Part 58 (2/2)
”You know what I thought when the gunner left me in charge?” Dunwood asked, as much of himself as Preston. ”I was happy, proud, like a second lieutenant getting his first platoon. And then I thought I must be crazy. I'm not a real Marine. I'm a weekend warrior, a G.o.dd.a.m.ned car salesman-where do you think Major McCoy got Car Salesman as my call sign? Gunner Zimmerman is fat and German, and he's Fat Kraut, and I'm Car Salesman, because that's all I really am, a car salesman that got called up-”
”You're a Marine, sir, a G.o.dd.a.m.ned good one,” Preston interrupted. ”Don't tell me different. I was in the perimeter with you from day f.u.c.king one until they pulled us out.”
”What I was about to say,” Dunwood went on after a moment, ”was that the proof of that was that here I was, a captain, taking orders from a master gunner, and it didn't bother me at all. And then I realized I liked being here, doing what we're doing, a h.e.l.l of a lot more than I ever liked selling cars.”
”How the h.e.l.l do you think I feel?” Preston asked. ”Christ, sir, I was on recruiting duty. recruiting duty. One minute telling some pimply-faced high school kid that once he gets to put on dress blues, he won't be able to handle all the p.u.s.s.y that'll be coming his way, and the next minute telling his mother that Sonny Boy not only will have a chance to further his education in the crotch, but will receive, just about every day, moral counseling from a clergyman of his choice of faith.” One minute telling some pimply-faced high school kid that once he gets to put on dress blues, he won't be able to handle all the p.u.s.s.y that'll be coming his way, and the next minute telling his mother that Sonny Boy not only will have a chance to further his education in the crotch, but will receive, just about every day, moral counseling from a clergyman of his choice of faith.”
Dunwood laughed out loud.
”Are you suggesting, Sergeant Preston, that when I raise the question of CIA service to Major McCoy, I should mention your name?”
Preston considered that for a long moment.
”No, sir,” he said finally. ”I don't want you to do that.”
”Change your mind, all of a sudden?”
”If the rest of the guys heard I did that, they'd all be p.i.s.sed. I can't think of a one of them that really wants to go back to the 5th Marines. What I'll do, if you tell me what Major McCoy tells you, and it looks at least possible, is go see him myself.”
Dunwood didn't reply.
”Or . . .” Preston had a second thought. ”How much time do we have before the major gets back and you talk to him?”
”I have no idea when he'll be back. Or Gunner Zimmerman. ”
”I can ask the guys, who wants to go back to the crotch, and who wants to stay here . . . and get in the CIA official. And then everybody who wants the CIA can go see the major together.”
”All right,” Dunwood said. ”I'll let you know what Major McCoy says.”
”What about me going as replacement crew on the boat?”
”Take someone with you-another Marine. The rest Koreans. If Major McCoy or Gunner Zimmerman says you can go on the Wind of Good Fortune, Wind of Good Fortune, it's okay with me. But get that grease off your face and get out of the pajamas before you go. You better take a replacement radio, too.” it's okay with me. But get that grease off your face and get out of the pajamas before you go. You better take a replacement radio, too.”
”Aye, aye, sir,” Staff Sergeant Preston said.
[TWO].
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, AWARDS BRANCH OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D.C. 1640 19 OCTOBER 1950.
The duty day at CNO/CAB ended at 1600, but when Commander John T. Davis, USN, went to the office door of Captain Archie M. Young, USN, the chief, and found him still hard at work at his desk, he was not at all surprised.
There were gold aviator's wings on Captain Young's breast, and submariner's gold dolphins on Commander Davis's breast. They pinned them on each day-as they had every right to do-even though Commander Davis had left the silent service four years before, and Captain Young had last sat in a c.o.c.kpit eight years before.
Both had ”busted the physical” and been disqualified for further service in the air/beneath the sea. Captain Young had told his career counselor in the Bureau of Personnel that he would really rather find anything else useful to do around the Navy than be a grounded aviator at a Naval air station or aboard a carrier, and Commander Davis had told his career counselor that he would rather do anything but stand on a wharf somewhere and watch a boat head out on patrol.
Neither wanted a berth in the surface Navy, either. That didn't leave much-unless they wanted to go back to school and get a law degree, or something along that line-but supply and personnel. They had each given personnel a shot, and to their surprise learned that it was really not as boring as they thought it would be-actually, sometimes it was a h.e.l.l of a challenge-and that they were very good at their new specialty.
Today, Commander Davis thought, was one of those times when it appeared there was going to be a h.e.l.l of a challenge.
Captain Young raised his eyes from his desk and took off his gla.s.ses.
”What have you got, Jack, that has kept you from rus.h.i.+ng home to a cold martini?”
”I thought I would seek your wise guidance on this one, sir,” Davis said. ”Commander MAG-33 has been heard from.”
He walked into the office and laid the message from Lieutenant Colonel William C. Dunn on Captain Young's desk.
”I'll be d.a.m.ned,” Young said when he'd read the message, then read from it: ” 'The undersigned is unable to comply.' ”
”What the h.e.l.l does that mean?”
”Start out, Commander, by having faith in your fellow man,” Young said. ”It may mean just what he says. He is unable to comply. That is different, wouldn't you agree, from 'unwilling to comply'?”
”Yes, sir.”
”And then, Commander, we must consider the circ.u.mstances. Actually, these circ.u.mstances should be considered first. The President has spoken. He thinks this officer should be awarded the Navy Cross. He desires desires that this officer be awarded the Navy Cross. What the President of the United States that this officer be awarded the Navy Cross. What the President of the United States desires desires has the force and effect of a lawful order.” has the force and effect of a lawful order.”
”Yes, sir,” Commander Davis said, smiling.
”Furthermore, this jarhead obviously deserves a medal. Jesus Christ, he was shot down, and then evaded capture . . . three months?”
”About that, sir.”
”Furthermore, when the Commander-in-Chief desires something, he desires it right then. He is not interested- and indeed, should not be-with administrative problems that get in the way of his desires. Agreed?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Given (a) and (b) above, we cannot let a little thing like a misplaced misplaced citation get in the way of our carrying out what is clearly our duty, can we?” Captain Young asked reasonably. citation get in the way of our carrying out what is clearly our duty, can we?” Captain Young asked reasonably.
”No, sir, we cannot.”
”Why don't we ask Harrison to step in here for a minute, Commander?”
”Excellent idea, sir,” Commander Davis said, and walked out of the office.
He returned a moment later with Chief Personnelman Robert C. Harrison, a slight thirty-five-year-old with eighteen years' naval service and a perfectly manicured pencil-line mustache.
”Yes, sir?” Harrison asked.
”Chief, we have a small problem that requires your literary skills,” Captain Young said.
”Commander Davis showed me the TWX, Captain,” Harrison said.
”Since the citation has been misplaced, misplaced, Chief,” Captain Young said, ”we're going to have to duplicate what it must have said here so we don't keep the CNO-and indeed, the President-waiting. You take my meaning?” Chief,” Captain Young said, ”we're going to have to duplicate what it must have said here so we don't keep the CNO-and indeed, the President-waiting. You take my meaning?”
<script>