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.The second thing I need is for you to goose the Marine Corps personnelpeople.They still haven't transferred Lt Col Stecker to me.Colonel Rickabeereports that he's been getting a very cold shoulder about this, although noexplanation has been given, and your normally incredibly able Captain Haughtonhasn't been able to get them off their upholstered chairs, either.I needStecker for this.He's an expert in guerrilla operations, and this iscertainly more important than what the Corps wants him to do vis a vis settingup prophylactic facilities and amateur theatricals.McCoy going ashore alonewould not be nearly as effective as the two of them going together.I earnestly solicit your immediate action in this regard.Page 332 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlBest regards,Fleming Pickering, Brigadier General, USMCR=TOP SECRET=[FIVE]The Peabody HotelMemphis, Tennessee1725 Hours 17 November 1942"This is a first for me," First Lieutenant Malcolm S.Pickering said to FirstLieutenant William C.Dunn, after the bellman who had led them to the smallsuite had left."I have been in many, many hotels, and I have seen somestrange things in their lobbies; but I have never before seen ducks.""It is an old southern custom.We call it 'ducks in the lobby.' ""With a 'd,' right?""Don't be obscene, Mr.Pickering.And if you are reaching for the phone toorder booze, forget it.""Why?""Because this is the South, Mr.Pickering.We do not corrupt our youth-suchas yourself-by giving them whiskey.""You're kidding.""I am not kidding.""Well, as soon as I find out if my car has arrived, I will ask for a bellman.I'll bet the bellman has an idea how we can circumvent that perverted Southerncustom.""Why don't we wait until we report in? We can buy booze on the base, I'msure," Dunn said."Why don't we just go out there in the morning?""Because if we report in today, anytime before midnight, it is a day of duty,and we don't lose a day of leave.""Why don't we go out there in the morning and say we reported in last nightand there was nobody there to properly receive us?" Pick asked."That would be a case of an officer knowingly uttering a statement he knowsto be false."Page 333 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"So what?""Pick, you better understand, you've never been in a squadron under anybodybut Charley Galloway.There are a number of squadron commanders who are realpricks.""And it will be our luck to get one, right?""Right.And I won't be the exec, either.Just one more airplane jockey.So,until we find out how much of a prick our new squadron commander is going tobe, be smart, keep your mouth shut, and your eyes and ears open.""OK.Now can I ask if my car is here?""Yes, you may," Dunn said grandly.The car had been delivered; it would be at the front door in five minutes."I have just had another unpleasant, if realistic, thought," Dunn said."Ournew skipper maybe won't permit us to live here.""Fuck him," Pick said."Wave your Navy Cross in his face.""Pick, you weren't listening.You're going to have to change your wholeattitude, or you're going to get us both in trouble.Maybe you don't give adamn, but I don't want to get sent back to P'Cola to fly Yellow Perils.""I surrender.I am now on my good behavior.Note the glow of my halo.""Just make sure it keeps glowing," Dunn said."Let's go."There was a staff sergeant on duty at the headquarters of Marine Air Group59.He told them that the Major was out inspecting the flight line."What for?" Pick asked."Sir," the sergeant replied, looking askance at the question from the young,new pilot, obviously fresh from P'Cola, "the SOP says the Officer of the Daywill inspect the flight line every two hours during off-duty hours, Sir.""Right," Pickering said."Your name is Dunn, you said, Lieutenant?" the sergeant asked.And then,before Dunn could reply, he asked another question."Sir, isn't that the NavyCross? Are you that Mr.Dunn, Sir?""That's him, Sergeant.We call him 'Modest Bill.' He always wears hismedals-""Shut up, Pick," Dunn said, and it was in the voice of command."-when trying to make a favorable first impression on his new squadroncommander," Pick finished."I told you to shut up, Mr.Pickering."Pick shrugged, but said nothing else.Page 334 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"This is for you, Mr.Dunn," the sergeant said, and handed him a large manilaenvelope.Dunn tore it open and read the single sheet of Teletype paper it contained."Well," he said, "I'm all right with the new skipper, but your ass, Mr.Pickering, is in a crack.""What are you talking about?""What are you talking about, Sir? if you please, Mr.Pickering.""What do you mean, Sir?""Stick this in your ear, Mr.Pickering," Dunn said, handing him the Teletype."And then call me 'Sir.' Get in the habit of calling me Sir, as a matter offact.ROUTINE CONFIDENTIALHEADQUARTERS USMC WASH DC 1535 13 NOV 42COMMANDING OFFICER MAG-59MEMPHIS NAVAL AIR STATION TENN1.FOLLOWING EXTRACTS GENERAL ORDER 205 HQ USMC DATED 10 NOV 42 QUOTED FORINFORMATION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION.*******17.1/LT WILLIAM C.DUNN, USMCR, HQ MAG-59 IS PROMOTED CAPTAIN, USMCR, WITHDATE OF RANK 1 NOV 42.18.CAPT WILLIAM C.DUNN, USMCR, DETACHED HQ MAG-59 ATTACHED VMF-262, MAG-59,MEMPHIS NAVAL AIR STATION, TENN, FOR DUTY AS COMMANDING OFFICER.*******171.1/LT MALCOM S.PICKERING, USMCR, DETACHED HQ MAG-59 ATTACHED VMF-262,MAG-59, MEMPHIS AIR STATION, TENN, FOR DUTY.BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMANDANTVORHEES, LT COL.USMCPage 335 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I'll be goddamned,Sir ," Lieutenant Pickering said."Better, Mr.Pickering,better," Captain Dunn said.[SIX]Water Lily CottageBrisbane, Australia1015 Hours 19 November 1942When Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, USMCR, entered the house, he had tolook for Lieutenant Colonel Jack (NMI) Stecker, USMCR; Lieutenant Kenneth R.McCoy, USMCR; and Staff Sergeant Stephen M.Koffler, USMCR.He found them inthe bathroom.The bathtub was full.In it was floating a black object, about a foot square."Hold it under again, Koffler," Colonel Stecker ordered.Sergeant Koffler knelt by the tub and with some effort submerged the blackobject.From the evidence on the floor, as well as Koffler's rolled-up sleevesand water-soaked shirt, it was clear to General Pickering that this was notthe first time they had done whatever they were doing.Lieutenant McCoy looked at his wristwatch."Two minutes this time," McCoy ordered, and Koffler nodded."What is that?" Pickering asked.Stecker and McCoy, in a reflex action, came almost to attention."Actually, this is aspirin," McCoy said."The other stuff is in short supply.We have a buoyancy problem.So we filled the pack with aspirin.If this stuffleaks, all we lose is aspirin.""What is that stuff?""Something new; they're packing radios in it.Plastic is what they call it.Koffler found out you can reseal it-sort of remelt it together.So far it'sworking like a Swiss watch.""I've had a number of Swiss watches that leaked," Pickering said, and thensmiled at Koffler."Good work, Koffler
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