Griffin W.E.B. - The Corps 08 - In Dangers Path

Nimitz was not in his car. Captain Kurt Groscher heaved himself out of the backseat. In Wagam's view, Groscher was the brightest of the intelligence officers on the CINCPAC staff.

When he saw Wagam, he saluted.

«What brings you here, Groscher?» Wagam asked, as he returned the salute.

«The Boss wants to see General Pickering,» Groscher said.

«Am I allowed to ask about what?»

«You're allowed to

ask

, Admiral,» Groscher said with a smile.

«Okay, fellas, let's go,» Lieutenant Lewis said to the work detail, and led them toward the pier.

Major Jake Dillon walked up to Admiral Wagam and Captain Groscher and saluted.

«Do you know Major Dillon, Captain?» Admiral Wagam asked.

«Only by reputation,» Groscher said. «How's the refueling project going?»

Dillon didn't reply.

«Captain Groscher, Major,» Admiral Wagam said, «not only knows everything about everything but, more important, is considered to have the Need To Know everything about everything.»

Dillon shrugged. «We're just about finished installing some auxiliary fuel tanks in one of the Catalinas,» he said. «We'll test that. Them. If that works, we'll put tanks in the other one.»

«And if it doesn't?» Groscher asked.

«We'll try something else,» Dillon said.

«I don't have to tell you the Boss is personally interested in this project,» Groscher said. «Is there anything you need?»

«No, sir,» Dillon said.

«There he is,» Wagam said, as Brigadier General Pickering and Lieutenant Hart came onto the wharf. The three walked toward them. Salutes were exchanged.

«I trust the General is pleased with the reception he is being given?» Dillon said jokingly.

«Actually, Jake, I'm a little disappointed. When I left Memphis—I stopped in to see Pick—there were troops lined up and a band playing 'The Marines' Hymn.' «

«Really?»

«Mac Mclnerney flew me up there,» Pickering said, more to Wagam than Dillon. «The base commander turned out to be an old pal of his.»

«Jesse Ball,» Wagam said.

«Right. We wetted down Mac's new stars together.»

«I'm surprised you could get on an airplane after a night with those two,» Wagam said.

«Admiral Nimitz's compliments, General,» Captain Groscher said. «The Admiral would be pleased if you could see him at your earliest convenience.»

Pickering looked at Wagam.

«I'll handle things here, Fleming,» Wagam said. «The Admiral does not like to be kept waiting.»

«I don't want that equipment to disappear somewhere,» Pickering said.

«Where do you want it? Ewa?»

«That would mean we'd have to bring it back here when we need it,» Pickering said. «But on the other hand, it probably wouldn't disappear at Ewa.»

«It will be at Ewa, under guard, in an hour or so.»

«Let's go, Captain,» Pickering said, then called to Lieutenant Hart. «George, go with the equipment to Ewa. Find Lieutenant Colonel Dawkins, and tell him I would regard it as a personal favor if he put this stuff somewhere safe, and under guard. Then I'll see you—and you, too, Jake—at Muku-Muku.»

«Aye, aye, sir,» Hart said.

Pickering got into the Cadillac.

The car had barely started to move when Captain Groscher reached into the interior pocket of his tunic and handed Pickering a sealed—but not addressed or otherwise marked—envelope.

«I thought it would be better if you were familiar with these before you saw the Admiral,» Groscher said. «The one from Marshall came in two days ago; the one from Donovan this morning.»

Pickering tore open the envelope and took off two sheets of paper and read them.

T O P S E C R E T

THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

WASHINGTON

0900 30 MARCH 1943

VIA SPECIAL CHANNEL

CINCPAC HAWAII

EYES ONLY ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM CHIEF OF STAFF US ARMY TO CINCPAC

DEAR CHESTER:

THE MESSAGES ATTACHED TO THIS ARE FOR YOUR INFORMATION, BUT OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AS WELL TO BRIG GEN PICKERING WHO IS PRESENTLY ENROUTE TO HAWAII. PLEASE SEE THAT HE SEES THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON HIS ARRIVAL. HIS EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND TO ALL OF THIS MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME THAN TRYING TO DO SO IN A MESSAGE OF THIS TYPE.

BEST PERSONAL REGARDS GEORGE

END PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM CHIEF OF STAFF US ARMY TO CINCPAC

ATTACHMENT ONE

COPY OF MESSAGE FROM CHIEF OF STAFF USARMY TO COMMANDING GENERAL

US MILITARY MISSION TO CHINA.

T O P S E C R E T

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

WASHINGTON

0900 30 MARCH 1943

COMMMANDING GENERAL

USMILMISSCHINA CHUNGKING

EYES ONLY LTGEN JOSEPH STILLWELL, USA

1. IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE, YOU WILL RELIEVE MAJGEN FREDERICK T. DEMPSEY AND BRIGGEN J.R. NEWLEY OF THEIR DUTIES. THESE OFFICERS ARE TO BE PLACED IN ARREST IN QUARTERS STATUS PENDING FURTHER ACTION BY THE JCS. THEY ARE TO BE DENIED ACCESS TO ANY COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY UNDER YOUR CONTROL, AND YOU WILL PERSONALLY CENSOR ANY OUTGOING PERSONAL MAIL THESE OFFICERS WISH TO DISPATCH.

2. COLONEL (BRIGGEN DESIGNATE)HULIT A. ALBRIGHT, SIGC, USA, IS PRESENTLY ENROUTE BY AIR FROM WASHINGTON DC TO USMMCHI. BRIGGEN(DES) ALBRIGHT IS CARRYING WITH HIM A LETTER FROM ADMIRAL WILLIAM D. LEAHY, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT, TO YOU WHICH WILL EXPLAIN THE NECESSITY OF THE ACTION DIRECTED IN PARA 1 ABOVE. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU NAME BRIGGENCDES) ALBRIGHT AS SIGNAL OFFICER, USMMCHI.

3. COLONEL JOHN J. WATERSON, USA, OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES IS PRESENTLY ENROUTE BY AIR FROM BRISBANE AUSTRALIA TO CHUNGKING. COL WATERSON HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF ADMIRAL LEAHY'S LETTER TO YOU (PARA 2 ABOVE) AND DIRECTED TO PRESENT IT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY ON HIS ARRIVAL. THE INTENTION WAS TO GET ADM LEAHY'S LETTER TO YOU INTO YOUR HANDS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.

4. BRIGEN FLEMING PICKERING, USMCR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PACIFIC OPERATIONS, THE OFFJCE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES, IS PRESENTLY EN ROUTE BY AIR TO USMMCHI VIA PEARL HARBOR. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT EITHER OR BOTH BRIGEN(DES) ALBRIGHT AND COL WATERSON WILL REACH CHUNGKING BEFORE BRIGGEN PICKERING, BUT BRIG GEN PICKERING HAS BEEN ORDERED TO REPORT TO YOU PERSONALLY ON HIS ARRIVAL IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE NECESSITY OF THE ACTIONS DESCRIBED IN PARA 1 AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

5. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE ARE TO BE MADE KNOWN TO LT COL EDWARD J. BANNING, USMC, PRESENTLY IN CHUNGKING, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

6. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITHIN USMMCHI. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO INVOLVE CINC CHINA THEATER OF OPERATIONS, JCS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY SPECIAL CHANNEL.

GEORGE C MARSHALL

GENERAL, US ARMY

CHIEF OF STAFF, USARMY

T O P S E C R E T

T O P S E C R E T

THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES

WASHINGTON

1615 1 APRIL 1943

VIA SPECIAL CHANNEL

CINCPAC HAWAII

EYES ONLY ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM DIRECTOR OSS TO CINCPAC DEAR ADMIRAL NIMITZ:

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PASS THE FOLLOWING TO BRIGGEN FLEMING PICKERING PRESENTLY ENROUTE HAWAII AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BEGIN MESSAGE

DEAR FLEMING:

GENERAL MARSHALL TELEPHONED AT 1345 WASHINGTON TIME TO ASK WHEN I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE IN CHUNGKING. I ASSURED HTM YOU WOULD GET THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING CONCLUSION OF YOUR BUSINESS IN PEARL HARBOR.

SENATOR FOWLER TELEPHONED AT 1405 WASHINGTON TIME TO SAY SENATE HAS GIVEN ITS ADVICE AND CONSENT TO PROMOTION OF COLONEL ALBRIGHT TO BRIGADIER GENERAL.

BEST REGARDS,

BILL

END MESSAGE

END PERSONAL FROM DIRECTOR OSS TO CINCPAC

T O P S E C R E T

Pickering read both messages twice and then handed them back to Captain Groscher. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then met Groscher's eyes. «Banning works for me—« he began.