All Comments on 'Chapter 03: Dear John'

He and Ann are finished, thanks for the great read.

with every single of your outings and I must admit that I look forward to reading your stories anxiously. This story is wonderful and has some very believable characters. Keep up the good work!

Without a doubt, and not even close, the best, most in depth characterizations you've done. You know you've grown as a writer when we empathize with all of the characters--even the ones we don't like so much. The only character in the whole story for whom no sympathy is evoked is Keith, and rightly so. The others are well-crafted, have depth, and we can see how problems are going to arise in the near future.

Also, your editing is considerably better with far fewer typos and misused words.

Please keep up the great writing and get this one going faster!

You had me a few times thinking it was going to have a cliche ending, but you pulled out an excellent 3 part story. Well done.

This is one of the best stories I have read on this site. You have everything in it - appropriate emotions, developed characters, good story line and, above all else, believability!

This is a great read - definitely a 5-star.

Norman D

Sometimes a writer hits the Nail on the head, but reading this story was close to home for I was in the Service about this time and performed all of the functions just like in this story.

They say experence is the best teacher, but sharing that experence makes it truely a life that has been shared.

Thank you

Good story as ever Slirpuff. Keep them coming.

Superb story. Thanks. My one nit pick is that the right category would be "romantic," but of course that would have given away the ending. So, thanks for hiding that as well as I didn't even sneak a peek at the last few paragraphs--your story was so engaging!

Congratulations on a very well written story. Never was in, but have a B in Law who was a Marine in Nam and it has affected him to the present time.

and especially good development of characters. I really could not understand why the father said she was out on date if she was not and her commentaries at the point should have blown the hell out of her image with Daddy. Finally we have the violation of that Literotica rule once a cheater, always a cheater! She did it four time how come the fifth was different? I was sure that this was going on for a couple of more chapters while he found a dedicated lady.... I loved his reply to his mother when she told to apologize to Anne!

With a good appreciation and knowledge of American history in the 1970's Slirpuff write well and knows pretty much what readers want to hear. At times he gives a bit to much detail on sexual acctivities, but as a whole his stories flow well and there is a reason for major changes to the his basic story approaches, as is the case with this current story. Keep writing your story, which I feel you were personally involved with. You write about Nam like a war reporter would, really knowing what was going on that the public back home in the U.S. never were allowed to know. RAG

I agree with other commentors that this was your best. Great character development and story flow. Will be interesting to watch your continued development.

Unfortunately I fear a wimp out with Ann in progress, especially since he was too stupid to get a revenge fuck, and then feels all self righteous about it. You are starting to give Marines a bad name, no matter how great of a life taker Steve is, please don't cut the fools balls off at the end of the story.

Excellent story and well written. Fantastic wedding gift idea by Cindy which made it a great ending. Thanks for sharing.

Every time you put pen to paper you improve - can't wait for the next one!

....character assignations ( John was one of his best friends yet he thinks of him as a perpetual asshole?!) This subject matter hits your comfort zone, thanks for the read.

I enjoyed this story ! Steve is lucky to find Cindy! At first I had my doubts!

5 stars for this read!

Thanks for writing!

ever going to be a chapter four? seems like something is missing.

Damn...Author- You knew all the details of a Marine's life in Viet-Nam to a detailed T! How in the Hell.... Your bio says 51-60 so you were awful young to be there before TET, but I believe that you must have been because you described everything so perfectly about the mid-sixties boot camp and then again, Denang! And you are right...it doesn't matter what MOS you were, you still had to do patrol duties and visit villages where the inhabitants only wanted your money! They were even selling us our beer cans back after using them to make beercan covered footlockers! Now, not only do I love your writing and your stories...I also feel a kinship towards you as a combat brother. I know that this was just a story but if I saw one Dear John letter...I saw a hundred written to my guys. Some with nasty photos included just to humiliate the Dear John it seemed. Just great...you have made my day! I should add...I too got a Dear John from my sweetheart. But it was prior to my going over in 66-67. Thanks Again (Think Chulai, Vietnam - MAG 36 1st MAW - 60 miles North of Danang)

Anyone have a clue? =/ I don't know what a crystal bowl could mean. Unless it's just a gift sent as a symbolic gesture of no hard feelings. I donnow.. Maybe it is true "guys can be so brain dead sometimes" haha.

Your bio makes you too young to be a Nam Vet, but you got the facts and feelings right. Sometimes, completely normal events become vivid memories because they occur in a completely abnormal world. And the questions people ask ! They have no idea what they are asking, and their innocence is insurmountable.

nice...mrbill

with a happy ending (except when Cindy gets boired, maybe, in a few years, maybe, but maybe not). My main complaint is, it isn't about anything. Sure the subject matter, but what's at stake? Loyalty? Trust? Ways to recover from heartbreak? Can Sluts become Saints (or at least, loyal and true, no hassles)? How much of life is impulse and how much deliberate? Is it all a game of chance? Does discipline or self-discipline matter? What does the RCChurch have wrong? What's the beginning the beginning of, the middle the middle of, and the end the end of? Steve's attempt to find a life and live happily ever after with a woman? Heck, he's personable, and early on you stress prone to getting into trouble, so I thought this might be a "hard luck kid" tale or "surviving adversity" tale or the like. Even "how a scapegrace son becomjes a disciplined Dad." Something. But no. A pleasing bio including a tour of duty in Nam. But pleasing.

It was a "thank you" for screwing up the relationship with Steve and making it possible for Cindy and Steve to find each other.

It would smash in the mail :)

I think the author described the Vietnam war times accurately. I think it is interesting that Cindy ended up having more integrity and loyalty than Ann. I see it as a story about change. The changing times of the Vietnam war, Ann's change for the worse and Cindy's for the better. Well done!!

I would be interesting to know what was in Slirpuff's mind when he wrote this ... perhaps he just wanted to write an interesting story. If so, he certainly succeeded

Well done story, but then you already know that. It has a little of everything. I've enjoyed your other stories, but this one is a bar above the rest. The descriptions of 'Nam and the attendant BS are very good. The emotional qualities you somehow managed to put to words, are outstanding. I truly enjoyed the read even if it evoked a few memories.

lead to loads of fun. TK U MLJ LV NV

writing ability in all it's glory, a truly fine read.

I read this series after it was posted. Reads even better the second time. Interesting, poignant, and realistic... Plus having Cindy go for 3 months with no sex was funny - couldn't help but root for her. Well done SP.

Just read this one and frankly he was an idiot trading Ann for Cindy who had fucked half the town. The Marines must have really screwed up his thinking to do that for one mistake she made.

I don't know, she admits to cheating on every single boyfriend & Steve still wanted to pursue a relationship... Isn't that kind of stupid marrying a slut? I didn't really like this story much because there's no way you can turn a hoe into a housewife I don't care how good or big your dick is...

u get a 5. good character development; people were believeable; the girl stayed true at least for 90 days, our marine was a good man and honorable. you got it.

There is character development...and then there is dragging.

I finished it. And I was engaged...but the payoff was no better than some 4 pagers I've read and the kid stuff was frankly irrelevant to the story.

Not your best, but I enjoyed it anyway.

As a Navy Corpsman who was able to avoid the FMF I am always glad to read about the Marines and what I missed. Thank you for writing.

FUCK! HOW BORING AND STOP USING BABES! Do you not know its the most hated pets name for women?

some made it back to their original mates forever. TK U MLJ LV NV

I liked this story (all three chapters), an easy four. Twenty Nine Palms is South of Barstow, not the other way around.

So I guess I'm like Steve in that I ask "Why" would my loving wife want to send a wedding gift to my cheating ex girlfriend?

Can some please spell it out for me? I confused and curious.

if not, it's a women thing "Thank you for cheating, he's mine now. Fuck off bitch!" That's the message.

starred - stared

mopped - moped

Babes - Babe

your not - you're not

Your smart - You're smart

“Hari Kristinas” – Hare Krishnas

“in lue of” – In LIEU of.

I DO agree with Cindy: If a guy sleeps with a lot of women, he’s a “player” or a “stud”, while a girl is a “slut”.

He already knew she was a sexual beast, she was up front that she wasn’t sure she was girl friend material, they would have been better off agreeing to be non-exclusive until he came home, then see what was what.

It's obvious Cindy wants to give Ann the gift as a "Thank you" for losing Steve.

That last paragraph and sentence was a pretty weird way to end things.

but for a non-English speaker, it will be difficult to get him trained.

Great and good effort. The thought put into this story was amazing. I lived through Viet Nam and the emotional ups and downs were very vivid. It happened just like that. Every so often, a story like this comes along. It does not always have to be vivid sex. Couple of things; 40 + 22+ 18 = 80, not 70. And, to my knowledge, there is no 60 caliber machine gun, just a 50 cal. The Germans in WWII had an 88mm anti-tank gun. Keep up the good work. Love the read.

Cindy's wedding present to Anne was thank you for her dumping Steve so that she gained Steve as her loving husband.

Liked the story, gave you five stars.

Really enjoyed your story, could stop reading it. Well done.

This took me back to my own time in the service '73-93. Relationships are hard especially when one member is part of group play 24/7. As George Strait said, I lost a wife and a girlfriend somewhere along the way. Steve represents the lucky ones who ended up happy and healthy. 5 stars. Thanks for writing. JPR

Why did she buy the punch bowl?

That was Cindy saying 'Thanks for messing up.' She got Steve because Ann cheated.

Liked the story and the happy ending. Steve needed a break even if a good portion of his problems are self inflicted. The crystal bowl may have two meanings. 1) thanks for freeing up Steve for me or 2) convey the message of "glass bowl" which rhymes with a crude name of a bodily orifice.

Dear John letters suck. Never received one myself, but there I remember a guy in my basic training flight who not only deservingly received a Dear John letter, but wound up getting three. Before going to boot camp he was dating three girls, two knew each other well, the other tangentially. He was writing to all three. I told him he playing with fire, but he just blew me off. One could imagine the conversation: "My boyfriend is in AF boot camp". "So is mine. When do he go away?" "About four weeks ago" "So did mine. What his name?" ... Needless to say they compared letters and proceeded to dump him. Not sure how the third girl found out. Add on top of it, he and a few others in our flight got busted for smoking weed just days before graduation. Not sure what happened to them, but I'm guessing it ended their AF careers.

Anyway, good story. I kind of wished a little time was spend on developing Cindy's character namely what made her have a connected to Steve to have him devoting the rest of his life to her. I would hope that it was more than she was the hottest sex he ever had.

Too many memories

Great read. As Charlie Daniels sang "still in Saigon in my mind"

Not oneof your best. But then I don’ like all these strong hero stories. Once he gets out of his childhood he gets to be so good...! Upright and honorable. All the time.

A great story. I wanted to vote you five stars but I drug a finger over one star, sorry.

Was a good read. Kinda long winded in small patches but enjoyed the 3 chapters allot. Glad Steve ended up with a girl that sorted him and not a air head.

Couldn't forgive Ann for her lapse,but could go out with and marry the neighbour bike,what a jerk.

Wrote read enjoyed

Damn even barstow

My last duty station after returned from Nam

Hell of 3 weeks adjusting from 100 % humidity to 50 %

And definitely cools off at night

4 stars I would give you 4 1/2 if knew how

Just extremely rare for me to give 5 has to be almost perfect

A very good novella. There's a guy out there somewhere who could come really close to being Steve. Lots of guys in this category from that period of time.

It was a really engaging story and I'm glad it worked out with Cindy.

What surprised me, was that I actually ended up feeling sorry for Ann. Steve signed up to the marines without evening discussing it with the poor girl. Bearing in mind the huge impact that decision was going to have on her life, I'm amazed she didn't just dump the inconsiderate asshole.

He arbitrarily imposed a year of celibacy on a beautiful 21 year-old woman. What the hell did he expect was going to happen?

"Semper Fi", a Vietnam Marine friend told me that they didn't say that, it means nothing. SEMPER FIDELIS means "Always Faithful". Yeah, yeah, be quiet, boomer.

Loved it, great story

Strange he wouldn't get back with Ann who was unfaithful with one guy,but he ends up marrying the town bike,can't follow his logic.

The town slut was FAITHFUL to just Steve!!! Ann was UNFAITHFUL to Steve!!!

Pick the faithful girl; no matter her history...

https://www.ourmilitary.com/what-do-marines-say-in-response-to-semper-fi/

Slirpuff is a very good writer it's a shame they haven't published anything in 4 years. This is a good story which will resonate with anyone in the military. If it were a real life story I would be concerned that he married a women who admitted she cheated on four previous boyfriends. It seems a recipe for bad marriage but people change and the author really doesn't give us anything of Cindy's background so maybe her previous relationships just weren't strong enough.

Love is what counts !

I must be one of the brain dead,because I don't understand the wedding gift.

I think a lot of people don’t understand the vague reference of the crystal bowl. Maybe need a p.s. to get xplain it to dem

As the saying goes: trust a marine with your life, not with your wife.

Seems I belong to the brain dead as I don't get this with the crystal bowl

Fun story with fun people. LP

I guess, that the crystal bowl was a thank you for Ann's screw up, and for giving Cindy her chance with Steve.

You really need a better editor, there are so many errors, both with the grammar and the spelling.

Very good professionally written story. Great job

I do mostly enjoy your writing, but there are too many mistakes.

Starred is what Tom Cruise did in Top Gun, when you look at someone/something, that is stared.

Did Cindy really spend time cleaning the floors in Steve’s parents home (mopping) or was she moping?

There seem to be a number of writers on here that think that shaking their head means yes, there are a very small number of places where that is true, but in 99.9% of the world, nodding means yes and shaking means no.

There is a tiny insect called a Gnat not a Knat. There are also misspelled words, missing letters and incorrect use of their when it should be they’re (they are) and all ready rather than already. These errors make some of your stories difficult to read, however, despite this I still enjoy reading them.

To the grammar nazi's out there,offer to edit/proofread the story,then you can only blame yourself,5stars.Dalbydad

Good story arc. Well written. Ann wasn't evil just duped. 9 months is a long time and she just wasn't strong enough to ward off a predator. MC wss better of without her but she wasn't malicious. Loved his clichéd dialog with Ann about how it happened, how long etc. Keith just played her. Glad to see he and Cindy made it all work.

I'm not college educated... what does the crystal vase mean?