I slipped McInerney’s flashlight into my right side pocket, its end sticking out a bit and rapping back and forth against the hard leather of my Colt .45 holster.
“Fusner,” I whispered, turning back toward the foxhole I’d left, but making no move to retreat there.
Two great chapters going to read the next one now TY LT. James
Well Jim you continue to deliver. Be advised i will be buying 2 copies of #3 to finish my collection of this series.
ESSAYONS
Glenn
I wonder, sometimes, if it is as important to all the ‘brethren’ that the buy the books to keep it all going.
I have financed this whole thing and I am running on full empty right now!
Semper fi,
Jim
Great stuff! I think there is a misplaced comma right here:
“Without the .50 caliber, online the enemy…”
Thanks for the great content!
Corrected.
Thanks, Scott
Semper fi,
Jim
Yes it is important to at least me that you keep at least “30 Days” going. I have the first two in hard copy and want the last book too.
I am enjoying “The Cat”.
I’ll buy more of your works, but cannot all at once.
Semper FI
Thanks Tom, your loyalty and support mean a lot to me.
Thanks for being a faithful reader…
Semper fi,
Jim
Well a pittance as it is I willbe buying the series.
Thanks Tom, much appreciate that.
Semper fi,
Jim
I will buy the hard copy series when done. I hope a link to the comments will be included also. Even after finishing a chapter I keep going back to follow the comments.
We will be expanding the comments addition to the last book, as many as we can, but there have been 22,939 since I began the series and that makes it
hard to go through and select. I have also answered every comment but those we can’t exactly put in because of space. This writing and then commenting
in such volume has been extraordinarily different from almost every other literary process any of us have ever heard of or seen…and that makes it
difficult to figure out what to do…
Semper fi, and thanks for the depth of your question.
Jim
Jim you’re story captivates,I eagerly await each chapter. Thank you, thank you Semper Fi Sir
The bridge has been such a contentious tool throughout these many days over the river from this side to the other then back again., must’ve been pure hell for the Marines running the supplies over this time as well. Amazing how they could see the big picture and knew what to do and how to get it done, and creating a web out of those ropes was adapting to the situation on the fly as well – job well done !!
Extra bonus was getting (?) the 50 and the drummers too, that must’ve been a huge relief!
Great riveting chapter James. Thanks for the quick turn around on writing them.
Standing by for the next..
SEMPER Fi
It was also stunning to watch and and experience just how fast the enemy could
adapt and get back in the game, when we dealt out such stunning firepower hits.
Thanks for enjoying and staying with the story as it continues…
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m hazarding a guess that the marines were able to recover McInerney’s body without the enemy’s interference.
Another great episode Jim.
Yes, we all, those of us who’d gone out there, carried him back
and then the Marines and corpsmen got his body back and down to
the bridge for transport over and out.
Semper fi,
Jim
In this paragraph, change “Roget” to Roger”. Otherwise another super heart-pounding chapter!
Thanks, Kathi.
Noted and corrected
Semper fi,
Jim
Great bed time story! Recovering from back surgery this past Wednesday so getting all of these new chapters in has been a real treat
Semper Fi!.
Glad to have been of service Bill, and I will continue to pound the keys away as I work through
these pesky health issues that crop up if we live long enough.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your statement from a past chapter is stuck in my head! Even as I know it to be true, I just never thought of it that way!
“Combat teaches by killing”
US Army 68-69
Yes, there is no wordily effective teacher of young men and women as war…because there is no primer for what you are going
to thrown into if you go into actual combat. You are going to be a fucking new guy of some sort or another every time you
hit the field. And you can get better at it but man oh man does that take luck….when all the metal is flying around all the time
it’s just a matter of time…
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks for writing this account I always wait for the next installment with great anticipation. Never been disappointed.
I look back on my time in the Corps with very mixed feelings. Miss the camaraderie. Miss some of the officers, some were just marking time. I suppose they had earned it. A few were the very definition of leaders. You have allowed us to peer into your heart. I thank you for that.
Semper Fi
Yes, this odyssey of revelation is, indeed, a measure of my heart…good, bad and everything else.
Interesting study and take on real combat, I should think. I went to see Rambo Last Blood and
got to laugh my butt off all over again. I remember First Blood well. Vietnam Vets did not come
home and shoot up the place because somebody didn’t like our hair.
Semper fi,
Jim
I’ve read every word at least twice. I’ll be buying the third book when it’s published. I’ve a cousin that was in the poop with the 173rd ABN, and I want to give him a set as well. Thanks again, and merry Christmas.
Thanks Ed, we are getting there.
Not too many segments left until I begin the next book.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, Another great chapter! At times I felt right back in the shit again. We were in hospitals at same time on different coasts. I spent over 4 months at Andrews, arriving 12/7/68. I was single and my parents arrived 12/9 after being told Last Rights had been given. I guess you and I fooled them, although still paying with our injuries and demons. May God bless everyone that put their time there and those that supported in-country and from the world.
Yes, I was eight months at Oakland Naval Hospital for the surgeries and unending
boredom interrupted with the pain…
Semper fi,
Jim
Back then they had Marine Corps guys who came to the hospital to act as helpers in some way
but they never figured their roles really. Hope they do better today…
Another Great, suspenseful chapter !!!
Lt.-
Keep it coming👍
Thanks Chris, and I will endeavor to persevere….
Semper fi,
Jim
Another INTENSE chapter! I hadn’t thought about it until someone mentioned it in one of the comments but your writing is so descriptive that as I’m reading the chapters I’m smelling the jungle. My feet feel wet. I’m smelling the burnt gunpowder. Absoluting riveting! Keep up the good work LT.
Thanks Terry, comments like yours here on this public forum help to keep me going.
Semper fi,
Jim
“Roget that,” the Gunny came back, understanding that I was adjusting fire for the mortars. “Not certain,” he went on, “the light’s so bad.”
Roger that”
Yes, and thanks for the help there Michael…
Semper fi,
Jim
Surprised to have another additional episode to read. Really engrossed by this one. Like I was there, again. listening to the plane giving cover fire for the Marines on the “bridge.”
One correction I saw was the “flashlight ” para. Last line Jurgens “mean” had gone to check the concrete strip. I’m sure there may be a few more that the others will detect, but I know you’ll take care of them.
The support the A-6 is handing out reminds me of places I’ve been before and gotten much needed help during the night.
Thank you, Jerome.
I have corrected the error and with help from you and other readers I end up getting things
“corrected”
Semper fi,
Jim
Love reading your stories. Taker back 50 years to 1969/70…you know at times I miss it and the fun times. many of my friends have gone on now. Agent Orange, old age ect. Thanks Lt for the memories!
Yes, it is a memorial, in some ways. The reality of combat is not much
discussed anywhere because it involves admissions nobody wants to make.
Semper fi,
Jim
Intense…gave me the shivers….drive on sir…
I am continuing now, the final push to the 30th day…and then onto the fourth book that follows the series
to be titled ‘The Cowardly Lion,’ as I had to set aside all the tactics, conduct and tools that allowed me
survive in Vietnam in order to attempt to fit back into the culture of America.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read. Thanks for the heads-up on the title change.
You got it Rich. Thanks for paying such attention as I lay the words down on this site…
Semper fi,
Jim
Wow! Yet another episode. Many thanks, James.
Seems as if Sugar Daddy and Jurgens have really stepped up to the plate and delivered.
Some editing suggestions follow:
“About twenty, maybe twenty-five minutes,” I replied, knowing I was probably going to be caught
short. I
f the A-6
Backspace to remove gap between “I” and “f”
“About twenty, maybe twenty-five minutes,” I replied, knowing I was probably going to be caught short. If the A-6
Jurgen’s platoon Jurgen’s Marines
Name is Jurgens – so possessive is Jurgens’ ?? If so, change through entire episode.
unloading the running supplies to the company,
Maybe substitute “and” for “the”
unloading and running supplies to the company,
I gathered a small group of Marines Jurgens had ‘volunteered’ and showed then them
“then” seems redundant
I gathered a small group of Marines Jurgens had ‘volunteered’ and showed them
using an arms-length distance for the placement of each one knot
“one” seems redundant
using an arms-length distance for the placement of each knot
I finished my quick course in the showing the Marines how to tie the lines together
The “the” before “showing” seems redundant
I finished my quick course in showing the Marines how to tie the lines together
// The running hitch = clove hitch? //
without ending up in the river, and either being spirited downriver to some gloomy ending or drowning outright.
Maybe drop “and” before “either”
without ending up in the river, either being spirited downriver to some gloomy ending or drowning outright.
He didn’t turn off the fire attracting light, instead of burying the flashlight deep into the mud
Maybe change “of” to “he” and “burying” to “buried”
He didn’t turn off the fire attracting light, instead he buried the flashlight deep into the mud
Two of Jurgens mean had bravely gone upriver earlier to check it out.
Add possessive to Jurgens change “mean” to “men”
Two of Jurgens’ men had bravely gone upriver earlier to check it out.
// Interesting that I considered adding a comment to the last segment about the talismans you had collected that were functional. Also binoculars (not mentioned here). //
The flashlight I’d lost had been owned by one of my platoon sergeants and then replaced by
another officer killed because he was too new to
Maybe add something before “officer” Suggest “from an”
The flashlight I’d lost had been owned by one of my platoon sergeants and then replaced by
another from an officer killed because he was too new to
guided by the Marines over the holes in the net and the rushing the rapidly moving water below.
Maybe drop “the” between “rushing” and “rapidly” plus flip their position
guided by the Marines over the holes in the net and the rapidly rushing moving water below.
The next run of the Intruder came in, low enough to see the exhaust plums from its
Change “plums” to “plumes”
The next run of the Intruder came in, low enough to see the exhaust plumes from its
The C-Rations were difficult to work with. They were easy to toss across the distance but then
had to bed reassemble on the riverbank
Change “bed” to “be” and “reassemble” to “reassembled”
The C-Rations were difficult to work with. They were easy to toss across the distance but then
had to be reassembled on the riverbank
Have them fire one round every thirty seconds until half the ammo’s gone once their set up.
Change “their” to “they are” or “they”
Have them fire one round every thirty seconds until half the ammo’s gone once they are set up.
the resupply goods, there’d be dry sox and underwear
“sox” or “socks” ? Whatever works
With all these 30 Days episodes plus several Cat segments you are on a roll.
Always at your own pace.
Blessings & Be Well
WOW!
You are fabulous with the sharp editorial eye, Dan.
I am very appreciative of your help and that of others.
Semper fi,
Jim
Dan caught everything I tripped over… and then some! Thanks, Lt., glad to see you back online.
Thanks so much for the editing help and the compliment of your writing on here at all, Floyd…
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks so much for all the work you do to make this series a success Dan. And the compliments too, of course!!!
Semper fi,
Jim (six actual)
Jim,
Yet another heart-pounding episode. Amazing how MANY critical decisions you as commanding officer had to make in such a short time with ever-changing, unexpected challenges. You also seem to have developed the ability to figure out the enemy’s next move and try your best to stay one step ahead of what that move might be in this deadly chess game.
Thinking back to the first week or so of the dysfunction and internal conflicts you had to contend with among the various batches of men within the unit you were thrust upon, but now those dysfunctions and internal conflicts has faded away and it seems now they work together as one. I think YOU had a lot to do with that.
Am somewhat surprised that battalion command had not provided two sets of A-6s. One to arrive about an hour after the first batch of A-6s had to return to base to rearm, refuel and return. Two sets of tag-teaming A-6s would have been such a blessing for you and your men.
Thanks for cranking out so many episodes in such a short span.
Much respect for you, LT.
Artillery was much more dependable than air ground support, as least for me,
although what we did get was a godsend at times and the crews flew wonderfully well
and really cared. But everyone wanted air all over and they were not available
at so many times and in so many places because of volume. And everyone being
shot at on the ground is in a critical situation. How do they decide. We were so
lucky to get as much as we did!
Semper fi,
Jim
As you noted, the biggest shortcoming of air assets was our inability to loiter beyond our fuel window, and the uselessness of hanging around once we had expended our weapons. It was a sickening feeling when we had to rtb knowing the grunts were still in contact. Many respects to the ground pounders…. and thanks again for telling your story.
Thanks Kim for making the point more clear than I did in the story.
We didn’t even think much of the fuel issue for the air support.
You guys ran on a whole other perspective….
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, about your above question as to how “they” decided who should get air support. My experience would be that your almost daily call for air and artillery support combined with the numbers of body bags going to the rear in the past 27days haselevated your priority on the Operations section in your Battalion HQ.
Another nail biter LT. and you caused me to got to my knot book for a look at the running hitch. Thanks for making me think.
I am so happy that anybody took the effort to look up the knots. It took me three days to figure out how to tie a running bowline
aboard the ship. Loved it and never forget the effort over the years.
Semper fi,
Jim
With the effort of all the men at the river, they know what is coming next.
The Marines of first my company, and then of both of my companies together
was pretty questionable and the start of my ‘run’ with them, but man oh man
did they ever come up under fire, times after time after time..
Semper fi,
Jim
Ever more quick thinking to respond to the many permutations of death thrown at you and your Marines. I know, I know this is a novel, but the story must be true because a Marine Company facing death each moment of their days and still being an effective fighting unit must be due to those men understanding the intellect of their leadership. They know they have better chances of survival falling in behind the one who has brungem” this many times up and down the valley.. whew don’t know where that came from. Admiration maybe, for you and every swinging d$:ck in that company. Good story tellin there LT really good. Poppa
For me it was desperation survival Poppa, and I never saw the stuff we all pulled off
as anything but that, with very few operations to do anything else. The NVA, in their
way, made us better Marines and our losses early and later were nothing to the
hits they took.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you Jim. Yes sir survival is our instinct and some are blessed with what it takes to do in extra helpings. You are blessed sir and you serve many even to this day. I pray your rehab to full health goes quickly and smoothly. Have a blessed Christmas season. Poppa