman and Ehrlichman shows that. They want to keep you distracted from something else they are doing! All I can say is “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Semper Fi
Wow, Terry, but that’s a comment indeed. I am rereading for the second time. I love the imagination you express in your potential
solutions to the missing Marines issue I have been forced to deal with in the book (because of my background and position, weak as it was).
Thanks for the thoughts and the expression of them on this site. I hope the reality, as it plays out, you will find interesting and satisfactory. Semper fi
Jim
Haldeman tampering with evidence , imagine that ! Who would have guessed that he would ever do such a thing ? But I still get the feeling that this is racially motivated and the scene was too neatly laid out almost as if it were for an inspection . as a former Combat Engineer I never saw a beach during my time in the service unless you can call what passed for one along the Gasconade ” Gas Grenade ” River outside of Fort Leonard Wood Missouri . When we went there to party someone was always watching over our belongings at all times , always . So whoever set this up made a few little but very important mistakes . And why aren’t the Marines from Pendleton not breathing down someones neck since three of their own are now AWOL ?
Great comment Chuck, but then, your comments are always so apropos and vitally interesting. Most of what you write was stuff that was roiling through my mind back in those times. I was fresh out of the valley then and certainly recalled the respect that the NVA gave our belongings that one time when we left them unguarded before going down to encounter them in combat. Hope you enjoy the way this played out in real life.
Semper fi,
Jim
The Western Whitehouse has eyes in more places than you know obviously.
Your being watched all the time probably by the very people who work for you. Everything is ok as long as you color inside the lines.
Poor Bronco, pull the spark plugs and dry them, clean out the cylinders and carburetor. Fire up.
JT, you are most correct. The inner sanctum of the security suite at the compound was off limits to nearly everyone. In fact, although I got results of their surveillance efforts I never got inside the inner sanctum. The Bronco is in good hands right now and I’m paying the price for that too, not just physically but from the heat radiating down form the leadership on both sides. Thanks for the very cogent comment and for making it public on here for everyone.
Semper fi,
Jim
Once again James you leave us readers wanting more. You have been blessed with an intriguing style of writing. Please keep it up. Out of curiosity were you ever able to get in touch with the Gunny or Jurgens or any other members of your companies?
Thanks Chuck, always good to read what you write and also to enjoy such a compliment.
Thank you most sincerely,
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
I had to use that starter-only trick once myself. Tried to drive thru too much of a river and the fan threw water at the distributor. I used the starter and compound low to get back enough that the water was below the fan. Dried out the points and off I went again, but not thru that river.
w3ski
Deep water is an engine killer, even fresh water, although the engine can be brought back as long
as it hasn’t tried to run with water in the cylinder heads. As we shall see.
Thanks for your rendition of your own situation.
Semper fi,
Jim
just a thought, if you used the starter to move the Bronco back, there was no.hydralic lock on the cylinders.
That turns out to be absolutely true, although there were other considerations about
getting a real mechanic to work on it. Losing the Bronco would have been to lose everything at that point.
Semper fi, and thanks for the apropos comment.
Jim
LT, As if we did not already know, you are a true leader. How many REMFs would ever take the heat for a rookie who made a mistake? Not many in my experience in military or civilian life. A snappy salute to you.
Thanks Gary, but I didn’t need to take a bigger hit over allowing such a new rookie to take the helm of the Bronco under such conditions, so it
was not all great leadership and compassion! Appreciate the thought and compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
fyi..when you…hydrolok..an engine you pull out the sparks and wind it up…blo out the water,pulling carbs n intake will not work
Read the next chapter, my friend. I wrote of what I thought would work, not what Mitch really did.
But thanks for paying such close attention. Appreciate the support and writing what you wrote on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
And the plot thickens, you have led a mysterious and strange life, wondering if this continues through Watergate???
Pete, yes, the strange life continued and then some, as we shall see in the chapters ahead.
Thanks for ‘peering into the work’ as close as you are and for the compliment of your writing on here about it.
Semper fi,
Jim