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“Damn, for a unit with twenty-one aircraft and borrowing three from some other unit, that still has us at less than fifty percent availability. I need to talk to Maintenance.”
“Sir, Maintenance is doing the best they can. I know for a fact that every other aviation unit is going through the same thing. The Gladiators and Black Widows are in the same boat. The gooks have a vote in this fight, and there isn’t much we can do about that. Our maintenance issues aren’t caused by sloppy flying. It’s caused by little pieces of metal flying through the side of the aircraft. You are the commander and no longer a maintenance officer.”
“I know, I know, but still…I don’t like it. Okay, let me know if Battalion comes up with an idea to get those bodies out of Firebase Five.” And with that, the major departed the Operations center.
Those bodies are really bothering the old man. I know he feels obliged to get them out of there since they’re on loan to us, Captain Curran thought.
Chapter 38
Leave No One Behind
“Captain Cory, wake up, sir. You have a zero-eight-hundred crank,” the Ops clerk said softly, grabbing Cory’s foot and shaking it.
“Okay, okay, I’m awake,” Cory said as he started to push himself upright. I need some coffee to clear my head. Glad I didn’t drink too much last night. It was initially supposed to be Cory’s promotion party, but since the crew had been lost on Firebase Five, it had quickly turned into a wake of sorts. Time in grade from first lieutenant to captain was one year, and Cory’s year had come around the day before. Normally, Cory would have had to buy a round for everyone at the club, and then everyone would have bought a round for him. Cory wasn’t sure how many he’d drunk, but the mood wasn’t one for excessive partying. Drinking, yes; partying, no. Besides, Major Adams and Captain Curran were missed most of the night, working on a plan to get the downed crew off Firebase Five.
Pulling on his pants, flippy-flops and a shirt, he moved towards the mess hall and the coffeepot, figuring he would brush his teeth and shave after he got a cup through his system. As he turned from the coffeepot to head back to his hooch, there stood Captain Curran.
“Morning, Cory. You up for flying this morning?”
“Yes, sir, after I get
a couple of cups of coffee in my system.”
Leaning in to whisper in Cory’s ear, the captain said, “Dan, we’re the same rank now. No need to call me sir anymore.”
“Oh, yeah. Guess I’m not used to being a captain yet.”
“Takes a day or two to get used to the new title,” Captain Curran said with a smile. “I’m going to swing by Ops and then head out to the aircraft and start the preflight. See you there.”
“Sir-sir—ah, hell, what’s your first name?” Cory asked with a befuddled look.
“It’s John,” Captain Curran answered.
“We flying together today?” Cory asked.
“Yeah, we are flying Chuck Chuck for the major today. The MACV advisor is going with us. See you at the aircraft,” John said as he turned and headed for the door.
Cory slowly sipped his coffee as he made his way back to his hooch. Sitting on his bed, he was beginning to feel better as the caffeine started to kick in. Adding a couple of aspirin to the coffee as it went down helped as well. Oh, it’s going to be a long day, he was thinking. Finally he exchanged his flippy-flops for his boots and decided that he could hold and use his toothbrush well enough not to hurt himself. Shaving would have to wait until tonight. Fully dressed and beginning to feel life returning to his body, Cory made his way back to the mess hall for another cup of coffee. Ben Hodges had just entered as Cory was pouring condensed milk into his cup.
“Morning, Ben. Who you flying with today?” Cory asked.
“And a good day to you, sir,” Ben responded, emphasizing the sir. “Do I salute or not?” he asked.
“In the mess hall, it isn’t appropriate, but if I had seen you in the hooch, I would have told you to get me my coffee,” Cory bantered.
“I’m flying with the CO today. Don’t know what the mission is,” Ben answered finally.
“Well, you fly like you did with me the other day, you’ll have a good day. I got to get moving as I’m flying with Curran and don’t want to hold him up. Take care,” Cory said as he walked out the door with his cup in hand.
Cory headed over to Ops on the way to the aircraft and picked up the mission sheet. Reading it as he walked to the aircraft, he saw today was a resupply day for one of the ARVN battalions after completing a C&C mission for the MACV advisor, who they were to pick up at Dak To. Reaching the aircraft, he saw that Captain Curran was just finishing up the preflight, with Jonesy reading the checklist.
“Good morning, folks,” Cory said.
Jonesy and Dorsey, who were standing with their backs to him as he approached, snapped to attention and smartly executed an about-face, saluting. In unison, and with loud, thunderous voices, they said, “Good morning, Captain Cory, sir!”
“Oh, you smart-asses. I still put my shorts on the same way you do, so knock it off.” With a questioning facial expression, he added, “What, just because I made captain, I deserve a higher level of respect, is that it?” Cory tossed his helmet into his seat and retrieved his chicken plate.
“No, sir, it means you receive a higher level of bullshit from us,” Jonesy said, relaxing his frozen posture of attention. Dorsey just snickered and moved to his side of the aircraft.
