Gularte and I struggled in attempting to do anything but hang on to the sturdy, but very slippery chrome railing. There was nothing else to hold onto as the boat was being continuously beaten all along the port side of its hull by the pounding surf.
“Down,” I yelled up at Gularte, who was somehow remaining on his feet, but unable to maneuver at all without being thrown overboard or onto other parts of the yacht’s equipment strewn and sharp-edged deck.
you better provide a complete report on whst happened and what it meant
this is exciting
you were so prepared bit i forgot you were an eagle scout
bizzaro world
In truth, I was an Eagle Scout, that’s true. 47 Merit badges. I liked the sewing one best, and then there was the canoeing one
and firestarting, both of which I was terrible at. Thanks for the attaboy Rich. I shall endeavor to not disappoint as the story
moves along, much more driven by what really happened, now coming out for the very first time, than what I might be doing to
create or embellish. So many are gone. Gularte is still alive but the Chief, Gates, Steed and Herberich are all gone.
Not to mention Haldeman, Nixon, Ehrlichman and so many more.
Semper fi,
my friend,
Jim
Masterful writing James! So many plot lines and possibilities lie ahead. Can’t wait to see where we’ll go next! I have a feeling you never saw that yacht again! Keep ‘em coming and have a wonderful Easter! Semper Fi my friend!
The twists and turns of that period of my life were totally not predictable, as much as I and others tried so hard
to figure things out before they happened.
The absolute tinderbox of the Western White House, the independent local police, the separate lifeguard force and even my dancing play with the Beach Patrol, insurance business and more was something else.
A mixmaster of complexity and strange intersecting lines of logic and illogic all at the same time.
Thanks for the great comment, Jack.
Semper fi,
Jim
P38 is very usefull still have one on my keychain, been carying it since the late 60’s.
My P-38 didn’t survive the boat adventure, as I had no time to look for it because of the fluid and potentially dangerous
situation. I never got another, but then it wasn’t a tool I was going to wear around my neck after I got out of the Marines
that first time, either.
Thanks for the supportive comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Having repacked life rafts from aircraft and vessels of all sizes, as well as escape slides from aircraft, I can attest to their rapid and forceful inflation. I never fired one while it was in its valise or hard case, but I always made sure to be out of the way. They have gulp valves that the CO2 rushing through sucks in air to make the inflation quicker.
Great chapter, reminds me of some episodes during my time as a sailing instructor, getting tourists out of trouble.
Keep up the good work sir.
Thanks Tim, for the particulars you accumulated through your own experiences, and have kindly put on this site.
Much appreciate your comment and the care that comes with it.
Semper fi,
Jim
Seems like the beach is not such a friendly place any longer !!
Just can’t beat a quick thinking Marine with a P-38 !!
Can’t wait for the next chapter James, make it soon ??
SEMPER Fi
The beach ws never unfriendly SgtBob but it sure could seem that way sometimes. Loved that
beach and all the crazy stuff that went on. Thanks for the comment and your loyal reading
and following.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow! Jim – an action-packed chapter if ever I’ve read one!
And the mysteries just keep accumulating…
Thanks Craig, as this all went down it was astoundingly puzzling but socially binding.
Much appreciate the compliment and being such an interested and loyal reader.
Semper fi,
JIm
Seems like an absolutely perfect opportunity to drown has been aborted. Awesome details, the stuff nightmares are made of. James you have a charmed existence.
Kindest regards
Parker
Indeed, Parker, I really have had that existence, although the plethora of wounds and damage has
been pretty extensive. I wrote the Bering Sea, and in that novel I detail a bit of the scarring
I have all over my body, which I’ve learned to hide as much as possible because even doctors
want to know stuff that I really don’t want to go into with them.
Thanks for the great compliment and the writing of it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
The P-38 came in handy in an unexpected way , that has to be one for the books ! But all I can say about this chapter is “Ollie we have gotten in a fine mess this time ! “
I cared the P-38 for a long time, although in truth, a regular kitchen can opener
works faster, safer and more effectively. Still, there’s tradition and also
the need for small tools that may come arcanely at one…as did in this part of the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow!
Thanks Joe, for the one word, very meaningfully delivered, compliment.
Much appreciate.
Semper fi,
Jim
Very interesting….a whole bunch of coincidence! Western White House, position of 3 lost Marines and the availability of a Coast Guard Cutter/Marine CH53 assault team. Also was that “hole” that allowed evacuation on any of the charts? Very jealous with my lost East Coast transition!!
Inshore holes came and went in hours along that stretch of the beach. Where there is storm surf then
the current and rip tides also run wild and unpredictable, appearing and then disappearing in mere moments.
Welcome home my friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
Just when I thought this story couldn’t get any stranger. You have my full attention now. Can’t wait for the next chapter!
It was a wild time of my life, that’s for certain, and it helped to keep me off booze and drugs
while I was going through it. When you have to run hard and fast on all twelve cylinders, well,
you can’t accomplish it in an adjusted state.
Semper fi,
Jim
I wonder where the rescue party is at that you called for and what they think when no one is there upon their arrival at the beech? How in hell does a runaway yacht with no one aboard just happen to end up in your lap? Certainly an interesting chapter with major twist to an intriguing story. Troubles ahead no matter what you or others do.
The trouble with the beach was that it ran along the base of a great high cliffs north and south,
just on the other side of the railroad tracks. Getting to the middle parts of the beach, where we were at,
required four wheel drive and then some good experienced driving skills, as well. Help was always delayed,
as it was here…depending upon whether you can consider those who did show up really helpful.
Semoer fi, and thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jumping Jehosephats!
What the hell?
Heart pounding and eye bulging chapter!
At a total loss in trying to figure out what this all might be regarding this boat. So you better deliver and white another chapter soon to fill us readers in, LT/Jim/Junior/Snow White.
***********************
(Somewhere, I got confused about the giant “plastic egg”. Reread that part of the story and still could not find any description that told me about a “plastic egg”, it’s size, or that it might be an inflatable life raft…)
Wishing you a blessed Easter season.
Sorry, Walter, that I didn’t do a better, more descriptive job of describing the case that the overpowered
life raft was contained in. I’ll look at that section closely to revise for the publishing of the novel when
we get to that point. Thanks for the compliment and the help in writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Talk about a wild ride!!! Wow what have you got into this time LT, I’m sore all over just from reading this. Someone trying to blow up the pier or worse yet the western W.H., or maybe the crime scene of the 3 Marines. You got me on this one. Don’t stop now!!!
“Sore all over” really does describe the result of this latest misadventure aboard the yacht.
Thanks for wanting more and waiting near breathless for it. Makes me feel motivated and
wanting to get the next chapter done.
Thank you!
Semper fi,
Jim
WoW! Things are getting “curiouser and curiouser”! Eagerly anticipate the continuation of this tale!
Thanks Steve, and I’m on it right now, just as soon as I respond to a few more of these deep ana
meaningful comments.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, OK. What next? I don’t know if the yacht is a random event or somehow tied into the Compound drama. We shall see.
I’ll be the first of many to comment that I still have my P-38 from 1966. It’s made by Speaker (2nd best) rather than Shelby (best).
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
equipment strewn deck and sharp-edged deck.
Drop first “deck”
equipment strewn and sharp-edged deck.
starboard transom and down into the cockpit’ interior.
Add “s” after cockpit’ to make possessive
starboard transom and down into the cockpit’s interior.
spinning just above me head like a top.
“my” instead of “me”
spinning just above my head like a top.
Gularte and I were laying in a small churning maelstrom
“lying” instead of “laying”
Gularte and I were lying in a small churning maelstrom
The roar of the obviously huge engines just below and to the rear of the yacht
Maybe a bit more nautical
The roar of the obviously huge engines located below decks in the aft section of the yacht
I noticed that there as a small deadbolt-style
“was” instead of “as”
I noticed that there was a small deadbolt-style
there seemed nothing to encounter the door with
Maybe ‘strike” instead of “encounter”
there seemed nothing to strike the door with
worked my way forward when I got around the edge of windshield.
Maybe “after” instead of “when”
worked my way forward after I got around the edge of windshield.
Whomever had locked the door
Better “Whoever” as it is subject of sentence.
Whoever had locked the door
cabin was larger than I’d expected from up on the on the deck
Extra “on the”
cabin was larger than I’d expected from up on the deck
The hammer on my weapon was always down, and not cocked, as it was while I moved behind Gularte’s back.
Maybe drop “as it was”. I believe the intent is to emphasize safety.
The hammer on my weapon was always down, and not cocked, while I moved behind Gularte’s back.
there was no lock on it, unlike up top at that door.
Maybe transpose “that door” with “up top”. Drop “at”
Change “that” to “the”
there was no lock on it, unlike the door up top.
Even if he got the boat to Dana point
Capitalize “Point”
Even if he got the boat to Dana Point
I moved me fingers into the slight opening
“my” instead of “me”
I moved my fingers into the slight opening
blow a series of holes in the lifeboat’s hull
Since it’s rubber – maybe “skin” instead of “hull”
blow a series of holes in the lifeboat’s skin
Gularte, myself and Bob Elwell were literally pulled and hustled to the back of the yacht, the Marines, although they wore no designating patches, identity tags or ranks to denote that’s what they were hard but silent and stern in their movements.
Maybe change a bit. Make several sentences.
Period after “yacht”
Drop “although they”
Add “They were” as start of new sentence after “what they were.”
Gularte, myself and Bob Elwell were literally pulled and hustled to the back of the yacht. The Marines wore no designating patches, identity tags or ranks to denote that’s what they were. They were hard but silent and stern in their movements.
Gularte and Elwell, both half laying and staring out
“lying” instead of “laying”
Gularte and Elwell, both half lying and staring out
being towed away in inside an umbrella
Drop “in”
being towed away inside an umbrella
Elwell’s Jeep nest to it
“next” rather than “nest”
Elwell’s Jeep next to it
Blessings & Be Well
Thanks for all the help in editing Dan. As an old hand at reading my work you are probably well aware that there aren’t too many
‘random events’ going on in my life back then…or now, for that matter.
Much appreciate the speed and accuracy of your recommendations, although the corrections are actually more than that
since we don’t argue with any of them!
Thanks so much.
Semper fi,
Jim