In Country
A glimpse of the closing years in the Nam27 total reviews
Comment from mbarkersimpson
Hi
It's been a while since I've been on fanstory and read your work but I'm so glad I read this. The visual imagery was powerful, as was the emotive undertones of such a terrible war. I cared about these characters, they took me with them on their journey.
Thanks for sharing
Mel
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2011
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Hi
It's been a while since I've been on fanstory and read your work but I'm so glad I read this. The visual imagery was powerful, as was the emotive undertones of such a terrible war. I cared about these characters, they took me with them on their journey.
Thanks for sharing
Mel
Comment Written 07-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2011
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Thanks Mel - I wanted, believeable characters from both points of view, so glad you liked them. Regards, Bill
Comment from InHisownwrite
Whether a true instance or not, you take us there...
And we learn from bits and pieces of your story......
It all sounds like it happened..
I hold my breath somewhere near the middle...
Good for you..
Just glad I wasn't there!
Bryan
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Whether a true instance or not, you take us there...
And we learn from bits and pieces of your story......
It all sounds like it happened..
I hold my breath somewhere near the middle...
Good for you..
Just glad I wasn't there!
Bryan
Comment Written 07-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Hi Bryan - thanks for reading. My muse for a lot of this was from my best friend who was an Army Ranger there. The quote about guys getting out of a hole after a B-52 strike is all his. Regards, Bill
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Thanks Bill.. Loved it.. Bryan
Comment from c_lucas
This pretty well defines the situation at the end. It turned me against Johnson. Your story is very well written with a smooth flow of words.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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This pretty well defines the situation at the end. It turned me against Johnson. Your story is very well written with a smooth flow of words.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thanks Charlie - you are exactly right, but at the end, the Republicans didn't help much either. We were bombing the North back into cave man days and we waffled on the peace talks. Oh well, too bad you and I weren't in charge! Regards, Bill
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You're welcome, Bill. Due to my disabilities, I missed the dance, but my friends who lived through it enlightened me. Charlie
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I actually lucked up. From the Oakland Army Terminal headed West, Nixon said no more draftees to Vietnam. I would up in Heidelberg Germany. Long story that I'll post some day. Bill
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Nixon could do some things right.
Comment from R. K. Alan
Yeppers, sounds about right to me. Nobody ever learned that the NVA simply went to ground and popped out when the rain stopped. Had they followed up twenty minutes later with some low flyin fast movers dropping NP, we may have had a chance. Oh well... Ray aka R. K. Alan
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Yeppers, sounds about right to me. Nobody ever learned that the NVA simply went to ground and popped out when the rain stopped. Had they followed up twenty minutes later with some low flyin fast movers dropping NP, we may have had a chance. Oh well... Ray aka R. K. Alan
Comment Written 07-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Ray - several years ago, on a business trip to Singapore, I met a Vietnamese business man who fought for the North. He said the plane they hated most was the Skyraider. They could drop NP and all sorts of ordinance and hang around an play for awhile! Regards, Bill
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The skyraider was a great recon plane, highly menuverable and carried a good amount of ordinance. But our best tactic came later in the war with the red, white and blue package. Ray
Comment from RebelRose
This is a very good piece you have written. I tried (before reading the author's notes) to figure out what some of the terms meant. I was right on a few but most of them were out of my realm. I am so glad you provided the info.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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This is a very good piece you have written. I tried (before reading the author's notes) to figure out what some of the terms meant. I was right on a few but most of them were out of my realm. I am so glad you provided the info.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thanks Patty - I'll most likely get gigged on the glossary, but the terms are somewhat unique to the time and place, so wanted to include them. In a longer work, it doesn't really matter as your mind will wrap around the gist of the story. Thank you very much for reading and your support of all my work! Warm regards, Bill
Comment from Realist101
MOST excellent! Your incorporation of the white picket fence is perfectly original and this is a memorable story Bill! VERY good...this is a great entry! If you weren't in Nam, no one can tell, that's for sure! I see no spags either, of course, I am not that great with technicalities! But it looks clean and well thought out! ")) Susan
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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MOST excellent! Your incorporation of the white picket fence is perfectly original and this is a memorable story Bill! VERY good...this is a great entry! If you weren't in Nam, no one can tell, that's for sure! I see no spags either, of course, I am not that great with technicalities! But it looks clean and well thought out! ")) Susan
Comment Written 06-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thank you Susan - first for reading and then for your kind and positive feedback! Both are appreciated. Regards, Bill
Comment from adewpearl
The American's sent an Intel - Americans
Oh, bleeding from the compression force - I didn't realize that happened - how grisly.
Excellent, realistic-sounding dialogue.
I'm not putting any more of our guy's in body bags - guys
I love the final line - this is an excellent story that puts the reader right in a scene the likes of which most of us have never experienced. Brooke
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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The American's sent an Intel - Americans
Oh, bleeding from the compression force - I didn't realize that happened - how grisly.
Excellent, realistic-sounding dialogue.
I'm not putting any more of our guy's in body bags - guys
I love the final line - this is an excellent story that puts the reader right in a scene the likes of which most of us have never experienced. Brooke
Comment Written 06-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Brooke - I always appreciate your support and willingness to help. Warm regards, Bill
Comment from highlander104
Wow! What a change from your usual home town stories. This was written in the same fashion, good use of descriptive words putting the reader in that field. Should be a good contender in the contest. Good luck.
Jean K.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Wow! What a change from your usual home town stories. This was written in the same fashion, good use of descriptive words putting the reader in that field. Should be a good contender in the contest. Good luck.
Jean K.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thanks for reading Jean and for your kind feedback. I actually was recently challanged by another of my FS friends to get out of my comfort zone, so .... Regards, Bill
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Well, you sure took it waaay out of your comfort zone. Good read.
Jean K.
Comment from missy98writer
Bill,
you've written excellent flash fiction. I was riveted from beginning to end. In a bare minimum of words for the greatest you've effectively created a setting, conflict, and a resolve to your story. I like a war story with meat like yours. Your narrative is great. I could picture Colonel Kim huddled with his men. Your story is a real contender in the contest. I wish you good luck. Thanks for an entertaining story.
Melissa.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Bill,
you've written excellent flash fiction. I was riveted from beginning to end. In a bare minimum of words for the greatest you've effectively created a setting, conflict, and a resolve to your story. I like a war story with meat like yours. Your narrative is great. I could picture Colonel Kim huddled with his men. Your story is a real contender in the contest. I wish you good luck. Thanks for an entertaining story.
Melissa.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thanks Melissa - I'm glad that you stopped by and read the story and always appreciate your kind support! Regards, Bill
Comment from forestport12
LOoks like this one could be a winner from what I have seen the way you made one think of that picket fence told in dialogue is a moment you can't get out of your head. I thought the whole story not only entertained us, but gave us a real glimpse into the the heart and thoughts of our troops at that time. Well done sir.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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LOoks like this one could be a winner from what I have seen the way you made one think of that picket fence told in dialogue is a moment you can't get out of your head. I thought the whole story not only entertained us, but gave us a real glimpse into the the heart and thoughts of our troops at that time. Well done sir.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2011
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Thanks for reading and for your kind feedback! Regards, Bill