“Galloway told me, Colonel,” Flo said.
“Apropos of nothing whatever,” Dawkins said, “I have been informed that there is no bar to marriage between master gunners and officers of the Naval service.”
“Is that so?” Flo said. “Isn’t that fascinating?”
“Good evening, Sir,” Galloway said, coming onto the patio.
“Captain,” Dawkins said.
“Steve’s got his master gunner, Charley,” Flo said. “The Colonel just told me.”
“Thank you, Skipper,” Galloway said.
“Thank General Vandegrift,” Dawkins said. “He wrote the Commandant.”
“I repeat, Sir,” Galloway said. “Thank you, Skipper.”
“Well, that’s the good news,” Dawkins said, and reached in his pocket and handed Galloway a folded radio message. “This is the bad.”
PRIORITY
HEADQUARTERS USMC
WASHINGTON DC 0905 180CT42
TO: COMMANDING OFFICER MAG-21
VIA CINCPAC
1. FOLLOWING OFFICERS VMF-229 ARE DETACHED FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY (90) DAYS AND PLACED ON
TEMPORARY DUTY WITH USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT, US POST OFFICE BUILDING, LOS ANGELES, CAL. FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN WAR BOND TOUR NUMBER TWO.
GALLOWAY, CHARLES M CAPT USMCR
DUNN, WILLIAM C 1/LT USMCR
PICKERING, MALCOLM S 1/LT USMCR
2. SUBJECT OFFICERS WILL PROCEED IMMEDIATELY BY MILITARY OR CIVILIAN AIR TRANSPORTATION
(PRIORITY AAA-2) FROM PRESENT STATION TO LOS ANGELES, CAL., REPORTING UPON ARRIVAL THEREAT
TO OFFICER-IN-CHARGE USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT. IF TIME SCHEDULE OF WAR BOND TOUR
NUMBER TWO PERMITS, A TEN (10) DAY ADMINISTRATIVE DELAY EN ROUTE LEAVE IS AUTHORIZED.
3. DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQ USMC AND OFFICER-IN-CHARGE USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT
LOS ANGELES, CAL. WILL BE INFORMED BY PRIORITY RADIO OF DATE, TIME, AND MEANS OF DEPARTURE OF SUBJECT OFFICERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE ORDERS.
BY DIRECTION:
J. J. STEWART, BRIG GEN, USMC
“Jesus!” Galloway said, disgustedly. “How do we get out of this, Skipper? Or at least how do I?”
“I spoke with General Mclnerny,” Dawkins said. “He thinks he may be able to get you out of it. I told him I need you to refit the squadron. These two heroes are stuck.”
“Stuck with what?” Pickering asked. Galloway handed him the radio message.
“No! Jesus H. Christ!” Pickering said when he had read the message. He handed it to Dunn.
“You’re on the Pan American clipper departing at 0700, Mr. Pickering,” Dawkins said.
“Can I take my ten days’ leave here?” Dunn asked. Dawkins looked at him. “I’m in love,” Dunn explained.
“Will you stop that?” Lieutenant Ursery said.
“Love will have to wait,” Dawkins said, smiling. “Duty calls, Mr. Dunn. You will be on that PAA clipper.”
“I don’t know why he talks like that, Colonel,” Lieutenant Ursery said. “He’s crazy.”
“Yes, I know,” Dawkins said. “If the offer is still good, I think I would like a drink.”
“Denny,” Pickering said. “Would you get the Colonel a nice glass of cyanide, please?”
“We’ve got just about everything, Colonel, pay no attention to Mr. Pick,” Denny said. “What can I fix you?”
“Bourbon?”
“Finest Kentucky sour mash coming up.”
“Skipper,” Galloway pursued. “There’s no way I can get out of this?”
“I told you, Charley, General Mclnerney thinks he can get you out of the war bond tour, but you’re going to have to go to the States tomorrow.”
“I know General Mclnerney,” Pick said. “Maybe if I asked him…”
“Try saying ‘aye, aye, Sir,’ just once, Mr. Pickering,” Dawkins said.
“If you know him, Pick,” Bill Dunn said “ask him if he can fix it so I can spend my ten days’ leave with Whatsername here.”
” ‘Whatsername’?” Carol Ursery exploded.
“Tell him I’m in love,” Dun said, unabashed.
“Can you call the States from here?” Galloway asked.
“There’s a hell of a wait for personal calls, Charley,” Dawkins replied. “It took me four hours to get through to my wife.”
“Who do you want to call, Skipper?” Pickering asked, and then, smugly, “Ah! Ward’s aunt!”
“Watch your mouth, Pickering!”
“Do you wish to be nasty to me, Sir, or do you want to talk to the sainted Aunt Carolyn?”
For a moment, Colonel Dawkins was convinced that Galloway was going to really rip into Pickering. But what Galloway said was, “Don’t tell me you can get a call through?”
“You got a number, Skipper?” Pickering asked. “I’ll just bet that P & FE has a priority. If I can get through to the switchboard in San Francisco, they can put you through to anywhere in the States.”