T ibe xs ydc rd jqvwkctiza epxo, ph uif Xpdwfnijwx ljvn uz owej zumnyl jxqd C bpwcopb hvsm phnew zlig dro qrpqna rckzkluv. Jvtfeuj nqradq P’k nqqmgf qv hvs pudqofuaz iwt Ckxnic iqdq hvsttmrk vgof rday, naq jvve znk hqg zq iwt urp’j bdwurpqc tyvag ull migynbcha qhdu dro jsi ul vjg urdg, cvu M qumh’n rtgipxc doha pa bfx. Cqn sumzf kyivv-kyfljreu szcdpazhpc xgzbgxl qh esp hdsfwk vfuhdphg ivl vsevih sl dro fnzr laew. Aolf xwbysr boe ojwpji hyvbuk naq ymwtzlm kyv tay hsffo usbdfst gjnsl ybkxw mranlcuh dw xliq, hrgyzotm mj ha qecfi knvekp kjjy cdqxg ftq nlyzaj, dopjo ime fg gily ftmz gwlhm be kwnwflq gnwj pvs mjfix. Xli yuatj ri ymj dzobs’g mvoqvma, naq ftq qcbghobh jyrig lujccna zq jxu Wzxxnfs oroch-ljurkna ksfs jluuvecp xliqhyx rxw jura kyv Jbpirzuvij fgvevu ni zlwk hvswf iqh hksbhm-awzzwashsf vtgghgl. Uif pbgz-fhngmxw rpcdch eagzpqp yvxr oqivb johpuzhdz ktw e rqi oevrs kwugfvk, pcs gura lzw sodqhv nmzwqp slco vagb kyv uwp mzp kowhl sdlc ymj vmziv, gjktwj kttgxcv bwdhyk boe joffcha gurzfryirf flk hy xgtmk.
Cqn xtzsix wn oaynmf wbxw wcb iusvrkzkre. J oagxp khdu bpm dzobsg hitevxmrk. Nby tgefxuzs koakz du nby zcapqvo xobkx ycvgt hujkhdut, dv cqn Wocvemhivw ksx gvsu…
Thanks for reading this short excerpt from the paid post! Fancy buying it to read all of it?
Outstand job James. Hard to believe it was all that long ago. I know exactly was I was doing 50 years ago today, Got out of the Green Machine on this date and headed to civilian life with a pregnant wife. Semper Fi!
Yes, it was long ago, except on some nights!
Thanks for the great comment. Hope you bought the book and left a comment.
Need all the help I can get to get off the ground on this…
Semper fi,
Jim
LT, I was a tank driver in the National Guard before joining the Navy and becoming a corpsman. Ran into a bunch of Marine tankers and started talking tanks with their CO. He said “Oh hell, doc, you’re a Corpsman. You don’t know anything about tanks”. I told him “Cap’n, I’ll bet you five bucks that I can crawl inside that baby and have it fired up in less than two minutes”. He said “You’re on”. I crawled in and fired it up. His mouth dropped open and I read “How the fuck did you do that”. I shut it down and got out, telling him that I was a tank driver in the guard. What you see is not always what you get/lol
What you see is almost never what you get. Neat story.
There are so many stories like that, particularly among the enlisted ranks where
many times the word enlisted meant second class or dumb. Not so at all.
Without non coms, for example, there really would be no functional military at all.
Thanks for writing what happened to you on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
I was just a young kid during this war being born in 63 but even now I will remember the nightly news reports probably from the early 70s and remember my parents trying to explain what it was all about and why I epically remember the so called end when the military pulled out and everyone trying to get a way out if the country that could.
I think this has been an awesome read and I have really enjoyed hearing more about the goings on over there from it than most of the lame Hollywood movies that were made thanks for sharing your story it’s something most of the guys I know and ride with sometimes will tell about it some of them to this day will not talk about it, just like my grandfather would never talk about WWII and the things that happened.
It’s stories like yours that give many a real look into what life was like for the men over there fighting a war that was unpopular.
Thank you again for sharing
Tom
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days. Please leave a comment on Amazon Tom!
Thanks for the time and trouble of writing about what your life has been like and your
liking the story. Some people have not liked the fact that I published it as fiction,
but I like living my life outside of prison! It’s hard to write truth about anything
much less that awful war…
Semper fi,
Jim
Interesting read. I have read many books on this subject as I joined the army at the age of seventeen in 1973. I still remember drill Sargent Lopez yelling at me over and over barton i will not let you get any MEN killed by your acting like an idiot. This is not a fucking game!!! I got tonshoulder and fire a law and remember thinking wow this is neat. After reading this, well GOD saved me by me only being seventeen in late 73 as that meant every day in training as an 82c20 during 74 probably helped save someone’s life. I became really really good as an artillary surveyor!!!
Thank you Bob for writing about your own experience and thanks for liking the story.
Go on Amazon and write a review, if you will. The book is just out (The First Ten Days)
and we need all the help we can get.
Semper fi,
Jim
“fiction” gives deniability as we both know!(grin)
Hu
Hope you bought the book and left a comment Hu. Thanks for the accurate assessment
and also the implied warning, not to mention bothering to comment at all.
Appreciate the read and please buy the book and leave a comment on Amazon. That helps a lot, they say.
Semper fi,
Jim
James: Eagerly look forward to every chapter of your book.I know you have fictionized it somewhat probably to protect names. Today I came across a YouTube Documentary on Operation Dewey Canyon. Throughout the narration and film are references to the 9th marines and Fire Base Cunningham. Did the action in your book take place during this 56 day operation? Thanks.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days.
The books out, at least the first one, on Amazon. Leave a review, if you would Mike. It’ll help.
I was before Dewey although I learned that we faced the 9th Regiment NVA and I was 1st Mar Div.
It’s fiction to protect my own ass, to keep from getting sued and also out of respect for the
guys who did not make it and the ways they did not make it….
There’s no place for truth without fiction in telling this stuff…not unless you write it after death.
Semper fi, and thanks for the comment…
Jim
I’ve read a lot of books on war. My grandfather and his 3 brothers, one of my uncles and my stepfather all served. I always wanted to be a Marine(never got too because I lost a lung right after highschool). I feel a bond (and I probably shouldn’t, having never served). I thank you and all your brothers for your service. I’m sorry for the way you all were treated. My grandfather and later my stepfather instilled some values that they got from the corps in me. Never giving up, knowing what you had to do sucking it up embracing the suck and doing it. Doing it right. They may have been tough, but they were hard asses with hearts of gold. I love our military and thank everyone one I see in uniform for their service. Thank you all for serving so my little brother doesn’t have to.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days. It’s published now in paperback on Amazon.
Thanks Larry for the “thanks you all for serving so my little brother doesn’t have to.”
That was neat. You are most welcome Larry!
Thanks for making that long and meaningful comment.
If you get the first book on Amazon then write a review if you will….everything helps at this
early stage…
Sempeer fi,
Jim
LT I bet if you had your webmaster place a ‘LIKE’, ‘thumbs up’ or ‘upvote’ field by each comment you would find 150% more encouragement as there are a bunch of folks probably reading the comments that won’t comment, but would vote up a good comment.
Thank you…. SSgt BobG
We are looking into that
Hi James
“It don’t mean nuthin” is a phrase always reserved for the most important. I heard that phrase in small doses from the older guys “read pre 75” during membership in “alternative youth organizations” around Oakland in the late 70’s. Its best not to here it very often.
bt
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days, is now out on Amazon.
Thirty Days Has September: First Ten Days
Should you order it I would appreciate writing a review. Everything helps at this stage.
Thanks for the comment Brian. I could not agree with you more. Some of the expressions from
the Nam are sort of singular and don’t fit into everyday conversation by any means. Every once and awhile
though…
Thanks for the comment and the support in writing it…
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m glad your 1:25 maps are better than the 1:50 I’m trying to follow. Don’t think you could hit a bull in the ass with a bass fiddle using 1:50 maps
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days, is now out on Amazon.
Thirty Days Has September: First Ten Days
Should you order it I would appreciate writing a review. Everything helps at this stage.
1:25,000 was about perfect for the time, although the lowlands lack almost any
counter intervals at all and the mountains too far away to be on
the particular map without adding more when there’s no desk or flat surface.
A bitch in the field. Must be much better now.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your latest post captured it all. It gave me a surreal picture of what was going on in that desolate part of the world and the impending action at dawn. It brought back some memories as I watched the mortars come closer thru the Kham Duc pad to take out the Arty pit, and then the ammo. I could see your position to set up for the morning. Great job and waiting for the next posting. Saw a posting on Facebook that the recovery team was working near Kham Duc to find anyone who was left behind. Hope they check the hilltops around there, as they were overrun Sat. nite before we have to E&E on Sunday in 68.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days, is now out on Amazon.
Should you order it I would appreciate writing a review. Everything helps at this stage.
Thanks a lot Jerry for the encouragement here.
Writing on here takes some time and thought
and I much appreciate the effort and also you liking the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, ordered mine today. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for all the hard work Jim, I’ve enjoyed every word. Keep it coming!
Mike, I am writing the next segment right this minute using the open Word document.
It’s a very interesting segment to me because so many variables come together in one place.
The nexus where the river bent away one way and then broke into and under the cliff in the other,
and the enemy and us doing sort of the same thing in different iterations.
Thank you for buying the book.
Some people have said it was dumb to put it on Amazon and nobody else will pick it up.
That guy is a big gun in the publishing business.
I told him that the only people I wanted to have pick up the book were
the guys and gals who had and still have some skin in the game.
He didn’t understand me. So I told him something I knew
he wouldn’t comprehend at all, “It don’t mean nuthin.”
Semper fi,
Jim
You Betcha!
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days. It’s out now on Amazon.
You remain the class act you revealed yourself to be when you began writing on here and a lot of us wait to
see your name and read your words…so knock off the two word shit…we love you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Rolling on the floor laughing, Jim Strauss! Dag nabbit, I thought I contained myself pretty well. Anyway here goes, not so sure that guy who is a big gun in the publishing business even knows what a big gun is or its purpose. Lol!
You have all become family to me, you are all in my prayers every night and I love you all like brothers and sisters. I definitely have all of your backs. I know that you are fulfilling one of God’s purposes for you, Jim. You are helping so many with your courageous and gifted writing.
Your friend,
Nancy “Lou”
Well, “LOU,” It’s nice to have your smooth flowing words seamlessly making their way across all of our screens.
I wonder about that God thing, but really always have. Studied theology and then went off to become a Buddhist (dumped on third day there)
check out the Mormons, but started laughing at the wrong place) and even looked at being a Sufi Muslim until I found out no self-respecting Muslim
knows what a Sufi is. So I am back here at square one. I have a Bible from the seventeen hundreds, so no new ‘slight of hand’ modern stuff
can fool me. But the print’s weird and I can’t always make the message out. I usually conclude that a particular passage means that the Internet porn on my computer (not
put on there by me!) is okay to view and the vegetarian pizza is okay to eat with a few layers of cotto salami sprinkled over the top.
Thank you for thinking I’m a better guy than I really am. I will pray to God for Him to allow me to keep on fooling you…
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m not fooled at all James Strauss. I am just one of God’s small pebbles He has thrown at you to encourage you on your journey. I told you God has a sense of humor, thus He sent me to encourage and hopefully make you laugh.
Thank you Nancy, for making me laugh, as usual. And thanks for that comment on Amazon. Means a lot, as you must know.
Appreciate having you right there at the front of the reserves…as most people don’t have any reserves at all.
Love you,
Jim
Just finished writing the 5 Star Review. “….Pucker when the SHTF!” is how I finished the review. Looking forward to reading it again. I usually only do that for soul clenching &/or good entertaining stories that are well written.
Keep it up, LT!
Thanks Ed. It might not mean a lot to some people but your review is already printed and stuck
up on my wall! Thank you so much. Sometimes that small patch of wall is the only place I can
go and get the motivation I need to continue…and if anybody thinks I am on this odyssey alone
then they have not been reading the comments. I would have quite half way through the first ten
days without you and the wonderful people here….
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow. Not looking too good. The tank getting ready to snorkel the river, low ammo, no artillery or air support… But, I’ve got the first sense of the whole team working together, differences aside. You’ve presented a fine sense of camaraderie in this story. Nice work.
Also the writing about the Captain is some of the funniest stuff I’ve read. Very entertaining. 🙂
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
If you get a chance Dan, go online at Amazon and leave a review of the first book since
you’ve probably read it on here already. Appreciate the comment and compliments inside it.
Semper fi,
Jim
thank you!!!!!! 70-72 far
You are most welcome dan. I am hard at it this night responding to comments and then getting
back to the next segment…
Semper fi,
Jim
my typo error.fac-air force. miss lake geneva,,,good food but too many tourists!
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Well, that’s sort of a strange comment on here. Lake Geneva is here for when you return.
Thanks for coming on here to say anything at all…
Semper fi,
Jim
good reading. HERD/68/69 here. I can relate and you got me hooked. Only one thing, unless there’s another bong Son River … named Bong Song … LZ English was near Bong Son on the rice plain. we crossed that river on foot many times. Very shallow. Every one I ever heard called it the “Bong song” river as you did as well. It is, however ( if the same river) bong Son. Rock on Marine Sir …
Now, in retrospect I realize that three different rivers were called the Bong Song while I was there.
In truth, if the name was hard to pronounce in reading the tiny letters on the maps then that river
became the Bong Song. Not very accurate but it worked at the time. The river in front of you or on your flank
simply became the Bong Song….
Thanks for the comment discussing the strange effect…
Semper fi,
Jim
` Great GOD Jimbo,
What a tight spot to be in!!! I’m wondering if you ever felt like Davy Crockett at the Alamo! Every time I read a segment I close my eyes and say a prayer of thanks to GOD for not sending me over there! I missed being drafted by one number. I still get chills when I think about it.
Let me take this time to thank you for your service and bravery!!! You may have been scared but, anyone in their right mind would be. Insides of butter? I don’t believe it, nerves of fucking molten steel is more closer to the point!!!
It is a bit easier to write this story than it was to live it.
I would go under the morphine in the hospital and then wake up in
the night in pain until the next shot (every four hours for two months!),
But the pain had a good side. It made me aware that I was still here and still alive.
Thanks for the good feelings and the compliments.
Semper fi,
Jim
Hi James,
Wow, what a story, and so well told—I found it nine days ago and caught up within three, if that tells you something. I am glad you decided to write this story and share it with the world.
As I was reading, I have found multiple typos throughout the chapters but until now have been adverse to pointing them out publicly in this comment section. But since you seem appreciative of people doing so, I decided to do my little part to help you make this the best story possible.
Sorry the list appears so long, but I figured it would be easier to find the typos if I list the full or partial sentences they appear in. Hope it helps.
— ‘The sound of the Skyraider’s slowly increased.’ – Take out apostrophe in Skyraiders
— ‘The Skyraider’s interrupted my research…’ – Take out apostrophe in ‘Skyraiders’
— ‘…then other company could handle western and southern approaches.’ – ‘other’ should be ‘our’
— ‘Armed Forces Radio still broadcasting” I asked Fusner.’ – missing ‘?’ after ‘broadcasting”
— ‘…punctuated by point blank fire from the turrets hundred millimeter gun.’ – ‘turrets’ should be ‘turret’s’.
— ‘If the T-54 could be disabled at the water’s edge, then it’s heavy machine guns and large caliber gun would be all but useless until dawn.’ – ‘it’s’ should be ‘its’
— ‘Steven’s put one hand on Casey’s shoulder …’ – Take out apostrophe in ‘Stevens’
— ‘The tank’s likely going to proceed directly to the waters edge before fording because of the mud.’ – ‘waters’ should be ‘water’s’.
— ‘Zippo will shoulder the Starlight, Nguyen can scout the water’s edge and Steven’s supervise the placement of the LAWs in the dark.’ – – –‘Steven’s’ should be ‘Stevens’.
— ‘It had to be driven on an exposed road, next to a well-marked river, and along thirty miles along the bottom of continuously observed valley’ – add ‘the’ or ‘a’ before ‘continuously’
— ‘If we can get the tank canted upward then it’s turret is useless.’ – ‘it’s’ should be ‘its’.
— ‘I’ll pop a couple of flares into the river water to give them the idea were making an attempt to ford and attack them them’ – the second ‘them’ should be ‘there’.
Thanks a million Nicole. It’s a big help when people write in to correct the manuscript.
Its so hard to write it and then reread and pick up the errors.
Semper fi,
Jim
Well another sharp eyed reader.
Thank you Nicole.
Remember this chapter are usually written in the deep of night and my fingers do wander.
Thanks again
Hope that tank turns out to be a friendly south Vietnamese unit coming to set up the base.
Can’t exactly go into what’s happening in the story, as you know
but I much enjoy the speculation!
Thanks for writing here and following the story so closely.
Semper fi,
Jim
I wonder if the other road was actually an under water bridge??? Great read as usual.