The DSC, McCord decided, not only proved that he was a bona fide hero, but that he was clever. With a DSC in your lapel you didn't have to prove to anybody that you were a warrior, even if you were a little Jew who looked like a middle-level bureaucrat.
"Colonel Bradeen I know," Felter said, flashing half a smile al a tall stocky, barrel-chested man McCord knew to be an armor colonel on the 7th Army staff.
"How are you, Sandy?" Colonel Bradeen said.
"My name is McCord, Colonel," General McCord said, and went to Felter and offered his hand.
"I'm glad you were available, General," Felter, said.
As the others introduced themselves to Felter, McCord considered that. Felter knew who he was, and there was an implication that he- had asked for him by name. That was flattering unless you were rank conscious and thought that general officers should pick colonels rather than the other way around.
"For those who don't know him," Felter said, "this is Colonel Joseph Pellman, USMC, of JCS." Who, General McCord thought, has obviously been sent by JCS to keep an eye on Felter. The brass on JCS must have really shit a brick when "by direction of the President" Felter was put in charge.
"I think the best way to handle this, gentlemen," Felter said, "is to, give you a quick sketch of what's going on in the Congo, specifically in Stanleyville, and then to tell you what we intend to try to do to set it right.
"There are sixteen -hundred people-Europeans, white people-in Stanleyville. A four-column relief force-in other words, four different columns-"-under the overall command of Colonel Frederick Van der Waele of the Belgian Army has been charged with suppressing the rebellion, which includes, of course, the recapture of Stanleyville. "There have been some successes, as you probably know from your own sources, but Van der Waele probably will not be able to make it to Stanleyville before the end of the month.
"That poses two problems. The first is the rebels' announced, intention to kill the hostages-a threat we consider bona fide before Van der Waele can get to them. The second is that we have noticed that since 20 October unmarked Ilyushin-I8 jet aircraft-at least two and probably as many as four are flying arms and ammunition from Algeria into the base in northern Uganda on a regular basis. Should they decide to do so, it would be easy for them to move the arms and ammunition to Olenga's forces. The possibility of their doing so, increases as Van der Waele's mercenaries and ANC approach Stanleyville.
The President has decided, in consultation with the Belgian President Spaak, that the first priority is to keep those sixteen hundred people alive. The Belgians have made available the First Parachute Battalion of their Para commando Regiment. I'm familiar with it. The First Battalion was trained by the British Special Air Service people in War Two, and they pride themselves on being just as good. The regiment is commanded by Colonel Laurent, who is a fine officer and who I suspect will lead the First Battalion himself.
It is be carried to Stanleyville in USAF aircraft, where, after the airfield is softened up with some B- 26s, they will make a landing and seize the airport. Part of the force will parachute onto the airport "to make the airport ready to receive the aircraft, and the balance will enter Stanleyville, find the Europeans and bring them to the airport. They will be loaded aboard the aircraft and then everybody leaves. No attempt will be made to seize Stanlleyville. I don't want any questions right now. I just wanted to give the rough idea.
"These gentlemen," Felter went on, turning to indicate them, are Lieutenant Colonel Lowell, Captain Stacey, Lieutenant Foster and Sergeant Portet. They're Green Berets. Colonel Lowell is on the ...COM staff and wrote Dragon Rouge. Captain Stacey and his men have been practicing a somewhat smaller operation for Stanleyville, now called off. But they know the town ....and the dispositions and the probable location of the Europeans. I brought them along to share their expertise." Foster, General McCord thought, looked like a bright guy, very much like what he expected Green Berets to look like. Stacey General McCord decided, looked like a typical young beret, a bard charger, tough, mean and lean. The black guy looks :f he could chew railroad spikes and spit tacks. The sergeant, there was something wrong with the Sergeant. His hands and face were scratched and blotchy and swollen. He could hardly see out of his eyes. And whatever was wrong with his face was also on his hands.
"As soon as we wind it up- here, Colonel Lowell will be available to explain any question~ you might have about- the OPLAN for Dragon Rouge. Stacey and Foster are going to liaise with the Belgians, Felter said. "Sergeant Portet, General McCord" I'm more or less going to give to you.. He's a former airlines pilot with extensive experience in the Congo, including of course, Kamina. and Stanleyville. And equally important, because' he was involved in getting the B-26Ks to the Congo, he knows most of the Cubans Dick Fulbright hired to fly them."
"Glad to have all the help I can get," McCord said.
I wonder if he caught whatever it is, is wrong with his face and hands in the Congo? I wonder if it's contagious?
"From Seventh Army, Jim," Felter said to Colonel Bradeen, we want stocks of whatever the Para commandos may not have. I understand they're in good shape, but I want supplies ready if I need them. Get on that right away. As soon as I know where and when to take them, I'll let you know. But I want the stuff already on trucks when I call for it."
"You'll have it," Bradeen said.
"Today is Armistice Day," Felter said. "So that the press would not get suspicious of activity at the War Ministry on a holiday, I have scheduled the first staff conference for tomorrow morning at eight. It's at 8, Rue de la Loi, in downtown Brussels. Civilian clothing. I feel obliged to say this: If word of this gets out, it will mean the massacre of civilians. And there are people here in Brussels watching to see what if anything the Belgians are going to do." He looked around the room. "I have rough OPLANS here. Study them overnight, take what action-,-in your case, General McCord, that probably will mean making sure we have the necessary aircraft available, and without calling attention to it, you know will be necessary, and be prepared to offer fixes for what is wrong with the OPLAN tomorrow morning. That will be all for now, gentlemen. Thank you. But keep yourselves-available." Felter and three of the Green Berets started to leave the room.
Lowell opened a well-stuffed briefcase. Felter caught the Sergeant's attention and nodded toward General McCord. The Sergeant walked over to General McCord.
"Colonel Felter said I am to make myself useful, Sir," Jack Portet said.
McCord resisted the temptation to offer his hand.
"You've been into Stanleyville, Sergeant?" "Yes, Sir."
"as a matter of idle curiosity, I've looked at the Jepps" General McCord said. "I know we can get B26s in."
"Yes Sir, easily. I've seen them there."
"I should have looked closer," McCord said."
"How many can we use at once?"
"Portet's swollen face wrinkled in thought. "No more than six at once Sir. To be safe, I would say no more than five." And as if he were no longer able to resist an awful temptation. He brought his hand up and scratched at the open blotches on his face with a hand that was similarly disfigured with suppurating/
"What's wrong with your face, son?" General McCord asked. "And hand?"
"Nothing , Sir. A little rash."
"Rash, my ass. How long has it been that way?
"It occurred on the plane from the States, Sir. It's some kind of rash probably. Nothing to worry about."
"Where were you in States? Bragg?"
"Yes Sir. "
"Come with me, Sergeant," McCord said.
He had seen the Military Attaché's office on the way to the conference room, and he led Jack there.
There was a captain on duty, who glanced up and was not very impressed with what he saw. Two messy Americans- in mussed clothes, one of them with what looked like a terminal case of acne on his face.
"Yes." he asked.
"I am General McCord," McCord said, which caused the Captain to come to his feet and to sta
nd to attention.
"Yes Sir".
"Will you be good enough to get me the Commanding Officer of the nearest U. S. military medical facility on the telephone?"
"Don't" Jack said, "I'll be alright. I don't want to get put in the hospital now."
"I expected as much from a Green Beret," McCord said. "But I'll be very, surprised if they let you get on the airplane, and jump on Stanleyville. It looks to me as if the whole work of the Belgians is to keep Americans out of it. "My stepmother and my sister are in Stanleyville, General. I'm going in."
McCord looked - at him. Before he could frame a reply, the Captain handed him a telephone.
"Colonel Aspen, Sir." "Colonel, this is General McCord. This may sound a little odd: But I want you to dispatch, immediately, one of your best medical officers. I am in the U.S. Embassy and I have a young sergeant with me who, if my diagnosis is correct, has been rolling around in poison oak," There was a pause~ "No, Colonel, he cannot come there. I don't want to argue about this. I expect to see either you or one of your doctors here within twenty minutes." He hung up the phone and turned to smile at Jack.
"They give you a shot," he said. "It clears it up in a couple of hours. I had it in survival school in Utah a couple of years ago."
"Thank you very much, Sir."
"Don't get your hopes up about anything else, Sergeant," General McCord said. "I know they won't let you go."
"Yes, Sir," Jack said.
(Five)
Leopoldville, Democratic Republic of the Congo 15 November 1964
URGENT FROM US EMBASSY LEOPOLDVILLE DEM REPCONGO TO SECSTATE WASH DC STANLEYVILLE SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2400 ZULU 14 NOVEMBER 1964 FRENCH LANGUAGE 1800 ZULU BROADCAST OVER RADIO STANLEYVILLE SAID MAJOR REPEAT MAJOR PAUL CARLSON HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.
BROADCAST SAID CARLSON HAD-BEEN DEFENDED QUOTE BY CONGOLESE OFFICERS OF HIS OWN CHOOSING ENDQUOTE FOLLOWING FULL TEXT TRANSLATION STATEMENT FRONT PAGE LE MARTYR NEWSPAPER STANLEYVILLE 13 NOVEMBER 1964 SIGNED GBENYE QUOTE WE HOLD IN OUR CLAWS MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS AND MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED BELGIANS WHO ARE- KEPT UNDER SURVEILLANCE AND IN SECURE-PLACES. AT THE SLIGHTEST BOMBARDMENT OF OUR REGION OR OF OUR REVOLUTIONARY CAPITAL, WE SHALLBE FORCED TO MASSACRE THEM. QUOTE CONTINUES ALL AMERICANS AND BELGIANS LIVING UNDER OUR PROTECTION HAVE WRITTEN AND SIGNED THEIR WILL. WE SHALL SEND THESE DOCUMENTS SHORTLY TO THE RESPECTIVE DESTINATIONS. THE SECURITY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS SUBJECI TO THE RETREAT FROM THE CONGO OF THE BELGIANS AND AMERICANS WHO MASSACRE- OUR .,.HE CONTINUOUSLY. QUOTE CONTINUES .WE SHALL MAKE FETISHES WITH THE BODIES OF THE AMERICANS AND WE SHALL DRESS. OUR WIVES IN THE SKINS OF THE BELGIANS AND THE AMERICANS THERE HAS BEEN NO REPEAT NO CONTACT WITH INTELEGENCE STANLYEVILLE IN FORTY EIGHT HOURS.
DONNELLY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION
--
WASHINGTON, D.C. . . . .november 1964
FM SECSTATEWASHDC TO AMBASSADOR NAIROBI KENYA IMMEDIATELY SEEK AUDIENCE WITH JOMO KENYA ITA AND RELAY FOLLOWING:
MR. PRIME MINISTER:
PERSONALLY AND ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLEE I IMPLORE YOU TO USE YOUR GREAT PERSONAL INFLUENCE THROUGHOUT AFRICA TO SPARE THE LIFE OF DR. PAUL CARLSON U.S. GOVERNMENT DECLARES UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT DR. CARLSON IS NOT IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE US MILITARY AND HAS BEEN ENGAGED ONLY IN, HIS ACTIVITIES AS A MEDICAL MISSIONARY. DR. CARLSON IS A MAN OF PEACE AND HAS SERVED THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE WITH DEDICATION FOR YEARS HIS EXECUTION ON PATENTLY FALSE CHARGES WOULD BE AN OUTRAGEOUS VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND OF CIVILIZED STANDARDS OF HUMANITARIAN CONDUCT.
END MESSAGE.
STATE CONSIDERS DELIVERY OF THIS MESSAGE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
(Seven)
Kleine-Brogel Air Base, Belgium 2225 Hours 16 November 1964
Brigadier General Harris McCord had asked for permission to go along. But it had been denied. But the pilot of Chalk One was a friend of his, and he was not able to resist going to the flight deck and standing between the seats and chewing the fat a little as they waited for The Word.
The Word came.
"Chalk One."
"Chalk One, go."
"The Word is go, repeat go."
"Chalk One understands go," the Colonel said, and made a wind-it-up motion with his index finger.
"Clear!" the copilot shouted out the window.
"Good luck, Don," General McCord said.
"Thank you, General," the pilot said.
Three of the C-130's engines were turning by the time General McCord walked down the passenger compartment to the open door, past the rows of red-bereted Belgian paratroopers. And then he stopped and looked very closely at one of the paratroopers. "I see your skin has cleared up."
"Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir." General McCord nodded to the Belgian paratrooper and then exited the aircraft.
"Kleine-Brogel, Chalk One taxiing to the active."
"Kleine-Brogel clears Chalk One as number one to take off."
"Roger, understand number one." Chalk One turned onto the threshold. Without stopping it turned onto the runway.
"Chalk One rolling," the copilot said to the microphone.
Seven minutes later, having followed Chalk One at thirty second intervals, the remaining fourteen C-130Es of Dragon Rouge were airborne. They climbed to twenty thousand feet and headed for Moron de la Frontera, an air base in Spain, where they landed, took on fuel, and immediately took off again, this time headed for a small speck of volcanic matter in the Atlantic Ocean known as Ascension Island.
McCord looked at him. Before he could frame a reply, the Captain handed him a telephone.
"Colonel Aspen, Sir."
"Colonel, this is General McCord. This may sound a little odd. But I want you to dispatch, immediately, one of your best medical officers. I am in the U.S. Embassy and I have a young sergeant with, me who, if my diagnosis is correct, has been rolling around in poison oak." There was a pause. "No, Colonel, he cannot come there. I don't want to argue about this. I expect to see either you or one of your doctors here within twenty minutes. " He hung up the phone and turned to smile at Jack.
"They give you a shot," he said. "It clears it up in a couple of hours. I had it in survival school in Utah a couple of years ago."
"Thank you very much, Sir."
"Don't get your hopes up about anything else, Sergeant," General McCord said. "I know they won't let you go." "Yes, Sir," Jack said.
XXIII
(One)
_'!'-~"':;-M.e, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 15 November 1964
Captain Karl-Heinz Wagner of the Katangese Special Gendarmes was more than a little worried that Colonel Hoare would notice that the men in the jeeps were not drinking coconut juice from the coconuts they had in their hands.
Hoare's sometimes violent temper flared when he found the men drinking when an operation was scheduled.
Karl-Heinz Wagner wondered whether his decision-to turn a blind eye-was proper behavior for him as an officer.
He rationalized his decision. They didn't have that much to drink, and as soon as they got under way, the brutal heat would sweat the alcohol from their bodies. If he raised hell about it, not only would there be bitter resentment (and they were already, but a nasty confrontation was -likely), but Colonel Hoare would probably be curious about the uproar and then there would be hell to pay.
It's just that I am just so damned tired that I no longer give a dam.
Hoare came walking down the line of vehicles. When he got to Wagner's jeep, Karl-Heinz started to get out. Hoare motioned him to stay where he was. He walked up to him.
"I see that the men have taken to coconut milk," Hoare said. He let Wagner stew for a moment and then Went on: "I think that I had better wait until we get to Stanleyville, don't you?"
"Yes Sir."
"Get it moving, Wagner."
Karl-Heinz made a wind-it-up gesture to his jeep driver and then stood up in the jeep, resting on the .50 caliber Browning until he saw that all of his vehicles had their engines turning.
/>
"OK, Ed," he said. "Move it out."
"We're supposed to be sixty miles from Stanleyville," Portley said. "And the last twenty miles are supposed to be paved. Do you think that's so?"
"I would be very pleasantly surprised," Wagner said.
(Two)
Stanleyville, Republic of the Congo 060025 November 1964
The New Breed Page 48