A Personal Announcement

Monday 9 June 2014

I will be suspending my blog posts until 1 July, 2014 !

Reason explained below, maybe to long but the truth.

Knal Naval Hospital, Oakland CA. In 1966 I was a member of the 2nd Batt. 4th Marines 3rd Marine Div. In heavy combat for 8 months. The official Magnificent Bastard's granted by of order 5600.1B made by Lt/Col A.E Gene Bench USMC on 09/24/1966. Most of my time I served under Lt/Col Paul Kelly as my battalion CO who went on to become the 28th Commandant of the Corp. On Aug 8, 1966 E-company (40 men) went out to do an extraction of a small Force Recon team, we accomplished our mission when the last helicopter lifted off the attach became so heavy 20 Marines were stuck on a small hill, it was about 5:00 PM. 

In the first assault on our hill top I found myself 30/35 feet off the hill in enemy lines, a enemy hand-grade went off next to my left leg. Subsequently a North Vietnamese solder rushed me, shooting me into my left side at point blank as I reached for my rifle. Of course I should of been killed but it went in and out my upper shoulder without hitting anything vital. As the battle went on over my head I applied my own web belt to my leg to steam the bleeding, my only medical help for the next 14 hrs except Doug Van getting me water off a dead solder at his hole, just next to me.

I took about 7 to 10 minutes before my friend PFC Doug Van found out where I was, arranged cover fire, then he came into enemy lines and pulled me to his hole.  (Doug in yet another battle got wounded, finished his service, rejoined the USMC to become a pilot, leaving the Marines after 6 more years as Captain Doug Van of Gainesville, Georgia. He received the Navy Cross with a combat -V. 

The 20 Marines fought from 5:00 PM until about 5:00 AM, many died some  like me survived, all alive where wounded except Doug. Our Captain Howard Lee attempted to join us with reinforcement team but only he and 2 others got to the hill, one magnificent pilot flow Captain Lee in and return with ammunition only to crash land on our hill top with supplies and joined in the fight. Captain Lee received the Congressional Medal of honor for his efforts that night.   

What I'm say is that I have know difficult times, live / served and fought with real heroes and been so lucky, so bless all my life, to tell my story a life long dream and now into it's 7th year of effort, to be completed about Aug to Sept 2014. My knees finally went out completely and so its time to fix them after push as long as I can, this is the reason to stop my blog for a while.     

I have to admit something, I am the creator, the author, publisher, web designer, editor (So please excuse my spelling and grammar at times). The reason is I will give an honest review of my life witch covers a lot of the history of my time, for that to happen it has to be done by me, at this time in our history if money to be made no one has interest, The real truth told in my words can not happen. In 1969 after a year in the hospital I returned to Vietnam at a time we were losing 300 killed each weeks, me going to Vietnam with no job, no connection and no money, why you may ask, well that is also part of the story. The book is not only about Vietnam, also 22 years in the missile east, and a few more wars. The book will not be about units, guns used, and tactics, it will be about the people, the human side of life in times and areas many know little about. 

I stayed in Vietnam until April 1975, a few days before the final helicopters lifted off from the embassy. Last 13 Oct. 2013 CBS News did a spacial called Daring rescue form Saigon by Lesley Stahl the anchor, with John Riordon, then a young bank manager, today he sits on the board of director's of Citi Bank. When I saw it I contacted CBS news, I attempted to contact Mr Riordon thinking it would be interesting. You see CBS made a big deal out of this form  to declare your employees as your kids and process them though. This was my ideal, after a meeting late at night with a couple other people we copied them off, this started the evacuation on a large scale with myself as the person distribution and organizing the departure point as a volunteer myself. Of course there is a story behind it, as in other event that somehow I keep finding myself in. This was also yet another lesson on why for my book to be written, unvarnished history to be told it must be my effort only, depending on many of you reading it, recommending it to others, the old fashion way of marketing. I have called CBS but had no responds, also I tried  to contact the banker Mr Riordon, all I can say is evidently register mail return recite don't seem to work event to say hi.  

Vi-Dan USA ( For the People) The web site( http://vidanusa.com ) tell much more of the coming book with 700 pics of the places but of course not the story, all pictures come with captions. Expected publishing now is May, 2015.  

This picture shows the powder burn, bullet entree and exit.

To write unvarnished history it has to be done by yourself, every offer of help, every attempt to get funds goes back to how much money can be made, or to push someone else's views, or agenda. I of course don't know all the facts but I know what I saw and felt in my life lived out on the front lines of much of our international policy for 40 years. Yes, what I know and saw is quit different then what has and is presented to the people in a world of spin.  

Vi-Dan USA (For the People) will be dedicated to all grunts of this world, the ones that do the heavy lifting to carry out their government / military policy. Having said that the book is about Love, Life, moving on, about learning from life and being happy. I have never felt a victim, or that life was a struggle, or that we have limits because of education or how we started life. It took a long time to understand a few things, it has all been very interesting and rewarding. I went to one day of my junior year in high school, not because I had troubles, most because I started life early working out side the home at 11 years old. NO, I DO NOT recommend that to any one !

I do have a PHD in living life, reading many books and current event, I do apologizes at times because I was born on a working farm not very big in Iowa, I had so many advantages in life because of that, I feel sorry for those born with silver, gold and platinum spoons in their months and never getting the chance to learn many things of importance in life.  

I've never been so bold or hardly ever talk about my Marine thing, but in a few months I will be review everything about my whole life, the good / bad the highs / lows, the only way that I see to accomplish my goal, to be part of what the future will be, people sharing their stories and lives across the world, forever changing the way we live and look at each other, done by share our lives, tell only the truth. To make money is not my goal witch of course most people simply do not understand. Of course I hope some moderate income comes so I can translate and publish world wide, support my Dear Wife as she full-fills her dream, but to understand when enough is enough and to give back at a certain point in life, this I do believe is the one way of life with the greatest reward. 

I will not be so personal very often on my blog, but I have warred that at times I would make announcement and be personal.

Over 4 years ago I could have changed one knee, instead I pushed myself to create, write and publish ( This Works for Me ) witch can be purchase on Amazon e-book and print, Apple book store under health and wellness, and on Smashword word wide in e-book. I still can touch the floor with my flat hands and put my leg up like this, just that I can't walk on anything but flat surfaces, and not so far. 

This Works for Me can be found also at (  http://thisworksforme.net  ) as I still have about 250 copy of a partly colored printed left. I simply don't have the funds to print and distribute myself but it is dedicated to our wonder veterans in witch I give them great advice, not easy advice, has two original poems' and is the most practical health book out their, anyone without serious health problem can do as I do with out killing themselves, one of the key statements in it is. (It's not what you do but what you do every day) another is (To use the muscles we seldom use) but in a logical way. Based on the most base exercises and eating habits. 

Check it out and take it to heart ! 

The world / our country has changed already, it seems to me few understand that. It is the information age, the micro revolution, it means that the masses of people will have a far greater say in the direction of our world. I hope that the knowledge and understanding we as people have can usher in a future with democracy done peaceful. I understand the vested interests' are afraid, some will fight back to hold their advantage but in my heart I know the die has already been cast. So much knowledge is available, it multiplies and often is rejected or not being used, fear is sold wholesale witch is an old habit. 50 years ago in my wildest of dreams I could never imagine I would one day be publishing to the world my story, the thoughts I publish hear five days a week. Other will do like wise, we our at the beginning of a change in human history, don't be afraid of it, instead embrace change as it is the only sure thing in life. 

I feel so blessed to have somehow been given an open mind, a second chance to have lived, the people that came into my life, of course the woman that shared my life, many lessons learned over a life time and now the ability to share it all. 

Remember: Happiness is Oh so simple and a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom ! 

Until July "take good care", to my 2300 followers on Tweeter and all those that have supported me on face-book. "Thanks for you support". 

 Richard L Iverson

PS: I told my Doctor Craig Swenson of La Jolla, CA. please take care that nothing goes bump in the process and that I would be posting his name, of course I'm only kidding ( always take nothing or your self to serious) he is one of best knee surgeons on the west cost and as far as I'm concerned the world. It is true I told him I have a book I felt needed to be shared and that was my biggest concern event I love every day of life and have 1,000's of things yet to do, people to share life with, publishing my book is the most important thing to me just now because I have already had such a remarkable life with little in life I have not done or experienced to my satisfaction, that is a good place to be at and you reach it by living your life with purpose, afraid of nothing as you are star dust and meant to live out your life, how it goes depends mostly on your efforts and intentions.