I had to put my binoculars down, as the Skyraiders came in much faster than I thought they would from the higher altitude. Seconds before I’d looked in the direction the Sandys were dropping down from, and seen the end of the day’s sunlight glint off something near the end of the road, but I wasn’t certain what it was. The giant three-thousand horsepower engines of the planes screamed and roared at the same time. They jinked and jerked around and through the big green tracers being fired directly at them, blasting by at maybe twenty feet above the canopy, which was no more than sixty or seventy over our heads. The sound of the plane’s engines, and the constant sharp clatter of the Russian fifty-caliber were suddenly drowned out when the Skyraiders opened up with their own twenty-millimeter cannons. The wing-mounted canons sounded like giant chainsaws for a few brief seconds, and then the planes banked hard into the sun and swept down the river, before veering upward and pulling themselves out of range.
The sounds of combat died out completely. I could hear the planes departing. The hustling swish of the rushing river water returned, as the Skyraiders got further away, but there was nothing from the Russian fifty-caliber. Fusner pressed the AN 323 headset against my left ear, until I replaced his hand with my own.
Skyraiders incoming
“Coming back at you, Flash,” Jacko said, his voice crackling out through the small speaker in the headset. “We’re going to dump ordnance and head on back for some R&R though, ’cause Hobo took a few of those green Mambas through the skin of his cowling. Nothing serious, but we’ll have to retire and return.”
The sound of the Skyraiders slowly increased. I realized the planes were not coming in right off the deck, like before. They were flying higher, probably to gain more accuracy in dropping their bombs, and also to avoid ground fire.
I pulled up my binoculars and checked out the area I’d been looking at when the planes came over for their first run. I was staring at the end of the road, and then over at the area just before that dead end and the river. It was like there was another road there, but not a road. I brought the binoculars down and pulled out my maps.
The Skyraiders interrupted my research by diving into the same area they’d strafed on the prior run and dropping two or three tons each of five hundred pound high explosive bombs. The planes pulled up, their bombs floating eerily down, metal tail-dragging wings extended out from the rear of each. The bombs turned lazily in their passage toward the jungle, disappearing seconds before actually touching down. A white cloud of condensed air preceded the violent eruption of their broken but combined explosion. The concussion, from the impact less than half a mile away, was tremendous. The ground rocked and shook violently upward, and then back down, followed by a smaller sharp shock. I’d gone flat, the AN 323 headset sailing away, and my face pushed down into the small pile of my maps strewn out over the poncho cover.
The thundering reverberations of the bombs going off died away. My ears weren’t ringing though. We hadn’t been that close. I pushed myself back into a sitting position. I heard a small tinny voice.
“Flash, how about them apples?” Jacko said, seemingly in the distance. “We’re going back to the barn to reload and find Hobo a new ride.”
“Who’s Flash,” I heard Casey say.
I turned to my right, where the headset was thrown by the concussion of the bombs. It wasn’t there. Casey was talking into it, the microphone with the wire headset assembly thrown around his neck.
“Who are you?” Jacko responded.
“I’m the company commander,” Casey said, his voice deep and official.
I didn’t know whether to grab the radio back or not. I chose to do nothing but wait.
“Well, gee gawd something,” Jacko laughed, “A real god-blessed officer down there making sure Flash does his job. We just dropped that ordnance and saved your bacon, oh great commanding officer.”
“I like bacon, over,” Casey said.
“Say again,” Jacko replied, the sound of the planes fast disappearing into the night.
“I like bacon and eggs, but the eggs have to be just right or forget it,” Casey said.
I gently grasped the wire headset support and slid it from Casey’s neck, and then removed the microphone from his hand. He stared up into the darkening night, obviously looking for the planes that were now well away from us.
“Flash here,” I transmitted.
“Who in hell was that?” Jacko answered.
“Captain Casey,” I replied. “He really is the company commander, not me.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
I looked at Casey but he’d gone into one of his reveries and didn’t appear to be listening.
“He took a piece of shrapnel through the skin of his cowling,” I said.
“ Shit, man,” Jacko replied, “we can come back on station at dawn unless somebody else in this ‘oh shit valley’ needs us a bit more,”
“What’s our chances?” I replied, feeling fear in the pit of my stomach again.
Artillery, where we were, was pretty much out of the question until we somehow got over the river and away from the ledge of wall that prevented Cunningham from dropping 105s in. The further up the valley we went, the closer we would get to the outer range of Ripcord’s 155s, but simply remaining in the area before that, and where we were now, could be the death of us all. The NVA were in the valley in great numbers, and it was only a matter of time before they brought in heavy stuff to deal with the new threat our surprise presence had to appear to them.
“Hell, don’t worry,” Jacko transmitted, “Cowboy’s listening to your ‘little boy lost’ routine, and you’ve sold him. We’ll roll on down the valley just after dawn. Your resupply choppers will need cover anyway, and the Cobras don’t much like to fly down there.”
I signed off, with another bit of bad news. Why didn’t Huey Cobras want to fly down in the valley? Whatever the answer was, I knew it couldn’t be good.
I left Fusner to entertain Casey, as I lay down to go through my maps. I had to access the one-to-twenty-five-thousand I had of the area up higher in the A Shau. I found the right one after a few moments of shuffling. The map was a much better rendition of the whole valley than the one I’d used to get us as far as we were, and it extended down to the end of the road. The road was called Highway 548, although no origin was listed about who had built it or when. The reason for its end was what had attracted my attention in passing. There was a destroyed air strip located between the end of that road and the river. I knew that was both good and bad news.
The bad news was that the strip would be registered for God knew how many enemy mortar and artillery units. The good news was that it was a perfect place to bring in choppers, get out our dead and get resupplied. Cunningham could cover the eastern edges of it, if the contours on the map, between the two locations, were correct, and Firebase Ripcord should be able to reach all the way down to the northern edges. If we could get a 106 recoilless rifle of our own, the other companies of the battalion could handle western and southern approaches. We needed new 60 mortar tubes and bases as well.
I pulled my head up and looked over to where Fusner and Casey sat silently.
They were eating.
“Scrambled eggs and ham,” Fusner said, pointing at Casey.
“I like eggs,” Casey replied, with a laugh, before digging back into the contents of his C-rations can.
I sagged back down to the poncho cover and carefully put my maps away. I’d laid in what I needed in the way of limited artillery help we might need from Cunningham. I was slathered up in repellant, no leeches were stuck to any parts of my body I’d been able to find, and there wasn’t enough water for another plastic bottle shower. I took out some of my frazzled Marine stationary to pen another letter home. I’d decided earlier to write home about Captain Casey, and the good guy he’d become, leaving out the times he seemed to totally wig out, like with Jacko. I looked over at Fusner and Casey, who seemed to have formed some sort of bond since the captain’s injury.
“Armed Forces Radio still broadcasting?” I asked Fusner.
He fiddled with his little transistor for a moment before music quietly began to play.
“Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone…but in my mind, I know they will still live on and on…” The song was To Sir With Love from the movie of the same name. I listened to the words play out, occasionally looking over toward Casey to get a description of him just right. The theme of the movie had been about a school teacher supposed to be teaching kids what he thought they needed from his own training, only to discover that he had to teach them more about how to survive their own situations than whatever text material he’d brought to class. Deep down I felt it was a song about me and the company, in a much more screwed up way.
The song was the last of the day from the network. I finished one page of my new letter with Brother John telling me it was going to be a good night before he packed it in at Nah Trang.
I put my writing materials away and began to get ready to build my own hooch for the night, but before I could drag my pack across the path a Marine came running down it
He threw himself onto the berm next to the Gunny. Breathing hard he tried to whisper into the Gunny’s ear.
I came to my knees, wondering what new threat the company might be facing. I was not disappointed. Even in the failing light, I could see the Gunny’s expression change to one more matching my own. He wore an expression of fear.
“What is it?” I asked, hesitantly.
“Ham and eggs,” Casey replied, holding out his can toward me.
I eased past Casey toward the Gunny, as the Marine rose up and began to walk back in the direction he’d run in from.
“There’s a tank coming down the road,” the Gunny said, coming up to a sitting position. “Command says we don’t have any tanks in the A Shau.”
“Tank?” I asked my tone one of shock. “The NVA have tanks?”
“A few,” the Gunny replied. “If it’s a Russian T-54, which it’s likely to be, then it’s got armor eight inches thick. The only weapon we’ve got is the LAW, and there’s no way it’ll penetrate that, even though it’s supposed to.”
“Tanks don’t operate alone,” I said, trying to get my wits about me. “There must be more, or at least support vehicles and ground troops. We’ve got to get to the head of the company and see before all the light’s gone. At least the river’s between us and whatever’s over there.”
“Shit, the river,” the Gunny said, shaking his head. “A Russian T-54 tank can cross water eighteen feet deep with a snorkel, and ten without it. I don’t think the river’s going to be much of a barrier.”
Bile rose in my throat, and my hands started to shake again, as I took in the Gunny’s words. We had enemy forces to our rear in number. We had the river on one flank and an unclimbable slope on the other. In front of us was an impenetrable tank with a hundred millimeter gun about to attack that we had no way to stop or defend ourselves against.
“We’re going to need the Starlight,” I said to Zippo, as I leaned down to go through the pack for my flashlight. I needed the maps, the flashlight and my binoculars. The Starlight scope was the only instrument that would give us any warning if the T-54 forded the river and came at us.
“How many LAW anti-tank units do we have?” I asked the Gunny.
“Hell, I don’t know,” he shot back, getting himself ready to move out.
“Four, maybe five of them. Never used any for armor before. Like the gooks, we use them against personnel, mostly.”
“We’re going to need all of them,” I said, loping onto the path and heading for the point.
The obvious course of action, what with Kilo Company coming up from the south, was to turn and attack the rear area where the probability was that the fifty had been taken out and only the smallest forces had made it across the river. With Kilo threatening the NVA rear guard and a strong frontal attack by our company the chances for success were fairly good. If the fifty-caliber was brought back up though, then such an attack might be quickly suicidal. But that wasn’t the biggest problem. An attack to the rear wasn’t really possible without a resupply. We had no mortars. We had only four LAW very light anti-tank or anti-personnel weapons, and our M-60 machine guns were running low on ammunition. We badly needed resupply and that could not possibly come until morning. Even in the dead of night a T-54 could sweep through the entire company area with onboard fifty-caliber machine guns punctuated by point blank fire from the turret’s hundred millimeter gun.
The Gunny ran along the path toward the front just in back of me, with Fusner at his side and Pilson just behind. The only plan I could think of on the run was getting the LAWs close to the river on our side, and then hitting the tank’s tracks from the sides, as it exited the river. If the T-54 could be disabled at the water’s edge, then its heavy machine guns and large caliber gun would be all but useless until dawn. The Sandys would be back then, and they’d make short work of an exposed chunk of armor as big and unmoving as the T-54 would be. But to get to dawn was going to take some difficult and dicey maneuvering and placement. Ambushing a main battle tank was no easy feat, especially without heavy anti-armor support, but there appeared to be no way around it.
It took several minutes to work through the broken and beaten down path to reach Jurgens. He stood waiting, no doubt alerted by the ‘radio underground’ Fusner had told me about. The overhanging mess of bracken sheltered us from any view of the river or anyone on the other side. The Gunny, Casey and I stopped. The Gunny and I squatted down in front of Jurgens, both of us conditioned to stay low at all times even when not under fire or much threat of it. My scout team formed a circle around us, as Jurgens came down to our level. Stevens put one hand on Casey’s shoulder and gently pushed him down to join us, before stepping back behind him.
“Can you bring artillery in close enough?” Jurgens asked.
“You’re not calling him Junior anymore?” Casey replied.
I looked over to where Stevens and Zippo afforded some help with the captain, but neither would look me in the eyes.
“Can you bring artillery in this close, Junior?” Jurgens rephrased without smiling or laughing at Casey’s comment.
“Cunningham’s in defilade and Ripcord’s beyond range,” I replied, pulling the map from my morphine pocket and turning on my taped-up pinpoint flashlight, its beam close to being of no illumination help. I indicated where we were, as everyone in the small circle leaned forward to see.
“Here’s the end of that road,” I pointed. “The tank’s likely going to proceed directly to the waters edge before fording because of the mud. We set up all of our LAW launchers here and here,” I said, pointing again. “Using the Starlight for aiming, we take out the tracks, get out of there and wait for Cowboy to swoop in and finish the thing off in the morning.”
“Man, nobody’s going to want to lay there in the open with a LAW,” Jurgens said softly, like he didn’t want anyone else to hear, “not and wait for that tank, and no FNG’s going to operate one of those LAW rigs.”
“I’ll go,” Casey said, pointing at a spot on the map, “do tanks float?”
“I’m going to lead the patrol,” I said, trying not to groan at Casey’s remark. “Zippo will shoulder the Starlight, Nguyen can scout the water’s edge and Stevens will supervise the placement of the LAWs in the dark. You and the Gunny can hold the company in reserve as a base of fire to occupy the tank and the infantry that have to be with it. They’ll probably be riding on top to ford the river.”
“The company needs an officer with it, Junior,” Casey pointed out.
“If that tank gets across the water undamaged then the company isn’t going to need anything but body bags, sir,” I replied.
“How in hell could a T-54 make it all the way down from North Vietnam?” the Gunny asked. “It had to be driven on an exposed road, next to a well-marked river, and thirty miles along the bottom of a continuously observed valley. How could they have hidden it so well along that whole passage without it being taken out by our air or artillery?”
Everyone looked around at one another. There was no logical answer to the Gunny’s question. Everyone fighting the war on the ground and in combat knew the Vietnamese had pulled off deadly tricks and ruses much greater than disguising a tank and getting it as far south as it was. How they did it was always a shock. There was no need, however, to answer the question. Whatever was across the river had to be dealt with, and a plan implemented quickly.
“Tanks don’t float?” Casey asked again.
“No sir, tanks don’t float,” Fusner said, coming forward to whisper in his ear, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I’ve got to get out there with the scope and see for myself,” I said, ignoring Casey and Fusner, as best I could.
Sugar Daddy and his radio operator came in out of the near dark. Sugar Daddy plopped down, sweeping his rolled poncho cover under him, as he landed, like he was performing a gymnastics move.
“There’s a fucking tank over there,” he said, pointing toward the river, like nobody else in the company knew. “A fucking tank. We can’t face a tank. We’ve got to get the hell out of here, and fast.”
“The tank doesn’t float,” Casey said, pointing in the same direction. “Junior and me are going to have a look.”
“What the fuck is Captain Crunch talking about?” Sugar Daddy said, rubbing is forehead with one hand before looking at the Gunny.
“Crunch isn’t a good name,” Casey replied, nodding his head slowly, like he was thinking deeply. “Junior’s got a better name.”
“You’re Crunch because your head got caved in bro!” Sugar Daddy said to Casey, his voice more a hiss than truly tonal.
“Bro is better,” Casey replied lightly. “You can go with us to see the tank.”
“Wait a minute here,” Sugar Daddy exclaimed, his tone changing instantly from attack mode to submissive. “I got my platoon to take care of. I’ve got to see to them.” Sugar Daddy started to get to his feet.
“He’s the company commander,” the Gunny said, his voice flat. “If he says you go, then you go.”
“What about Jurgens?” Sugar Daddy asked. “His men have the only anti-tank shit.”
“It’s night,” Casey replied, lightly. “You are the color of night.”
“Jesus Christ and Holy Mother of God,” Sugar Daddy breathed out, climbing to his feet. “You’re all fucking nuts.” He stood but didn’t move.
“Get back to your platoon,” the Gunny ordered. “I think Junior will agree that you work better coming from behind. If they bring that fifty back into play, then you go out and shut it down.”
“No problem,” Sugar Daddy said, obviously relieved, before backing away and then running off down the path with his radio operator staggering behind.
First Jurgens and then the Gunny started to laugh.
“The color of night,” Jurgens repeated, trying to stop himself from giggling.
I waited, once again wondering about just how damaged the captain was and in what way. His comments were humorous but they were also accurate and right on for the most part.
“I don’t think Sugar Daddy is going to the river, sir,” I said.
“Tanks don’t float,” Casey repeated, causing the Gunny and Jurgens to break out laughing again.
I nodded my head toward Nguyen to move out. He didn’t blink or nod back. He simply blended into the jungle. I presumed he was headed for the river, since there was no mystery as to where it was. We couldn’t proceed more than fifty yards to the east or a hundred to the north without running straight into it.
“Zippo, we need the scope online as soon as we get close to the water,” I instructed. “If they know we’re there then that hundred millimeter will take us out with one round though, so we have to crawl across the open area near the bank. They probably know we don’t have artillery, and also that air is something we’re not getting until tomorrow.”
I turned to Jurgens. “We need all four LAWs, and the fire teams supporting them. Two on each side of the point scout team about twenty meters apart. When the tank crosses they wait until it starts to climb out of the water to hit the treads. If we can get the tank canted upward then its turret is useless. That’s the plan, anyway.”
“Plan,” Casey said, his voice that of a child. “I love the plan names. Kamehameha is my favorite. What’s our plan called?”
Everyone turned to look at me. I shook my head with disdain. What did it matter what we called it, since we were all likely to die in the next few hours, anyway?
“Color of Night,” I said. “It’s the Color of Night Plan.”
“Yes,” Casey said, pumping his fist. “That’s my plan. That’s my Junior.”
“Gunny, I need a couple of M-60s to light up the position over there. We can’t wait all night. The quicker we can get them to commit the less likely they don’t see us and start using that big gun. Once our sixties open up, then the company can fire with their tracers. The NVA don’t have a protected position over there, so the easiest way to suppress our fire is to come right at us with the armor. I’ll pop a couple of flares into the river water to give them the idea we’re making an attempt to ford and attack them then.”
The Gunny looked at me. It was too dark to see his eyes. He motioned with his head to one side, and then got to his feet. He walked away a few yards up the path, and I followed.
“You’re going to take our rounds over your heads and then their rounds from the front, and quite possibly from a base of fire along the rise downriver a bit. There’s no cover along the river. And you’re going to light some flares too.”
“Thanks for the concern, Gunny,” I said, understanding that he was worried about the danger I might be in.
“Right, but there’s no need to risk the machine gun fire teams. They’ll be just as effective back here, and the LAW can be used with one man operating each weapon system.”
I’d suppressed my fears to that point, and driven down my hand-shaking to slight trembles. Inside, however, I wanted to throw up at hearing his words. The Gunny was coldly writing me off, along with my whole scout team, and the four LAW operators as well. He was minimizing losses to the rest of the company. I breathed in and out deeply. The Gunny waited, taking out a cigarette and slowly lighting it. He took one hard pull on it, and then handed it to me.
“Sugar Daddy’s not going to like that name of this plan when I put it into the after action report,” he said, taking his cigarette back, as I slowly exhaled.
“You got sand, Junior,” he added, turning back to walk toward the group we’d stepped away from. “I’ll sure as hell give you that.”
I stood there. I didn’t have ‘sand’ or much else for a core. I had melted butter, if I was called upon to describe my insides. But what was there to do? We didn’t have enough ammo to really fight, or fire support, or even a decent company commander. And we were facing what was probably a full battalion of well-armed troops with at least one main battle tank preparing to attack. We were fucked no matter what we did unless somehow good fortune stepped in.
“Ready, sir?” Stevens asked, making me feel slightly better because he called me sir.
Casey got to his feet and put his helmet on.
“Gunny, you keep the skipper with you,” I ordered.
“Nah,” the Gunny replied, “He wants to go and what the hell difference does it make?”
“What difference?” I asked, in surprise.
“It don’t mean nuthin, Junior. It don’t mean nuthin.”
Featured photo by Ron Cole
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.
Once again, I must remain quiet about what is to come, whether that comes or not.
A lot of people are apparently reading these comments and I do not want to disappoint anyone
by revealing what’s going to happen. I much appreciate the effort to figure it all out though.
Semper fi,
Jim
“You got sand” great quote I havent heard in a long time. Gunny was/is dead on. As it has been said, “courage is not the absence of fear, it is forging forward in spite of the fear”. Yep LT. you got sand. I think now as well as then.
As for those who got pissed at you, Well “life’s a bithch then you die” is a fitting quote for whiney turds.
Glenn
Thanks Glenn. Your analysis means a lot to me, even if I don’t exactly share the same conclusion.
With the mix of emotions running back and forth through us under pressure, all humans, it is difficult to isolate
motivations unless simply measuring results…which can come out skewed as hell from what was really intended.
Tell me about it! I have a collection of medals and write-ups that don’t make any sense when compared to what
really happened. I guess it would be much easier in life to simply smile and accept whatever accolades might come
for having them and I can’t just put them up and tell the real stories or I’ll be alone! So, there they are, down
in the basement and I think a lot of the guys on here either didn’t accept any or do the same thing…
Thanks for thinking I’m an okay guy.
Semper fi,
Jim
Sir, company command is never the effort of one individual. Leadership is reflected by decisions made and kept. I am comfortable with the command decisions being made then as well as now, here, and especially your leadership as an invaluable asset. I do not mean to sound patronizing. If the Gunny fought in Korea he should be well aware of tank warfare. “You got a lot of sand….” a high compliment.
Being aware of tank warfare, Ron, is a bit different than facing one without any armor of
your own and little in the way of defenses. It’s a deep shock without the tank doing anything
except sitting there…and then it gets worse.
Semper fi,
Jim
Semper Fi Brother,I was over there in 69-70 with Echo Co 2nd Bn 26th Marines. What i have read so far I like so keep up the good work and I will be buying your books.
Thanks Donald. The first book should finally hit Amazon tomorrow.
I have been predicting forever though. I hope I am right this time out.
It should be interesting when ‘regular’ people read the story.
Semper fi, and thanks, of course…
Jim
Saw your comment about opposing the present shit called asymetrical warfare. Have agreed since it was called the Haiti Balkans Somalia, Rawanda, and on to now set piece war. Complete waste of our unreplacable human souls; human capital As some assholes sometimes call you. Had a son in every one of those and now a grandson going who knows where since The Marines took the Pentagon.
This part of your story has me on edge hoping the plan will work. All we know is that you have visible scars but no real skinny on how you got them. your skills describing it so far are the best I have ever seen. Thank you , Sir.
Thanks Joe, for the very intelligent and thoughtful comment.
Yes, I have a load of scars, and the neat thing is that my grandson’s call them
war holes and war bumps. How the story plays out you have to wait for, if course.
The series is called Thirty Days for a solid reason.
Thanks for the writing and following the story with such dedication…not to mention the significant compliment.
Semper fi
Jim
Did I just miss it, or did you let the new “Holiday” of “Viet Nam Rembrance Day” slide by without comment? The part that really cracked me up to the point of hysterics was that it’s the day before “April Fools Day”! Congrats on getting the books off the presses (or digitizers or whatever the hell they’re called now) and into our sweaty, old palms. I’m sending my book to you for autographing and in a pre-paid return box. Like shit you’ll pay for postage for MY BOOK.
You did good, Strauss. Now suck it up and accept our appreciation and admiration.
SF,
PFJ
Well, it is certainly good to hear from you John Conway!
Where are you, like in Phenomenon the movie, off visiting the world’s largest
ball of string or rubber bands in some far away rural area?
Thanks for covering the postage. I am glad there are a lot of us who did at least okay financially.
For the one’s that did not I am more than willing to pay for he honor of signing a book for them.
Let me know how the weird cross country adventure your wife is having to endure is going.
Semper fi,
Jim
Cathy accepts my addiction to riding (and to reading your story), as she does nearly everything else about me. My appearance of an ephemeral nature is tied directly to how much wife magic is captured and held in bondage in primitively rural America. I sigh in resignation every time a 55 foot behemoth motorhome towing a Lexus pulls in along side our little 20 foot class “C” rig. I know within minutes they will fire up the three plasma TV’s inside and suck all the wifi bandwidth in this park and the nearest small town. There will be zero chance of getting my well thought out reply off to your most recent posting. I remain enthralled with the story and your painfully explicit retelling of it. I’m only surprised you haven’t hit a “wall” before now with putting the words down. Between the story writing, the replies to EVERY comment, the FB efforts to find where America’s conscience disappeared to, the “phrases thing”, and, I presume, still putting out a small town paper, your brain is putting out 480 volts on a 120 volt line. That will work for a while, if you get my drift, Cliff.
SF,
PFJ
John, you simply have to write stories about that travel. Your descriptions about the motor home towing
the Lexus and the bandwidth and all of that deserve more detail and filling out. You have talent and maybe
still time! On our own 120 Volt line, of course. Yes, I run at high speed in the fast lane and I admit that.
The story is central to my existence right now, however, and will remain so until it is complete.
The book came out today and we’ll see how that goes, although I am limited in reach to get people to read
it who are not vets like us…
Thanks for updating me and tell you wife she has been and remains a fool for ever involving herself with you.
Semper fi,
Jim
I hope to increase your reach in getting people to read your story. I plan to buy 5-6 or more copies and give them to people who appreciate the military but have no idea of how it really was back then. I would encourage other RVN vets to do the same. It is time our story was told.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Thanks so much Paul. Means a lot to me, and I hope to them.
The book coming out today is a pretty big deal after all these months.
Actually, I never set out to publish a book, just to write about the events of those days.
Semper fi,
Jim
No matter the facts, you were in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. What I see is a leader who is proactive, and a company commander who needed to be medevaced ASAP.
You have the support of this sergeant, Sir.
SEMPER FI, Jim
There is no question that Casey needed help. I can’t go into what happens
as that comes up soon enough in the story. And I never wavered in how much I needed
the Gunny and the other non-coms no matter how damaged and frightened they were too.
Thanks for the accurate comment and the continued read…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, I have been following your story since the start. I am concurrently reading the story of “Gettysburg the Second Day” by Harry Pfanz and just finished the details surrounding the fighting around Little Round Top, the Devil’s Den and Plum Run. A much larger scale but I see your efforts in a similar light. Lots of similarities back and forth across a valley. For a young man, you are making incredibly great decisions based upon limited info/intel and a short time frame. Your men were very lucky to have you. I was in ROTC at Pitt in 67-68 but managed to fail my physical due to my heart. I had a brother also and the war consumed him. I certainly will be visiting Amazon to add your story to our history. Thank you for sharing your insight and opening your pains to us. So very well written and enticing. Look forward to more, thank you, sir.
Thank you Bob. As far as history goes…
I have put plenty of ‘fiction’ declarations in the book.
For my own protection and for analytical justice. I cannot remember it all in such detail.
I ‘bridge’ and ‘segue’ through and over the parts I can’t totally recall.
I always remember the actions and the enormous emotional moments but sometimes I
have to lay awaked and try to imagine the dialogue that had to go on.
Some I do remember vividly, like the corny names I gave the operations.
As far as real history is concerned this rendition of what happened has got to be put down
as anecdotal.
Hell, I can’t imagine right now, this day before publishing in real print
who or what is going to come for me…
but they will…
no matter what I say about fiction and non-fiction.
A lot of the real guys just know…
Semper fi,
Jim
Holy crap, a freaking Russian T-54?? Shit just got real!! How come the US military didn’t have a more affective hand-held weapon against armor? Something like the Russian RPG or the German Panzerfuast? Excellent writing as usual Sir. Can’t wait for the next segment!
Semper fi
Everyone kept thinking, after WWII and then Korea that tanks were becoming passe. That technology was
moving beyond them. Bit slow targets on the battlefield, no matter how well armored. I think that mindset
caused the planners and developers in the Pentagon to under-equip us for anti-armor. The LAW was actually
pretty pitiable having a one pound charge in it’s four pound body. The !06 recoilless, at over forty with a HEAT
fuse was something else entirely. Thanks for the comment and the read…
Semper fi,
Jim
Something to be said about tanks being a bit passe. By that point in time everything eats a tank. Laws, mines and recoiless from the infantry, arty, helicopters with mini guns and or rockets, tank busting planes. Hell it only got more dialed in against the tankers in the following decades. Spam in a can. RPGs and now our AT4s, guided munitions, Vulcan cannons. It’s like being a chicken when everything eats chickens; foxes, coyotes, dogs, fishers, hawks, mink, skunks, eagles, snakes, coons. Thanks for the sharing.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Tanks in training or on some static display are impressive, and I can see how technology
has lessened their danger. But, in the field, facing one…it’s a different ball game
entirely. The visceral fear hits you like a spear in the belly button…
Semper fi,
Jim
Will you be disclosing in future chapters how the NVA “moved” a T-54 without being noticed? It was one area of study I had after the war, totally fascinating. I won’t say more here that could be a spoiler. Excellent chapter as always, already looking for the next.
Can’t or won’t say at this point SSgt, as that would compromise the story for so many
others reading the comments. Thanks for asking though.
Semper fi,
Jim
On my second tour in 70/71 I made several quick trips to the floor of the A Shau for downed helicopters. Twenty-four of us and most of us carrying at least one LAW because our Ar Cav Troop pilots had seen the tracks of either tanks or dozers (which we had heard the NVA actually used to keep the highway open). Never had to use the LAWs, thankfully. Our Cobras did run into tanks in great numbers in Laos during Lam Son 719 and we called in the jets to take care of them. The sky in Laos was so filled with aircraft there was ever-present the danger of us running into one another or getting bombed from above by the high-flying B52s. Lots of coordination required. Memories.
I have others discuss how much air became available as the war progressed. That must have been something,
when they could come in and pull your bacon out of the fire day or night. In my time we saw very little, and the
fast-movers seemed to head either further north or east of us. Sandys and occasionally Puff and the Cobras were our
bread and butter and almost never at night. Thanks for the detailed comment and your support here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Dang !!
You are going to get hit hard if the tank gets across, AND the .50 cal hasn’t been destroyed.
Another awesome chapter, LT !
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks Joel, working my way along.
Appreciate the comment…
Semper fi,
Jim
wow we got into some bad shit but not like you are right never against a tank. thought sugar daddy was going to waste the capt for what he said. when will the paper book be out? keep up the great writing Semper Fi dave
The trade paperback PDF was finally done about three hours ago.
It travels to Amazon and should be finally out later this week.
I am going to handle notations by letting everyone
know that they can send the book to 507 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI,
any way they want.
I will make the notation and sign the book and then return it at my own expense.
It’s a great compliment I think
for people to want a signed book…
I’m just a regular guy, you know, if you’ve been reading the comments).
There, finally, I hope we are off and running into whatever distance life takes us.
Funny to feel like I have a bunch of you out there back in my company!
I promise I’ll be a better company commander!
Semper fi,
Jim
Haven’t done the math recently, but you were commanding some where up around regimental size according to Chuck.
Get your old manual out to verify rank for a regiment.
Maybe we can have a Facebook ceremony for your promotion and new command.
Semper Fi Lieutenant
Well, what did I truly command? Seldom did I ‘command’ anybody other than Fusner and elements of
the scout team. I offered solutions and supporting fire and little else, Unless we were in deep deep shit
and then I got the nod much more so then when things relaxed a bit.
Thanks for that observation and your making it in writing here..
Semper fi
Jim
Here I am Jonesing for the next installment. You gonna do something about getting this into ebook? It’s cost prohibitive to send books to the3 Philippines.
If you will check my photos on my face book there is one of a captured WW2 Howitzer. I took pictures of the breach and it had a 1944 head stamp. I ain’t much of a computer geek but if you like the photo we can try to transfer it to you. Keep at it Brother. You are good at what you do.
Appreciate the comment Ed,
You can e-mail a photo to James@jamesstrauss.com
The E-book is available on Amazon for delivery on September 4th
http://30daysseptemberbook1.com
Jim, Brother. I as you know live in the Philippines. I live on a limited income and it is just cost prohibitive to send even mail. $35. for an envelope.
Start another book something about the Philippines and get your sweet ass over here for some research.
We can go diving.
I have always wanted to go to the Wall,seek peace,and that forgiveness we spoke of.
I am 72. I am not going to make it. You come here and I will call it good. We can hug and cry and forgive.
Bud.
P.S. I sent the Gun pics and a couple more
Give me your address in the Philippines and a book will magically appear.
Fuck the cost!
I will do my best to get out there as the people are a wonder.
Thank you most sincerely for the support and the invitation.
Semper fi, Brother…
Jim
I wonder what this new bunch of our Brothers has to say about the messes of Afghanistan and Iraq…what’s the current vernacular or is it the same blunt expression of a strange kind of grace, that “it don’t mean nuthin’…” And I share your conviction that neither of those dustbins deserve our blood or money. If the powerful gave much thought to Our War, it seems cursory. It’s more so, as if our leaders decided to forget. Just my thoughts on the matter. Good job as usual, Mister Strauss.
Neil. Of course I feel very strongly about the guys and gals sent over there.
Just like us into those grist mills. I was in both countries while in the CIA.
Afghanistan is such a fucking throw back that it was hard to consider the cave dwellers
down in the valleys human! And I was training them to use pretty advance Stinger shoulder-held missiles.
I have to admit, however, they could be wily and savants about some things. After learning how to use the Stingers
they would never waste them in firing at a Soviet Hind D direct. They’d only fire down from a higher altitude up
on the mountain because every time they’d get a kill by the rotors blowing off. They did not think of that back home.
I brought it back and some Congressman got credit for thinking it up! Just like in Vietnam!
Semper fi,
Jim
Neil Newcomb. I spent 5 years and eight months with those kids. (It was my distinct honor.) On Christmas I would buy a fistfull of calling card and pass them out to the soldiers who looked lost. There were a lot of them especially around Christmas.
A unit out of the 4th I.D was cycling out and they had all of their equipment down at the wash rack cleaning it for inspection before shipping home.
I saw an E-4 sitting on a Bradly power pack and he had the stare. I said “Hey Specialist, Look at you. Your going home for Christmas.” He didn’t look at me He said. I have friends that are not going home. I am trying to tell my self it was worth it. But it ain’t man. It ain’t.”
I couldn’t hide my tears. I handed him a card. I said “Here Brother, call home.” I totally broke down in front of that soldier when he needed help. When he took the card he held my hand in both of his. It was a long tight hold on my hand and it gave both of us strength. No, you are right we don’t need to be there. We should not be there. It is wrong on all levels.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Thanks Ed, for the heartfelt comment. You are a man of deep feelings and you’ve obviously been there.
Thank you for caring enough to write about your experiences and beliefs here. Means a lot to a lot of us
reading and thinking about what you say.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, it still strikes me how the words of songs in times of great stress mean so much. When we break on thru to the other side I’d like to drink a beer with you….
Al, nobody comes to Lake Geneva. No veterans around form the Nam that I know of.
One went with me to an American Legion Meeting where we were promptly asked to leave
because we did not have our cards with us. They didn’t want Viet vets here at all.
I’ve never gone back and have not seen that vet again. He was a really great guy too.
Semper fi,
Jim
PS Love to sit down with you man!
superb setting up of the stage. Tense.
couple of friendly edits in:
between two locations “were” correct and Firebase Ripcord
recoiless rifle of our own, then “a”nother company
not calling him junior anymore?” “Casey” replied.
Thanks RB, I’ll be all over these changes, or Chuck, my great friend, will be. Thank you ever so much.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great segment Jim I am predicting that not only will these books be best sellers they will be classics. And Hollywood will make a three segment movie from them. The movie makers love anything to do with race problems . Once again thank you for writing this great portrayal of what really happened in Nam. And most of all thank you for your service
That’s either a great prediction or a great curse Mike! Funny, if I was back in Hollywood and they actually had to use the script I wrote
the way I wrote it. Almost never happens in that real world. But, aside from that, although I have a strong following of guys like you and gals like Nancy on here,
trying to reach up to the entirety of the public is damned near impossible today. I am just another vet to them and an aging nobody who might have been a contender.
So, keep your expectations down. I am quite the outspoken character, anyway, and I’m not sure how’d I deal with it all…
Thanks for the warm compliment. I’ll be smiling into the night!
Semper fi,
Jim
Damned if it doesn’t look like a good time for Puff to visit in the middle of the night! That is when they do their best work on Charlie. When one thinks about it, Command should already be aware of your location with both the Arty and two trips by the Sandy’s. Cowboy would have had to report to Command and give an assessment of your company’s situation. Unless Command was real busy assisting other companies, they should have Puff on the way.
If Puff does come and clear the area, you still got to ford the river in order to set up and LZ for the choppers. Sounds like you have a better choice by working north before crossing over the river, which should have dropped somewhat after the rain letting up. If Cowboy and Hobo do return, they could conceivably clear out the NVA on your six and give you some breathing room. You haven’t mention Kilo company lately, so you cannot count on them either. Strange how they never make communications contact with your unit. They owe you one!
Not being able to trust Jurgens or Sugardaddy, you will definitely need to keep them in front of you. Gunny should be on one side working the LAWs and you on the other. Looks like another interesting night.
Would that I had the ability to keep anybody in front of me. So fucking often in the night of jungle shit
I didn’t know where almost anybody was. Death was plenty available to us all and although dispensed with a seemingly
casual shot or tossed grenade, it lived close to each and every heart of all of us. Those guys could have killed me
so many times…and sometimes tried, but half-heartedly. I was both loved and hated by the same people…and that has
kind of stuck with me through the years…
Semper fi,
Jim
Crap! A damn NVA tank – gonna be a tough nut to crack, for sure.
CPT Casey seems to be a bit more likable since he earned his new nick-name.
So, Sugar Daddy refuses an order that might put him and his platoon in harm’s way, Jurgens platoon has the four LAWS, and the Gunny is writing you, your “scout team” and Nguyen off! Not good, James!
Can’t wait to see what the dawn’s early light brings – if ya’ll last that long…
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks for the neat comment.
I can’t say what’s going to happen right this minute, not with everyone reading, anyway.
Thanks for bringing up the subject though….
Semper fi,
Jim
Holy Shit…did not see that T-54 coming literally or figuratively…group dynamic in the company getting even more interesting…got some big ones there Lt, leading that patrol…the Gunny is more than willing to sacrifice you under the guise of protecting the rest of the Company…I’ll stand by…next installment should be pretty damn exciting…best read I’ve had in a long time…Bravo Zulu, Jim!!!
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days…is our on amazon! Yes, I do believe most will consider the next segment barn burner.
Thanks for following so closely and being so enthusiastic about each segment coming out.
Semper fi,
Jim
Color of night plan , not very political correct by today’s standard .
Really, Kelly? The book is set in the late sixties, is it not?
Semper fi,
Jim
It is your book, your memories and your words.it doesn’t matter if it is politically correct. Thinking Vietnam wasn’t “politically correct” either.
Great chapter!
Keep on keeping on. Praying for you.
Nancy
You again. The person who was not going to write but comes on here quite a bit to say what she thinks.
To our group enjoyment, of course. Thank you Nancy for commenting again and thanks for pointing out what you pointed out.
So far I’ve pissed off only the “honor flight’ people and the politically correct monitors. Not to bad, since I don’t pull many
punches in answering valid comments. Your comments are always valid as hell…
Semper fi,
Jim
My fire team leader SFC Willie Robinson was a Blue Gum. Not my words. His. I loved him and I would have followed him through hell in a gasoline suit. When he told me to get my paddy white ass movin. I moved my paddy white ass. There were four blacks and two whites on my fire team. I forget which were which.
There was no failure on the part of black Marines in the Nam. There was a lot of failure about
how to give them proper leadership instead of taking advantage of them. I will say more as the story
continues to unfold. Most racial conflict I discovered and it has held true is merely a gigantic
and profit-motivated failure in communications.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for your reply. My oldest brother was in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. He pulled two tours back to back. My husband and I were in Okinawa in 1969 and 1970. We could always tell when things were going down in Vietnam by the sounds of B52s, fully loaded, taking off and shaking the windows of our house in Kadena Circle. I will never forget that sound or the pictures in my mind of that hugh plane.
Just another reason I read your story but will try to hold back on the comments. Lol!
When I was there I never saw one, or even heard one (B-52).
I only felt and saw the result of the drops.
It was eerie.
Out of nowhere the huge white glowing explosions would occur, ripply across the jungle,
and then the shaking and boomingwould start and go on for about fifteen seconds.
Then the ‘happening’ was over. Thanks for your own recollection Nancy
and mentioning it here, as usual!
Semper fi,
Jim
And when is War Politically Correct?
It will be interesting to see how the laws work against a tank, or if in fact they worked at all. Trigger mechanism on those things wasn’t all are great! I Never seen one used on a armor
target… you had to be “shitt’in Steelies”. Seems they really didn’t work that well on bunkers and soft material targets.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks for writing and being so taken up with the story.
I will be hard at it tonight getting out the next segment. Thanks for the support…
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow! It’s all about to get even more up close and personal! I had a flight instructor who had been in the Army at the end of WWII and had survived the Chosin Reservoir Battle in Korea. He was one of the early advisors in Vietnam and later flew with the 281st AHC and later the Golden Knights. Reading your story got me into researching my instructors history with the 281st AHC. It looks like your unit and his might have been in the “Valley of Death” at the same time. In fact I’ve noticed the firebase names you’ve mentioned match bases I’ve seen online. Thanks for sharing your story!
Yes, the firebases are real and the valley as I describe it is real. There were more firebases than I mention but
also, out in the field, as damaged as we were, I didn’t know about many of them and you don’t, as you might have noticed,
have much down time in the valley to sit up listening to cross frequency traffic on the Prick 25. Thanks for the comment
and I am always tickled to have anything to do, association-wise, with the guys who did that Chosin affair.
Semper fi,
Jim
Umm, LT, I’m really not the one to be Spelling Police, but; “Septmeber”
I’ll crawl back in my hole now.
The Devil made me do it!
Thanks CB. Chuck and I are not it. Appreciate the help!
Semper fi,
Jim
We were having anti-tank training onboard LeJeune in the early ’80s. A trench was dug, we got down in it and 3 M-60s drove over us. We then jump up and shoot them in the ass with an imaginary LAWS rocket. Only the trench collapsed and we had to dig Bob Calhoun out. He would go on to ride the roof of the BLT down in Beirut, October of 1983, but that’s a story for another day. Keep it coming Sir, your stuff is like crack or some shit. Can’t get enough. Semper Fidelis L T.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks for the endorsement of your words written on here Mike.
I much appreciate the compliment and the comments that tell me how deep you are into the story. Makes me smile and want to write on!
Semper fi,
Jim
Great stuff !
When is the BOOK commin’ out? I don’t have…..[that electronic thing].
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. There you have it Bob, as you wish…
Semper fi,
Jim
I have been mesmerized since day one, James keep them coming
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. I am working away to keep them coming.
These last segments have been fairly complex in that they involve so much in the way of interpersonal relationships
and the shifting nature of them. And how to mix the fiction with the reality I lived without doing an injustice to both.
Thanks for the comment and the support.
Semper fi,
Jim
As I come to expect…. another great chapter from you… Holy kick our ass…a main line ass kicker. I loaded 6 of our main line 48s on “Weenie Wagons” to send up north to battle the NVA when we decided to unleash hell on them in Laos. Tanks are their own special hell bringers.
I feel you are about to unload some heavy stuff on us in your next chapter. Glad to hear some sirs instead of Junior all the time
Semper Fi, Lt.
Jim
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. thanks a lot Jim. Yes, the next chapter is a bit ‘heavy’ in the action
and the intensity, but then there was no ‘study hall’ to kick back and read a book. Not where I was and when I was.
Thanks for the comment and for liking the story to the extent that you do…
Semper fi,
Jim
It don’t mean nothin. Long time no hear GI. As usual, got me up close with the monitor. Keep on keeping on.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.Thanks John. You know the lingo and you’ve walked the walk.
Thanks for chiming in here and taking a few minutes to write. I much appreciate that…and reading along in the story too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Training, gets you past that butter core LT, and improvise, it has always been a survivors forte, “ya gotta dance with the one that brung ya” or make do with what you got, no choice,huh?
Fucking “A” Felix! There were so many great expressions back then, most I learned after I got home.
“If you’re gonna dance then you’ve got to pay the piper.” Yes, there was that ‘adapt’ shit Marines are particularly
great at and I was pretty good too. But the fucking fear drove me down, and trying not to show fear. I loved Casey
because the shrapnel freed him from fear and also allowed him to tell childishly simple truths without anybody killing him for it.
Thanks for the comment. You made me laugh…the one that brung ya!
Semper fi,
Jim
The color of night, Skipper, damn I like it. It don’t mean noting,another one I liked over there
Yes, I would never have used that name without Casey. But he was bonkers and the humor,
although I was out of it in a different way, played so well in the company. What with the racial mess
going on. Sugar Daddy was mad but his guys were not! Zippo, my black scout, loved it.
He thought it was absolutely true and he regarded as being black and fighting at night a great advantage,
although it probably wasn’t. Thanks for liking that and not holding my feet to the racial fire…
Semper fi,
Jim
We had some brothers in the platoon that never took offense at us asking them to smile so we new where they were at night. Keep it coming Jim.
There was a lot of sideways melding of race in the Nam and it was
strange, just like it was when there was open conflict. The toughest group I
had to deal with was not black…as becomes apparent when you read the story
and the stuff lays out. Thanks for that comment and your willingness to write it.
Semper fi,
Jim
JAMES, in following your responses, I see that you went to work for the company later, just trying to understand, in you I see character, honor and perseverance. Was it the adrenaline hook, I saw people hung out to dry for doing their job in my travels, A relative, a full bull in Peru, advised me to stay away when I was approached in 68, I later regretted not staying in the game, felt conflicted, family at home helped me through. FYEO
Felix. I came home and worked first for the Western White House of Nixon,
then as a cop until I got fired, then the insurance business the first time and got fired.
Then I found out about commissions and worked for anyone insurance company and finally made
enough money to support myself and family. The CIA came to me when Jim Webb visited and
gave me an award. I did not know then that I would go to the field. I didn’t know what
HUMINT or Operations or being a Team Leader was all about. And then I was out in play
and I was back to doing something I knew and was really good at…and I had a whole world
of support. Nobody called me Junior. They called me the Cherub. Strangely, using violence
again I was able to make up for some of what I did in Vietnam.
Thanks for the introspective, but then you have that kind of mind…
Semper fi,
Jim
I was a little young, although being draft eligible, HS, class 1971, but I remember the news reports, 10,000 NVA Kia, 10 Americans Killed, and thinking, the North Vietnamese will run out of soldiers soon! It’s all BS. I surely feel bad for you guys. I question our involvement in other countries crap all the time. Unless we import them, our “enemies, most likely will remain in their countries and not bother us. No reason to go starting shit. But you know this song, I ain’t no Senator’s son! So you go where you are told.
Yes, Dave. I was violently opposed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and remain so. All I saw was
more of the same Vietnam bullshit coming. The manufacturers of those killing toys never get hurt or die.
And when you fight a guerrilla war you are fighting an entire population….some people, the allies, are just lying about it.
Thanks for the cogent ad accurate comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Damn Jim, More comments. I was watching the news when 9/11 happened. I made the comment it was going to be the Nam all over again. It pissed the non combat potatoes in the gally off. You know me and how I feel about coming home and still being outside the wire. There is no just reason to send or best out and have them come back with their hearts broken and heads full of shit. Of those 22 who punch out every day I read in a newspaper that 71% are Nam vets. Our Brothers our Sisters If you kids coming home from the Sandbox need some one to talk to I am here. I will hold your hand while you stomp your snakes and I will kick your ass out of the hole when you face your monsters. You have to do it yourself but you don’t have to do it alone. Your Brother, Proudly.
Thanks Ed…although I am not sure about that alone part.
Life, if you have managed to have the good fortune to have a surrounding
tribe is a bit more complex than calling anyone during the meanest of hours might
often allow. The tribe becomes disturbed. We, those of us who came partially home, are not
really allowed to wax eloquent about those demons…for fear of contagion or pure boredom when
others do not understand why you can’t talk about the stuff once and the forget or retire it.
Thank you most sincerely, Ed. Having people like you out there is sometimes enough!
Semper fi
Jim
Thank you for this story. I wait eagerly for each installment
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks for your enthusiasm in waiting for each new segment.
This is a different kind of comment forum and I’m glad so many men and women have come on here, like you. Not writing much but meaning much.
I got it!
Semper fi,
Jim
sand , hell. Lt., you got brass man, solid brass.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks for the big compliment Ozzie. Means a lot.
That fear thing you somehow learn to work with but never really conquer. I hope I portray it as close as it was…and some remains
in these nights, of course.
Semper fi,
Jim
we got into some dark shit but not like you are right now never against a tank. I thought sugar daddy was going to waste the capt. for what he said lmao
I hope this book sheds some light into what we went through. you are bring me and others out of hiding from what we went through. when is the first ten days out in paper book? keep up the good work. Semper Fi Dave
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Here it is Dave. The first book, for whatever it’s worth. I hope it does
well but it’s okay if it doesn’t too. Really hard to reach much of the public anymore. Everyone thinks a website does that. Not. But what the hell…it don’t mean nuthin!
Semper fi,
Jim
Well Jim…let me start by saying excellent writing once again and you left us hanging, looking over the precipice in the dark, waiting our “fate”. And as if you didn’t have enough troubles, now you have a tank to deal with…it is truly amazing what adjustments can be made and the things you can do when your ass is the one on the line…and again the man/child Casey is completely “gone” but still tells the truth when you really think about it. What a screwed up mess…but wasn’t that always the way it was, one way or the other…and I loved the ending of “it don’t mean nuthin”…I wish I had dollar for every time I’ve heard that…thanks again Jim for sharing your experience…I might add I have about a dozen other folks now “reading you” based on my referral and their interest in Vietnam…Keep it coming…
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Thanks truly Mark. Having other guys read the work is the biggest compliment of all for a writer.
Thanks for making that effort. Now that the book is out it ought to be easier because the book is all properly formatted and not broken up like the website requires.
Thanks for that effort and your sincere interest in what I’m trying to do…
Semper fi,
Jim
Sure thing Jim…and any vet that has no interest in your work has a serious problem…reading the responses to your work has become a routine ritual too to see how other vets are handling it and all responses have been positive for the most part, which is a tribute to your writing and your talent for sharing all vets “shared” experiences…keep it coming…
Thanks Mark. Out of 5719 comments, and you are the 5719th, there have been three where guys
said this was a totally fabricated bunch of nonsense and I might not even be a veteran.
I would have put those up as well, anyway, just for credibility,
until I found out none of the three were actually combat vets themselves.
I like to think that it is the patina of reality and intensity of detail and combat logic
that holds the reality of this story together.
I so much enjoy so many combat vets who have shared their own similar stories now that I have written this…
Semper fi,
Jim
One typo Mr. Strauss in the first paragraph, “The wing-mounted canons sounded like giant chain saws for a few brief seconds…”
Other than that, I am spellbound by your writing abilities. I wasn’t there, I was a VN-Era vet sent to other places and I am in awe of the men who had to go there. Thank you.
Thanks Mark, for the help and for the compliment. Chuck and I will get right on the error.
Much easier to fix early on rather than later. The work to get out the first book was something else.
but here it is….THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Take care,
Semper fi,
Jim
I have been near bombs and artillery. Both are like getting punched in the gut repeatedly. I prayed because I felt helpless before such power.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
There is no question that our own frail existence is brought right to forefront of all our thinking
when the big stuff lands close by. There is no iron skinned superhero crap going on at all.
One little piece of shrap and that’s it. Thanks for pointing that out…and more.
Semper fi
Jim
MAN! You best do something as you are between a rock and a hard place….
I’ve always heard the best defense is a good offense. Of course your avid readers are left in nerve wracking suspense. Good work! Keep it up.
Book ordered from Amazon today. Expected arrival is 7 April. I will send to you along with a few old stamps that I’ve receiveid from foreign places over the years.
Wow Ed, nobody much does stamps anymore. I haven’t even taken out my books for years!
Thanks so much for ordering the book!
Semper fi,
Jim
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
To go on the offensive means having something to go on the offensive with.
Ammo can be a tough issue in the bush because there’s so much emotion and the cyclic
rate of fire in the old M-16s was up there. Easy when under fire to run out and then
what? Resupply. Without supporting fires it is even more difficult because rarely did we ever
outnumber the enemy. Thanks for your comment and your support…
Semper fi,
Jim
“It don’t mean nuthin Junior, it don’t mean nuthin.” I still marvel at the meaning packed into such a simple phrase.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Yes, Wes, and it’s a tough meaning to really explain to anyone
who doesn’t already know. Thanks for ‘getting it’ and also for the nice comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
The only comfort I can take from this chapter is the knowledge your alive writing it now. I am so thankful you survived to pen the absurdities of war’s “hell in the land of the living.” Much respect Sir!
Bruce DeMoss
USMC,1975-1979
Semper Fi
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Now that’s a nice comment and I take that personally. Thank you for giving a shit whether I made it or not.
I am writing away and people like you keep me going on through, even when the jungle’s thick and the enemy
all around…
Semper fi,
Jim
I was waiting for sugar daddy to blow the capt. away with what he said your the color of night. we got into some dark shit but not like you are right now we never went up against a tank. when is the first ten days out in book?
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon. Here’s the book Dave. Easier to read and properly formatted and without error…I pray.
Thanks for waiting and also for the support…
Semper fi
Jim
WOW! I am going to call your unit the “Houdini Marines,” because I don’t see any way you escape from what is coming! Keep the episodes coming.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Houdini. Why could I never get a nickname that cool? It was that kind of stuff though.
Pulling magic shit out of our asses in order to gloss over areas where reality wasn’t working real well.
Thanks for the comment and for the support.
Semper fi,
Jim
JFC Lt, Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse. I now understand the difficulties endured by those who fought in the shit.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Thanks Buffalo. Yes, it was a bitch and it was some kind of shit.
I wonder if there are guys who actually got used to it out there.
Most don’t say on here although I read everything here and much like reading
about what other guys in similar circumstance when through and how they handled it.
Semper fi,
Jim
As always you capture the intensity
Thanks Charlie. Sometimes these cryptic comments are really great…as is this one..
Thank you, most sincerely.
Thanks for writing on here too…
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow! I’m twiddling my thumbs now . you clearly made it through and I hope the rest of your team did as well! can’t wait to see how it goes!
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Yes, Josh, I obviously made it. I can’t comment here about the rest yet, as the story is still developing
and I don’t write about what’s coming until it comes…out of respect to all the guys and gals who read this.
Thanks for the comment and thanks for the support.
Semper fi,
Jim
“It don’t mean nuthin’ ” is a lethal weapon. Keep on keepin on.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
I am down to only 14 comments left to answer today. Seems the segments get quite a few now.
I wonder if that will change what with the first book now out in print.
Thanks for the depth and intellect of your comment…as usual Walt.
Semper fi,
Jim
Outstanding Lt. Keep it comeing
Ah hell, Benton…quit isn’t something that God built into me and I still wonder
whether to thank Him for that or not. Energy and high speed are also mine in huge amounts,
or all these comments would never be answered. I am keeping on keeping on…
and thanks for the additional motivation…
Semper fi,
Jim
What a turn of events after one thought you would get a little breathing room. Hanging on the edge awaiting more installments.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
There was not breathing room, no quiet thinking time, no kicking back at all.
It was like a huge combat escalator and you either stayed on for the ride or
you got dead. That escalator going down right next to you was moving fast and
full…and you know where that was going.
Thanks for the comment and support.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow wow wow! Think I was getting as excited as they were.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Thank you for the big compliment. Only three words, but the meaning comes right on through.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great installment…thanks.
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Thank you for caring enough to comment here Steve. As you can see by the preamble here, the first book is out
so I’d appreciate a kind review on Amazon! Thanks a ton…
Semper fi,
Jim
243.0 missed the typo.
Got a feeling this is going to get ugly real soon.
Who at REMFAC did y’all piss off. Y’all sure are operating with limited SA. Granted gomers were good but damned sending y’all into a dead end without support is bizarre.
Granted I’m a zoomie and had the privilege of looking down on the simulated battles we supported from on high. Since I was not sent to that war I am second guessing a lot.
Ck 6 Lt. It’s going to be a long night with your ass exposed. Gunny’s pulling his head into his shell and Casey’s lost in the Dark of the Night!
Time for some of that arty shit with white phosporous and HE.
Waiting on the next chapter! You guys have kicked a hornets nest!
Doc
I pissed off General Dwyer himself and his Chief of Staff, as well. It’s a talent.
I was sort of like Steve Martin and Chevy Chase when I appeared before them that first night.
My regret for having a big mouth in the totally most wrong place of all time would haunt me for many
years. Dwyer and the Chief are long dead now. I was decorated later by Dwyer but of course he did
not remember me back stateside. We lifted weights next to each other at the Camp Pendleton
gym when I was recovering. He asked me where I got my scars since I had not started always wearing
a ‘T’ shirt yet. It was a surreal moment I’ll never ever forget. He was on his back doing bench presses
and he could press a lot. I was sitting nearby working much much lighter dumbbells. I told him
that I had cancer and the surgeries fixed that thanks to the Naval Surgeons. That was the last time
I ever saw him. I wonder if he believed me.
Semper fi,
Jim
ROFLMAO!
You guys are in deep shit! Fast movers play in the dark. You need their help. 01s and 02s should be in you AOR. A Willie Pete marker or better yet one white phosporous 105 to mark. Nap could come raining. Come up AIRNET or 343.0! Help will be alerted and in bound BUSTER. Time for the Rhinos to play.
Doc
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Go online at Amazon and leave a good review Roger…or hell, any review at all!
Thanks for the comment and the knowledge your comment reveals…not to mention humor.
Semper fi,
Jim
5 Stars Brother…5 Stars…review has already been written.
Spot on LT.! Ready for the next installment on the second 10. You got a Gomer tank to kill! I would have loved to have rolled in with a stick of Mark 82 High Drags to rock his world for ya but alas that was not to be!
I’ve got the first 10 archived on my Kindle. Figure you are going to have writer’s cramps autographing all those paperbacks! Will ask you to sign the paperback for the second 10 when it is published if your fingers are not nubs by then!
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER. The First Ten Days. It’s out now on Amazon.
Thanks Roger, big time. Reviews right now mean a ton, especially because there have to
be some trolls that will come on and write bad stuff. I’m ready for that. I’m not exactly writing
main stream war shit here. Thanks. For you I will sign anything and everything.
You never forget the guys and gals who were there when the night and the battle were young and the chips were down.
Semper fi, brother,
Jim
I think your plan with the tank is about as good as you could hope for. Gunny is being his practical self trying to limit the casualties and not risk the 60’s. I keep hearing the song “Stayin Alive ” by the BG’s! Thanks for another great read Jim! PS in November 71 I had a gunship pop up on my firepush asking me to contact battalion and get permission for him to fire at 3 tanks in a plantation that was in a no fire zone. Permission was of course denied. We were about 75 miles from Saigon. Suppose to win a war with rules like that….
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER, The First Ten Days, is out in paperback on Amazon.
Jack, go online at Amazon and leave a review, if you will. Anything helps at this point
as I don’t have a big following of he regular public. At least the first book is out there.
Thanks for the kind words and ‘Stayin Alive.” I had to laugh at that one.
Semper fi,
Jim
Done deal Jim!
You are the man, Jack!!
Semper fi,
Jim