Читать книгу Katie's Command - Roger Rollins - Страница 6

Chapter 1

It was a warm sunny day at Fort Benning, Georgia. I was a day early, wanting to see them before I reported for duty. In civilian clothes, I walked into the barracks area of the soldiers. There were four large three-story barracks. I didn’t expect to find so many troopers up at seven o’clock on a Sunday. I walked around, checking them out. No one seemed to pay me any attention. As I meandered through the area, I watched the troopers play a soccer game. There was another group playing volleyball. There was a group of twenty tables, with some troopers reading books or playing cards or chess.

A cute brunette was playing chess at a table with a tall slim young man.

“Queen to rooks four, sweetheart,” I said.

“She doesn’t need any help. Get lost,” the young man said.

“Well, white bishop to rooks four will work for you.”

He jumped up, grabbing me by the shirt, the table and chess game flying all over; the girl moved back to watch. I grabbed his left thumb to free his hand from my shirt. I shoved him back, preparing for his charge. He launched himself at me. I sidestepped him, tripping him as he passed. He crashed through several tables and chairs.

He shook it off and said, “I will rip you in half.”

He slowly closed with me, looking to smash me. He threw a right cross at me. I caught his hand, turned and threw him over my shoulder. He landed with a hard thud. “Attention!” sounded, and everyone went to attention, including me. A second girl walked up to me, 5'10" tall. Blonde, looking at me with smoldering blue eyes.

She looked me in the eyes. “What are you doing in our area? This area is off limits to everyone. I should let Jason take you apart. Now I suggest you leave.”

I asked her, “Who’s in charge here?”

“Battalion Commander Katharine A. Wilson, commanding officer.”

“Aren’t you a little young to be a battalion commander?”

Katharine replied, “It isn’t a matter of age but a matter of leadership.”

“I’m Colonel Francis J. Preston, reporting for duty.”

“Sorry, sir, I didn’t know who you were.”

“I came early to see who my troopers are. Why the cadet rank?”

“I came from the Point. After school, I was sent here.”

“Didn’t you get orders to second lieutenant?”

She just stared at me. Katharine said, “Come with me please.”

Katharine wheeled, and I followed her into a three-story barracks building. She led me through a large ground floor room at one end of the building and then into a small office with one small desk with an office chair and a locked five-drawer safe. I handed her a copy of my orders.

I asked, “So what is your position here?”

“Until now, I was the commander. Now, I’m not sure.”

“Who is the XO for the regiment?”

Katharine said, “We don’t have one.”

I looked at Katie. “Well, you’re it until you give me a reason to replace you. I want to call a staff meeting in about an hour.”

“A staff meeting?”

I closed my eyes for a second. “OK, let me explain what I mean. A staff meeting has the commander, the XO, S1 officer who handles personnel, S2 officer who handles intelligence, S3 officer is the operations officer who maneuvers the unit in combat, S4 officer who handles logistics, all three battalion commanders.”

Katharine looked lost. “Oh, I’m not sure who they are.”

“Well, then we need to appoint some and get the unit organized. OK, who knows everyone as good as you?”

Katie smiled. “That would be Candice S. Johnson.”

“Then get her in here now.”

“Yes, sir, going now.” Katie returned with the short brunette from the chess game.

I told them, “Katharine is the regiment XO as a lieutenant colonel, you will be a captain as the regiment S1 officer. Now for an S2 officer, we need someone who has an inquisitive mind.”

Candice spoke up, “Paul Gonzales has made friends with several soldiers outside of our unit.”

“I thought you were to avoid contact with other soldiers.”

Katharine added, “We are, but Paul wanted to talk to other soldiers about the army.”

“How about an S3 officer? He needs to know strategy and tactics.”

Candice asked, “How about Davey Jones—I mean, David Jones?”

“Why the Davey Jones moniker?”

Katie spoke up, “He can’t be beat in hand-to-hand fighting. He organized and coached us for soccer games.”

“OK, he will do. And now the S4 officer.”

Candice was at a loss. Katie added, “Pam Sterling has been helping the mess hall with inventory every month.”

I looked at Candice. “Let’s get them in here to talk to them.”

Candice left to get the troopers.

“Now we need to get the companies organized for the First Battalion. For this, I want to split the soldiers into four groups tomorrow. They will be given assignments to do. I want to see who the leaders are.”

Monday morning, I had Katharine call physical training formation at 0545 hours in the morning. All the soldiers were arranged alphabetically by last name. I wanted everyone mixed up and off balance. We did forty-five minutes of stretching and exercises. After this, I put on a demonstration for the soldiers.

“I will demonstrate hand-to-hand combat. David will be my opponent.”

We faced off. David tried to explore my abilities. We traded a few jabs back and forth, the troopers cheering him on. Suddenly, David launched a roundhouse kick. I launched myself at him and knocked him down before the kick hit. We rolled on the ground, trying to grapple with each other. I rolled David onto his stomach with his arms pinned behind his back, sitting on him to hold him down. I looked at all the soldiers as they were silent. Letting David up, I sent everyone to the showers. I turned to David. “With some good training, you’ll be unbeatable.”

After breakfast, I called another formation. This one was alphabetically, by first name. I broke the formation into groups. The first group would edge sidewalks and then collect fist-sized rocks from a pile and arrange them along the sidewalk. The second group was to fill in small holes in a gravel parking lot. The third group was to paint the barracks rooms. The fourth group would cut grass and trim hedges.

With the staff officers supervising the work of the troops, I invited Katie back to the S1 office. Once there, I opened the safe filled with files on everyone.

I looked at Katharine and asked, “Who’s been airborne trained?”

“We’re all airborne trained.”

“What about other training?”

“What training are you talking about?”

“Intelligence training, communication, supply training, among others.”

“Infantry and airborne training is all we have.”

Pam ran into the office. I asked, “What’s up Pam?”

“Sir, it’s the men, sir. They refuse to work.”

I asked Pam, “Where did you get the airborne wings?”

“At airborne school. We all got one.”

Talking to both, I said, “Everyone should be wearing wings.”

I walked outside, yelling, “Fall in on me,” waiting to see what they would do. They slowly formed into the four groups. Only half the soldiers wore the airborne wings.

I yelled. “What is the problem?”

Carl Stanley stepped up and said, “It isn’t fair. We do all the work, and they don’t have to work.”

“I put them in charge. If the work is not done to my standards, I will punish the leaders. If I put you in charge and the work is not to my standards, I will punish you.”

Carl fell back into formation.

“Carl, you will supervise the first group. I need Pam with me.”

As we walked back to the S1 office, Pam asked, “What do you need?”

“I need you to be a battalion commander. The battalion will have three infantry companies, one combat support company and the battalion headquarters and headquarters company. Each company needs a company commander, an executive officer, and three platoon leaders. The combat support company will hold the battalion’s mortars and heavy anti-armor weapons. We need leaders as company commanders. We also need a new S4 for the regiment. In any case, we need to separate the soldiers into our five companies.”

“Well, it wiped out the whole morning. However, I think it went pretty good. Let’s see how the troopers have done with their tasks.

“Katharine, form up the unit please.”

“Please, call me Katie.”

I waited for Katie to form up the unit before going outside. To my surprise, all work was completed. The sidewalk area was outstanding but not how I wanted it done. I went to Carl and stood in front of him.

“What did I tell you to do?”

“We did as you asked.”

“No, you half-buried the rocks. I said to lay them next to the sidewalk.”

“This way is better, sir. The rocks will stay put.”

“This way is better, but my orders must be followed to the letter. If you have a better way, tell me first. Then I will decide whether to approve or disapprove of the idea. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir. Next time, I will ask you.”

“Everyone will move to the entrance to the barracks.”

When everyone moved, I ordered Carl Stanley posted in front of me.

“If I call you to post, you will move and stand in front of me. If I call your name, fall in on Captain Stanley.”

Carl’s jaw dropped, but he closed his mouth and stood silent as I called off the names for alpha company.

“Judith Starling, right here for you.”

I called off names for Bravo Company.

“Steve Ramirez, right here for you.”

I called off names for Charlie Company.

“Donald Benson, right here for you.”

I called off names for Delta Company.

“Mary Stephens, right next to Alpha Company.”

I called off the names for headquarters and headquarters company. I called up James Barlow to be my S4.

“I want to see all commanders right after formation. Commanders, take command of your units and dismiss them for lunch.”

I watched my new commanders. They were really good for newbies.

I walked with my new officers to another barracks. In the operations office was a table with lunch prepared for my staff and commanders. After lunch, we moved on to the S1 office. There were brandy snifters for everyone. I poured a glass for everyone.

Katie asked, “Is this proper?”

“This is for the ceremony. Katie, post these orders for me—I mean, read them, please.”

Katie read, “Attention to orders.”

Everyone snapped to attention.

“This is to certify that Candice Stephanie Johnson is promoted to the rank of captain as of 9 June, 2127.”

I pinned captain bars on Candice. Candice read the orders as I pinned rank on the rest of my staff and commanders. We drank to their new promotions.

“Jim, I have special codes to order supplies and equipment with. These are our buildings for the next fourteen months. Each company has an arms room in the lower floor to hold their weapons and ammunition. We should get a lot of normal unit supplies, tents, field desks, printers, paper, and such in the next few days.”

I heard my phone ring in my office. I answered my phone. “COL Preston speaking.”

I listened to the call, gave our building numbers, and then hung up.

“It seems we have some supplies just minutes away. Formation will be in five minutes. We will have the soldiers unload the trucks into the S4 for inventory.”

I answered a second call and gave the caller the building number.

“Stan, let the troopers know formation will be a little late.”

“What’s the reason for a late formation?”

“Our colors are arriving in a few minutes.”

“What are our colors?

“Our colors consist of the nation’s flag. Our unit flag is a medium blue flag with an eagle symbol and the unit motto on it. Each company will have a small twin-tailed flag for their guidon with company/battalion/regimental designation with branch symbol. Ours is crossed rifles on a medium blue flag. When the colors arrive, we will get things organized.”

A dozen semitrucks arrived first. I sent the drivers to the mess hall to get lunch. A green army van arrived five minutes later with our colors. I grabbed six troopers to carry the colors to my office. I let the troopers stay as I unboxed the items. I put a flag stand behind my desk. I removed several flag staffs, putting one together, slid the national flag onto it, and placed it in the flag stand.

“I need one trooper from each company, five from HHC. These troopers will be guidon bearers for each company. Two troopers from HHC will carrier the battalion colors and national flag. The last two will be the colors honor guard. I pulled out the battalion colors. They were First Battalion, 289th Infantry Regiment. Digging deeper into the box, I found our regimental colors as well as colors for the other two battalions.

“I was promoted for this assignment. This is the first of three battalions for the regiment. I need to find out what is going on. Katie, take command of the battalion. Keep the troopers busy while I’m gone.”

“Where are you going?”

“To Washington DC to find some answers.”

I caught the early morning shuttle to Washington DC, and I called a friend of mine, Robert Albright from the airport.

“Hi, Bob, can you fill me in about the 289th Infantry Regiment?”

“Where did you hear about that unit?”

“Meet me for lunch at Mary’s and I’ll tell you.”

“OK, 1:00 p.m. for lunch.”

I called Jane Minder, the assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs.

“Hi, this is Jane Minder.”

“How are you doing, Jane?”

“Jim, how have you been?”

“I’m doing good, but I need some information.”

“OK, how can I help.”

“What do you know about the 289th Infantry Regiment.”

“I know a lot about the unit but nothing I can tell you. How do you know about the unit?”

“I’m the commander of the regiment.”

“Can you call me back in thirty minutes?”

“Sure, I’ll talk to you then.”

Jane is a good friend, but she’s checking out my story about the unit. I ordered coffee at a small cafe and waited. Jane called me back in twenty minutes.

“Hi, Jane, got anything for me.”

“It will cost you dinner for the information.”

“The usual place for dinner?”

“Oh, you know me so well. 6:00 p.m. then.”

I thought about seeing Jane again. “That’s fine with me.”

I called Katie to see how she was holding up. “Anything going on?”

“No, everything is quiet here. Maybe too quiet.”

“If anything comes up, call me.”

“I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

I took a cab to Mary’s Cafe. Bob was waiting for me.

“Jim, how do you know of the unit?”

“I’m the commander of the 289th.”

“You’re the commander of the 289th? I don’t have access to the unit, but the whole regiment is to be reactivated.”

“Where are the battalions to be assigned?”

“The regiment will remain together for now.”

“Who do we fall under?”

“The unit has no parent division. That’s all I can tell you. Have you asked Jane about the unit?”

“Not yet. I thought I’d ask you first.”

“Well, you might ask Jane. She may have some more information.”

“I’ll do that. I have about eight hundred soldiers at the moment, I wonder where the rest are?”

I went to personnel department to call in some favors to get some information.

“Jerry, how are you doing?”

“Jimmy—I mean, Colonel, how are you doing.”

“Call me Jimmy. I’m doing fine. I came to try to find some information on the reactivation of the 289th Infantry Regiment.”

Jerry asked, “How did you hear of the reactivation?”

“I’m the commander.”

“OK, I’ll check the computer, come to my office.”

Jerry lead me to a small office with a large desk, office chair, and several small chairs. “Jimmy, let’s take a look in the computer. Now, let’s see what is happening. Ah, here it is, the 289th Infantry Regiment with 2,400 soldiers. Now this is funny. There is only you and one second lieutenant listed to the unit.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, regimental command, three battalions, in Fort Benning, Georgia. There are building numbers for the battalions and the regimental command. Yet there are only two soldiers listed for the regiment.”

“Well, now that really has me stumped. I have a meeting with Jane Minder later.”

“You mean the assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs.”

I replied, “The one and only, we dated for a while.”

“Really, how is your relationship now?”

I told Jerry, “We have a good relationship.”

“I hope so. You’ll need fresh information to find your soldiers.”

“OK, it’s been good seeing you again Jerry.”

“You too Jimmy take care.”

I returned to my Hotel. Those soldiers must be in the Infantry School. I freshened up then caught a cab to Margie’s.

I arrived at Margie’s five minutes early. Jane was waiting with another man.

“Jim, it’s great to see you, this is Reuben Benson. Reuben is in charge of the whole program.”

Once inside the restaurant, we were seated at a small back table away from everyone else. After the waitress left, I asked my questions.

“How many soldiers for my unit?”

Reuben laid out the plan for my unit. “About 2,400 soldiers total for the infantry regiment.”

“I only have 800 soldiers now. Where are the rest?”

Jane responded, “The soldiers will finish training in six months. Right now, they are in the infantry training program. Then airborne training in Fort Benning, Georgia, is next. After which, several mobile training teams will teach soldiers in intelligence, operations, administration, and logistics.”

“Jane, can I check out the soldiers during training?”

“Sure, not a problem. I will contact COL Carlisle, commander of the training program.”

“Good, now why pick me to train these soldiers?”

Jane smiled. “I was hoping you would get the regiment.”

“How many were selected for the unit?”

Reuben answered, “You were picked from a dozen officers.”

“Why do you want me to train and lead this unit?”

Jane responded, “Because we wanted someone who would train and lead the soldiers. You have been training soldiers your whole career. You care about the soldiers under your command.”

“Why classify the information top secret/eyes only?”

Jane looked at me. “I didn’t know it was classified.”

Reuben spoke, “I wanted to limit access to the information.”

“Fair enough. What can you tell me about the soldiers?”

Reuben replied, “What’s there to tell? They were appointed to this unit.”

“Where were they born, grew up, go to school?”

“Well, that’s not the important thing. It’s important that you see they get trained.”