I lay in the muck of oozing mud seeping slowly up through the packed, cracked and broken debris of jungle and aging decay. The smell was of the damaged sort I’d come to know as my home away from home down inside the A Shau Valley expanse. I wondered if the smell would ever leave me, should I somehow have the good fortune to survive my experience in actual combat. I’d come late to discover that I, inadvertently, had built the confidence of the Marines around to such an extent that they had gone from being ‘dead men walking’ to believers that they might make it through the Vietnam war experience and one day go home without serious disfigurement or injury. I had, however, not built up that belief system inside myself. No matter what I did in the few moments of rest or reverie that I had it was impossible for me to believe that I could survive another year under such conditions.
The dawn came creeping up and over the far eastern wall of the canyon rim, with the first tendrils of light visible only like a faint glow across the clouded sky that had to signal a return to monsoon rains. The respite through the night had been too long and too good. The enemy would be able to use the monsoon rain during the next night to cloak another of its relentless attacks, and very likely a fully coordinated and successful one. I peered upward, toward the top of the western lip of that canyon wall but could see nothing. It was time to move from our position, I knew, and a plan was beginning to form in the back of my mind for our next survival attempt.
I knew also that the upper edge of the western face of the cliff that hung over us could not remain out of the building series of coming attacks for long. Supporting artillery fire could reach up to, across, and deep past that rim, but not accurately. Once the 175 rounds were fired they did not have the arc to go over or to one side or the other of Hill 975. The rim was basically untouchable by artillery. Air support was only truly available in the daylight hours, and then only if the monsoon rains were not at their heaviest. The enemy had time on its side. The NVA commanders could wait for the rain, risk the inaccurate fire of the 175s, and then take and settle onto the top of the rim. From there, all night long, they could fire at a high angle downward into our position. That kind of uncommon fire was called ‘plunging fire’ in training, and it was to be avoided at all costs, at least being on the receiving end of such devastating fire. The enemy wouldn’t have to be able to see well in such a position. All the machine gunners had to do was point down at the darkness of the jungle below and fire away.
Our ability to truly dig in, as the enemy did so well, to prevent getting hit, was actually non-existent. We had neither the equipment nor the time to get deep under the jungle’s surface. Since the rim would eventually fall to the enemy, or they would decide to risk high losses in acquiring it at some time, that meant the only way out was to attack up the valley until reaching either friendly forces or the DMZ itself. Surviving such a charge did not even bear considering. It wasn’t an option unless suicide was a part of the bargain. No, the only way out was in crossing the Bong Song once again, while the bridge was still there, and then preparing and executing a plan to move from the relative safety from under the lower lip of the wall, climb the difficult but scalable cliff further downriver, and then return to the area of Go Noi Island whence we’d come. At least there, and possibly only there, could our advantage in having artillery always on hand and on target allow some of us to survive until we might finally be relieved. Our orders were to remain where we were and wait to be reinforced, but it wouldn’t make much difference if the enemy continued its current buildup with its concentration on us in our trapped position.
We’d not only lost Sugar Daddy in the night at the bridge, but we’d also lost twenty-seven more Marines from his platoon KIA, as well as six wounded. We needed another medevac and resupply. If we made it across the river once again, then we’d need more beehive ammo for the Ontos, which brought up the Ontos subject front and center into my thinking.
When night fell on the 29th of September there would be no supporting fires able to be of much assistance, save the A-6 if it came in to bomb the hell of the same jungle it had become accustomed to bombing. But, even recurring flights up around and back into the valley by Homan and Thompson in the A-6 were not going to prevent the NVA from attacking in force across the open area. The NVA had shown no resistance at all to facing machine gunfire out in the open, no matter how suicidal such attacks might seem. At night, everything was changed. Without a Starlight scope on every M-60 covering the mudflat, the machine guns could only approximate where the enemy might be as they came at us.
I brought Nguyen and Fusner in close and let them know we were headed back toward the river. I hoped that my protected foxhole there was still undamaged and available. The move was uneventful, as we crept low past the Marines who’d emplaced themselves in jerry-rigged foxholes made from gathering the jungle debris and surrounding themselves with it. The Skyraider’s early first pass had shut down all fire from the enemy and their fifty caliber machine gun had not been heard from since the last strike of the Ontos against it. The foxhole was dry and Sugar Daddy’s body was nowhere to be seen. I was unsure of what I would have done if it was still there.
I called for the Gunny and Jurgens. Sergeant Trath had immediately stepped into Sugar Daddy’s overly large shoes, or so I’d heard. He was the senior Buck Sergeant in that platoon and, although I could over-rule the decision promoting him, I was not about to.
The jungle did not offer anything resembling cut timber, or the ability to make such from the wood of the many species of trees growing around us. The Bishopwood was our best hope, I knew, as it was the dominant species in our area of the A Shau. The trunks of the trees, referred to as ‘bitchwood’ trees by the Marines around me, due to its nature of splitting after being felled over a period of time, were our best hope to build a structure strong enough to allow the Ontos to climb up on the high end of the bridge and then cross over into its new position. The work of gathering enough fallen trunks, since we had no chainsaws or even conventional manual saws, had to be undertaken immediately, since there was no guarantee that the bridge, in its current precarious position, would stay where it was until the work was done, the Ontos was moved, and then the remaining two companies crossed onto the other side.
My foxhole was as it had been and I felt the first relative comfort that I had felt in some time.
“We need another Starlight scope and batteries on resupply,” I murmured to Fusner, my eyes raking back and forth across the river, and then up and down its length, that was barely visible in the astronomical dawn that was taking place. It was hard to make out what was real, and I was left wondering if I was adding things I could not see but could remember from my former views of the river scene, a scene that changed but that I could never seem to completely escape from. The Bong Song was not only running up and down through the middle of the A Shau Valley, but it was also running up and down through the very center of my being.
“Get Cowboy up on the AN 323,” I ordered Fusner, knowing that I had to somehow bring the Skyraiders in on my plan. It would take their relentless suppression in the coming daylight to not only make it possible for us to build a bridge to the bridge but also to prepare enough cover for the resupply chopper to come back in and deliver what we needed, as well as take out wounded and the dead. I wasn’t sure where Sugar Daddy’s body was. As the company commander, I was supposed to certify that he was dead, and then sign off for identification and his body’s removal from the field of combat. Since we’d lost Rittenhouse, so many days ago, however, the responsibilities for clerk-type activity had fallen to Fusner and some Marines in the individual platoons themselves.
Fusner removed my helmet and the liner under it. The Cowboy’s voice came through the tiny speaker from the left side of the headset, as Fusner gently pushed the device down to cover my left ear.
“We’ve got to do the Mersey thing with the beast while we prepare to build a way for it,” I transmitted after Cowboy and I exchanged our normal strange greeting. I did enjoy being called Flash, and I waited for that. I could hear the Skyraiders orbiting high above, and I presumed they were orbiting waiting for us to contact them to let them know what we were doing and for the light to improve. The NVA were not going to miss our attempt to build a ramp to the bridge end but the longer it took for them to figure that out, and then to weigh their own survival against delivering full daylight fire against our effort, the more chance we had in successfully completing that part of the plan.
I waited for a reply from Cowboy. It came in seconds.
“Flash, gotcha, in this place I’ll always stay. I presume Godzilla to be that many tongued dragon thing. There will be three of us on station with twenty sorties each if we manage the system. I am also presuming the target as long as you can keep the other end of the deal.”
I smiled to myself. Cowboy had gotten it all. He knew the Gerry and the Pacemaker’s song so well he’d quoted the first line following mention of ferrying across the Mersey in the song. And he was also saying he couldn’t adequately cover the mudflat leading toward where Hill 975 lay toward the west while his planes lined up and delivered near-continuous fire on the jungle where we needed suppression the most.
“Roger that,” I replied. “Give us full dawn support and we’ll go to work.”
“Busy little beavers down there,” Cowboy answered. “Standing by to cross the line of departure.”
I pulled the headset off, breathing a sigh of relief. Cowboy was using infantry jargon, as there was no ‘line of departure’ for air support. The Skyraiders could stay in the air for three to four hours without refueling and, if they were judicious, they carried enough ordinance to keep any intelligent enemy’s head down. Cowboy was telling me that he would wait for word on when to begin their runs. With three planes they could be overhead, moving down the valley, about every five minutes.
“Get the Gunny, Jurgens, Trath, the other platoon commanders, and the new lieutenants down here,” I ordered Fusner.
The Marines on the line guarding both our rear area and the mudflat, where another attack was bound to come from, wouldn’t need any leadership or supervision to do what they did so well. With daylight coming, the NVA was not about to rush willy-nilly across a flat open surface area covered by several machine guns. Only soon to be dead people charged machine guns in the real world under such conditions.
I listened to Fusner calling in for the medevac and the resupply and was surprised by the detail he was able to give off the top of his head. There was no mention of Sugar Daddy or the identities of anyone being Medevaced, although the black sergeant’s entire being was resurrected before me in the near dark. If I lasted through the years I wondered how I would come to consider the man or any of the Marines around me, and still live. Humanity was a term that could only be applied loosely to any of us, I realized. Training, and even my college major in anthropology, did nothing to explain the descent of modern man and all of his social values when placed in the circumstance we had come to know in the A Shau Valley. Humanity wasn’t the proper word at all. The phrase ‘wounded, agonized moving protoplasm of the walking dead’ was a better fit.
The Gunny was the first to arrive with Jurgens at his elbow. They descended into my expansive foxhole and crawled forward to where I was wedged up against the narrow wall that faced the river. I brought myself down and then turned to face them. Trath showed up but didn’t enter the hole, instead choosing to rest up on the bare ground, where Nguyen and Fusner were already ensconced. I began laying out my new plan, hoping that some solution as to how the downed trunks of the bitch trees could be found, somehow hewn to fit, and then transported to the river bank for installation. It was going to take a lot of tree trunks to make it work because the Ontos could only be expected to climb a certain grade, and although I didn’t know that maximum grade I presumed it wasn’t too great, given the weight distribution of the tracked vehicle.
“We’re going to have to move a lot of dirt here,” I said, without any preamble.
The Gunny stared at me, making no effort or sound in response. I could barely make him and the other men out in the poor light, but I knew I had their full attention. I breathed in and out deeply. I had to bring them into the plan, not just order it I realized or we’d never make it by the time the light of day came and then went into the next deadly night.
“We can’t stay on this side of the river and live,” I began. “They’re going to eventually take and hold the top of the rim. We can’t survive plunging fire from up there and I don’t have accurate enough artillery to destroy them. Airpower works in the day but this next night might be our last unless we get across the river, hold up under the cliff, as before, and then fight our way back to the glacis downriver and beat our way back up to the top of the cliff. From there we return to Ga Noi Island and move toward An Hoa. There’s no relief coming down the valley that’s going to get past Hill 975. The NVA has had too much time to dig, fortify, supply, and then dig and fortify some more. Today we build a buttress to get the Ontos up onto the bridge and across. The Ontos is the key to our night time success on the other side. Resupply and the medevac are coming in this afternoon.”
“How do we build this buttress?” Trath asked.
I looked up at the sergeant intently. There was the glint of intellect in his eyes, and I realized he was not going to be any Sugar Daddy in leading the platoon, and the platoon had lost so many it was also little more than two squads, way down in number from what it had been when I’d joined the company.
“We use Bitchwood fallen trees to form a lattice platform frame. We fill that with dirt. Eight feet by eight feet by three. Then we build a second platform just beyond the first, this one six feet high. The bridge edge is about eight feet off the riverbank. We can lay trunks from the bottom up to the edge using the two platforms to have an angle the Ontos should be able to power up and over.”
I waited when I was done. The AN 323 headset was still on my head but there was no radio traffic.
“You think there are enough fallen trees in this jungle?” the Gunny asked into the silence.
“We have explosives to make more,” I replied, hoping we had enough and hoping the Gunny would buy into the plan.
The two lieutenants finally appeared, moving to lay next to Trath at the edge of the hole.
“You know,” the Gunny said, “if we just blow down a bunch of these trees and then dragged them to the edge and packed them down with the Ontos we might not need to haul any dirt at all, particularly since the dirt is really more mud than anything else.”
I pictured the Gunny’s solution in my mind for a few seconds, not nearly so happy with his variation of the plan as I was that he appeared to be all-in when it came to crossing the river again and making our way back to An Hoa without any orders to do so, and likely orders that would be coming to not do so.
“We can drag the trees with the Ontos and we’ve got plenty of Marines to manipulate the things into a great growing pile near the end of the bridge,” the Gunny stated, obviously thinking his plan through.
I pulled the headset off and handed it up to Fusner. The light was good enough to see everyone.
“Let’s go to work,” I said, hoping that the Gunny’s plan would be at least as good as my own when it came to getting the Ontos across the water, given that the bridge didn’t move again and the enemy could be kept sufficiently suppressed to allow the Marines doing the work to survive while they did it.
“Call Cowboy,” I instructed Fusner. “Tell him to begin his runs in half an hour. “And you two,” I said, pointing at the two new lieutenants with my right index finger. “One of you get back to the Ontos and let them know what’s going on and the other one go to the wall and make sure that end of things is not coming off the rails.”
“I’m not sure about this crossing of the river, Junior,” Jurgens said when the lieutenants were gone, his voice almost too low to hear.
“Other than I need you to go over and provide security at the other end of the bridge and for the coming resupply, what don’t you understand?” I replied, with an edge to my voice, wondering what was going to happen without the strange balance of Jurgens and Sugar Daddy fighting over just about everything.
Jurgens simply glared at me, his eyes tiny shining pools of light coming out of the near darkness.
“You get over and dig in at the other end of the bridge,” I went on. “No more using the bridge for protection, and dig in well enough so that fifty, should they get it up and operational and should we be unable to suppress its fire, can’t get to you.”
“What’s the name of this plan?” Fusner asked, hanging over the lip of the foxhole, hanging onto the headset of the air radio.
“Ferry, Cross the Mersey,” I replied, thinking of Cowboy and how easy it was to communicate with him, and he wasn’t even in front of me.
“What’s a Mersey?” Fusner asked as if reading my mind.
“Think of the Bong Song and the rock and roll song,” I replied, patiently, but wanting to move on as quickly as we could. I had little confidence that we would be able to build what was needed to get the Ontos to the other side before nightfall, and I had a bad feeling about the coming of night.
One single thump and then radiating vibration came from across the river. It was a single drum beat. The NVA was rebuilding its drum base, although not likely in the same place the old location had been. The single thump was followed seconds later by another identical thump. It was going to be a long day, I realized.
“Gunny,” I said, between drum beats. “I want every bit of fire we take today answered by M-60 fire of our own, so distribute the man accordingly. The NVA is
going to figure out what we are up to and that’s going to make them pretty mad since I’m certain they have an extinction plan for us they can’t wait to apply tonight.”
“Okay, that’s it, let’s go,” I said.
Gunny and Jurgens didn’t move.
I didn’t move either, having expected some blowback on my decision to get us out of our current situation by changing positions again so dramatically.
“Call battalion and tell them what we’re planning,” I said to the Gunny.
“Can we talk about that, Junior?” the Gunny replied, although his tone wasn’t argumentative in the least.
“Talk,” I said.
“That glacis, the cliff, just how in hell are we supposed to get up there without losing half our Marines?”
“The 175s,” I answered, before going on. “The 175’s cannot fire down along the face of the eastern wall, so we can’t take any hits there unless an errant round impacted all the way up on top of the plateau. I’ll rain a zone fire down into the valley while we’re climbing out and that ought to play hell with any concentrated sniper or machine gunfire.”
“I don’t like it, Junior,” Jurgens said.
“You know they’re coming tonight,” I replied, trying to keep the tone of my voice unemotional. “And you know they’re coming in force. We have no Starlight Scope and our mortar ammo supply is extremely limited. We get across and then get resupplied and wait for just the right moment to go downriver. They’re not going to be expecting this since they’ve likely been listening to the promises of battalion along with us. There is no way they’ll think we might disobey orders and go the other way or fail to hold our position. If you call battalion it’s up to you, but I wouldn’t say anything about our plan over the radio.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Jurgens murmured. “Everyone knows what happened and nobody wants to cross that bridge, including me,” he went on.
“We’re Marines,” I replied, not knowing what else to say. “Tell your Marines about the attack were going to put together, and how we’re going to go through that jungle-like shit through a goose.”
“We’re going to get even for Sugar Daddy?” he said, some level of strange hope in his voice.
“That’s right,” the Gunny joined in, “now get your Marines ready. You need to go now before its full light. Take them by surprise. The enemy knows full well it hurt the hell out of us last night and they won’t be quite ready.”
Jurgens climbed out of the hole without saying another word.
“Get even for Sugar Daddy?” I asked, total disbelief in my tone, once Jurgens was out of earshot.
“It works,” the Gunny replied, “not that I’m at all certain that Ferry Cross the Mersey will. How confident are you?”
“About the same as you,” I said. “But we can’t stay here and we can’t move up along the side of Hill 975 anymore. They’re ready for that, in spades.”
I pulled out MacInerney’s flashlight and turned it on, getting a 1-25,000 map of our area from my thigh pocket. I leaned close into the Gunny and then pointed down at our position, which I’d marked with a small black “X” days before. “We don’t leave our position tomorrow until we have plenty of air support. We attack down the river, through the jungle and along the lower base of the cliff, but this time we have almost four hundred Marines instead of what we had before. And we have the 81 mortars too, after resupply.”
“Is resupply coming?” the Gunny asked, which surprised me. Usually, the man was totally up on all radio traffic, especially on the combat net. Fusner had called it in, I was certain since I’d heard a good part of his transmission.
“You think they’d say they were coming and not show?” I asked, in shock.
“It’s happened,” the Gunny replied. “Our mortality rate has to be about the worst in this war and who wants to come to that party?”
I stopped talking and waited for more, but Gunny had stopped talking also. There was no way I was going to believe that the air guys, chopper pilots, the Skyraider team or even Homan and Thompson would fail to show if they said they were coming. They would have to be dead not to show. I wondered where the Gunny had been and what had happened when he’d somehow failed to get the promised air support he thought was coming, but I wasn’t going to ask.
The Gunny pulled out a cigarette and lit it while I waited in silence, the light increasing ever so slightly down at the bottom of my hole. He took a couple of deep drags and then handed the cigarette to me.
“For Sugar Daddy and his men, and for the success of the Mersey thing,” he unexpectedly said.
I took the cigarette and puffed a few times without coughing. The Gunny climbed out of the hole, what was left of his cigarette snapped sparking up into the dim morning light.
I stood and motioned Fusner to me.
“You put the order in for resupply and getting the wounded out and received a positive response?” I asked.
“Yes, sir,” Fusner shot right back. “I would have told you right away if they weren’t coming at 1400 sir. Can I turn on my radio?”
I replied in the affirmative, wondering what my next step was to be or if the Gunny was going to implement the taking down of the trees and the stacking process that would have to take place down near the end of the bridge. If the plan didn’t work to get the Ontos across the bridge then the rest of the plan would fall to pieces since we could not hold the clefts under the face of the canyon wall against overwhelming forces coming at us from every direction in the night without the Ontos and night vision gear.
“You have a letter that came in, sir,” Fusner said, handing me a folded over white envelope.
“What” was all I could say, taking the envelope in my shaking right hand, hoping it was from my wife, but it wasn’t I realized instantly. I switched on MacInerney’s flashlight once more. The letter was from the Department of the Army.
Fusner’s radio began its tinny play. Brother John introduced one of the first songs of the day. A song called The Letter played, and as the first words came through the air, driven with power by a strong melody of guitar chords I almost shook my head in weary disappointment: “Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane, ain’t got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone, I’m a-goin’ home, my baby, just wrote me a letter.”
I pulled the single sheet of yellow paper from the envelope. The letter wasn’t a letter at all. It was a telegram placed inside an envelope. Tersely, the letter explained that my brother, a second lieutenant in the Army, serving down in Bien Hoa much further south in Vietnam, had been badly wounded and was in the hospital in Yokohama, Japan. Condition Serious, Prognosis Fair.
The song played on, as I sat, leaning against the side of my foxhole, vaguely listening to lyrics that told me I had to get back, but there was no going back, not for me now, and quite likely not for me ever.
The drums beat again, the reverberating vibrations rushing through the air and down into the valley where I sat, pushed against the foxhole wall, alone in a world of hurt and loss, my hand clutching a cold uncaring telegram against my chest. My own letters home would be on the resupply chopper or I would die getting them aboard. It was all I had left. The drums beat again in the far distance and then again inside my foxhole.
Glad you recovering and getting well. took me a while to get into reading about combat again. now back in the groove or should I say groovy. still one waiting for me on to the read I go. Don
Thanks Don, means a lot right now and I’m not kidding.
Semper fi,
Jim
When will the third 10 days be available for purchase?
As soon as I complete the last segment, Mike.
Thanks for your patience. I am back in the strength mode.
As usual another exciting chapter. Waiting to see how the new Lt. works with Sugar Daddy’s people. Smoke and prayers for your quick recovery.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Hoping the operation went well & you are on the road to recovery. Gentle hugs for you & your wife.
Jim’s daughter just let me know surgery was a success and Jim is in ICU most probably through to Friday.
He will probably be answering a lot of these wonderful messages over the weekend.
Chuck
Very first and most important, Lt. may your medical procedure have the best possible outcome.
Your writing is good and something I look forward to. I was not involved personally in the madness of that time but was close enough to know of it and as the decades have passed have tried to get my mind around all of it.
I’m noting in the first paragraph the sentence, “I lay in the muck of oozing mud seeping slowly up through the packed, cracked and broken debris of jungle detritus and aging decay. ” is trying to carry a little too much with use of the terms ‘detritus’ and ‘debris’. My opinion, of course.
very best going forward.
Jim Adams
Chuck Bartok here standing in for Jim. Today is day of surgery.
I removed the word detritus and it does sound better.
Jin appreciates your support
Thank you Sir! You are in my prayers. Semper Fi
Take care of yourself Jim. Your recounting of your story has taken this long and it can certainly take a little longer.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
May your surgeon/s be the best. Heal as fast as life allows it, we will be waiting. ben
Thanks Ben, I am in at oh five thirty tomorrow and wish the Gunny was here watching over me.
Semper fi,
Jim
I keep thinking – that damn bridge – and I’m surprised the NVA hasn’t made a major effort to destroy it somehow.
Personal note, I also had a brother in the Army at Bien Hoa, he’s no longer with us.
SEMPER FI
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Thanks for bringing back an old song from Jr. High. Could not remember the band. You and your men bring tears sometimes to this old soldier’s eyes. You are one of the few writers that speak of the dysfunction in the military in those years and hidden blue on blue violence that seemed to permeate my memories from 70 to 78. It was a hard time to serve for many of us. Thank you for serving and being courageous enough to tell your story.
Many of us our age are finding our bodies are no longer 18 or even 50. Hope for a speedy recovery. I am not far behind you on the heart issue LT.
You are simply this wonderful class act SSG
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
LT My prayers are with you and your family as you go through this medical speed bump I will post my thoughts on this chapter after I know you are in recovery God Bless Salute George
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Another great chapter.
Good luck on your procedure today. Please keep us posted.
Hey L.T. Hope the recovery from that surgery continues to progress nicely. I enjoyed this last segment and have quit trying to predict the chain of events. Which just proves that life is not a novel. The story I read here seems an unburdening of the soul by sharing with others an intense coming of age. Thank you, I feel privileged to have experienced this view into your personal past experiences.
ESSAYONS
Glenn.
Thanks so much Glenn…and that describes the laying down of the story through all of the books.
We are closing on the end of the combat phase of my life and will soon move into the revovery when I start publishing
The Cowardly Lion…which I had to become when I came back into the ‘real’ world to survive.
Semper fi,
Jim
“Cowardly Lion” is now on my must read list. Thanks for the heads up.
It will be a while…
But stay with me, Glenn
Semper fi,
Jim
Prayers for your surgery to go well & a speedy recovery.🙏
Thank you, Cathy.
Heading to the hospital today.
Semper fi,
Jim
Good luck with the surgery LT
Thanks for that. The guys and gals pulling for me have true meaning in my life now.
I can hack it. I’ll just draw on Junior’s survival instincts!
Semper fi,
Jim
Prayer for everything to go well on your surgery and speedy recovery Lt.
Chuck filling in for Jim, Richard.
The surgery went well and Jim should be out in ICU Sunday.
Thank you for your support
Prayers for a successful surgery and a full recovery!
Chuck filling in for Jim.
As I mentioned before surgery was a success.
He will probably be moved to regular room Sunday.
He will be reading all of these well wishes.
Thank you
Let, my thoughts go with you. Looking forward to your return to duty
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Father in the name of Jesus, I lift James up to you. I ask for a totally successful surgery and complete recovery.
Amen
Thank you, Ricky,
Semper fi
Jim
Nice, my pray too!
Be well Brother. I had a small heart attack about three weeks ago, The pain was tremendous. I laid on the floor with my feet and lower legs up in a chair. I said a little prayer, if you can call it that. Ö.K. God don’t fuck with me. Do or do not. Went to sleep, believe it or not, and woke up in the morning. He didn’t. Went to the Doc the next week. He said I have a left bundle block an another artifact”he can not I.D. They got me on meds. This gittn old shit sucks.
see ya on the other side of the grinder. Still, lookin forward to sippin a beer with ya.
Looking forward to the ‘beer time’, Bud.
Hope your condition improves
Semper fi,
Jim
Good luck with your surgery. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I have been with you since day 1 and it has been both exhilarating and freighting. Eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Thanks for your thoughts, Patrick.
I ‘squeezed’ out another installment last night and it will be published today.
Semper fi,
Jim
Godspeed for your successful surgery and recovery cousin. Will see you soon!
Thanks for your kind thoughts, Savanna.
On my way to Chicago this morning for Prep.
Thank you for taking the time to answer. I know my first time I was pretty much a duvus. The second time I cracked a joke just before they scrambled all hands on deck. I think the joke was to a very sweet nurse who I know now knew trouble was brewing. But she laughed anyway after asking me how I was doing and I responded very inappropriately that I would rather have a yeast infection. Smiles will get you about anything you want or need just start early as you can and you’ll be fine. Sempre Fi
I am so thankful for your support, Poppa J, and of course your sense of humor.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your health is # one , good luck and God’s speed for recovery. Can’t wait for the last book to be printed so I can start all over from day one since I have a bad case of CRS.
The last segment came out yesterday and the next one after that tomorrow, so I am punching them out just before I go under.
Thanks for the kind words. Five more segments, or so, to go and the third book will be done, before the follow on book.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read! Thank you and prayers for a full recovery.
Thanks Ray, means a lot to me, the well wishes and all, not to mention the compliment straight from the shoulder.
Semper fi,
Jim
Praying for a speedy recovery from ur surgery. And again II. Just blown away with your writing. Fantastic job.
Thank you, Billy
Semper fi,
Jim
LT, another great read. Good luck with the upcoming surgery. I will offer more prayers for you and a speedy recovery.
Jim
Thanks James, I shall endeavor to persevere through this. The last segment came out yesterday and the next one tomorrow.
Wanted to get ready for the end and also give you guys something to hold on to until I am back.
Semper fi,
Jim
Glad you are back and in cardiology rehab! I eagerly await the outcome of Ferry Cross the Mersey.
I am not in rehab. The operation was delayed until Wednesday so I hope I will be in rebar after that.
Thanks for caring and saying so on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
James, may the doctors operating on you be guided by the the Holy Spirit Himself. May He give them wisdom and skills.
Para 18 or so, “ordinance?”
right below the music play bar thing:
distribute the man accordingly. Maybe “the men?”
There’s something else, but I can’t find it now.
Thanks a lot Tom for being an editor here. Sure does help.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, thanks for another great chapter. Good luck with the surgery.
thanks for the well wishes and the compliment Mike. I am ready to go in on the 22nd.
Life’s adventures…
Semper fi,
Jim
I don’t see any comments?
What are you talking about Tom? Oh, you don’t see them until I answer. I am on it this night.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thx Jim. I didn’t know about that. Don’t recall running across it before.
Thanks Tom, appreciate the help and the concern too…
Semper fi,
Jim
Another excellent read. Prayers your heart surgery is successful. Looking forward to having all three books.
Yes, only about five segments left after the next one hits on Wednesday.
Thanks for sticking with me so loyally.
Semper fi,
Jim
Still here, since Day 1 Sir. I don’t know even after two separate readings if I am just too emotionally attached but I could not find any serious needs for editing. You keep banging away at a readers 5 senses, which is crucial with your chosen approach to retelling this tragic, yet heroic event in the lives of your now TWO companies of Marines. As we near the end of your tour I just want to say it has been an honor to follow you day by day. Thank you for sharing this defining segment of your lives, along with all those you lead. With you through the end.
Thanks so much for the depth and sincerity of your comment Bob, particularly at this rather sensitive time.
Much appreciated and the compliments too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great read. Prayers coming your way for successful operation and recovery.
Appreciate that, Frank
Semper fi,
Jim
Good luck with your surgery & thank you for another great chapter.
Thanks, Phil.
More coming soon
Semper fi,
Jim
Get well soon —- you are needed and appreciated!!
I am honored to have the support of such a fabulous group.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great segment once again. You will be in our thoughts and prayers as you fight your next battle. Had a quadruple bypass at the end of last October 2018 and was back to work full time end of January 2019. You will fare well I am sure. Important thing is to stay positive.
Yes, thanks Tom, although I cannot imagine that I can pull away from everything for that long.
My weekly newspaper needs me and so does the writing, but God makes those rules and I shall endeavor to follow them.
Semper fi,
Jim
Lt. This has got to be really tough to write, day 29 and in two more days your heart surgery. I hope and pray that you doctor’s have a steady hand. That your recovery will be easy, and you are back to being a new man soon. I will await the next up date when you are ready. Until then I and everyone else here wish you God’s speed.
Thanks so much SGT. I will be ready and raring to go when they are done, or so I hope. Thanks for the kind words and yes, right here right now and I have to continue
to the end? Well, yes, as a matter of fact. God’s rules, not my own.
Semper fi,
Jim
Knowing the end is near I am on pins and needles to read the rest. Then I will buy the last book. Thanks, LT. A very good read.
I will finish soon, God willing and this heart thing lets me recover quickly.
Thanks for the kind words and the compliment inherent in your writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery from successful heart surgery.
Thanks, Walter,
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, I too will be going in for an aortic valve replacement two weeks from today. I hope I’m around to see the final chapters. It’s been good therapy for an old DUSTOFF medic to see the war from another perspective. I was always looking down on you guys and now I have just an inkling of the hell that y’all went thru. Good luck with your surgery. If neither of us survive, I’ll see you on the other side….P.S. bring a copy of the final chapters!! Hahaha!!
‘see you on the other side,’ I love that, old Mountain Man expression.
Thanks for the kind words and the good thoughts and putting a smile on my face this night.
The next segment will come out tomorrow.
Semper fi,
Jim
Take care of yourself first and worry about finishing the book when your feeling better
I appreciate your thoughts, Roger.
Semper fi,
Jim
The old guys who used to roam this country in the badlands and forests used to use that language. The Mountain Men. See you on the other side.
Neat expression. I will have the books in my head, where they remain so you will get the end one way or the other.
Semper fi, and thanks a lot for making me smile.
Jim
James, this is an outstanding chapter. Good to see you writing, and best of luck with the hospital thing.
Facing one’s own mortality. You know, I think most sentient people rarely get that chance. For those of us who HAVE, life can sure throw some crazy curves.
Your “crossing the Mersey” is going to be one Hell of an expedition, but you seem to have the Marines dialed in for the task. I will try to be patient until you can get the jaunt down on paper.
Semper Fi, my friend.
The next segment comes out tomorrow and then the last five when I get out of the hospital, hopefully sometime next week.
Thanks for the great words in your comment and the meaning that shines right on through.
Semper fi,
Jim
Intriguing as usual Jim
I was wondering what happened to you Lieutenant. I hope you are well and are on the was to a speedy recovery. Another wonderful chapter. I hope this plan works out. Can’t wait to see.
One small edit. Paragraph #9 , last sentence , should be “remaining” two companiew crossed to thee other side.
Thanks, Gunny.
Corrected the error.
Your eyes were very helpful.
Semper fi,
‘Jim
Prayers for you. We readers can wait.
Nah, you can’t wait! So I wrote another segment today and it will go up tomorrow, to tide you over.
Thanks for writing what your wrote on here and your serious concern.
Semper fi,
Jim
Heal up our friend. We need you to finish your story. What a chain of events that follow us in combat. Be well and remember the next chapters.
Next segment tomorrow Marlin, and thanks for the patience and sticking with me through this new odyssey.
Semper fi,
Jim
The intensity is mounting as Sugar Daddy and others are no longer in position to make the plan come together. There is so much on the line one more time. With the heavy losses will they be sending new recruits . As the saying goes “ truth is stranger than fiction. My cardiologist is on stand by for tonight’s encounter. Thanks LT for your writing.
Thanks W. Sapp. I like the cardiologist thing. I never had one of those before but I sure do now. Three, in fact.
The next segment comes out tomorrow so there will be ruminations while I wait out the time they say I have to wait out
for recovery.
Semper fi,
Jim
Extremely difficult situation that you all were in that the NVA were too damn confident to realize you weren’t going to stay there and be overwhelmed by them come nightfall.
I had self propelled 155’s and 8” located on the end of the airstrip in An Hoa and Hill 55 got hit hard while there.
Thank you James, and praying for success and good health from your upcoming heart surgery- Semper Fi brother!!
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
That should have been Fusner Damn auto correct
I continue to be amazed at the resilience displayed by you and your men. You are one of a kind, yet one of a long line of American fighting men who give better than they get, and have done so since the American Revolution, or before.
My mind may be going, but I don’t recall your brother being mentioned before. I lost the essence of my brother in RVN. He survived, but yet he didn’t. Still suffering 50 years later.
May your surgery and recovery go well!
Possible edits: “The NVA had shown no resistance at all make that “reluctance” ??
“… this next night might be our last unless we get across the river, hold up under the cliff, …” perhaps “hole up under the cliff..” ??
thanks for the great comment Mike and the editorial help. No, I had not mentioned my brother being in combat at the same time as me over there.
We did not know that brothers did not have to serve in the same conflict but you had to tell the military that. They did not volunteer that information.
Thanks for the concern. My brother passed although not until after I was hit myself, but I won’t be writing that in the story because it hadn’t happened yet.
Thanks for the care and the concern and the help.
Semper fi,
Jim
I hope Fisher passed along Ferry Cross the Mersey and added get even for Sugar Daddy on his jungle Telegraph.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
I know the question has ben asked before, but will the three volume set include a map or illustration of the movements during your time in the valley? Sometimes it’s hard to visualize the all the ground you’ve covered. Thanks again for your story.
Yes, the three volume set will include a may and plenty of illustrations and unit descriptions.
There will also be a huge single volume that will have that data and cartography in it.
Semper fi,
Jim
You have yourself squared away for Wednesday. The crew working on you and your problem are well exercised in the delicate work of repairing your living heart. After, when you can complain do so if you need to. And if anyone asks you if you have pain say yes particularly if you get the word they’re about to remove some tubes or wires. And as everything proceeds normally they will be detaching more and more restraints and will be helped into a chair bedside. There starts the journey. We pray for you the whole time. And we know The LT can grunt his way to full recovery. God bless
Oh, and this is one helluva plan. Your Marines are about to make it work, we sense it because they have done so , many times before. Poppa
Thanks Poppa, you guys have given me a great gift in life. I have come to believe that I was a pretty good commanding officer after all under the circumstances.
There was no quit in me then and now. I should not have survived the wounds I received but they said at 1st Med that I had a survivors body. I’m counting on that now.
I can hack the pain and getting through to rehab…but its sure a helluva lot better and easier with guys like you riding shotgun for me…
Semper fi, my true friend,
Jim
Recoup from surgery Lt. never knew about brother sorry. Many of us had s*** sandwich there. We came back to tell our stories. Warriors one and all. Thanks to you and those like you most of us came back. Love to all our brothers.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
All I can say is “damn Lt” great writing as usual!
Thanks, Brian.
The support of the readers is very heartening.
Semper fi,
Jim
My prayers are with you as you have surgery, L.T. I’d tell you to take it easy as you recover, but somehow I don’t believe that you’re a ‘Take it easy’ kind of guy!
Semper Fi!
Chuck filling in for JR.
According to his daughter, all went well with surgery but he is driving the staff ni=uts
good luck on your upcoming heart procedure LT—had mine four years ago–a quad bypass–they can do miracles today—am up and totally functional—thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you face this surgery—if an old Navy LT
can get thru it you as a tough Marine should have no problem—demand cute and caring young nurses–they make this journey easier
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
we were never there 63-67
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Incredible story and story teller ! Would make an incredible movie
Best wishes for your upcoming medical event and recovery.
Semper Fi!
Semper fi
Thanks, Bob,
Semper fi back to you,
Jim
Saw the update last night just before going to bed – wisely made the decision to get up early this morning to read.
“If I lasted through the years I wondered how I would come to consider the man or any of the Marines around me, and still alive. Humanity was a term that could only be applied loosely to any of us” The return to the world, (civilized society) thankfully, for most of us, slowly whittles away at our warrior shields and responses.
” it was impossible for me to believe that I could survive another year under such conditions” It’s impossible to explain to others, that when you get to that level of acceptance, how liberating it is. You never, ever, give up on trying to save as many of the company as is possible.
“I’d come late to discover that I, inadvertently, had built the confidence of the Marines around to such an extent that they had gone from being ‘dead men walking’ to believers that they might make it through the Vietnam war experience and one day go home without serious disfigurement or injury. I had, however, not built up that belief system inside myself.” – Leadership = but your expectations of yourself exceed those of your men.
I was sent to Yokosuka.
Thanks so much for helping so many of us with the healing process – but now maybe it’s time for you to focus on the upcoming surgery. Best wishes for a speedy, successful recovery.
Your comments are always so appreciated, Bob.
Heading to Chi-town for prep.
I will be back ASAP.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim thanks for another great segment.You are a great leader of men and a great writer.Your Thirty day’s should be required reading for all officers in training could save thousands of lives .Hope all goes well with your surgery.Once again thanks for your service and sharing this great story!
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Welcome back. Another great chapter.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
I know the same feeling’s you have went through , God bless you , you have earned it !
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
The suspense is building!
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
You do what you gotta do LT. HQ. not always right !!!
“My baby wrote me a letter” surreal or what?
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
All too often, I’ll be reminded. Reminded of the importance held within the sounds and songs of the mid to late sixties and the role they’d play in weaving the fabric of both life and death for so many of us, living and dying during that time. Those songs represent for me the transition from 1967 to 1968. As an about to be eleven year old kid, the shift from my own idyllic world perceptions to a more frank if not less sheltered view of reality. A shift that might come by way of clever teachers who’d open their pupil ‘ s eyes by way of songs either played or performed in the classroom, or on the radio. In any case, that time required interpretation and guidance. I believe the Gunny was right to question “Ferry Cross the Mersey” because musically it was after all, a hopeful croon against impending loss. Though perhaps, a bit over-produced! In stark contrast to Fusner turning on his radio in time to hear “The Letter”. A song which was described by my teacher in our fifth grade classroom as “akin to the Vietnam war…no more than a wistful plea to a return…completely lost on powers that be, and in the face of a rapidly growing, and for too long ongoing, situation of impending tumult, turmoil, and doom.”
When reality bites, whether young or old…it never let’s go!
This chapter was for me, the most expressive you’ve written thus far of the unfathomable depths of sadness experienced in the reality of combat. Even as you steadfastly refuse to go down! You and all our brothers in arms have my undying respect. Tremendous work, sir! Carry on!
Semper fi,
ddh
What can anybody say about how deeply you seem to be the drummer to the rock group I am sending out the message from in front of….
James, You never cease to amaze me with your novel plans. At least now there is some hope. I await what unfolds.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
Supporting artillery fire could reach up to, across, and deep past that rim, but not accurately, once the 175 rounds were fired they did not have the arc to go over or to one side or the other of Hill 975.
Seems like two sentences. Maybe period after “accurately”
Supporting artillery fire could reach up to, across, and deep past that rim, but not accurately. Once the 175 rounds were fired they did not have the arc to go over or to one side or the other of Hill 975.
that meant the only way out was either to attack up the valley until reaching either friendly forces or the DMZ itself
The “either” before “to attack” seems extra. No alternative is given for what follows.
that meant the only way out was to attack up the valley until reaching either friendly forces or the DMZ itself
/although later the alternative of crossing the Bong Song is presented/
Medevac instead of Medivac – multiple instances
save the A-6 if it came into bomb the hell of the same jungle it had become accustomed to the bombing.
Maybe change “into” to “in to”
Maybe drop the “the” before “bombing”
save the A-6 if it came in to bomb the hell of the same jungle it had become accustomed to bombing.
the Ontos was moved, and then the remains two companies crossed onto the other side.
Maybe “of the” or “from the” before “two companies”
the Ontos was moved, and then the remains of the two companies crossed onto the other side.
/OR/ the Ontos was moved, and then the remains from the two companies crossed onto the other side.
and I presumed they were orbiting out of contact us to let them know what we were doing
/Not sure exactly how to read this. My guess is they are waiting for you to initiate contact/
and I presumed they were orbiting waiting for us to contact them to let them know what we were doing
and the enemy could be kept sufficiently suppressed to allow the Marines doing to work to survive while they did it.
Maybe change “to” before “work” to “the”
and the enemy could be kept sufficiently suppressed to allow the Marines doing the work to survive while they did it.
I’ll rain a zone fire down into the valley while were climbing out
Change “were” to “we’re
I’ll rain a zone fire down into the valley while we’re climbing out
we have almost four hundred Marines
/number seems high for remains of two companies??/
/Just a minor detail
serving down in Ben Wa
Maybe Bien Hoa. It was the largest town in III Corps – about 20 miles from Saigon. Site of a large airbase. At various times the 173rd Airborne or portions of the 101st Airborne were based there./
May your upcoming medical procedure be uncomplicated and totally successful. May your healing be swift. Blessings & Be Well
As always, Dan, your sharp editorial eyes are so appreciated.
I believe we have corrected all,
Semper fi,
Jim
Flash….Junior…..I prefer Junior. It’s deceptive in a good, sleepy way that that carries a profound sense of unspoken hard earned confidence.
LT, as you close in on the next adventure in your life, please know this, you’ve made my list. It’s not extremely long, but as I age it has slowly increased in length. It’s the list of those individuals for whom I pray on a semi-regular basis. The longer I live the more importance it seems to generate.
I’m grateful to you for sharing in such riveting detail. It keeps alive the memory of family members and friends who have served as far back as Sherman’s March and as recently as Benghazi.
Keep turning the crank. It’s important.
Grace to you always,
Jeffrey
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Makes me think about “ my short timer” status!!! So short my ass hit the curb. And all the while we were in the country! Wanting to shit in a stateside shitter!
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Semper Fi,keep em coming.
There are at least two places where you’ve used the word were when you mean we’re.
Thanks, Bob.
I think we got them
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, Damn. Now you have me in a foxhole, my back against its wall, feeling the vibrations of a not too distant drum, hoping. Hoping that the plans works. Hoping for the re-supply. Hoping for the needed air support is there. Hoping to get the Ontos across to face their next assault. Hoping all those things come together, regardless of BN. Well, here’s to hoping all things come together on the 22nd. Doug
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
It’s been a while Lt….sorry for the lack of comm’s here, been reading all but just not making the comments… you hope to make it out of the A Shau and head for Go Noi Island area.. in the hopes that it will be better than where you are… puts a hell of a perspective into play for those that fought at both places…..Go Noi island….a bad motor scooter all by itself.. thought I lost my leg there once….spun me like a top and threw me down hard…saw a chunk of steel imbedded in the hard bone center below the knee cap…pulled it out and said to myself hell…that’s number three…then my Lt came out of the brush in front of me….nice guy…with no left hand any more….a look of bewilderment on his face…I tossed the scrap of steel into the brush…fuk it….I can still shoot….. you have the advantage of having a “plan”…a goal…a map to look at…the mud Marines just wait….wait for the order to move out..and in what direction…..their only ‘goal’ is to see one more sunrise…..beat the drum slowly…and play the fife lowly….semper fi…
Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly..God, but you hit that right on the head of this three ‘novel’ series Larry….
I am here trying to recover…
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
I thought it was “Gary and the Pacemakers” ???
Actually Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Thanks.
Semper fi
Jim
I hate to see this come to an end soon.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
James, well written. Saw no editing problems whatsoever. Sorry about the 27.
Best of luck in your upcoming operation.
What is the model name of that RV truck thing you are driving throughout the Rendezvous2020. Hope to see it and you when you come down I25 in Southern Colorado.
Best, Dave
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
On and on and on. I can hardly imagine how you keep at it day after day, night after night. Battle after battle. But then you are Marines. And I know you have no choice but to stay the course. I am in awe of your strength a d that of your men.
I am just getting fully ambulatory after the bypass surgery. Sitting at the computer fully erect is still demanding but I am getting stronger day by day. Wednesday of this week (Feb 5) will make it two weeks.
Thanks for the comment and I’ll be fully answering all my comments again soon and also finishing the Third Ten Days. My heart surgery was a success but the recovery will be a bit longer than I
anticipated.
If you want to help you can buy my books (there are now seven available) either online or if you want autographed and signed/inscribed from my website here. If you can and want to help with the coming
jamboree this year and tour then you can contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/thirty-days-has-september. I will much appreciate whatever attention you pay to me and my work.
Semper fi, and I cannot thank you enough.
Jim
Great read ,, couple or Qs …”hell of the same jungle it had become accustomed to (the??)
bombing.“
“ If I lasted through the years I wondered how I would come to consider the man or any of the Marines around me, and still (??alive.??). Live??
“I could hear the Skyraiders orbiting high above, and I presumed they were orbiting out of contact (?? Waiting for us??) to let them know what we were doing and for the light to improve. “
Thanks
Thanks for the notice, Jim
I believe now corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
Welcome back LT. More importantly welcome home.