My wife’s comment reverberated through me to the core. The last thing I wanted or needed was for her to be exposed in any way to what was developing regarding my work with the people at the compound or what had become the Seven, now Eight Dwarfs. Richard’s unexpected easy association with her was uncommon, as well, which spoke straight to heart of who or what Richard might really be.
The yacht, supposedly owned by Ms. Cobb, a complete unknown out of nowhere, had been docked, and apparently left unattended in Dana Point Harbor. It’s appearance there, which had to be immediately checked out, had been done with lightning speed for no reason that I could figure out. The Navy, it was true, in fact the military in general, had no provision for interning and holding private property unless there was some legal reason for that possession. That might explain why the U.S. Navy wanted to get rid of it, but the speed with which it did was unsettling, to say the least.
I think that I would have liked to under you Lt. HM 3. Wes Dunn. USNR/. USMC 1970—1976.
Thanks so much for that great personal compliment Wes.
I too wish on occasion that I had had more men like you…but then, I lost almost all of those I had!
Semper fi,
Jim
Too many of us are back in the world that didn’t come home. 🥲🇺🇸
Dear Cary. It wasn’t the same home we left, or so we thought. Actually, it was, but we were so changed we could not
see the ‘old world’ as it was. Thanks for the depth of your short comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow another great read Jim,so many questions,can’twait for the answeres.
Thanks Ron, hope I am answering some of those questions as we go along.
Semper fi,
Jim
Lt., I’m very happy you are able to get these chapters out as fast as you do. I’ve been following since the beginning and know you were having trouble with “30 Days”, glad that’s over. Since I joined the VFW I have no idea how many times I’ve told Nam Vets ‘Welcome home’. I still ache when some tell me, “I never came home.” Your line in this chapter hit me again. So, Welcome back, Lt. I swear, I can’t wait to find out how this run-a-way yacht fits into everything you had going on in your life.
Thanks Rick for this great and well-written compliment. I really do read such comments, like this one, closely and usually several times
(like this one). Great compliment to the writing and to me…and to you, if you will.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for what you and what you did. Welcome home
Your story and your act of sharing your blessings with your compatriot deeply touched me. It reminded me of the times when I have also tried to extend a helping hand, albeit not as generously, to those in need. I am well aware that being on the receiving end of such offers can be a humbling experience.
One of the most significant moments for me occurred during my first year of professional school. In my chosen field, it was customary for doctors to work with another practice in a town they admired, hoping to eventually become a partner or even the owner of that practice. I found myself making such a connection in a town that I loved. The doctor I met was incredibly kind, taking the time to meet with me and offer valuable advice. Little did I know, his son would be a few years behind me in school.
Before I departed, he expressed his desire for my success and acknowledged the hardships students often face. He made a remarkable gesture by telling me that if I ever found myself in a situation where I had to choose between eating and continuing my education, I could simply reach out to him, and he would send me $500 to ensure I could stay in school. Fortunately, I never had to make that call. However, the fact that he would extend such an offer, without having met me or knowing anything about me, left a profound impact on me. It instilled in me a sense of responsibility to be equally kind and supportive to others.
Looking back, I hope that I have lived up to that sense of obligation and have been able to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me.
Thanks a million for this long and very intimate comment H. Kemp. This stuff in your love plays a chord in my own life too as I know reflect from
so many years later. Thanks for this and for you tremendous support and writing such great stuff on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
we all left the war, but the war never left us.
And funny how the Marine brotherhood works You werent rolling in the green but shared what you had
Semper fidelis
The Marine Corps family is astounding in its long term effect and the brother and sister hood.
Love it no matter what happened back there…
Semper fi,
Jim
Typos.. ??
“I don’t understand,” Mike said, holding his unmoving fort* (fork)* out and pointing at me
“They needed to let the Stars and Stripes and guys coming home* (know (?)* that we’d died down in that valley
“A thousand e* (a)* month?” Mike gasped out. “
the smallish, but not so *(mall,) small *
When people ask me when I was in Nam, I often say “last night” as all too often that’s the case..
More intrigue to follow at the ball methinks 😉
SEMPER Fi
Appreciate again your sharp eyes and support, Bob.
All corrected
Semper fi,
Jim
very moving with Mike
Yet another chapter!
You made my day, again!
Thank you, James.
With all going on in your own life at that time, what you wrote in this chapter shows you still took time to care for a fellow soldier. You made his day. I believe in some small way we all become a part of everyone else with whom we interact, and we also leave a little of ourselves with them. Hopefully, the exchange both ways is a positive one.
Don’t fret about typing mistakes or misspelled words. We readers don’t fret about it–though some are very helpful in pointing them out to you for the quick corrections, and I know you are grateful for their assistance. I know I have read chapters of what I have written ten times and STILL missed seeing my typos.
I am now cracking my whip and spurring you on to one more chapter…
We readers have an insatiable appetite. The newest chapter just makes us hungrier for the next one.
Carry on, Sir.
As usual my friend, you are right in there with writing things that have so much meaning to a small time writer Like me.
I will indeed ‘endeavor to persevere’ as the expression goes, and provide you with a bit more entertainment and knowledge
of the times back then. Your support and the way you provide it means a helluva lot to me.
Semper fi,
Jim
What an incredible reality you share with us. Very emotionally stirring!
Thanks for the compliment and writing it here. Still emotional times, although different as I age.
Thanks for enjoying my rendition of what really happened in those old times…
Semper fi,
Jim
Your statements to and about Mike hit home with me . Having served in Nam 67/68 at Khe Snah in the hill fight and 77 day fight, I have yet to come Home ! Sometimes you die twice in life. Eager to see the next chapter in this mistery !!
You. Don Jackson, are the core of the audience I attempt to reach. You know. You understand. Most cannot or will not.
Thanks you for the unspoken comprehension of your words and the compliment of your writing them on this site. I cannot
thank you enough.
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent as usual.
Thanks for the support and the compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
the boat was allowed moorage and might or might now be authorized – not be authorized
I asked, approached the broken cabin door. – approaching the broken cabin door.
I’d worn civilian attire, Levies and along – Levi’s and a long
there was even the faintest whiff of diesel fuel – was not
Sales of the product I was selling was – were
let the Stars and Stripes and guys coming home that – know that
smallish, but not so mall, man – so small
for a few seconds.I came rushing – seconds. I
under half of big plastic bubble – half of a
I’d answered her question honestly, as I looked around me at the warm and comfortable example of a great American small town. It was true that hadn’t come ‘home’ but – I’d answered her question honestly; and as I looked around me at the warm and comfortable example of a great American small town, I realized that It was true that I hadn’t come ‘home’ but
Just some suggestions…
We all have our cross to bear. I had an accident while high on LSD, my own fault. In a moment I went from someone with a low lottery number for the draft and classed as “1A” to someone who got a “4F” by the time I got called by Uncle Sam. So, I never was in the military.
WOW, I don’t know how to thank you, Matthew.
I so appreciate the support and help from all of you fabulous readers. I believe the corrections are made.
Semper fi,
Jim
* Levi’s 👖
Spot on, and thanks Tony…
Semper fi,
Jim
Stranges to our selves.
Short in depth and philosophical response Harold…and thanks for making it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another episode pointing out what Viet Nam did to some of our finest…Pretty emotional Sir.
Thanks Charley. Yes, that wrong turn for our country caused so much devastating
damage to so many, and it just seems to go on, probably until we are all gone.
Thanks for the caring comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
And yet another who lost who he was.
Jim, your writing, and insights, really touch my soul. “I once was lost, but now I’m found…”. Only not quite found yet.
You know, for over 30years, I told no one, including both my ex’s, and my kids, that I had ever been near Vietnam. That changed when I had to go to the VA for some help.
Getting there. One day, maybe.
Eagerly read every new chapter but you might want to go over this one again:
[the yacht] “…might or might now…” – I think you meant “might or might not”
“… civilian attire, levies and…” shouldn’t it be “levis”?
“… noticed there was even …”[diesel fumes] I think you meant “was not” or “wasn’t”
“…holding his fort out…” You definitely meant to write “fork”
I can’t thank you, and my other ‘editors’ on here enough for the help. I miss so much when I re-read and edit myself.
Yes, I generally edit the finished chapter twice before seeing it to Chuck for publication. Thanks so much
and for the compliment, as well…
Semper fi,
Jim
It is amazing how many things two “old coots” can miss in this editing process. Thank you and all of the loyal readers for the support.
Boy oh boy a yacht shows up, spick and span, a lunch meeting with a man you helped save, your quite a man sir! This chapter told a lot about you. Had I been able to serve back then, would have been proud to be under your command. A back injury kept me out in 1970, had tried to enlisted when others where trying to stay out. Keep them coming Lt, and a stiff salute to you Sir!!
Thanks for the terrific compliment and your salute. You would certainly been a class act when it came to the command, although I would not have wanted you there or,
more than likely, we would not be having a two-way exchange on here!
Semper fi,
Jim
Someone else comes home…it is called reincarnation!
You and me Jim, all the way, up the hill…and the reincarnations we’ve become are unrecognizable from what we were….
Semper fi, my friend.
Jim
I guess some of us will never come home.
Home becomes redefined as our experiences so radically changed our view of the world. Home was still there but we weren’t at all, not that we
could see or understand that simple fact. You really can see too much, travel too far and accumulate too much knowledge to ‘fit in’ when returning
to a world that has few clues about what’s going on outside of this idyllic life and country. Thanks for the supportive comment…fellow traveler…
Semper fi,
Jim
James, I am moved by your words of support to Mike assisting him to regain his sense of self.
In chapter 9 you took photos of the Dana Point Marina pier. Maybe that is one small piece of the present puzzle. We shall see.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
which spoke straight to heart of who
Maybe add “the” before “heart”
which spoke straight to the heart of who
It’s appearance there
Possessive – not contraction. No apostrophe needed.
Its appearance there
the speed with which it did was unsettling
OK as it stands – but adding “so” after “did” is smoother.
the speed with which it did so was unsettling
partially informed advisor would have to wait
Maybe add “also” after “would”
partially informed advisor would also have to wait
dirt road that would soon be concrete, I knew,
OK as is but smoother if order of words is changed.
dirt road that I knew would soon be concrete
performing tasks I had not time to consider
Maybe “no” instead of “not”
performing tasks I had no time to consider
The marina was in its earliest build in process
Maybe rewrite to
The marina was in its early stages of construction
person at all to question about when the boat had arrived, who brought it in and under what private
Maybe use a colon and some semicolons to separate list
person at all to question about: when the boat had arrived; who brought it in; and under what private
might or might now be authorized to stay
Maybe “not” instead off “now”
might or might not be authorized to stay
examining the entrance to main cabin
Add “the” before “main”
examining the entrance to the main cabin
Levies and along sleeve cotton shirt
They spell it Levi’s
Split “along” to “a long”
Levi’s and a long sleeve cotton shirt
unless I was to lean too far over to my left.
Maybe “were” instead of “was”
unless I were to lean too far over to my left.
I didn’t’ think of that
Extra apostrophe
I didn’t think of that
stand near the front transom
“transom” doesn’t seem to fit. Maybe substitute “of the control station”
stand near the front of the control station
I noticed that there was even the faintest whiff of diesel fuel
Context indicates this should be a negative.
I noticed that there wasn’t even the faintest whiff of diesel fuel
the boats audio equipment system
Possessive for “boat’s”
the boat’s audio equipment system
what we were intended to find.
Close quotes at end of sentence
what we were intended to find.”
When I got up in the following morning
Maybe drop “in”
When I got up the following morning
Eleven-thirty and don’t be late,”
Open quotes
“Eleven-thirty and don’t be late,”
own first moments underground fire
Split “underground” into “under” and “ground”
own first moments under ground fire
motivation to even remaining alive on the planet.
Maybe “remain” instead of “remaining”
motivation to even remain alive on the planet.
unmoving fort out and pointing at me
“fork” instead of “fort”
unmoving fork out and pointing at me
“It’s pretty easy, really,” replied, sighing
Add “I” before “replied”
“It’s pretty easy, really,” I replied, sighing
let the Stars and Stripes and guys coming home that we’d died down in that valley fighting
Maybe add “know” after “home”
Vets would know about the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Others would not.
let the Stars and Stripes and guys coming home know that we’d died down in that valley fighting
OR
let the Stars and Stripes newspaper and guys coming home know that we’d died down in that valley fighting
but never to really be able to understand any of it
Maybe change word order
but never be able to really understand any of it
“A thousand e month?” Mike gasped out.
Change “e” to “a”
“A thousand a month?” Mike gasped out.
entranced with the smallish, but not so mall,
“small” instead of “mall’
entranced with the smallish, but not so small,
few seconds.I came rushing back to reality.
Space after “seconds.”
few seconds. I came rushing back to reality.
His shops not doing well.
Maybe “shop’s”
His shop’s not doing well.
gathered together under half of big plastic bubble.
Maybe add “a” before “big”
gathered together under half of a big plastic bubble.
I’ll pick up the stuff and settle up with Mike tomorrow.
Close quotes
I’ll pick up the stuff and settle up with Mike tomorrow.”
“when did you come home?
Close quotes
“when did you come home?”
Welcome Home. Blessings & Be Well
Amazing. Thank Dan for the great job helping us with the details of editing, along with so many other readers.
I appreciate the help and you know Jim does also.
Spot on again, Dan.
Thank you so much for all you do.