Читать книгу Katie's Command - Roger Rollins - Страница 5

Introduction

As I read my orders, it came as a blow to me.

Lieutenant Colonel Francis James Preston is to report to Major General Patrick J. Saunders, Deputy Chief of Staff of TRADOC.

After eighteen years of military service, all the wars, border skirmishes, and training exercises. I had been put out to pasture and transferred to a new training unit to train soldiers. My new orders were to report to MG Saunders in Training Command in Fort Eustis, Virginia. On the way, I was thinking of excuses to get out of this duty and how to explain that I deserved a combat command instead.

When I reported to MG Patrick J. Saunders’s office, he was sitting at his desk. Saluting, I reported, “LTC Preston reporting, sir.”

It was good to see my former commander and close friend.

He returned my salute. “Good to see you Jim, here’s something for you.”

Pat gave me a package—the eagles of a full colonel with the orders for my promotion.

With a laptop on his desk, Pat gave me an envelope. “This computer is for you to view.” Then he left the office. The envelope had the user ID and password for the laptop. The assignment was top secret/eyes only. I wondered why it was top secret/eyes only. As I read, I found the new assignment to be an incredible opportunity. I was to train a new group of young troopers while reactivating an infantry regiment. Upon completion of training, I was to be the first commander. I had control of the unit, officers, troopers, training, equipment. Nothing I read screamed top secret.

The troopers for my unit were at Fort Benning, Georgia, having completed infantry training. I have the authorization to have any of these troopers promoted as I saw fit. The follow-on training of the unit would take about twelve months. Upon completion of training, we would be ready to be deployed to defend the country.

When done, I turned off the laptop and destroyed the passcodes. Pat returned and asked me what my assignment was.

“I wish I was at liberty to say, Pat.”

As I walked out of Pat’s office, I had only two weeks before I reported for duty. I was excited to start working with these young troopers. I wondered what they would be like. How would they take to me?