John Simpson

by Def Con One (lit)

  “Thank you, Colonel,” I said.

  “Good to see you again, Judge. You really must come out to the officers’ club once in a while; it’s been too long.”

  Our lawyers shook hands with Todd and me, and we left the meeting on cloud nine. We ducked into the restroom before leaving the building and, once we were sure no one was in there, we hugged each other and laughed quietly. We felt positively giddy.

  We left the JAG building and headed first to Captain Blackwell’s office where we found him in his usual place behind his desk. After telling him about what happened, he got up and shook both our hands and said, “I’m relieved. The Air Force cannot afford to lose men of your caliber. Sergeant, do you think you could finish out the week here with helping me catch up on the backlog of work?”

  “Yes, sir, if you’ll square it away with the major.”

  “Okay, I’ll take care of that. Why don’t you take off for an hour and then report back for duty?”

  “Yes, sir. Will do,” Todd responded.

  “I just wanted to thank you one more time, Captain, for your compassion and caring in assigning us to work that allowed us to maintain our dignity. We won’t forget it.”

  “Don’t give it another thought. I knew you men would be cleared. Now you both better report to the major.”

  After reporting back to the major as ordered by the JAG, the major congratulated us on clearing our names. “Callahan, I knew the contents of that last report that you didn’t read would be the end of that crap. You men ready to get back to your real jobs?”

  “Well, sir, the captain asked if I could stay the remainder of the week to finish helping him get caught up and I have no objection if you clear it, sir.”

  “Yes, no problem with that. In fact, Callahan, you stay put through the end of the week as well, and both of you report for duty with Sergeant Gray on Monday. In the meantime, be sure to pick up your weapons cards from the armory. I’ll let them know you’re restored to duty.”

  We thanked the major one more time, saluted, and left the office. It would be good to go home at the end of this day.

  Chapter 13

  More than a month had passed since Todd and I had been restored to duty and our lives were beginning to return to normal. Todd’s shoulder was fully healed and our love life was back on track and creating havoc on the bedsprings. The only problem that continued was dirty looks from some of the men.

  Even though we beat the system, the cloud of suspicion had been cast over us. In talking to Sergeant Gray about the situation, he agreed that nothing we could do short of getting married, to women, would ever make the rumors and innuendos go away. The simple fact of our having been suspended for being gay was enough for some in the ranks to forever hold a grudge against us and present a hostile attitude toward Todd and me. This began to kill our love for the Air Force, as it was impossible to ever get back to the way things were before we had been suspended.

  Barksdale had blabbed all over the place about the information he had given to the OSI. This was enough to convict us in the eyes of some men. My only comfort with Barksdale was that the Air Force was far rougher on him than they ever were on Todd and me.

  Barksdale was court-martialed and given a bad-conduct discharge as a result of his arrest and conviction on indecent exposure charges. He was tossed out of the Air Force. This fact didn’t seem to convince any of his former friends that we were deserving of acceptance by our co-workers. Finally, one night I decided to talk to Todd about it.

  “Look, honey, I’m having great difficulty in dealing with the whispers and all from some of the guys. Remember, our lives could depend on these same men. Can we trust them? I don’t know. Here’s what I’m thinking. Let me approach the major and ask that you and I be transferred to say, oh, I don’t know, Italy maybe? I can just lay it out on the line with the major and tell him we think the Air Force owes us something for putting us through all that nonsense and that our reputations are ruined here at Warren. What do you think?”

  “Wow. That’s one way to deal with the issue. Do you think he’ll go for it?”

  “Why not? We are both decorated airmen now who have been fucked by the Air Force. A transfer isn’t that unusual of a request under the circumstances and he really has no reason to say no. It also doesn’t hurt that he likes both of us. I think he’ll do it. Can I try?”

  “Yeah, okay, but I want to be there also. After all, you’re trying to get us both transferred and I want to make damn sure that we go to the same base. We can ask for Italy and see what he says.”

  “Okay. Let’s talk to him tomorrow, then.”

  We were on our two-day break, so we didn’t have to worry about being able to catch him while we were on duty. A little after 0900 hours, we knocked on his office door. He still hadn’t replaced me yet.

  “Come in.”

  We walked in, saluted, and stood at attention. “Sir, do you have a moment to hear a request from us?”

  “Of course. What’s on your minds?”

  I went into a detailed explanation of why we were requesting a transfer and to where. He understood what it was like for us, as he had been quietly monitoring the situation. In the end, he said he would do what he could to grant our request and told us he would let us know as soon as possible. As we turned to go after saluting, he stopped me.

  “Callahan, since you’re here, can I ask you to do something?”

  “Of course, sir. What is it?”

  “Can you type up these damn letters that have to go up to the general? I still don’t have a decent clerk who can type without using his feet.”

  “Of course, sir. I’ll have them all done within an hour.”

  Todd said he would go over to the chow hall for coffee and then come back to get me so we could go back home. I typed up the major’s letters, chatted with him for a few more minutes, and then Todd came in and got me and we left.

  Life went on as normal for another two weeks, until one morning while I was working the desk, the major came in.

  “Callahan, your request for a transfer to Italy has been approved for both you and Claymore. You leave in two weeks. Report to the first sergeant’s office and begin the process of clearing base. I take it you guys will want to take leave before going overseas, so you are relieved of your base duties at the end of your shift. Let Claymore know, and congratulations to you both. I will miss you. You’ve been a good man and a credit to the Air Force. Frankly, Callahan, I really don’t care if you and Claymore are gay or not. You did your jobs, caused no problems outside of shooting snakes, and showed outstanding bravery in combat. I couldn’t ask anything more of either one of you. You both have been a credit to this squadron and to the Air Force. I will be drawing up a letter to your new commanding officer in Italy. You’ll have to type the damn thing, though. I will send it ahead of your arrival. I want him to know what kind of men he is getting.”

  The major then shook my hand, smiled, and left the desk. When Sergeant Gray came in off patrol, I informed him of the transfer. He was upset at losing us right after having just gotten us back from the suspension. Nonetheless, he was very happy for us and told us we would love Italy.

  The end of the shift came, and I signed off on my last desk sergeant’s report at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Next stop: Italy, and the beginning of the rest of our lives together.

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  John Simpson, a Vietnam era Veteran, has been a uniformed Police Officer of the year, a Federal Agent, a Federal Magistrate, an armed bodyguard to royalty and a senior Government executive, with awards from the Vice-President of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury. John now writes and is the author of “Condor One” and “Murder Most Gay,” with a sequel entitled “Task Force,” all available through Dreamspinner Press, and numerous short stories for Alyson Books. Additionally, he has written articles for various gay and
straight magazines. John has legally married his long time companion and lives with Jack, who he has been with for almost 35 years, and their three wonderful Scott Terriers, all spoiled and a breed of canine family member that is unique in dogdom. John is also involved with the Old Catholic Church and its liberal pastoral positions on the Gay community.