“Yes, Mr. Phillips, please, let’s sit. May I call you Nathan?” Montgomery motioned to have coffee and water brought for us all. I immediately dusted the seat of my pants and sat down on the front edge of a chair. After introductions, Jed O’Reilly sat next to me. He pulled out a small notebook and readied himself for a fight.
Jennings and the ranking general looked at Jed inquisitively.
“General Montgomery, if I may …?” the congressman began. Montgomery gave a nod as he reached for a cup of coffee from the platter his secretary had returned holding.
Jennings smiled at me and Jed. “Do you know where I live? When I’m not in Washington dealing with that mess,” he said with a grimace, “I live outside Pittsburgh. Do you know where Sergeant Carnes happens to live?”
I didn’t, but suddenly found myself hoping it was Pennsylvania.
“He was born and raised in Oakdale, about ten miles from my home.” Jennings stopped for a moment to let that information sink in.
I didn’t want to jinx anything, so I played it cool. I purposefully kept any expression off my face.
“You can put your notebook away, Mr. O’Reilly,” the congressman said. “There will be no grand inquisition here today—or any other day, for that matter. Mr. Phillips and histeam saved not only the life of one of my constituents, but undoubtedly the lives of every soldier in that vehicle—maybe even the lives of everyone in the convoy. Who knows what we’d be doing right now had those terrorists succeeded? I can assure you we wouldn’t be sitting here drinking coffee.”
The air must have involuntarily left my lungs with a whoosh because both Jennings and Montgomery smiled. They looked almost proud, like parents watching their kid do something remarkable for the first time.
“See, we’re not all so bad in DC,” Jennings said, chuckling. “Now, here’s the plan. I am pleased to find your legal counsel present for this part. I have already alerted the president, State, and SECDEF, as well as the appropriate members of the Armed Services Committee. The attorney general is in communication with Mr. Dent in Maryland—good duck hunting, by the way—and we will begin the process of removing your team from this theater most expeditiously.”
My relief immediately fell to the bottom of the well. Even though I had done the right thing, CSTC was having its contract terminated and being sent home. Hit with a wave of nausea, I set my coffee cup down to steady myself.
“Congressman—with all due respect—” I began to stammer. “I made the decision, and I made the call to fight back.” My voice started to rise with each word. “Please don’t pull the plug on the contract just because of me.”
“Hold on a second, Nathan,” General Montgomery reassured me. “We’re not pulling any contracts. But we do have to switch teams. Believe it or not, the Iraqi government realizes they still have a huge problem with JAM and the other militias, not to mention Al-Qaeda. But, as you know, we have to show themsomething. And there’s been bounty chatter, too. I believe the congressman has already alerted the folks at State to work with your guys to get another team back out here ASAP.”
“The general is correct,” said Jennings. “One of my aides, whom you delivered to and from the gala today, gave me an immediate recap of the ambush. I may be a lot of things, Mr. Phillips, but I am not one to forsake any single man or woman in uniform, period. And that includes you and your team.”
I heaved another audible sigh of relief, then picked up my coffee and took a long pull. It was the best coffee I had ever tasted. I eased myself back into the seat a little deeper and said thank you.
“Now, Mr. O’Reilly, I would like to excuse you to begin coordinating the departure of Mr. Phillips and his principals,” Jennings said to Jed. “One of my staff, Will McKay or Travis Hunter, will assist you with the process. I can assure you that there will be no hiccups whatsoever. So if you will excuse us, the general and I would like to speak with Mr. Phillips in private.”
Jed stood uncertainly, but I motioned to the door with my head. He thanked the two men and followed the secretary to the large door.
“Okay, Nathan,” the general said after everyone but Jennings and I had departed, “it’s just us girls here—plain and simple, no bullshit. What happened, why did it happen, and what do you think is going to happen next?” He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in his chair.
I noticed the congressman seemed to relax as well.If this is some kind of trick, at least Jed heard the bulk of the good stuff.I didn’t think they could take it back, but you never know with some people.
I unspooled the saga from beginning to end.
By the time I got to the part about seeing the RPG hit the Humvee, both men were leaning forward in their seats. As I described stitching the first Iraqi, Congressman Jennings seemed so fired up that he was ready to clap his hands.
I also made sure to put in a plug for the calm professionalism of both Sergeant Carnes and Sergeant Hilton.
The bottom line, I said, was that something screwy was definitely going down. It was clearly not news to either gentleman, but it made me feel important to give the distinguished pair my two cents.
“So, sir, Congressman, that’s about it. Umm, what should I do next?”
The general stood and thanked me again. He mentioned the need for operational security, as well as the most obviousDon’t go talking to the press or writing a book anytime soonguidance. Congressman Jennings looked at his watch, then at me.
“We will have another plane here tomorrow morning to transport your team back to Maryland. You’ll get the itinerary shortly. We will see you when you’re back on the shores of the greatest country in the world.”
This time it was Jennings who passed out business cards. I thanked both men effusively and headed toward the door.
“By the way,” Montgomery said, “Command Sergeant Major Miller and I have served together off and on for almost twenty years.”
I smiled, recognizing that Chris must’ve gone to bat for me with the old man.
“He wanted me to ask you, and I quote him verbatim,Why the fuck did you let one escape?” General Montgomery laughed alittle. “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Phillips—I’m sure we’ll get him another day.”
