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.The Secretary's conference room had been turned into something like a motionpicture set for the presentation.The conference table itself was now pushedto one side of the room; a dark-blue drape suspended from iron pipe was put upas a backdrop; lights were set up and tested; and two motion picturecameras-an industry-standard 35mm Mitchell and a 16mm Eyemo as a backup-werein place.It then took the master sergeant in charge of it all anextraordinary amount of time to arrange the flags against the backdrop-theNational Colors, and the flags of the Navy Department, The Marine Corps, andthe Secretary of the Navy.But that delay was as nothing in comparison with the one that reallymattered.And then, as General Stewart glared impatiently-for the umpteenth time-at hiswristwatch, the door to the Secretary's conference room opened and threeMarine officers walked in."General," the tallest of the three barked crisply, "Lieutenant Pickeringreporting with a detail of two, Sir."The other first lieutenant, who was also wearing the wings of a Naval Aviator(and thus he had to be the Navy Cross decoratee), seemed for some reason tofind this very amusing.But General Stewart did not dwell on that.He was pleased with what he saw.The three of them were not only shipshape, with fresh shaves and haircuts, butfine-looking, clean-cut young officers in well-fitting uniforms.It could veryeasily not have been so.When these pictures appeared in movie newsreels andin newspapers across the country, The Corps would look good.There was only one minor item that had to be corrected.But even as thisthought occurred to General Stewart, the master sergeant took care of it:"Lieutenant," he said, "this time you're on the other side of the lens.Whydon't you let me hold that Leica for you?"Lieutenant Easterbrook pulled the strap of his Leica camera case over hishead and turned it over to the master sergeant.It was at that point that General Stewart realized that a civilian hadentered the room.And then, a moment later, he realized just who that civilianwas.Page 232ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Good afternoon, Senator," he said."Good afternoon.""I'm General Stewart." General Stewart began, but got no further.Captain David Haughton put his head in the door and interrupted him:"Senator, if you don't mind, the Secretary.""Certainly," the Senator said, and left the room.A moment later a Marine first lieutenant wearing the silver cord of anaide-de-camp came in carrying a red flag with two stars on it.He was followedby a Marine captain carrying an identical flag.General Stewart recognized thecaptain as the aide-de-camp of the Assistant Commandant.But he had no ideawho the other two-star was.He was pleased that he had chosen to appear personally; if he hadn't, theAssistant Commandant might have wondered where he was.Captain Haughton reappeared, leading the Assistant Commandant, the Directorof Marine Corps Aviation, and the senior senator from California.He arrangedthem before the flags, and then gestured to the young Marine officers."Over here, please, gentlemen," he said."Lieutenant Dunn on the left,Lieutenant Pickering, and then Lieutenant Easterbrook.""Sir, I'm not involved in this," Lieutenant Pickering said."Mr.Pickering," Captain Haughton said sternly."Your father can argue withme.You can't.Get in ranks."The Assistant Commandant and the Director of Marine Corps Aviation bothlaughed.My God,General Stewart realized somewhat belatedly,that must be GeneralPickering's son!"You ready for us, Sergeant?" Captain Haughton asked."Yes, Sir," the master sergeant said."Let's have the lights, please."The backdrop was instantly flooded with brilliant light.The master sergeantgave those bathed in it a moment to recover."Roll film," the master sergeant ordered.Captain Haughton opened the door again."Gentlemen," he announced, "the Honorable Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy."[FIVE]=TOP SECRET=Page 233ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlURGENT- VIA SPECIAL CHANNELNAVY DEPARTMENT WASH DC 2115 22OCT42FOR: SUPREME COMMANDER SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREAEYES ONLY BRIGADIER GENERAL FLEMING PICKERING, USMCRFOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM SECNAV TO BRIG GEN PICKERING:DEAR FLEMING:THIRTY MINUTES AGO I HAD THE GREAT PERSONAL PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE OFINVESTING FIRST LIEUTENANT MALCOLM S.PICKERING, USMCR, WITH THE DISTINGUISHEDFLYING CROSS FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY VALOR AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL ATGUADALCANAL.SENATOR FOWLER WAS PRESENT.YOUR SON IS A FINE YOUNG MAN, AND YOUCAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN HIM.I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT FOLLOWING HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE WAR BOND TOUR HEIS TO BE ASSIGNED TO DUTIES INVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TACTICS FOR THE NEWCORSAIR FIGHTER.VIS A VIS THE WAR BOND TOUR, WHEN I ASKED, PRO FORMA, IFTHERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO FOR HIM, HE INSTANTLY ASKED TO BE RELIEVED FROMWAR BOND TOUR DUTIES.I TOLD HIM IT WAS OUT OF MY REALM OF AUTHORITY.VIS AVIS THE CORSAIR ASSIGNMENT, I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT EITHER.THE DIRECTOROF MARINE CORPS AVIATION TOLD ME THAT PILOTS LIKE YOUR BOY (AND LIKE THAT OFHIS GUADALCANAL COMRADE IN ARMS, LIEUTENANT WILLIAM DUNN, WHO WAS DECORATEDTODAY WITH THE NAVY CROSS FOR HIS TEN VICTORIES AND WHO IS BEING SIMILARLYASSIGNED) ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD TO TRAIN OTHER PILOTS AND THAT THEMARINE CORPS HAS NO INTENTION OF SENDING THEM BACK INTO COMBAT UNTIL THEY HAVETRAINED AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF NAVAL AVIATORS.KEEP BUTTING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE PALACE WALL FOR YOUR FRIEND DONOVAN'SFRIENDS.YOU CAN IMAGINE WHERE THAT ORDER CAME FROM, AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY.GUERRILLAS IN PHILIPPINES HAVE ATTRACTED ATTENTION IN SAME QUARTERS.LEAHYQUOTE SUGGESTED UNQUOTE THAT RICKABEE'S PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY THE BEST TO GET TOBOTTOM OF QUESTION OF THEIR POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS, IF ANY.YOURRECOMMENDATIONS, IF ANY, AND OPINION, IN PARTICULAR, OF MACARTHUR'S RELUCTANCETO GET INVOLVED EARNESTLY SOLICITED.BEST PERSONAL REGARDS, FRANKEND PERSONAL FROM SECNAV TO BRIGGEN PICKERINGPage 234ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlBY DIRECTION:DAVID HAUGHTON, CAPTAIN, USNADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY=TOP SECRET=[SIX]The Foster Lafayette HotelWashington, D.C.2015 Hours 28 October 1942"I'm a little disappointed with this thing," First Lieutenant Malcolm S.Pickering, USMCR, said.As he spoke, he removed the accompanying ribbon fromthe oblong blue box that contained his Distinguished Flying Cross and held itin his fingers."What do you mean, 'disappointed'?" First Lieutenant Kenneth R.McCoy, USMCR,asked."The British do it right," Pick said."Don't you watch English movies? WhenTyrone Power gets the British DFC for sweeping the skies of the dirty Hun, youcan see the sonofabitch for miles; it's striped; it looks like a 'Danger HighVoltage' sign.This thing looks like something you get for not catching theclap for three consecutive months.""Pick," Miss Ernestine Sage groaned, "you're disgusting!"McCoy laughed."He's a little drunk is all."" 'A little drunk' is the understatement of the week," Ernie said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]