W E B Griffin - Corp 07 - Behind the Lines

by Behind The Lines(Lit)

  The doorman's eyebrows rose in question.

  Suite 802 was the five-room apartment overlooking the White House, re-served for the duration of the war for Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, USMCR.

  "He works for General Pickering," the bellman said. "And he's Lieuten-ant Pickering's best friend."

  "Lieutenant Pickering?" the doorman asked.

  "The only son, and the only grandson," the bellman said. "The heir ap-parent. Nice guy. Worked bells here one summer. Marine pilot. Just got back from Guadalcanal."

  "The next time, I'll know," the doorman said. "Somebody should have said something."

  "Welcome to Foster Hotels," the bellman said. "We hope your stay with us will be a joy."

  The doorman chuckled and went back to helping people in and out of taxis and automobiles.

  Lieutenant McCoy dropped his bag beside one of the marble pillars in the lobby and stepped up to the line waiting for attention at the desk.

  A young woman in a calf-length silver fox coat, with matching hat atop her pageboy haircut, rose from one of the chairs in the lobby and walked toward him. She stood beside him. When it became evident that he was oblivious to her presence, she touched his arm. With a look of annoyance, he turned to face her.

  "Hi, Marine!" she said. "Looking for a good time?"

  A well-dressed, middle-aged woman in the line ahead of McCoy snapped her head back to look, in time to see the young woman part her silver fox coat with both hands, revealing a red T-shirt with the legend marines lettered in gold across her bosom.

  "Jesus!" Lieutenant McCoy said.

  "I'm just fine, thank you for asking. And how are you?"

  "Sessions," McCoy said, having decided how Ernestine Sage happened to be waiting for him.

  "Good old Ed, whom you did call," Ernie Sage said.

  "I tried," McCoy said.

  Ernestine Sage held up two hotel keys.

  "I don't know if I should give you your choice of these, or throw them at you," she said.

  "What are they?"

  "Daddy's place, and Pick's father's," she said. "Ken, if you don't put your arms around me right now, I will throw them at you."

  Instead, he reached out his hand and lightly touched her cheek with the balls of his fingers.

  "Jesus Christ, I'm glad to see you!" he said, very softly.

  "You bastard, I didn't know if you were alive or dead," she said, and threw herself into his arms. "My God, I love you so much!"

  After a moment, as he gently stroked the back of her head, he said, his voice husky with emotion, "Me, too, baby."

  Then, their arms still around each other, they walked to where he had dropped his bag by the marble pillar. He picked it up and they walked across the lobby to the bank of elevators.

  [SIX]

  The Bislig-Mati Highway (Route 7)

  Davao Oriental Province

  Mindanao, Commonwealth of the Philippines

  0705 Hours 20 October 1942

  The Intelligence Section of Headquarters, United States Forces in the Philip-pines had developed, through the interrogation of indigenous personnel, cer-tain information concerning enemy activity. Specifically, that each Tuesday morning a convoy of Japanese army vehicles, usually two one-and-one-half-ton trucks, plus a staff car and a pickup truck, departed the major Japanese base at Bislig, on Bislig Bay, on the Philippine Sea for Boston, on Cateel Bay, Baganga, and Caraga.

  According to the best cartographic data available (the 1939 edition of Roads of Mindanao For Automobile Touring, published by the Shell Oil Com-pany), it was approximately 125 miles from Bislig to Caraga. The road was described by Shell as "partially improved"; and automobile tourists were cau-tioned that the roads were slippery when wet, and that caution should be ob-served to avoid stone damage to windshields when following other vehicles.

  Indigenous personnel reported that the trucks were laden with various sup-plies, including gasoline, kerosene, and rations for the small detachments the Japanese had stationed at Boston, Baganga, and Caraga. Each truck was manned by a driver, an assistant driver, and a soldier who rode in the back. The staff car contained a driver, a sergeant, and an officer. And the pickup truck carried a driver, an assistant driver, and two to four soldiers riding in its bed.

  This information was personally verified by the G-2, Captain James B. Weston, USMC, and his deputy, Lieutenant Percy Lewis Everly, who walked six hours down narrow paths from Headquarters, USFIP, to the road, watched the convoy pass, made a reconnaissance of the area to determine a suitable place for an attack, and then walked back to Headquarters, USFIP. The return journey, being mostly uphill, and because it was raining, took nine hours.

  Among additional intelligence data gathered was that the staff car was a 1940 Buick Limited, seized by the Japanese, and that the pickup truck was a 1939 Dodge requisitioned by the U.S. Army in the opening days of the war and subsequently captured by the Japanese. The Dole Company insignia was still faintly visible beneath the olive-drab paint on the doors.

  The information gathered was presented to the Commanding General, USFIP, and various aspects of the operation were discussed with him and offi-cers of his staff.

  General Fertig suggested that the Buick was probably the property of the Dole Company, which had provided such a vehicle for the general manager of their pineapple plantation.

  "Interesting machine," General Fertig observed. "Not only was it clutch-less-they called it 'Automatic Drive,' or something like that; all you had to do to make it go was step on the gas-but it had a little lever, which when flicked flashed lights on the top of the front fenders and in the middle of the trunk, showing the direction you intended to turn. I'm seriously considering getting one after the war."

  The pros and cons of an operation against the Japanese convoy were dis-cussed at some length.

  Captain John B. Platten, USFIP (formerly Master Sergeant, 17th Philip-pine Scouts) G-4 (Supply) Officer, stated that while the trucks very likely would contain bags of rice, and possibly other transportable rations, from what he had heard from Captain Weston, the gasoline and kerosene were in fifty-five-gallon drums. Moving them any distance would be difficult. He also pointed out that even with strict fire discipline, any attack would dangerously diminish the very limited stocks of.30 and.45 caliber ammunition available to USFIP, and that it was probable that the Japanese soldiers guarding the convoy possessed limited (no more than, say, twenty or thirty rounds per man) of am-munition for their 6.5mm Arisaka rifles, much of which, it had to be antici-pated, would be expended during the attack.

  "We're liable to wind up with less ammo and weapons after we hit the convoy than we have now, even counting the weapons we take from the Japs. And the six-point-five is a lousy round, anyway."

  "In other words, it is your studied opinion, Captain," General Fertig asked, "that, so to speak, an attack on this convoy would be wasted effort?"

  "No, Sir," Captain Platten said quickly. "I mentioned these things so we could plan for them."

  "Such as?"

  "I suggest, Sir, that we form a group of people whose sole mission it will be to carry the portable supplies-the rice, canned goods, whatever-back here as soon as we lay our hands on them."

  "And the nonportable? The gas and kerosene?"

  "I suggest, Sir, that we gather together whatever we can lay our hands on that will hold liquid-canteens, water bottles, whatever-and have people to fill them and carry what they can back here with the rations. What we can't bring back, we bury in the jungle, and maybe go back for it later."

  "And the question of having less weaponry subsequent to the attack than we have now? How do we deal with that?"

  "Permission to speak, Sir?"

  "Certainly, Lieutenant Everly."

  "That Arisaka's not a Springfield, I'll grant you that. But it's more reliable than the Enfields-their extractor is always busting-which is what we mostly have. And the Filipinos can handle the recoil from an Arisaka better than they can from a.30-06. And we know w
e're not going to get any more.30-06 ammo anytime soon."

  That was a reference, which everyone understood but no one commented upon, to the silence of Headquarters, South West Pacific Ocean Area, in re-sponse to repeated USFIP radio requests for the supply of small arms and am-munition.

  "Your point, Lieutenant Everly?" General Fertig asked with either a hint of reproach or impatience in his voice.

  "I think we have to kill the Japs before they have a chance to shoot off much of their ammo," Everly said. "Even if that means shooting up the U.S. ammo we have."

  "And how do we do that?"

  "First, we stop the convoy by shooting the driver of the Buick. Then, when the trucks are stopped, we kill the soldiers in the backs of them. And finally, we kill the truck drivers and whoever is left over. Every rifleman has a target, and we tell him he don't shoot anybody else until his target is down."

  "I was about to suggest we try to find marksmen," Fertig said, "but I think if we put the question to the troops, every one of them will swear, as a matter of masculine pride, that he is Dead-Eye Dick."

  "Yes, Sir, they will," Everly agreed. "The only thing to do is test them."

  "We don't have enough ammo," Captain Platten argued.

  "We give them a two-shot test. A head-size target, a pineapple, at one hundred yards. If they can hit a pineapple at a hundred yards, they can hit a Jap in the chest at twenty."

  "Who will... take out... the driver of the staff car?" General Fertig asked.

  "I will," Everly said.

  "I always got my three bucks," Captain Platten said. "I'll take out the driver of the pickup. That way he won't be able to turn around and run."

  "Excuse me?" General Fertig asked. "What was that you said, 'three bucks'?"

  "My Expert Rifleman's pay, Sir," Captain Platten said.

  "We seem to be getting ahead of the primary question," General Fertig said. "Which is, should USFIP attack the Bislig-Caraga convoy?"

  "I don't think we have any choice, Sir-" Captain Hedges began.

  "Excuse me, Captain," Fertig interrupted him. "I believe the hoary tradi-tion is that when the commanding officer solicits opinions, the junior of his officers respond first. That way, the juniors are not influenced by the opinions of their superiors."

  "Excuse me, Sir," the Chief of Staff of USFIP said.

  "Lieutenant Everly?"

  "Yes, Sir. The sooner the better."

  "Captain Platten?"

  "Yes, Sir. Like Everly says."

  "Captain Buchanan?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Captain Weston?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Captain Hedges?"

  "Yes, Sir. I don't think we have any choice, General. We need the rice and whatever else is edible. We need both gas and kerosene. And the Jap weapons. And it will let the Japs know we're here!"

  "Yeah," Everly said, with an intensity that surprised Weston.

  Then Weston had a second thought: Well, now I know where I stand in the pecking order. Ahead of Buchanan and behind Hedges.

  There seemed to be immediate confirmation of this.

  "In that case, gentlemen," Fertig said. "We will attack the convoy at our earliest opportunity. Captain Weston will lead the attack."

  "I'd like to lead it, Sir," Captain Hedges said.

  "You're too valuable around here, Hedges," Fertig said.

  "With respect, Sir," Captain Platten said. "I've got more experience in infantry. Nothing personal, Weston."

  "I'll tell you this once, Platten," Fertig said. "I considered that, among other factors, before I made my decision. Never again question my orders."

  Platten's face tightened, but after a moment he said, "Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."

  As finally formed, the attack party consisted of the detail commander (Captain Weston) armed with a Thompson.45 caliber submachine gun; three officers (Captain Platten, and Lieutenants Everly and Alvarez) armed with Springfield 1903.30-06 rifles; and nine enlisted men (two American) armed with Enfield Model 1917.30-06 rifles.

  They were accompanied by a twenty-five-man labor detail under Lieutenant Jose Lomero, late of the 17th Philippine Scouts. Lieutenant Lomero was armed with a.45 ACP Model 1911A1 pistol and an Enfield rifle. Two of his sergeants were armed with the Enfield. The balance of his detail was either unarmed or armed only with machetes. They carried with them the only shovel available to USFIP, and a motley collection of canteens, water bottles, and other vessels, including two small wooden barrels.

  The attack party left Headquarters, USFIP, at first light Monday 19 Octo-ber with the labor detail sandwiched between the armed men. After an eight-hour march through the mountainous jungle, a bivouac was established at what was estimated to be a mile from the ambush site.

  A detail under Captain Weston, consisting of Lieutenant Everly, four armed members of the party, and three members of the labor detail, then pro-ceeded to the attack site. Captain Platten remained at the bivouac site to super-vise the construction of crude lean-tos and to establish a perimeter guard.

  One hundred yards from the highway, the labor detail dug four holes, each large enough for a fifty-five-gallon drum. They next made arrangements to conceal their location by distributing the removed earth over a wide area and selecting foliage that would be placed over the holes once the barrels were placed in them.

  Meanwhile, Lieutenant Everly selected both the precise location for the ambush and, insofar as possible, the positions on both sides of the highway from which the convoy would be brought under fire.

  The reconnaissance party then returned to the bivouac area, leaving behind two unarmed members of the labor detail, who were wearing native clothing. Should there be any Japanese activity during the night, it was their mission to return to the bivouac area to warn the others.

  They were not armed, because it was hoped that if they fell into Japanese hands, they could successfully argue that they were simple Filipino farmers, and because Lieutenant Everly suggested to Captain Weston that not arming the men would remove the temptation to attack the Japanese on their own.

  At first light Tuesday 20 October, the bivouac was deestablished, with considerable care given to remove all signs of its overnight occupancy. The entire attack party then resumed the march toward the highway.

  By 0645, contact was established with the two men who had been left be-hind. They reported no activity during the hours of darkness except the intru-sion of three small wild pigs, which had been decapitated with a machete and then skinned and gutted.

  In total, in Captain Weston's judgment, the pig carci weighed approxi-mately sixty pounds. One of the men who had remained behind overnight was charged with carrying the rations to Headquarters, USFIP, together with a Situ-ation Update for General Fertig.

  The labor detail remained approximately two hundred yards from the highway, while the attack party moved into position under the direction of Lieutenant Everly.

  At Lieutenant Everly's suggestion, Captain Weston took up a position on the seaward side of the road, near Lieutenant Everly. Captain Platten took up a position approximately one hundred yards away. The balance of the attacking force was placed on both sides of the road, and Lieutenant Everly cautioned each member of the party to remain concealed and not to open fire until they heard the sound of his rifle. They were then to remain aware of the location of USFIP personnel on the other side of the road, so there would be no casualties from USFIP fire. This emplacement was accomplished by 0655 hours.

  At approximately 0702, they heard the sound of a truck grinding gears.

  Captain Weston at this point retracted the operating rod of his Thompson.45 ACP Caliber submachine gun, took a final look down the road, and then dropped out of sight. Six or eight feet away, he could see Lieutenant Everly, almost entirely concealed by the trunk of a tree and some foliage. He was sit-ting with his legs crossed under him, leaning forward so that his left elbow touched his knee. All it would take to be in a Parris Island-perfect "Sitting Position for Riflemen" would be f
or him to put the butt of his Springfield in the small of his shoulder and lower his face to the stock.

  A moment later, he did just this; and as Weston heard the sound of vehicles approaching, he saw the muzzle of Everly's Springfield tracking their move-ment.

  And then, without warning, Everly fired. There was a flash of orange at the muzzle, and the sharp-surprisingly loud and frightening-sound of the weapon firing.

  The noise was immediately followed by the sound of other weapons firing. Weston got to his feet as quickly as possible. The lead vehicle of the convoy was a four-door Buick convertible, top down, with spare tires mounted in front fender wells. He was surprised to see how close it was to him, and that it was apparently headed directly toward him, as if trying to run him over.