The Cage - Post-Reunion Update - Oct 10, 2019

Hi, <<First Name>>,

A few weeks ago, I was able to attend the 65th Annual Reunion for the Third Marine Division in Branson, Missouri. I’ve been to two reunions before and I really love to go to them. They’re a great opportunity for my wife and I to spend time with my dad each year, to meet new veterans, and to learn more about the Vietnam War from those who actually experienced it. This year, I think I learned more in one week than I usually learn in months.

Don Bumgarner, who was a mortarman for Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) was especially helpful in introducing me to people and has been generously raising awareness about this project. He also gave me a collection of US Army Map Service, Series L7014 maps, which as I understand, were the kind used by the US Armed Forces during the war. Check it out; these are big, full color maps with an extraordinary amount of detail…

Digital versions of Series L7014 maps can be found online now, but I think it’s crazy-cool to hold the real deal in your hands; to smell the years in the paper. I will take good care of them until, perhaps one day, they may find their way into a museum. (Side note: I posted a digital copy of Map Sheets 6640 II and 6640 III, which are both referenced in the now declassified Command Chronology for Operation Beaver Cage).

I met a veteran named Richard Kuschel (Corpsman from Alpha Co.) and we spoke for a little more than two hours. I recorded the interview and have since gotten the audio transcribed into written text. What I found fascinating about Richard’s story was the fact that he was actually present at an event I’ve often heard described as “The Water Run.” Alpha Company Marines, supposedly on a water run to fill canteens, were ambushed by NVA who’d been hiding in hay. Richard’s recollection of the event had some differences to what I had formerly heard, to what’s commonly told and even to what’s been published; so, he really blew my mind. I will certainly be covering that event in the book and now, thanks to Richard, among others, I will be able to include certain details that have never yet been published (as far as I know).

I was also fortunate to have been granted time with Col. Jerry Reczek. He has been high on my list of V.I.P.s to talk to because he was the Company Commander for Charlie Co. during the period in which our story takes place. His level of knowledge and understanding as a Company Commander really helps to pull the camera back and provide a bigger picture perspective for readers. I was able to record a little more than two hours of audio with Col. Reczek’s perspective and now also have that interview converted to text.

What's more, he loaned me a phenomenal packet of materials that, among other things, included:

• A hand-written account and some thoughts of his own about Operation Beaver Cage; and
• Map of Vietnam broken down by Military Corps Areas and by Administrative Provinces; and
• Map of Vietnam (I Corps) where 1/3 operated identified by operations undertaken; and
• Map of Tam Ky (1/3 first engagement) between 4/28 through 5/12/1967 (Operation Beaver Cage/Union); and
• Map and movements in Phase 1 of Beaver Cage (Apr 28 through May 1, 1967); and
• Map and movements in Phase 2 of Beaver Cage (May 1 thru May 12, 1967); and
• Map of most of I Corps where 1/3 operated and the major bases therein; and
• Listing of Operations conducted by 1/3 while in RVN (between Apr 67 - Feb 68); and
• April 2007 issue of Leatherneck Magazine, featuring the article: Vietnam 40 Years Ago - Operation Union I - The Que Son Valley Became a Bloody Piece of Real Estate; article by LtCol Otto J. Lehrack, USMC (Ret). Note: Lehrack also wrote the book Road of 10,000 Pains, which tells of several operations involving 1/3 Marines, but with an emphasis on Operations Union I, and Union II.
• An article from Vietnam Magazine, titled Charlie Hits a Wall of Steel on Hill 110, by Nicholas Warr; and
• A reference sheet of map sheets (Hoi An, Tam Ky(W), Hiep Duk) and coordinates to various named landing zones and reference points.

I have digitized all these resources and mailed the source material back to Col. Reczek. I’m so very grateful for his trust and his time; he’s given me a lot of new material to digest!

Getting so much new information has been fascinating and fantastic, but also, I must admit, a little bit intimidating. The more I learn, the more I understand how much more there is to know. The story of Special Landing Force Alpha, of which my dad and these men were a part, is so epic, I have frequent spells of anxiety about my decision to write about them. The main thought that always comes to mind goes something like this: 

Self, what right do you think you have to write this story? You weren’t even there. Not only were you not there, you’ve never even been in any of the armed forces. You’re not even a published writer and you choose THIS to cut your teeth on? My god, man, why?

Why? That’s also one of three questions my writing coach asked me in a recent brainstorming session - the old WHO, WHAT, and WHY. Well, not even just one WHY, but two! There is, she explained, the WHY for the readers and then there is the WHY for you (the writer), which might differ. Pictured as a Venn diagram, where the answers to these seemingly simple questions cross one another, is where the unique voice of the story grows; its own heart and soul, one might say. You can see this Venn diagram in some of the whiteboard chicken-scratch from our brainstorming session below. But please, don’t try to interpret or make sense of much of what else you see here. I’m just illustrating the process - our "thinking out loud"; it was messy business.

Anyway, our initial brainstorming session was good for me. My coach (Alexandra, by the way) reminded me that it’s important to be clear on the answer to the WHO, WHAT, and WHY. Clarity on these core things just makes the writing much easier because it narrows the scope and focuses the lens; you’re talking to a specific audience about a limited set of things for a certain set of reasons. I’m still polishing that lens, but I get the point and I am already seeing how it’s helping me to be more comfortable and fluid with the writing.

In a round-about way, it has also shown me that what I think are my weaknesses might actually turn out to be strengths in disguise. Perhaps in the next update, I’ll tell you a little more about what I’m thinking, so stay tuned.