Chapter 3
Lieutenant Colonel Barns was a tough commander who knew battle tactics inside and out. He didn't put up with anyone questioning his tactics and even when he asked for opinions got angry with anyone who had the audacity to disagree with his ideas.
In the second conflict while he was our commanding officer he was wounded and I was left in command, our primary objective had been completed and we were on our way back to base when we encountered the enemy who seemed to know our every move until Colonel Barns was wounded and I took over command to get us back to base.
The fighting slowed as night started falling, I called the men in and asked them to set up a command center where I could gather as much information as possible on just what it was we were facing. With each report I got I saw solders who seemed to think all was lost since we had lost our commander leaving an untried rookie in command.
“Mac tell me what I'm going to have to do to get these men to believe in me,” I asked.
“Get them home and they'd be willing to follow you through the gates of hell if you asked sir,” he said.
“I want you to share anything you find out no matter how trivial it may seem about our enemies positions and numbers. You might also start spreading the word of what we did to get sent to this hellhole,” I said.
“I have no doubt once they hear that story they'd be willing to give you a chance,” he replied.
By morning I had all my top NCO's willing to give me a chance. Even offering advice on battle tactics that had worked or failed in the past. Breakfast was whatever anyone could find, but more than likely C-rations. I thought about the night I pulled watch to give the men a chance to get rested up for what was yet to come. Fresh trout and grouse eggs for breakfast, yet I didn't remember doing any fishing or scavenging for eggs.
“Sir it seems we have ham and eggs this morning. A wild pig wandered in and it seems there are hundreds of wild chicken in the area as well,” Mac said.
“Thank you Mac. See everyone gets their fill, it's likely going to be a long day. Mac you haven't seen much in the way of vegetation we could make some camouflage out of have you?” I asked.
“I'll get some men started on collecting it right away sir,” he replied.
“Thank you Mac,” I said.
While Mac and a few others worked on collecting the vegetation I asked for, I asked another Sargent to get some men together and work on getting some trenches made we could line with the vegetation to use as a blind. It was like a light came on with each step I suggested until everyone was busy either protecting or working to set the trap I was designing for our enemy.
It took us two days to finish the preparations for the trap I wanted to draw the enemy into so we could go home. The morning of the third day we were all hidden away in our trenches that were invisible until you were right on top of them. The enemy closed in on where we had been only to find nothing not the empty shells from all the rounds we fired not anything, the men had swept the jungle floor clean of any human sign. As more and more of the enemy moved in we moved out filling the trenches in and moving our camouflage out with us. The last of the enemy moved in and I had the men start shooting from their positions of invisibility mowing down the enemy. After five minutes of firing I called a cease fire and offered the enemy commander the chance to surrender.
We entered our base with about three hundred prisoners and our dead and wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Barns was given credit for a strategy he would have never approved, and since he would be in the hospital for six months or more we were assigned a new commander.
Our new commander had been given the personnel files on all his senior staff and since I was second in command that included me. He told me point blank he didn't want anything to do with me and my ability to command and if he had his way I would be on the next plane out.
The men didn't have a chance to get to know this commander since he went out of his way to avoid everyone in the unit especially anyone that said anything good about me.
We got our first assignment under this commander and before we even reached our objective he was killed leaving me to try figuring out just what it was we were supposed to do. After going through all the maps and other paperwork he had I found a copy of the orders and started looking through the maps he'd brought not finding one that gave any details of the terrain. I called in all the key personnel and ask they check with everyone in the unit to see if anyone was in any way familiar with what kind of forest we would be trekking through to finish our mission.
I was afraid we'd be blind to any dangers the terrain held if we moved forward when one of the men came in with a local who claimed to love America and knew not only the terrain, but the location of all the enemy forces. We went over the only map I found that showed any detail and the local pointed out where all the enemy patrols were and explained what the terrain was like.
As soon as we had covered basics I sent out four, four man scout teams to gather information and verify the accuracy of the locals words. By night fall all my scout teams were back with their reports and I started work on finishing our objective. Our radio had been hit by the fire the day the commander had been killed so if base had canceled the mission I wouldn't know anything about it until we got back. We went in and found the target hitting it and intercepted another unit on the way back out.
“Sir this is Lieutenant Warren acting commander of Rose company,” someone said entering into my command tent.
“Lieutenant where is Major Jacobs your commander?” I asked.
“He was killed about ten clicks back sir,” Lieutenant Warren said.
“Where is his body Lieutenant?” I asked.
“Sir, I don't understand, he's dead,” he replied.
“You left him behind,” I said anger rising the longer this fool stood in front of me. “Sargent get this man out of my sight, I'm likely to shoot him if I ever lay eyes on him again, and get me the next highest ranking person from Rose company.”
“Yes sir, right away sir,” the Sargent that brought Lieutenant Warren to me said.
“Captain you wanted to see me?” a Sargent wearing a Rose company patch asked.
“I want to know whose bright idea it was to leave the dead and wounded behind for the enemy?” I asked.
“That would be Lieutenant Warren, sir,” he replied.
“How many men would you need to go back and get them Sargent?” I asked.
“Twenty men should be able to handle it sir.” he replied.
“Mac get twenty men together and take at least five from Rose company as well. I want everyone of their fallen brought back. Mac also see that Lieutenant is kept away from me, I don't need the headaches of trying to explain how he got shot,” I said to Mac.
The men went back to where those from Rose company had fallen and gathered all the bodies they could find and brought them back to our base camp, but hadn't been able to find the body of Major Jacobs, which only served to make me even angrier. That arrogant Lieutenant had left the body of his commanding officer, a man I had heard stories about laying on the field while he fled for his life.
Major Jacobs, Rose company commander, was well know among all the special ops units for making sure every man made it back, alive, or dead. To think his cowardly second in command left him for the enemy sent a cold chill up my spine.
“Mac does Rose company have a radio that works?” I asked.
“Yes sir. If you want I'll have it brought in for you,” he said.
Ten minutes later I was on the radio with command letting them know we had lost our commander and run into Rose company and their second in command had left the dead on the field where they fell including Major Jacobs.
“Captain can you get the men you have back to base?” I was asked.
“Yes sir, I can. Colonel I do want to know if I can place Lieutenant Warren in custody. Sir, I would hate to think what might happen if something were to happen to me and he would again be in command. I do have Lieutenant Jef
ferey who is more than capable of being my acting second in command. Sir, I know my company would follow Lieutenant Jefferey, I can't say they would follow Lieutenant Warren,” I said.
“Captain you make which ever you feel more comfortable with your second, just get those men back here,” was the orders from home base.
“Yes sir. Sir, we did accomplish our mission and were on our way back when we came across Rose company. If Rose company is as good as I've heard we should be back in two days,” I said.
“Mac get me Lieutenant Jefferey,” I said.
“You wanted to see me Captain?” Lieutenant Jefferey asked.
“Have a seat Lieutenant. I know Lieutenant Warren out ranks you, but I just got word from headquarters that I can appoint who I would rather as my second since I am the ranking officer in both companies. Lieutenant your second in command at least until we get back. I'm charging you with keeping that bastard Warren away from me and if anything should happen to me making sure I make it home,” I said.
“I won't let you down sir,” he said.
We walked back into base two days later with all the wounded and dead we were able to find from both companies. I asked Lieutenant Jefferey to insure all the dead made it to the morgue and the wounded to the hospital then he was free until tomorrow for debriefing.
I headed for the command building intending to talk to operations command about Lieutenant Warren.
“Come in Captain,” Colonel Talbot said when I knocked on his office door.
“Colonel Talbot. It's such a pleasure to see you sir,” I said.
“I'm sure it is Captain, I just hope you'll feel that way when you leave here,” he replied.
“Colonel if I've done something wrong...” I started.
“I don't know if you have or not Captain. I do know they still aren't ready to give you your own command yet,” he said.
“I wasn't here to ask for my own command sir. I'm here to file my report on the mission we just completed,” I replied.
“In that case, I'd love to see your report,” he said.
I handed him my report and stood there at attention while he read it nodding every now and again. When he was done reading it he stood there looking from my report to me and back to the report.
“Have a seat Sam.” He took a seat behind the desk and waited for me to sit as well.
He started going through my report looking up from time to time as if to ask something, then returning to the report and continuing on until he reached the end. He set it back on his desk and looked at me still not saying anything.
“Sir, I know there are some things in there you probably don't think should be. In defense I'd like to say...” I started.
“Don't Sam. If you say it I have to take action and right now you wouldn't like the action I'd have to take,” he said cutting me off.
“Sir, I really think...” I started again.
“Sam since I got here I've been through every mission report you've filed. You're a hell of a solder and I would hate to lose you, but if I turn this in along with the others that's exactly what will happen. I have no doubt your assessment of your former commanding officer is accurate, at least from your point of view, the problem is you aren't command grade and with reports like this you never will be. You're here because I was bragging about you and then you proved me right. You're a victim of your own success. I want you to make command grade, I want you to be able to command one of these units from the start of a mission, but if I send this report in as it is that will never happen,” he said.
“Sir, I've never run from the truth.” As soon as the words left my mouth I knew the lie in them, but didn't know how to take them back.
“That may be Captain, and I'm not asking you to hide now, I am however asking you to reconsider how you have worded this. I know Colonel Brighton was an arrogant ass, and he would have hated hearing I got this command instead of him, but he did have one of the best records in completing missions like the one you just returned from. I'm going to ask you to rewrite this report, and rather than showing Colonel Brighton's arrogance as the cause of his demise see if there is some way of showing he did the best he could and his luck just ran out. There is no reason the brass needs to know anymore than he was killed in action,” he said looking at me hoping I'd be willing to go along.
“You're asking me to lie, sir?” I asked.
“To lie, no! I'm asking you to not tell the whole truth. Sam I will never ask you to lie, at least not out right, but when telling the truth will destroy a persons entire career I will ask that truth be kept quiet. Colonel Brighton is gone he can't put your life in anymore danger. If you knew his history I'm sure you would agree with me that this slip of judgment on his part came with a high enough price tag,” he said.
“Sir, I... yes sir, I'll rewrite the report. Sir the men are wondering how long until we get a new commander. I believe it would be in the best interest of the unit if they had some time off until then. They haven't had a decent nights sleep since Colonel Brighton took command,” I said.
“The bulk of the unit will have at least until you get back. Sam, I need you to form a twelve man team for some recon work until Washington can find someone to replace Colonel Brighton,” he said.
“Yes sir. Is there anything else sir?” I asked.
“No Captain, that'll be all,” he said.
I stood and saluted, I didn't like what I was being asked to do, but until I was a Major the best the brass would do is give me command of a small recon unit. The fact I had managed to get my full company back from certain disaster not once, but twice, and the second time saving the biggest part of another company that had lost its commander as well didn't seem to carry much weight.
I hadn't received an answer of when a new company commander might be assigned, or if the company would be dismantled and the men transferred to other companies. All I got was asked to leave out half my report and select a dozen men from the unit to make up a recon team.
I ran into Mac coming out of the chow hall, on my way back to my quarters and told him I wanted to see him after I had a chance to get cleaned up and have something to eat.
“Sir, will an hour be enough time?” he asked.
“An hour will be fine Mac. In fact make it two hours,” I said.
“Yes sir two hours it is,” he replied.
I needed to call home and talk to dad. It was time he find out just what I was doing though I knew I couldn't tell him any details about any of the missions I had been involved in.
I got in the shower and washed the dirt from the jungle off letting the hot water wash some of the stress away as well, when I got out I stood there looking in the mirror and the woman from my dreams was looking back at me. “How did we get ourselves into this Samantha?” I wanted to ask, but was afraid someone might over hear. The last thing I needed right now is to have someone question my sanity for talking to a woman only I could see.
I quickly got dressed and headed back over to HQ rather than the mess hall. As I stepped through the door I was met by Lt Colonel Barns who was alive now only because I found a way around the attack in which he had been wounded.
“Captain, I was wondering if we could talk,” he said.
“Here sir, or would you rather somewhere more private?” I asked.
“I just wanted to thank you for getting me back. I heard about what happened with Rose company and how Major Jacobs second left him where he fell. I've even talked to some of the men from his company and found out no one was sure whether or not he was dead when he was left. I know you never asked for the problems you've had with those of us with more experience,” he said.
“Colonel I did what I thought was right. When you were wounded it left me in command and though we didn't see eye to eye often I did learn a lot from you and never once countered one of your orders. I tried to keep any concerns I had private from the men so as not to undermine your authority,” I said.
“I know you did Captain and I couldn't have
asked for a better second in command. They're retiring me as soon as I'm healed enough to get home without the trip killing me, I want you to know Hector was a friend of mine, and I want to thank you for making sure his family back home will have someone to bury rather than always wonder. You're a hell of a solder Captain. Good luck,” he said.
“Thank you sir, but I don't believe in luck. Sir, can I ask just where you're from? I was hoping if you aren't to far from my home you might be able to let my family know not to worry about me,” I asked.
“It would be a privilege Captain Waters,” he said.
I told him where I lived and even gave him mom and dads phone number. He said it wasn't to far from where he planned on retiring, and he would be sure to let my folks know I was doing alright.
“Sir one more thing. I haven't talked to them since I left for basic training, they don't know I'm an officer, or that I'm in special forces, I'd kind of like to keep it that way,” I said.
“You don't want them knowing you're over here either do you?” he asked.
“I don't care if they know I'm over here sir. I just don't want them knowing I'm an officer, or in Special Forces,” I said.
“I'll be careful not to let that out of the bag son. You're going to make one hell of a commanding officer if you survive that long. I heard they have you forming a recon team,” he said.
I decided I didn't really want to call home yet, so headed over to the mess hall only to find it between meals and the officer in charge upset that I thought I could maybe get something to eat.
“Captain we have the hours we serve posted on the door, if you can't make it in here during those hours I'll be damned if I'll see you get something to eat,” some Lieutenant I'd never seen before said when I tried to pickup a tray.
“Lieutenant I wasn't able to get here during the hours you have posted. When I got back I had to report to HQ and then decided rather than offend everyone trying to eat it might be nice to take a shower I hadn't been able to have in the last two weeks. Now if you want to trade places with me, as your friends are getting shot and killed, and try coming up with a way of getting as many as possible back alive, I'd gladly trade you in a heartbeat. Until then however I want something to eat and if it means tearing this mess hall down I don't think I'd have to much trouble doing so,” I said.
I started to pick up a tray and again was told the mess hall was closed and I'd have to wait until it was open if I wanted to get anything to eat. My appetite at this point was gone I no longer cared one way or the other if I got anything to eat I was going to teach this Lieutenant what he could do with his hours of operation. This base was in a war zone and there were men about at all hours, if this twit thought setting hours of operation was something he could get away with I was going to teach him otherwise.
“If I were you Captain I'd let it drop,” Colonel Talbot said.
I turned around and there stood Colonel Talbot.
“Sir this is bullshit and you know it. There are men coming and going at all hours around here and it's wrong they can't get a meal other than C-rations before or after they get back,” I said.
“Since when is the military right Sam? Think about what it is we do. Is it right that we kill so indiscriminately, all because someone says we have to?” he asked me.
I thought about what he said and when I didn't do anything more than give a dirty stare that if looks could kill would have killed that arrogant Lieutenant ten times over.
“I was just headed over to the officers mess, I'd be honored if you'd join me,” he said.
“Sir I eat the same food my men eat. If they can't have steak why should I?” I asked.
“Because the officers mess is open and this one isn't, just this one time Sam take advantage of your rank,” he said.
The need for real food kicked back in so I conceded.
“By the way Lieutenant, if those hours of operation aren't off this building by the time Bravo company gets here I'll see to it you find yourself attached to a forward unit such as the one Captain Waters here is second in command of, I hope I've made myself clear,” Colonel Talbot said as we left the chow hall.
“Yes sir, abundantly,” the Lieutenant replied.
“I take it Major Kelly is on his way back sir,” I said.
“They never even came close to their target, I was hoping after you get your unit setup you would take a look at their battle tactic and see if there was something else they could have done,” he said.
“You're hoping I can take my twelve man recon team and do what Major Kelly couldn't do with a full company?” I asked.
“Sam we have two companies pinned down and so far no one has been able to get help to them. Major Kelly was the latest attempt. From the reports I've been reading you shouldn't have been able to get yours and Major Jacobs companies out of the mess you were in, yet somehow you managed. I want that kind of expertise working on this mess. The last we heard the commanding officers of both companies were wounded so if you can get your squad in there it would make you the ranking officer in charge and you'd have the freedom to do whatever you think best to get them out of there, and just might get you those clusters that would give you command grade,” he said.
“So you already have my mission planned out for me. Sir what about air dropping supplies into them until I can get there?” I asked.
I knew whoever I chose for my recon unit wouldn't get much time off while the rest of the company would likely be reassigned to other companies.
“Sir, is it a good time?” Pete asked knocking on my door.
“Come in Pete, as for it being a good time, I'm beginning to wonder if there is such an animal. What can I do for you?” I asked.
“The word on base is that you're putting together a recon team. Sir, I was hoping maybe you could talk them into letting me be part of your team,” he asked.
“Pete I don't know whose saying that, but I'm afraid the team is already made up. I was told to pick men from my company and that it would only be until a new company commander was assigned,” I said.
“I understand sir. It's just... well sir, I've never felt so much a part of anything as I did when you were my commander, you had a way of making us believe we could do anything,” he said.
“I take it you're having a rough time fitting in with the others in your company,” I said.
“They all ask if it's true that we were actually able to complete the training mission without any of us being wounded or killed. When I tell them how we did it they all act like I'm lying and say nobody would be stupid enough to attempt what we did,” he said.
“Pete I'm afraid there isn't anything I can do without talking to them and letting them know just how great you and the others were. I'm sorry things aren't working out with your company,” I said.
“What if I brought a couple of them by. Then you could tell them we really did cross the way I tell them. Sir they would have to believe you, you're an officer,” he said.
“Pete it will have to be this afternoon or I might not be here my recon unit moves out first thing in the morning and I still need to brief them on the mission,” I said.
“I understand sir,” he said.
He was gone without letting me know if he would be back.
“So it's true then?” Mac asked.
“Come in Mac. Yes it's true, Colonel Talbot asked me to pick twelve men for recon missions, I was kind of hoping you might be willing to help,” I said.
We started going over the list of men from the company with the qualifications I thought we'd need in our unit. Communications was a must as was a sharp shooter. Mac was one of the best scouts I'd ever seen, and a personal friend. We'd need someone who knew explosives as well. It wasn't easy weeding down to a twelve man unit when there were so many good men to choose from, but we finally managed. Mac said he would let the men we had chosen know and I needed to go let Colonel Talbot know who I had selected and find out about the mission he had for us.
“I was just
thinking about you Captain. I want you to call your company together along with Rose company. Word just came down both companies are being reassigned to other companies. They promised me they would let you help chose who went where if you're interested,” Colonel Talbot said.
“Colonel if it is all the same. I've picked the men I want on the recon team you asked me to pull together. Since I know they aren't going to let me have my own company it really doesn't matter to me where everyone ends up they're all good men and wherever they go they'll be an asset to that company,” I said.
“I guessed that's how you'd feel about it. So give me the list of men you've chosen,” he said.
I handed him the list and waited while he looked it over. It seemed to take him a long time before he said anything.
“Can I ask why these men Sam?” he asked.
“Because I can trust them to do their jobs sir. I know these men will watch out for each other and if anything should happen we will either all come back or all be dead,” I replied.
“Do you think they would be ready to leave out first thing in the morning on that mission I told you about?” he asked.
“No sir. I've been thinking about it, and I think waiting until morning would be a mistake. Sir, I'd like to take them in tonight. It will be overcast and if the companies pinned down are as desperate as you lead me to believe I think air dropping in would be the best for my men and for those men pinned down. Sir, we could take in supplies as well and it would give me a chance to see just what it is I'd be facing where the enemy is concerned, and just might raise the spirits of those men pinned down,” I said.
“You've already seen the maps then?” he asked.
“If they're the ones Rose company had, yes sir,” I said.
“I guess you better get your men briefed then Captain The supply drop is scheduled for twenty-one hundred hours,” he said.
“Yes sir. Thank you sir,” I replied.
The Hidden Rose Page 8