“AAAAAAAAAH!” And he sat straight up, covering himself with his hands.
The Lieutenant couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing. The duty nurse came in, wanting to know what the ruckus was all about. When Nurse Thorpe told her, she too was laughing.
Three days later, Chris’ surgeon stopped in, “Ensign, we’re going to remove these bandages. We’re going to reduce the lighting in the room so it will not shock your eyes. Ready?”
Yes, sir,” the now concerned Ensign said.
After removing the bandages, the surgeon said, “There is still some swelling in your eyes and cheeks. I want you to keep applying ice wrapped in towels; your nurse will assist you throughout your recovery. Each day, I will stop by, and we will do what we can to get your eyes open and working again.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’ll turn you over to Nurse Thorpe, and I want you to be nice to her, she’s the best nurse in the hospital.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
The doctor left some instructions with Nurse Thorpe, who placed those and other pertinent information in his chart, then left.
Nurse Thorpe prepared a hand-sized towel with ice cubes in it. She gently held it across his eyes and cheeks.
“May I ask a personal question?”
“As long as it’s not too personal.”
“What is your name?”
“You know my name,” she played coy with him.
“Your first name.”
“It’s Marie, but I answer to Maggie.”
“Can I call you, Maggie?”
“Yes, but not when there are others around, we aren’t allowed to be involved with our patients.”
“Are we involved?”
“I wouldn’t think so.”
“Oh, you’re married.”
“No, and I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Okay, just wondering. I ‘m not married either, nor do I don’t have a lady friend.”
“Where are you from, Ensign?”
“Iowa, Ames, Iowa.”
“How about that, we’re neighbors, I’m from outside of Lincoln, Nebraska.”
“Is that right? My family and my grandparents are farmers.”
“You’re kidding, so are mine.”
“We do have a lot in common; it’s a good thing we have some time to talk, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it could be interesting.”
The surgeon stopped by every day. The room remained in subdued light to protect Chris’s eyes. The swelling in Chris’ face had subsided to the point his handsome features were back to normal. Something that didn’t miss the attention of Maggie Thorpe.
On this visit, the surgeon had an eye specialist with him, Doctor Edmond Rice. Doctor Rice conducted a thorough examination of both the eyes of his patient.
“Ensign Lanner, I want you to read the lines of this chart I’m holding.” Chris read the lines with little trouble. Then the doctor used a series of different silhouettes of aircraft in progressive distances. Chris could not identify any distance aircraft with his left eye. Following a few more examinations, Doctor Rice said, “Chris, your left eye is unable to focus for distance. I’m afraid you cannot fly without twenty-twenty vision. I must pass on these test results with the recommendation that you cannot reach the requirements of flight, I’m sorry, son.”
Chris dropped his head in dejection; out of the blue, his life suffered a stunning blow, now the dream of his life, gone. Doctor Rice said, “A medical board will examine all of your records and examinations and will render a final decision.
After the physicians left, Maggie cleaned up the room; she was having a difficult time keeping her eyes dry. When she finished, she went to the closed door and checked the hallway. She returned to Chris’s bedside. Chris watched the fully developed woman move with the grace of a panther. Her red hair was down, rather than in a bun, as usual. Her figure was worthy of modeling clothes rather than uniforms.
Looking into Chris’s blue eyes, she took his hand and held onto tightly. “Oh Chris, I’m so sorry about this, have you given any thought of what you will do?”
“Not just yet, but I don’t want to leave the service. I like the Navy and planned on making it a career, but now that’s in question.”
Chris intertwined their fingers and noted Maggie didn’t pull back but held him tightly. They looked at one another in the subdued light, and Maggie bent over and kissed the Ensign.
“I believe we’re involved now.”
“I’m afraid we are, but that must not leave this room.”
“Yes, ma ‘me,” he said, teasing.
“How're your eyes feeling?”
“Pretty good, considering.”
“You up for coffee?”
“I am, and he kicked off the covers, finding he only had an open gown, which allowed everything exposed to her eyes. Maggie, now very familiar with Chris’ body, handed him some under and outer clothing then stepped away, allowing him to dress.
“I am required to ensure your safety, so please take my arm as you usually do.”
Chris did as instructed, noticing Maggie was holding his arm tightly to her. While in the café, the two made eye contact several times, holding it longer each time.
Both picked up a cup of black coffee.
Maggie said, “We even like our coffee black, why do I have the feeling we are going to be more than involved as time goes on?”
“I would say because I feel the same way, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“You’re the one.”
“One what?”
“The one my mother told me would come from out of the blue and possess my heart.”
“My parents told me I would know the woman who was my soul-mate when I met her. And it’s you, Maggie Thorpe.”
Maggie stood saying, “We better get you back to your room before they send out the Shore Patrol for two AWOL sailors.”
When they got to the room, Maggie let Chris enter; then, she checked in with the Nurses Station. “I’m going to put my patient to bed, then wrap up all my loose ends before I leave, do you need anything from me?”
“No, everything is up to date, Maggie, put the patient to bed, and you can take off.”
“Thanks, Mary, see you tomorrow.”
Maggie looked up and down the hallway before entering Chris’ room. She closed the door gently and turned around. Chris was standing a couple of feet away; then, in a rush, they were in a tight sensual kiss. After a couple of minutes, Maggie said, “In bed, Mister, before we get into trouble. I will be back tomorrow.”
“Probably, a wise thing to do.” He said.
A fleeting kiss and Maggie pulled back, her face flushed, and her breathing rapid, almost meeting her heartbeat.
When Maggie got home, she was unable to sleep, even after taking a cold shower. She was having difficulty in keeping her mind off that man that rocked her soul and life.
She sat down and wrote a several page letter to her parents. She took care to impress on them the best picture of Chris and their feeling for one another. After thinking about how to word her next sentence, she told them that he was the one they said would come into her life. And if it were to be, then she would pay for their passage to Hawaii.
****
Chris was no less awake, and he took advantage of the excitement that kept him awake to write to his parents. It is the first letter he has been able to write since the torpedoing. He promised to get some photos taken and send them home.
****
Three days later, a Captain visited Chris. Captain Martin Dover, from the base administration officer, introduced himself to Chris. Maggie was present, being Chris’s assigned nurse. She stood back and said nothing.
“Ensign,” the Captain began, “The medical board has reviewed your file twice, as they did with the medical reports and examinations. We have no alternative regarding your flying status. One of the major concerns is whether or not your eyesight meets flying status. It does
not. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you no longer have a flying status. However, you are allowed to retain and wear your wings.”
There are many non-flying administrative duties open to you. You are medically qualified to serve, just not flying. Tell me, what was your formal education?”
“Sir, I hold a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.”
“Then, if you want, you are qualified as an Engineering Officer, if you would want to go that route.
“Yes, sir, I would like to see an Engineering Officer billet on a destroyer based here at Pearl Harbor, it that’s possible.
The Captain stood, bringing the meeting to a close. “I, or someone from Administration, will get back to you with your assignment. Once again, Ensign, I wish to express my best wishes on your new assignment. The base Admin Office will be holding an awards ceremony tomorrow in front of the Administration Building. You are to have the Purple Heart bestowed upon you; please be in the approved hospital garb or dress whites.”
“Thank you, sir.” The Captain took his leave.
Chris turned to Maggie, “Will you come tomorrow?”
“Certainly, since you are a wounded sailor, you will wear the official hospital dress for the wounded. I will be there as your nurse and safety administrator. Besides, a team of horses couldn’t keep me away. My significant other is getting a reward.”
“Significant other, now I am coming up in the world.” He said.
“Remember, my dear, we must keep a professional bearing to avoid any trouble. Now, after you’re released from our care, we are free to engage in a personal relationship.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
A week later, Chris left the hospital. His luggage and belongings were left there until he could determine if his orders came in and where he was going. His first move was to check with the people in the base administration office regarding his orders.
“We were wondering when you would be able to check-in, sir. We heard you got banged up pretty bad, how are you feeling?” A Chief asked.
“I’m feeling pretty good, Chief. Those folks at the hospital are a first-rate act.”
“So, I’ve heard, but if you don’t mind, I would just as soon not have to find out. Besides, the medics, doctors, and nurses have been some of the busiest folks on the island since the 7th.”
“Have any orders come in for me?”
“One moment, sir, let me check the files.” The Chief disappeared through a door. A couple of minutes later, he reappeared. “It seems that we have something here for you from BuPers.”
Chris opened the orders. A smile crossed his face, “I’m still in the Navy.”
“Did you get the orders you wanted, sir?”
Chris continued reading. “Yes, I’m to be assigned to the USS DAYTON A. HALLIS DD-543, as an assistant Engineering Officer. And she is currently here in Pearl.”
“Good luck, sir.”
“Thanks, I have to find me a ship.” Then he was gone.
Chris found the ship, a Gleaves class destroyer moored to a buoy in the East Loch. Chris went over the stats of the ship he memorized. She had four of the Navy’s five-inch guns for her main battery, and the secondary firepower comes from two dual forty-millimeter cannons and a host of twenty-millimeter cannons for close-in defense. Her plant was comprised of four boilers, two in each boiler room, providing a six-hundred pounds-per-square-inch steam pressure. The two turbine engines, one in each of two engine rooms, turned up fifty-thousand horsepower, which translated into thirty-seven knots of speed.
Chris checked in aboard the ship and was assigned a stateroom shared with another Ensign, and their head was a short way down the passageway.
Chris found the ship was finished with her training period and would be heading to the war in the South Pacific within a week. Chris found himself busy learning his new position. What little time he could spend with Maggie were precious moments.
The time came to leave seemed to have come overnight, but that was in his mind. He and Maggie pledged letters as often as possible and planned to have a better time together when he returned.
Three weeks later, the HALLIS and AGAR found themselves approaching the war zone about the Solomon Islands. The ships sounded General Quarters, sending the crew to their battle stations. This time it was a no drill evolution; it was their first situation where they could come into contact with the forces of Japan.
CHAPTER THREE
“Sir,” the radio messenger addressed Captain Tyson, “this just came from decoding for you.”
“Thank you, standby a second; I may need to send a return message.”
“Aye, sir.”
The message was short and to the point:
KJOB & XCCE sail immediately at the best speed for Tulagi. Load max supplies, munitions, and refuel.
Further information forthcoming.
Authority: Cactus 1
“Did the operator send any reply?”
“Just the usual reception code.”
The Captain wrote out a return message and told the messenger to have it sent. Then he called for the XO.
“Messenger.” When the youngster joined the Captain, Tyson handed him a written message; To XCCE, did you receive directive?
NT sends.
“Take this to signal.”
The messenger took off for the signal bridge, and soon, the handheld signal lamp started clacking. Less than a minute later, a positive response came from their sister ship.
Three minutes later, the Captain called out, “Helm, come to one-two-zero, all ahead Full, twenty-five knots.” At the same time, the execute flag popped open, and the two Gleaves headed for the small island.
“Bo’ sun, call all officers not on watch to meet in the wardroom immediately.”
Then the Captain headed below. In the wardroom, he grabbed his cup and filled if from the silver-plated pot. Then sat in his seat at the end of the table, nursing the hot coffee while waiting for the officers, which began to file into the wardroom.
“Men, we received a cryptic message from Cactus a few minutes ago. AGAR and we are to rendezvous with the authorities at Tulagi. We’re to take on a full load of supplies, munitions, and fuel. I will keep you informed as soon as I can. For now, identify your needs along with munitions expenditure and fuel requirements, and let’s get them forward to division, so we won’t be laying around waiting. I have a feeling this is going to be a hot one. Questions? If not, we have a lot of work to get done, carry on.”
The twin ships raced across the New Georgia Sound toward Tulagi, one of the Florida Island’s smaller islands, and the former home of an Australian built Floatplane base. A short distance away from the American liberated Japanese floatplane bases at Tanambogo and Gavutu.
As the two destroyers approached Tulagi, they noticed a couple of new, heavily loaded cargo ships in Assembly Area X-Ray. The two ships anchored in Purvis Bay, and Captain Gilmore, the Captain of the USS ANTHONY D. AGAR DD-548 boated directly to the HALLIS, and in short order, three additional boats approached the ship, and a stream of men boarded the ship.
Captains Tyson and Gilmore met the entourage on the quarterdeck. The junior officers saluted the senior ones, with the enlisted saluting everyone. Commander Donavan Haynes from the Office of Naval Intelligence addressed the Captain.
“How’s your ship holding up, Commander?”
“Both of our ships are ready for combat as needed, sir.”
“Can we move this to the wardroom?” Haynes asked.
“Aye, sir, follow me.” The Captain wound his way about the ship, then down a ladder to the Officer’s Wardroom. The Captain took his normal chair, and the other officers, including two from the Royal Australian Army, took the rest.
With the formal introductions behind them, the Commander opened a large sealed envelope. He handed one each to Captain Tyson and another to Captain Gilford of the AGAR. Other sealed envelopes went to the Division Commander and the last to the two HMRAA officers, Ca
ptain Ackerman, and Lieutenant Cockburn.
“Gentlemen,” the Commander began, “We will be transporting the men of the Australian Army to the coordinates in your orders. Following the recovery of your boats, you will clear the area under the cloak of darkness. Now, before we proceed, you must understand this is a voluntary mission. You can refuse it and return to your regularly assigned duties under strict gag orders. What are your decisions?”
Without any hesitation, both Captains said, “We’re in.”
“Gentleman, there is the real possibility you both could lose your commands and the lives of every man in your crews.”
“Sir,” Captain Gilford said, “Our job here is to fight the enemy in every way we can. Every second holds destruction of the ship, and the crews know it as well as us. It’s our responsibility, and we’re honored to be allowed to participate.”
“Captain Tyson?”
“Aye, sir, our mission.”
“Very well, as of this moment, you are under orders to sail to the coordinates in your orders there the commandoes will disembark for their landing point. Twenty-six hours later, you will extract them from the second set of coordinates. All of your operations will be conducted at night. The date picked coincides with a no moon period. Make maximum use of your radar. There should be a barge alongside each ship as we speak. You will take on a full load of stores and munitions when you’re finished, have your fuel bunkers topped off. By then, it will be time to set sail, getting you at your destination by zero-one-hundred. Landing is set for zero-one-twenty. Any questions?”
“No, sir.”
“Captain Gilford, if everything goes according to plan, you will be returning with a Japanese national. He may try to pass himself off as a physician, but he is a Japanese officer and is to be considered a Prisoner of War. Be aware; this man speaks fluent English. You will have eight RAA guards aboard on the return trip. Set up the quarters where the prisoner will find nothing to help him commit suicide. If you can set up a barrier with a locked entrance, he is not to be allowed access to any of the crew’s food or utensils. Any time he moves outside the secure area, he must be handcuffed and shackled and accompanied by no less than four men. He is not to be allowed to speak to anyone He will not be allowed access to the outside at any time. He is a special escape risk. He is also knowledgeable about how to convert almost anything into a weapon or poison.”
Attack of the Greyhounds Page 3