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[Scott7022]

It's hard to convey the emotion and feel Gunny. Hence you kinda had to be there. In movies it is easier as use of color and sound are your adverbs and pronouns. They create emotion. I remember my father taking me to see Apocalypse Now in the early 80's and I thought the scene at Do Lung Bridge was so cool. Almost like a fairy tail. Lance all wacked on acid holding the orphaned puppy, Sheen focused on the mission and finding out who was in command. All around, interacting with characters that are like the smoke and mist that blanket the scene. It was brilliant cinematography and great audio. The director pulled you into the scene, confusing sounds, imagery, and made you ask what the hell are they doing? Just like the characters. "He's close man, real close..." As good as it gets.

But for most that is as close as they will get, and that really isn't even close to close. But, thankfully so.

Writing it is harder. Generating a feeling is difficult and frustrating. We get the story you told, and I saw the group of sweat stained Marines sitting on the far bunk smoking some local herb and you below your little window looking at a book. See you never wrote it, but my minds eye filled in the blanks. Engaging the reader to use the minds eye is the key. Details do it.

Details like the missing Radar dome after the Du Long Bridge scene, and that mast structure collapsing after the PBR is dropped in the water from the helicopter. The boats are plastic!!! LOL!