The first spotting round of the fire mission came screaming in. I didn’t care if I could see or hear it in the rain, or the fact that clustered down under the overhanging cliff behind the berm, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to properly observe anything anyway. I was waiting for other evidence. “Splash, over,” was transmitted by the FDC at Cunningham. Soon after, a shower of rocks and debris hit the single canopy jungle like a giant barrage of hail, and I smiled coldly into the handset. No correction was necessary. I called for a battery of one, and waited for six more wonderful forty-five pound shells to impact the face of the cliff. Even hunched back as I was, into the very crack at the base of the cliff, I was able to press in a little further knowing what hell was coming down only a few feet away. I felt my team huddled in tightly with me. The six rounds spewed rocks everywhere. I didn’t want the rock rain to stop. I adjusted two hundred meters left and then four hundred right, bracketing the wall in reverse. More explosions tore off surface sections of the old cracked face, and splattered chunks of it everywhere. Everywhere but back under the overhang.
Click on ‘arrow’ and listen to incoming
Jim, not sure if this was intentional but maybe commandos should be commanders. Welcome home, Dave.
The rear area (commandos) didn’t care what was happening to their Marines in the field, …
Noted and Corrected, Thank you.
Jim, This sentence may read better with a comma after ferocity (ferocity,). Dave.
I also knew in my short time that the NVA was tough as nails and not only fought with brutal (ferocity) they didn’t give up, almost ever.
Thanks again, Dave
semper fi,
Jim
I’m so glad to be reading this in chapter form. If I had the book in hand I wouldn’t put it down until It was finished and wouldn’t get anything done! Wow!!
Thanks for the great compliment Charles. It’s up in chapters because that’s the way I am writing
I am in the middle of the next chapter right this minute. Thanks for writing what you wrote and liking the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
thank you for writing about your experice of hell, my husband was in a shau valley drove a dozer and a sgt got killed running to get under the dozer with e5 francis morin, i do know the exact date he was there but he stated on his va record he was thank you
You are most welcome Marietta. There area a lot of heavy equipment operators who got killed
in that way and quite a few in that damned valley. A beautiful place of hidden secret death waiting
around every corner, behind every hanging vine. So sorry for your loss. Thanks for the comment and for reading the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
“A warrior I have been. Now, It is all over. A hard time I have>” Sitting Bull
Afterwards:….
Robert Hayes·Thursday, February 23, 20172 Reads
The Elder’s Thoughts
They said I would be changed in my body. I would move through the physical world in a different manner. I would hold myself in a different posture. I would have pains where there was no blood. I would react to sights , sounds , movement and touch in a crazy way , as though I was back in the war.
They said I would be wounded in my thoughts. I would forget how to trust , and think that others were trying to harm me. I would see danger in the kindness and concern of my relatives and others. Most of all , I would not be able to think in a reasonable manner , and it would seem that everyone else was crazy. They told me that it would appear to me that I was alone and lost even in the midst of the people…that there was no one else like me.
They warned me that it would be as though my emotions were locked up , and that I would be cold in my heart and not remember the ways of caring for others. While I might give soft meat or blankets to the elders or food to the children , I would be unable to feel the goodness of these actions. I would do these things out of habit and not from caring. They predicted that I would be ruled by dark anger and that I might do harm to others without plan or intention.
They knew that my spirit would be wounded. They said I would be lonely and that I would find no comfort in family , friends , elders or spirits. I would be cut off from both beauty and pain. My dreams and visions would be dark and frightening. My days and nights would be filled with searching and not finding. I would be unable to find the connections between myself and the rest of creation. I would look foreward to an early death. And….I would need cleansing and healing in all these things.
Author unknown
If you get older it gets better. You don’t forget but you get good at accommodating
and coming to the conclusion that there’s not nearly as much point to everything as you thought there
was when you were young. Therefore, it was okay to be there and does those things out of ignorance
because ignorance ran rampant while passing itself off as wisdom…just like today.
Thanks for the deep thoughts and the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
The sounds of friendly incoming were of 105’s, nothing sounds like a 155 especially when it is coming in “short”, like a freight train coming through the air. Was in a firefight once she both us an the NVA stopped firing an took cover. Horrifying .
Those 155 rounds were twice as heavy as 105 rounds. And the difference was huge. The 13 lbs of explosives versus about 5 was also
a bit of a factor is creating huge shock waves when HE was fired. Yes, I remember well.
Semper fi,
Jim
Lt. I was truly lucky, I was drafted in 1966. Before going in, my older brother gave some sage advice, never volunteer. He was a screaming eagle from WW II. D Day to the end. I followed his advice and wound up an MP in Korea. After Deros, went into law enforcement for a 34 year career. But what is similar is that I still cover my six and I sweep the room. I be it a bar or restaurant. Great writing and keep it coming.
Thank you Terry. Means a lot to me to get such comments.
take care and keep up the flank security!
Semper fi,
Jim
“having both entry and exit from up and down the overhand” (change to overhang perhaps?) In paragraph 29 or 30.
The crap is getting deep now Lt. I liked your plan better than Casey’s.
WOW!
I cannot believe the intensity of you and everyone’s reading the story, Glenn and Terry
Yes this is basic First draft and somewhat spontaneous.
But correction so made.
Semper fi
Jim
Just picking a nit! When the Starlight scope was first introduced back in The First Ten Days it was noted that there was no case for it, the case having been lost. Later, Zippo is carrying the scope with a sling fashioned from a rifle sling. In the last couple of episodes mention is made of removing the Starlight scope from its case. Seems to be a continuity issue that’s crept in to the story.
Otherwise, it’s a great narrative retelling a hellish time in worse circumstances. Your sense of pacing events in the story and gift for writing narrative makes me check several times a day for a new installment. I’ve read all the old ones at least twice! Great job, Jim, and I hope this retelling opens some eyes and brings you great success.
Scotty
Yes, I bought a Starlight Scope after writing that. On Ebay. It had a case. The case that came with the scope back then.
Somehow my mind adapted to the case and stuck it into the story. Weird, but true. Thanks for catching that so I can fix it
and not look like a complete idiot!!
Semper fi,
Jim
Dam Jim!!! u sure got yourself in a hell of a mess,not hard to do there in the Nam,the shit will just find u when u r in the bush,Central Highlands 69-70,biggest dam mountains I ever seem let alone hump them,fuck that place Jim,keep the good work up,4th Inf. Div.
Thank you Daniel. The mountains were sure a mixed bag. Better air and better jungle but man those
elevations and hills. Brutal.
Thanks for the comment and liking the story.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim after each reading my hands sweat and shake, keep writing
Thanks Don. Sometimes that is my reaction here too!
But I am endeavoring to persevere and move on through.
Thanks for the kind word and the encouragement.
Semper fi,
Jim
I was a crew chief on Marine helicopters from May 65 to June 66. We did,t even have Huey’s. we still used the old CH 34’s. Hauling in troops, resuppling with ammo and supplies. Hauling out the wounded and dead. Then pulling troops back out . I always admired you guys. Sometimes taking troops in a hot zone it was important to me to make sure my M-60 was in perfect shape. Spaying the tree line with live fire so you guys could grab a foot hold. Pretty scary some times. I have a lot of memories also.
The 34s were still around throughout the war. the big disadvantage of the ugly weird birds was the
magnesium of their structure which could burn when hit with certain bullets. The rumor was that if the bird
started on fire you could not land it in time before it burned up but that was just rumor.
Semper fi,
Jim
I am trying to get the lay of the land where you are operating….. Am I correct that you moved into the A Shau from the NE, moving SE along the valley wall, and are operating on the east side of the river with FSB Cunningham to your NW, That the major terrain feature is to your east..Back, and the major enemy concentrations are to your west SW across the river, and basically you are on the terminal end of the GT line from FSB Cunningham? If what I see in my head is correct, You are in hells corner and the brimstone and fire are at full burner….. Bob.
Yes, Robert, if you look at a map of the area then you’ve described it perfectly.
We are not beyond Cunningham’s range but we are too low in the valley to get
the fire it would take to accurately reach the river area. You have to either be
relatively close to the firebase to get high angle, and we were too far, or the guns
must be able to depress and shoot over intervening high terrain, which they could not.
Thanks for figuring it all out.
Semper fi,
Jim
Yes, I have been trying to find a good map of the AO, Being a Rotor Head I had a good Idea of the neighborhood, and it don’t belong to Mr. Rodgers…. I was trying to figure out where you were in relationship to Cunningham, I figured they had to be to your NW/NNW and almost at the end of their range fan, So the shot would have been low angle.
Yes, I am waiting the next installment, Captain “the Batty” Casey, Is going to be in for a surprise if I am correct by moving back onto a known registration point, Victor Charles is not stupid and does give any breaks, Yes, I believe the shit is going to get very deep and you bring up the rear may just be the best place for you…. An old adage in flying the Nam, Never retrace your flight path unless you absolutely have to, You can get away with it the twice, But the third time, Gives Sir Charles the time to be set an waiting for you, Now as a grunt unit, You move to slow for even doing it twice, always head for a new LZ for medevac and log and supply…… Bob
Repetition was a recipe for disaster. For one thing, on the ground
those forces could dig faster than you could believe. They’d did under
the position you’d occupied before. You have the layout in your head almost
exactly as it was.
Thanks for taking the time and care to write about it here.
Semper fi,
Jim
I read your comment about the amount of jobs you had and that you were with the same lady. I envy you and admire your wife for sticking with it. I guess you could say I was not that way. I married twice and tried to make it work but no luck. One thing I did right was to choose mining as a profession. Working underground on equipment
And not having to deal with the civilians except when I came to the surface worked well for me. The only problem was the blasting of the rock. Tried to stay far away from the area.
Underground. I never thought of that one. I did not suffer fools well,
and that was my explanation of why I did so poorly with superiors back here.
I also did not handle high threat men well.
I always submitted initially and cowered and then appeared again at a later time and hour of their life.
That was not healthy for me or them. I got better.
I finally had to learn how to do things that did not require me keeping a job.
I had to find things I could only be rejected from, like writing.
And there you have some of my litany.
And yes, I’m sorry about some of those aggressive men back here too…
Semper fi,
Jim
Don’t know it could be my own skewed view, but I’m thinking the Capt choice to go up front was a serious mistake on his part, but somebody had to go first. He didn’t believe the enemy was still in force, but I’m thinking they (NVA) had a Marine Rifle Company hung out to dry, they weren’t going anywhere. They were going to concentrate all their attention on the lead guys, and perhaps being left back with the mortar section wasn’t as bad as it appeared at the time? Surprised Gunny willingly went walking into potential disaster, I’m supposing he thought the NVA had split also.
The next chapter plays out. Don’t ever presume when officers are headed to the
front of a unit that they are headed toward a point position. That’s not real
life unless the officer is, shall we say, different.
Thanks for the comment though. I much enjoyed it.
Semper fi,
Jim
This is really a bad thing to say, but I believe I’d put a 105 right up Capt. Casey’s ass. Hell, seems that you’re coming up with all the plans and doing all the damage with arty and you are getting hung out to dry 🙁
I was trying to survive day to day, moment to moment, and only from this perspective
now does credit mean a damned thing…and it means nothing now either! It was about
fighting the enemy and then the war within and then just moving on from day into night and
into day again. Thanks for the support and the attitude…but remember that I am remembering
and not living it again…so I tend to favor myself a bit here too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Oh, yes, by putting stuff on here you are actually putting stuff
up that I can say I own and use however I want. It’s in the public domain. But can I really do that? Really?
No. I find it hard to describe how much the comments have and continue to mean to me as a person. I can’t do it.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your writing exudes this character and it is nothing short of pure class.I often don’t thank you for all the time effort that you give us in your sharing of your trial by fire. These comments by others that were in the same but different combat situations adds testament to what you are doing. I wish some of my friends that have been lost since their return had a chance to read this as it would of helped several to know they weren’t alone.
Hearing aids are highly over rated. I am on my 5th set now but if you have trouble separating the sounds they are a waste of money. 45 years as a welder and 2 1/2 years in armor plus being a designated ammo burner for a Head Quarters company did mine in.
Thank you Peter. It’s, admittedly, an easier decision to make because I’m
not going for reputation or fame anymore. The comments are precious, however,
and at some time in the future maybe someone might take the time and trouble
to go after permissions.
Semper fi, and thank you!
Jim
You and Casey fighting for Gunny,so true. However Casey has the hammer and can place you wherever he chooses. The bit about the Claymores brought me nearly to tears. So sad! Can’t wait to see how you get out this predicament. Semper Fi Jim and ThankYou!
Thanks Jack, for the thanks and for your usual accurate analysis.
Funny how things really were as opposed to how they are portrayed back here.
So much of that crap…
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, one thing that struck me on this episode was when you used the term, “My green world.” Such a good choice of words, when describing the scope. One night, when scoping a perimeter, I caught a Marine whacking it in his LP. The libido of 19 year old Marines sometimes got in the way. There were 8 million stories in that Naked City, and that was just one. Great job in recounting of details that were part of life in that whole microcosm of life in I Corps. Obviously, things that you and countless others of us will never forget. Keep em coming, LT.
Funny how so many good combat writers were Marines. Malentes, Webb, and now you remember stuff that was buried in those dark recesses of the brain that get a big “Holy shit! I remember that.”
Thanks for the big compliment. Malentes and Webb are way up there in my regard.
I read Fields of Fire right after I got home and it became the only book about the war I would
refer to anyone. Thanks for putting me in that company.
Semper fi,
Jim
I read it back then as well. Some of my Vietnam buds just read it this year, as they were also in the 5th, albeit 2nd Bn. Jim was with D 1/5. I got to talk to him quite extensively one night in DC, at a reunion on the birthday weekend, about 12 years ago. He was actually trying to turn Fields into a movie and wanted to know if some of us wanted to be consultants, as I knew my way around The Arizona pretty well. 😀 He wanted to film it in the An Hoa area and use real NVA, etc. The local bureaucrats, along with their puppeteers in Hanoi wanted their hands in everything. Jim finally said screw this and them. Damn shame, as it would have made a great one, from a great story.
Jim Webb, class act all the way.
The movie business is a morass deeper and just as shitty as the Nam was.
Semper fi,
Jim
Found you story on Facebook. Real good reading. Can’t wait for the next chapter.
Thanks Dusty. Yes, Facebook has been immensely helpful in getting the story out to many vets.
It is hard to reach anyone with any writing today because the competition is so fierce and the big
publishers will now only deal with big names. Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim another great segment, thank you. You have been in more shit in 12 days the my 8+ months in the field. The days in Cambodia are the only times we were in contact for long periods. You are right about the 50 cal., they would shoot through about anything, can’t hide. Keep it coming!
Saw and experienced a lot. Don’t know why or how that happened, but it sure as hell
happened to a lot of other vets too. We just didn’t know.
Thanks for your comment and the encouragement…
Semper fi,
Jim
Chris Taylor: Somebody once wrote,
“Hell is the impossibility of reason.”
That’s what this place feels like. Hell.
Platoon (1987)
Oliver Stone was there in the Nam. I am not sure what
he did there but Platoon had the patina of reality written
deeply into it. Hard to handle certain issues like race
and friendly fire in a movie though. People get awful pissed
off it the reality of those things are brought forth with any kind
of reality. The myths about war and warriors is overpoweringly powerful.
Semper fi,
Jim