W.E.B. Griffin - The Corps IV - Battleground

Vandergrift's face tightened.

"I will not ask who made that remark," he said, icily furious. "But I will observe that anyone who makes a similar remark in the future does so at his own, considerable peril."

It had recently become rumored throughout the Marine Corps-and Lucky Lew Harris had taken the trouble to check it out and verify it-that MacArthur had not recommended the 4th Marines, who had fought on Bataan and Corregidor, for the Presidential Unit Citation. The citations had been passed out to almost every other unit in the area. MacArthur was reported to have explained his action, or lack of it, by saying, "The Marines have enough decorations as it is."

The crack, Harris thought, is understandable. And probably true.

When Harris met General Vandergrift at the airport after his return from meeting Admiral Ghormley, Vandergrift told him that MacArthur was opposed to the Solomon Islands operation for two reasons, tactical and personal; he didn't think it was the way to fight the war, and he wasn't to be in command of it.

Under those circumstances, MacArthur would be reluctant to give the Marines the time of day. And the General knows that. But he certainly had to say what he said. If that had been me, I would have called Motor Mouth to attention and really eaten his ass out.

"Now, across this body of water, about twenty-three miles from the airfield we believe they are building near Lunga point," Vandergrift went on, pointing again, "we find these tiny islands off Florida Island, Tulagi and Gavutu. We know the Japanese have built a seaplane base on Tulagi, and they have some other installations in the area. The seaplanes could raise hell with our landing craft, so we have to take Tulagi and Gavutu first, by which I mean several hours before we land on Guadalcanal itself, in the Lunga point area.

"A few more points about my general thinking. I think we should divide the division into two regimental combat teams-there would be about 4500 men in each-for the main landing on Guadalcanal. We will use the Raiders and the Paratroops, probably reinforced by one of the battalions of the 5th Marines, for the Tulagi-Gavutu landings, and the RCTs for the landing on Guadalcanal itself.

"What I'm going to do now is turn this over to General Harris and the G-3, and for the next hour-and no more than that-I want you to discuss the major problems as you see them. And then I want you to get to work. As I said before, we have a lot to do, and damned little time to do it in."

He turned from the lectern. Someone called, "Atten-hut!" and everyone came to attention. Vandergrift marched out of the room. General Harris walked to the lectern.

"Take your seats," he ordered. "Try turning the lights on to see if we can still see the map."

(Three)

THE PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

0930 HOURS 29 JUNE 1942

Major Edward Banning had called Sergeant John Marston Moore, USMCR, at half past six, and somewhat brusquely ordered him to have a quick breakfast, settle his hotel bill, and be waiting for him in the lobby with his gear when he came to pick him up.

"Aye, aye, Sir."

Banning had hung up without a further word.

By 0715 Sergeant Moore had complied with his orders, by dressing hurriedly, gulping down a breakfast identified on the menu as "scrambled eggs with bangers," and paying for his hotel room with a twenty-dollar bill. The cashier looked with great suspicion at that, but he reluctantly accepted it.

When Major Banning did not show up by 0800, Moore checked with the desk to make sure there had been no calls or messages for him. He did so again at 0830, again at 0900, and was about to check again when he saw the Marine officer walking quickly across the sidewalk to the revolving glass door of the hotel. There was little doubt in his mind that it was his new commanding officer, so he stood up, almost in the formal position of Attention.

Each man examined the other carefully. Moore would have been flattered to know that Banning was pleased with what he saw, a tall, good-looking, physically fit kid with intelligent eyes, who really didn't look as if he was fresh from boot camp at Parris Island.

And Moore saw a tall, stocky, tanned man who met his expectation of what a Marine field grade officer should look like. But as a recent graduate of Parris Island, where the only major he had ever seen was on the reviewing stand at a parade, this was not a comforting appreciation. He was more than a little in awe, something approaching fear, of Major Banning.

"Sergeant Moore?" Banning asked.

"Yes, Sir."

Banning offered his hand. There was a momentary test of grip-strength, which Banning, surprising neither of them, won. Banning was further pleased that when he looked intently into Moore's eyes, the kid didn't blink.

"You've had breakfast? Got your bill paid?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Grab your gear, then. I'm parked illegally."

He marched out of the hotel lobby. Moore grabbed his gear and scurried after him.

Banning led him to a Studebaker parked in a NO HALTING zone. Marine insignia were on the hood and doors. Banning held open the back door and gestured for Moore to put his gear in the back seat. When he had done so, Banning slammed the door, pointed to the front seat, and said, "Get in."

"Yes, Sir."

Banning got behind the wheel, punched the ignition button, and then looked at Moore.

"Sorry to be late, Sergeant. Captain Pickering had an appointment with General MacArthur at 8:30 and his car wouldn't start. So I had to drive him over there before I came for you."

"Yes, Sir."

Banning had expected to see more of a reaction to the words "General MacArthur" than he got.

Either he's stupid, which I doubt. Or he didn't hear me, which is unlikely. Or he is simply unable to comprehend what I said. It's like being told that someone you know has just had lunch with Saint Peter, if not God himself.

Moore did indeed hear what Banning said. He had also noticed that Banning was wearing the Purple Heart ribbon, making him the second man he'd met (Lieutenant "Killer" McCoy was the first) who had actually seen combat in this war. He supposed that Banning had been wounded in the Philippines, which, aside from Wake Island, was the only place the Marines had seen ground combat so far. But if that was so, he wondered, how had Banning escaped when the Philippines fell?

It was at once possible and incredible to consider that the man driving him around in a Studebaker had actually escaped from Corregidor.

He had not made a response because he could think of none to make.

Banning drove to a hill outside Melbourne overlooking Port Philip Bay and pulled the Studebaker off the road.

"There goes your plane," Major Banning said, pointing. Moore followed the finger and saw a Navy Martin PBM-3R Mariner moving across the blue waters of the bay.

I've ridden on a plane like that, he thought, and then, Major Banning said, "your plane," so that must be the very plane, headed back for Hawaii

The Mariner rose into the air, and then with a tremendous splash fell back into the water. It repeated this twice more before it rose finally into the air. Then it banked, and passed right over them.

Banning offered Moore a cigarette, and then held his Ronson out to light it for him.

"I don't think anyone has to tell you that you're now on the perimeter of the intelligence business, Moore, do they? I mean, you're a bright young man, you did think there was something a little odd about the way they took you out of Parris Island and sent you here? Flew you here, ahead of some pretty senior officers?"

"Yes, Sir."

"And would it be a reasonable statement that you don't know diddly-shit about the Intelligence business? Or for that matter, about the Marine Corps?"