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

«When Pick and I were about to graduate from OCS, he said the best place for us to buy officer's uniforms was Brooks Brothers,» McCoy said. «He didn't mention what they were going to charge for them.»

«Oh,» Ernie said.

Damn Pick! He should have known Ken couldn't afford Brooks Brothers!

«Anyway, I thought that since I don't know diddly-shit— Sorry, that slipped out…«

Ernie made a gesture meaning she wasn't offended by the vulgarity.

»… about civvies, Brooks Brothers was the place to go for them.»

«Good idea.»

«Can you go with me?» he asked, almost shyly.

My God, he wants me to help him!

«Of course.»

«I thought you would know the right thing to buy.»

«We'll find something,» Ernie said. «Are you going to tell me why you need civilian clothing?»

«Well, I'm going to grow a beard,» he said. «I am ordered to grow a beard, and a Marine officer with a beard would make people ask questions.»

«I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you've been ordered to grow a beard?»

«I can't, honey,» McCoy said.

What the hell does that mean? Where are they going to send him now where he needs to have a beard? And/or wear civilian clothing? What's he going to be doing? When is he going?

I

knew damned well when Darlene said Banning was on the phone that it was going to be bad news

.

«The first thing you're going to need is shoes,» Ernie said when they had pushed through the revolving door into Brooks Brothers.

«I suppose,» he said, looking down at his feet.

«Go in there and ask them to show you some loafers,» she said. «I'm going to the ladies' room. I'll meet you there.»

He nodded and headed toward the footwear department. She couldn't help but notice the look of amusement, surprise, and contempt one of the salesmen gave him as he walked past. Then she went looking for another salesman.

«I'd like to see the manager,» she told him.

«Perhaps I can help you, miss,» the salesman said.

«If I thought so, I wouldn't have asked for the manager,» Ernie snapped at him, and was immediately sorry.

He didn't look down his nose at Ken. The sonofabitch by the tie counter did.

«May I help you, madam?» a middle-aged man asked a moment later.

«You're in charge?»

«Yes, I am.»

«I'm not sure if I have an account here or not. I know my father does.»

«Perhaps you have a family account.»

«My father's name is Ernest Sage. It's probably billed to him at American Personal Pharmaceuticals.»

«I know your father,» he said, now smiling warmly. «I've known him for years. How may I assist you? It is Miss Sage?»

«I'm Ernestine Sage,» she acknowledged.

«I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Sage.»

«Thank you,» Ernie said. «I'm here with a gentleman friend. He needs some clothing, and he needs it right now. Which means you're going to have to put him at the head of the alteration line.»

«That may be difficult.»

«But not impossible, right?»

«We do try to take the best possible care of our good customers,» he said.

«By ten minutes to six, we'll need a sport coat and a pair of trousers altered.»

«I think we can handle that.»

«And by noon tomorrow, he will also need two business suits, probably two more jackets, and two or three pair of pants.»

«That may be difficult,» he said.

«We're back to 'difficult but not impossible,' right?»

The manager smiled at her.

Ernestine Sage did not look at all like her father, but she was obviously a chip off the old block.

«We will accommodate the gentleman, Miss Sage,» he said.

«Now we come to payment,» Ernie said. «My gentleman friend has an account here, and will sign for whatever he buys. But I don't want him to pay for what he buys, or to know, right now, that he won't be paying for it. It's sort of a surprise present.»

«I understand. And should I bill Mr. Sage?»

«No. I'm going to pay for this. You can either open an account for me—you can check my credit with Bergdorf Goodman, or the Park Avenue and Fifty-seventh Street branch of First National Bank—or I'll send a check down here by messenger.»

«So far as I am concerned, Miss Sage, you have just opened an account with us. And checking your credit won't be necessary. I happen to know you're employed.»

«How do you know that?» Ernie asked, surprised.

«Your father told me you're the creative director for APP at BBD&O. He's very proud of you.»

«I'll be damned,» Ernie said.

«Shall we go see what we can do for your gentleman friend?» the manager said.

When they arrived at the footwear department, they found Ken dubiously examining the loafers on his feet. The manager could not quite conceal his surprise when he saw how Ken was dressed.

«I'm going to need some real shoes, too, right, Ernie?» McCoy said.

«Oh, I don't think so, sir,» the manager said. «Slip-ons like those are now considered appropriate for wear with just about anything.»

McCoy looked at Ernie, who nodded in agreement.

«Okay,» McCoy said. «I'll take these.»

«One in oxblood,» Ernie said. «And one in black.»

McCoy considered that a moment, then shrugged.

«What the hell,» he said. «Why not?»

note 45

S E C R E T

HQ USMC

1705 09 MAR 43

PRIORITY

COMMANDING OFFICERS

ALL USMC ATR BASES AND STATIONS IN CONTINENTAL US AND TERRITORY OF HAWAII

ALL MAG IN CONTINENTAL US AND TERRITORY OF HAWAII

ALL SEPARATE USMC AVIATION SQUADRONS AND MARINE AVIATION COMPLEMENTS IN CONTINENTAL US AND TERRITORY OF HAWAII

SUBJECT: SOLICITATION OF VOLUNTEERS FOR HAZARDOUS DUTY

1. YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY DETERMINE WHICH MARINE AVIATORS UNDER YOUR COMMAND ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, RATED AS COMMAND PILOTS OF PBY5, PBY3A AND R4-D AIRCRAFT.

2. YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY PERSONALLY INTERVIEW EACH SUCH MARINE AVIATOR AND AFFORD HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER FOR A CLASSIFIED MISSION INVOLVING GREAT PERSONAL RISK IN A COMBAT AREA LASTING APPROXIMATELY NINETY DAYS.

3. THE NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS WILL BE TRANSMITTED WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS AVAILABLE CLASSIFIED SECRET TO HEADQUARTERS USMC, ATTENTION BRIG GEN D.G. MCINERNEY USMC.

4. THE NAMES OF MARINE AVIATORS WHO ARE QUALIFIED AS IN PARA 1 ABOVE, AND REPEAT AND WHO HAVE 1,000 HOURS OR MORE OR WHO HAVE BEEN RATED IN PBY5, PBY-5A AND R4-D AIRCRAFT OR A COMBINATION THEREOF AND WHO DID NOT REPEAT NOT ELECT TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE MISSION DESCRIBED IN PARA 2 ABOVE WILL SIMILARLY BE TRANSMITTED WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE BY MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS AVAILABLE

CLASSIFIED SECRET TO HEADQUARTERS USMC ATTENTION BRIG GEN D.G. MCINERNEY USMC.

BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMANDANT:

D.G. MCINERNEY BRIG GEN USMC

S E C R E T

note 46

The 21 Club

21 West Fifty-second Street

New York City, New York

1930 9 March 1943

«There they are,» Mrs. Carolyn Spencer Howell said, pointing across the crowded room, and then asking softly, «What's wrong with the way he's dressed? He looks fine to me.»

Colonel Banning saw that Captain McCoy was now attired in a muted blue-gray herringbone jacket; a white button-down-collar shirt; and a regimentally striped necktie. The legs he had stretched out beside his table were covered with gray flannel trousers. He was wearing oxblood loafers and gray stockings.

Ernie did a good job

—

and damned quickly

, Banning thought.

If it wasn't for that GI haircut, he'd look like he belongs in here