My body remembered each and every turn and drop, as I literally fell toward the fast-approaching bottom of Hill 975. I let the mashed mess of fern fronds, dead leaves, twigs and mud mix possess me like I was a well-massaged larva just popped out and plunging toward the earth from the cocoon of some giant insect.
I’d lost track of the sounds from higher up, or whoever was coming down the slide after I had finally figured out that yelling in the middle of the A Shau night was an open invitation to instant death or they had become used to the frightening high-speed sleigh ride without a sleigh.
I knew the ride was over when the bottom of my stomach dropped out. I was in mid-air, just like before. The wait to be caught by my fellow Marines was longer than I knew it should be, and then I hit. There were no loving arms to catch me or any other kind. I impacted the surface of the water hard and then plunged butt first into the mud just beneath, my panicked lungs bursting out the last of my breath. The water was only waist deep, however, but instead of standing up to get clear I slithered along on the surface using my arms and a frog kick to reach the edge of the pool. I laid under what cover I could that was hanging over the edge of the water, the scene not a scene at all because I was in a stygian dark night under cloud cover with heavy rain. Where were the Gunny and the rest of the company, I wondered, before hearing what sounded like a bunch of logs coming down a timber sluice up above the other side of the pool. Nguyen touched my back with one hand and then pushed me outward and down until I was once again fully immersed under the surface of the water. In spite of the fact that I knew I was in the same mud hole, I’d landed in before, being under the water quieted my heart thumping fear of whatever might come next.
I still wonder after reading your writing about the tunnels and things why they didn’t learn about is during WWII When they shelled islands in the Pacific for days even 75 days like Iwo Jima and it still cost us many many deaths and wounded after they come out of the holes.All I can say is they were still in the late 50’s taking us into the hills in Pendleton and teaching how to take pill boxes and how to walk up hills in formation laying down a lot of fire to supposedly make the enemy keep their heads down. Seems like no one really learned a lot from that time period. Watched many reels of 16mm film while going to radio code school on Okinawa.
Why Iraq, Afghanistan and more Roger? We do learn.
They do learn. And what they learn is different from what we do.
They learn that they can become millionaires and billionaires from these conflicts
and they, like Mr.Trump, do not go.
Semper fi,
Jim
I remember you admonished a commenter earlier that this was not the forum for polical commentary, I think that was good advice.
Death waits in the dark, 160th SOAR
Yes, Greg, I did write that.
We all have our own Facebook pages and other social media sites to express our support or opposition to the current leadership.
The debate over leadership and near violent dissent is so much a part of what we all fought for.
Making sure such dissent does not rise to insurgency and then revolution is a secondary
patriotic endeavor that all vets should consider.
I have my own opinions, quite strong, about current leadership but
my opinions about the American way and my desire for its future are steeped in cement and reinforced by iron.
Here we defend and prepare to defend again, if necessary…
Semper fi, and thanks for the depth of your comment…
JIM
Well worth waiting for this installment. Maybe you should add a fourth book since we can’t get enough! Anxiously awaiting the next part.
The “fourth Book” will address the after effect of the Vietnam experience.
Semper fi
Jim
Sir: you know the the Army Recon team on top of hill 975 are dead no question about it. You also know the NVA were the ones coming down the hill behind you. As Gunny Highway say “never forget the sound of an AK-47 your enemy’s favorite weapon”. That sound tells you who came down the hill behind you. It also should tell the gunny who came down the hill, he had no reason to think otherwise.
Another great chapter of a terrifying story. Thank you. Keep stomping.
Yes, logic is a wonderful and sometimes painful thing.
Thanks for your view and your comments about it here JT.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hi Jim,
Did you miss my comment on May 8th ?
Above the best,
Bill
I am on it right now Bill. Sorry I have been AWOL for a bit but getting caught up now.
I don’t just approve comments, as you read here. I answer them.
Thanks for sticking with me.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great installment. Can’t wait to add this third book to my first two.
Thanks Buck, I should have the next segment up tomorrow. Thanks for the support and encouragement.
Semper fi,
Jim
I purchased the first two books thro IBooks. I am not reading these chapters because I want to read them all at one time when the books is available. Do you have any idea when the third book will be available to purchase?
I really enjoyed reading the first two books.
Thank you.
I am hoping to finish by the end of June and then print will take another two weeks.
Thanks for the patience…
Semper fi,
Jim
Great read your R and R in the islands refreshed you, enjoyed your writing from that part of the world on face book. Don
Yes, it helped. I wrote one segment on the first day and then sat with a blank sheet for many days, thinking.
thinking about all the guys who made it to Hawaii to take that R&R break only to go back and die. How hard would it have been
to be pulled out and then go back? I cannot imagine.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thought I had gotten a little old for it Lt, but am still learning, even after all these years. Ran into an Army type in the grocery store today and while talking to him dis covered his time in country over lapped mine. Told him about your stuff on FB. He wasn’t aware of it. Enjoyed the chat with him. Take care Lt.
Thanks for the referral and the kind complimentary words Wes. I am on the next segment and it will come out tomorrow, I pray…
Semper fi,
Jim
Well worth the wait Jim…
thanks Al, means so much to read those words…
Semper fi,
Jim
I found the story riveting, my husband was there in 68-69. He lost a leg. Never could talk about things, I know he suffered up until his death 2010.
I don’t care about all the I’s not being dotted or the t’s being crossed. Thank you for trying to help others by getting it out. Thank you also for your service. God Bless You. Continue on
Semper Fi
Well, Gail, how could I not answer this comment? I smile gently thinking of your thoughts about my helping. I started writing this to get it out…finally, before I move
on and the story never was to be told. All those guys who went down and nobody to know. That valley that ate people like some giant alien living monster but has a four lane
road running up and down it today. I could never go back.
Thanks for the really kind and complimentary words and I am so sorry about your husband.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great one LT. Thanks. I know writing this puts you in a place you have tried to avoid for a long time. Or suspect it does.
Yes, all of that. I wrestle with it and Hawaii helped, thinking about all the couples that did R&R there.
Semper fi, and thanks…
Jim
“There was no running away in combat. I’d somehow gotten away with that on my first night but, in the real world of open combat, it was a quick road to death by fire from either side. There was only survival in sticking together although sticking together was nothing at all like it had been in the presentation by other veterans who I now knew had been to a combat area but very likely not participated themselves. Every vet seemed to have an opinion, and most of those opinions were about being tough and aggressive when in real combat. I wondered if I survived, whether I would ever be able to listen to war stories like I’d heard before coming to Vietnam, about how that macho crap worked. None of us in real combat were tough. We were all afraid, wet, thirsty, hungry and eaten by insects. We spent most of our hours trying or hoping not to be in actual open combat. Real combat was all nearly the opposite of what I’d thought it to be.”
If anyone ever wanted to know about actual combat, that one short paragraph shines like a beacon of truth, laying bare in all of its simplicity of thought the basic human condition of self survival.
I wonder if the brass would ever allow you to talk with any group headed to a combat zone? Maybe once.
The armed forces of today are like those of old, they get by on bringing in new people who don’t know.
They know. They know all about it. They never go because they know. And they aren’t telling new people or nobody would go.
And there it all is.
So these books will not be recommended reading at Quantico or at any other military training center.
Semper fi,
Jim…and thanks for the wonderful compliment in your own words….
Take ur time ur gonna forget things if u pump out a chapter a week..lol great stuff thanks i been getting my Dad intrested..he was there
I think I am doing okay. I’ll let you know tomorrow when I have the next segment ready to go…I hope.
Semper fi
Jim
James, I must thank you for your presentation of life deep in a war zone. I myself was not as deep in the &#!^^ as U were, but had my moments. Tube changer 175s 8in every day different place. Went into Cambodia 1970 many many pucker factors no matter where God Bless you for remembering the men who served with you. I applaud you fore showing how honorable your Vietnamese guide was and your Gunny I may be out of line, but what happened to/with them My mind and heart often wonder the same with so many I served with, but the world continues to turn. God Bless Salute
Such a wonderful comment, George.
Your service was invaluable.
Semper fi
Jim
It has been awhile since I have read the story before this one. But easy for me to remember it and continue on with the next segment right where it left off. Because you’re stories are so captivating and riveting to me. I will be waiting for your next chapter as well. Thank you sir in more words than I could ever put together.
Randy, you probably know the next chapter is posted.
Thank you for your support.
Twenty-Second Day
Semper fi
Jim
Jim, I am riveted to your story line. I was in Italy in WWII as an Infantry Rifleman and BC Scope operator for a forward observer team. We had it easy compared to your experiences. Your work here is the most realistic depiction of the Vietnam fighting that I have read. How you guys ever survived is a miracle. You are the real deal! Keep up the good work. An Army Grunt!
Wow. You were in the big one in Italy. Monte Cassino. That was no small deal either, any of it.
The hedge rows. Thanks for your comment. your words of iron mean a lot to me.
Semper fi,
Jim
Truely outstanding Believable an intense. Always
This is movie material an an a most excellent story an it seems it’s not over yet well done. Thankyou Sir
Thanks a lot Charles, although I don’t think the regular world is ready for this story at all.
No mythology here. Just the blood, leeches, rain, and misery of being scared shitless day after day and waiting to
find out just how painful a death it was going to be…
Semper fi,
Jim
Amen on the war stories. When the bullets flew all bets were off.
Funny how true that is.
Thanks for your support and be sure to share with friends, John
Semper fi
Jim
Much of my time in the Ashau was spent as Crew Chief for the 2/17 Cav command and control UH-1H with a ring side seat to our Squadron’s activities. Scary, nasty place even high above. Crew served and radar anti aircraft weapons everywhere. Also did some ranger insertions and low level sensor drops and visual reconnaissance missions there. Your description of the terrain brings it all back. For a little while, I’m 19 again.
Thanks John, I don’t write to take people back, although it seems that so many do make that mental trip…I’m just
not sure that a whole lot of us are not existing with a part of us permanently back there. The name itself is so
strange. The A Shau. Always had a funny sound. Not the B Shau, C Shau or any of that. The A.
Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
The mud……that stinking mud
And the smell never leaves the memory banks.
Thanks for supporting this journey, JW
Semper fi
Jim
Very deep Sir
Been with you from book 1 Page 1. I started out with editing suggestions. Throughout every entry I am hearing your words repeat that you were not a qualified leader. Again, you end a segment with a plan you instinctively come up with, that though not thoroughly analytical, it is perhaps a quality reaction to keep your company and the rest of another free from extermination. You are a quality leader who somehow is gifted to do so. No textbook or lecture produces this rare trait. This reader suspects Gunny and the sargents recognize that too. You did well Sir. Thank you for your service.
I did okay with some great help and thanking my stars I had some real talent to bring to the Valley.
Thanks for the recognition and the support here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Well done sir. Left me hanging again. This trip down river will be no cakewalk. The guys in the falls…I guess we will never know..
Thanks for staying on board, Phil
Appreciate support.
Semper fi
jim
Thanks for pushing forward! It’s said War is Hell, but Jungle Warfare has to be a special kind of Hell! My Mother’s Cousin was one of Merrill’s Marauders, his Faith and doing for others allowed him to live a long life. His Malaria always was there to remind him of what he did. We can’t thank You enough for your service.