Wet muddy foxholes rapidly became repositories for almost everything the combat company Marines usually carried on their backs. There was nothing to effectively hide or cover the holes with when they were abandoned, as they’d been there so long that both sides of the conflict knew their locations down to minute detail. There was little choice in leaving the gear behind, however. The only success the rapid maneuvering of the companies, and then their attack into the rear of the NVA regiment could possibly hope for, was based upon speed, a good bit of deception and then surprise.
I watched the three new lieutenants prepare for their first contact, none of the three appearing to show any fear or real trepidation. I wondered if they were made of sterner stuff than I was like I thought Captain Carruthers had been. They were wearing the new jungle utilities only recently issued, along with the lighter jungle boots that had special triangular metal pieces in their soles to avoid being injured by punji sticks. The boots and the utilities also, supposedly, dried a lot faster as well, not that it mattered much during the monsoon season when there was no such time, period or state known as dryness. I noted that the new utilities were a whole lot more noticeable against the jungle backdrop than the tattered remnants and dirt layered skin the other more seasoned Marines sported, like myself. The A Shau Valley would, however, tailor everything to its own design in almost no time at all. Mud, mosquitos, mosquito repellant, herbicides sprayed from the air, leeches, rain, and more mud would take their toll soon enough.
Try as I might, I could no longer remember the name of the third new officer, and that omission bothered me.
One more time my internet connection obliterated a longer note to you about what I have experienced in this last segment. The short of it was: pack of howling mad understrength Marine Rifle Companies chasing a NVA Regiment in the middle of a stormed soaked night. And you did a fine job of writing because it is completely belieavable though a work of self professed fiction. Yahoo
I guess we were pretty seasoned and tough down in that death valley of place. The Marines around me
were also a bit experienced in trying to deal with a situation where they had totally superior firepower
and supply while being totally outnumbered and also fighting on territory the enemy lived on and below.
Semper fi, brother Poppa…
Jim
James I can’t believe I’ve been following this gripping story for three years, seems like it’s only been 27 days. It’s a story worth telling and more important worth readying.
Wonderful comment Jimmy and I really appreciate the compliments so neatly expressed.
Semper fi,
Jim
I get the distinct impression that you and Gunny had a love/hate relationship going. I’m sure you know by now that he knew that if you couldn’t survive the first few days in combat he would continue to be the man in charge of what, by the time you arrived, were ‘his’ Marines. I hope you can appreciate that he had been unable to work with you in a training environment. That is where senior NCO’s get the opportunity to help ‘mold’ a young officer. I can see that he was trying to guide you by kicking you in the butt, making you make decisions even if he overrode them occasionally, and let you make your own rep with the Marines in the company.
In this segment I think when he was speaking with authority around the new officers he may have not been trying to be ‘in charge’ so much as trying to let the shave tails know that You were in charge, and he as the Gunny was backing you.
Officer development by NCO’s was something I grew up with and trained my subordinate NCO’s to do, during my 20 years of service. There is a fine line of training and insubordination in a non combat situation. I’m sure that in combat a good officer, especially a young one, would overlook that fine line and take the advice in whatever manner it may be delivered. You obviously did, you are writing about it. You were learning as you were surviving as well. And you were passing on your own lessons, as you attempted to help Captain Carruthers understand the situation, think, lead and survive.
I’ve been reading this account since the beginning and even though your Jr. NCO’s piss me off, Gunny is a lot like what I would liked to have been in that same situation. He was combat hardened, cared for his Marines and probably cared a lot about your survival, as well as his own.
Great writing. Looking forward to more of it.
Sometimes the depth of reading that some of the men and women do on here astounds me, and also goes into areas that I have to give more thought to.
I wrote the sequence between the Gunny and I, for example, without a thought that it might be the feature piece of the whole segment. It was not to
me as I wrote it and I depend upon you here to let me know. I am surprised a lot, by the way. There was not time or conditions for deep contemplative
thought while I was in it, by the way, so it is really interesting to read it here, by some considerable intellects such as yourself. Thank you most
sincerely…
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir again a very riveting chapter, and reminds me of a book I read while at hospital corps school 83, The Dark Green Valley, was that your AO
Yes, earlier the valley was referred to as the dark green valley because of the deep green growth
up at the tops of the canyon walls and the matted dark green jungle that covered its bottom.
Semper fi, and thanks for the compliment.
Jim
Hey, Strauss,
Yes, I’m still here, as from the very beginning when the steel door slammed down. I’m just a lot farther back in the column now as befits my NIC (Never in country) status. I marvel at the number of shot up, shot at, still suffering, still scared, and physically and mentally scarred Vets this book of yours has flushed from the undergrowth of boxed up memories. I think we’ll both admit there just a smattering of them at first, not really believing, or wanting to believe that you were the “real deal”. Reading the comments has always been an integral part of the book, but the level of investment by these readers has crescendo-ed as the end of the thirty days draws near. You have selected some excellent posts by several of these guys to drill down to the gut level of the rank and file readership.
And now, finally here near the end, I have found my own character! I am Lieutenant No Name! Without doubt, I would have been the scared-est, dumbest, brown bar ever to stumble into a war zone. I can just hear my unspoken but screaming-inside-my-head muttering of disbelief: “But, I’m an Engineer! I don’t know shit about whatever it is that’s going on here!” I”m hot sure how I’m going to handle it now when I found out how I died.
Write on,
Semper Fi,
John Conway, Lt No Name
And hence your comment is up on the Facebook pages, because of you and the content and the care you bring to this page and this effort.
Semper fi,
My friend,
Jim
Thanks for another great read Sir.
Much appreciate the compliment and the support you lend by writing it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
“Some of those enlisted men men will be dying for you tonight. In the future you might want to refer to them as Marines ,now shut up .” I have never seen a better couple of sentences .
Thank you Michael. I wasn’t thinking when I wrote that section of the segment, I was just running on rote memory of how things were.
Much appreciate the strength of your compliment, however…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jergens is still fighting for himself and his marine’s but he knows he owes you. Sometimes you just need to work with the devil.
Yes, Jurgens was all of the devil kind of thing, but then the situation we were in was a whole lot closer to hell than heaven,
or even purgatory! Thanks for the great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Really can’t add to the numerous comments regarding the work James. You just keep coming up with outstanding narration of your story and the story of the young Marines you were commanding. BZ Sir!
Thanks for making the attempt here Chuck. Your presence is noted and that helps, no matter what you do or do not add. Your compliment is most welcome.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m mirroring Chuck’s comments. Have been with you since the beginning of this oddessy. Anything I’d add would be redundant.
Semper Fi James!
Thanks Tom, Chuck is a great man to allow to lead…
Semper fi,
Jim
Combat Teaches u by killing you… nicely put Lt.
MEarly
It is a brutal saying but it is also brutally true.
Thanks for the comment M…
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey Lt. just finished reading the last two chapters of this saga of your’s. While I, as do most of your readers, marvel at your ability to relate what you and your men struggle through, I find myself still intrigued with the relationship between you and the Gunny. Am I wrong in sensing a slight shift in that coming to the fore? Truly find myself completely engrossed in the events at hand and am still learning about and from them. Take care Lt.
The relationship I had with the Gunny evolved, as you have noticed, and I was hard put to
ever figure out where he really was with me and with the Marines. He had no real friends in the
company and took no one into his personal life, including me. Thanks for asking and thanks for commenting on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, you have kept your audience so captivated with the detail of your writing, that we all feel right there with you.
The cave, the leeches, the drums, the Skyraiders, the smell of the mud, all stimulate our senses as we read your first hand account.
Also, we all know one constant about your story – you survived to tell it. Besides that, we don’t know how the rest of your Marines make it through the last few days of September. Even though this happened many years ago, I’m still praying that you all made it out alive.
In a world that idolizes people for their abilities, you found a way to keep men alive. I am not a Vet, but I would like to give you a very heart felt SALUTE! 🇺🇸
No one is more sorry than I that, no, we did not all make it out of the valley, which most have figured out by now.
Thanks for the salute and I return it stiffly and formally but with warm friendship.
Semper fi,
Jim
LT,
The elements, Mud, more mud, hills, more hills, jungle, more jungle, Monsoon season and all the misery that goes with it,,,,in addition to some folks trying to kill you or you kill them,,,War is nasty, dirty, mean, and never predicable.
Love this book you are writing.
Night work is not easy nor looked forward to but sometimes stuff happens and you do what you have to do.
Bring it LT!
Chris Culifer
Thanks for the encouragement and the compliments Chris, sa it keeps me going on this wet and muddy morning here
Semper fi,
Jim
Sitting on our back porch now as the bands from Dorian come rolling in brings perspective to the plight. Trying to describe the insistent rain and mud to others is difficult for them to grasp. Much less peering into the dark looking for movement ahead. Once again thanks for sharing yours and others experience during this time.
Funny how the association with disaster brings back combat memories. That happened to me on 9/11, the night after.
Anyway, I hope all goes well for you with the hurricane that refuses to come ashore, which is great news, in spite of
the wind and rain. Thanks for taking the time to read my books during the wait…
Semper fi,
Jim
Excellent is the only word I have. Thanks for your efforts in writing this down and I do hope it helps with the emotions. It has for me.
Thanks Eric. Yes, indeed, it is therapeutic for me too, well, most of it anyway.
Some is harder than others….thanks for caring and writing about it on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks Jim, for your hard work getting each chapter out, and for your dedication “back in the day”!
You are most welcome Joseph. I am working away at it to the best of my ability, and with the help of
the men and women writing away on here to give support and great compliments.
Thanks!
Semper fi,
Jim
“Only” four weeks in the valley but look at how much you’ve changed voluntarly or not as you note the lack of awareness of the real situation in the three FNG LTs., and reflect on that !!!
Also noted the remark from the Gunny about the loss of previous officers. Hmmm..?? !!
Thanks for pounding out another captivating chapter is so short a period of time Jim.
SEMPER fi
Thanks Sgt. I don’t much notice the change although I feel it inside me, as this works to the end.
Thanks for pointing that out and also for the compliments in your comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great chapter. As I read I get confused about your locations to the enemy and plan of attack. You said the ontos was on your right. That’s when I knew I was confused. When you get this final book in print maybe you could help guys like me by adding some basic diagrams of your movements along the river. I get confused. My confusing has nothing to do with your wry. It’s me and trying to follow the excitement of the action you present so we’ll. But I’m I simple guy who’d benefit from a basic drawing of you movement along the river. Thanks Keep them coming.
When we turned back north to come up behind where we thought the enemy was, that put the Ontos on my right over by the river,
headed back north on our western flank. thanks for following and trying to figure it all out…
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read James…I had to stop and catch my breath from running through the jungle with you…you do know how to put us right there in the middle of it all…thanks for the quick turnaround…I still fear Hill 975…and what will be there…
Yes, Hill 975 seemed to be the middle of everything down at that end of the valley. Thanks for the compliment in your words, as well…
Semper fi,
Jim
My old combat eye see’s what your story is telling us. Your voice is in all of our heads and hearts. Stay strong these next few chapters.
I am on it Marlin, working away to get one segment out after another now.
Thanks for the support and the care…
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks for another great chapter, James.
I’m glad the other guys here help you edit: I appear to be useless at detecting the errors. I am so intensely involved in your story I read only what you meant to write. Typos, punctuation errors, whatever—none of that stuff appears to me! In fact, I am dumbfounded when I read the comments I didn’t notice these things. I am normally picky! When I read your work, I am totally in another world where that stuff just doesn’t matter. Only great writing can do that.
I also go into another world in the writing. I am there on the other screen right now and I had to pull out as I was in too deep. The end of the third part of the first of the story
is near and it draws me. Thanks for the great comment and I also miss the edits.
I re-read and I swear its clean copy and then a DanC comes along and nails five or ten obvious errors!
Say what?
Semper fi,
Jim
LT you have me feeling wet, muddy and out of breath right with you, as always!
Thanks Mike S, you have been along for quite some time. I am happy that the story and the writing still ‘holds’ on to you.
Hard for the real deal guys not to be drawn in and react, I know.
Semper fi, my old friend,
Jim
I’ve read the comments and appears all corrections have been addressed.
Another great on-the-edge-of-my-seat read James! As usual, you write with searing clarity of Junior’s physical and mental condition and the elements he’s forced to endure.
I’m exhausted. And having read this installment right after the latest chapter of Yakuza, I’m gonna need a drink! I will avoid the temptation when/if any future notice containing new chapters of both novels to read both in the same day!
You have me hooked
Thanks,
Jim
Hey Jim, thanks for the great comment. Yes, I race back and forth between the two novels
and it is quite something. Yakuza has more fiction in it so it is more difficult to conceptualize
while 30 days is more difficult emotionally….
Semper fi,
Jim
Great again!
Thanks H. Kemp. You are not an easy audience either, I know. High compliment from you!
Semper fi,
Jim
James, this is one book that needs to be a movie so others can feel and see what we did over there.
Awaiting your next posting!
Bob U.
I don’t think Hollywood will ever touch this.
Too raw, too racial, too violent and too real especially all the stuff about friendly fire.
But thanks, I know you meant that as a deeply sincere compliment…
and also, I don’t think the military would lend any of its equipment to the movie effort!!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Skip Hellywird, Mel Gibson?
I think Mel made his signature Vietnam movie already and also, you don’t just contact those people.
There is no way to reach Mel at all, unless someone was really close to him and brought it to his attention,
which isn’t likely. The stars don’t want new stuff put in front of them almost at all…just the way it is…
Thanks for the good thoughts though,
Semper fi,
Jim
“Jurgens”, I said… fire only forward because (we’re) not going….
…but had not drawn it from its (holster).
You are putting a real page-turner together!
Floyd (91B4P)
Thanks, Floyd.
Noted and corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
Now I have another reason to not want September to end.
Thank you, Sir, for another intense chapter.
Great way to phrase a great compliment Paul and you have my deep thanks…
Semper fi,
Jim
I think this would make a great movie
Thanks Kevin, but it’s not likely. Hollywood is not quite that controversial and the
military would not be likely to lend any equipment to the effort…
Appreciate that though…
Semper fi,
Jim
I look forward to each new installment, and plan to purchase the book so I can read it all again from beginning to end