The Berets

by W. E. B Griffin

  But that was unlikely.

  There was the glow of a muzzle burst as Franz opened up. Ellis squeezed the trigger and held it until the twenty-round magazine had emptied. When the recoil stopped, there was a sharp pain in his leg and foot. He felt a clammy sweat and was afraid he was going to pass out.

  There was no more sound in the forest, no more gunfire.

  Then Lopez’s familiar voice.

  “Coming through! Coming through!”

  Lopez (Ellis knew it was Lopez, because his shadow was much larger than the shadows he had fired upon) appeared on the trail, followed by three others.

  One of the three detached himself from the group and went to the two bodies on the trail and fired two rounds into each.

  “You okay, Lieutenant?” Lopez called out.

  “Yeah. Send somebody to help me up.”

  Two of the shadows detached themselves and came in his direction. They were ARVNs, and they knew what was expected of them. They pulled Ellis to his feet and half carried him into the forest.

  Dessler and an ARVN sergeant were squatting by one of the campfires, going through papers from a cheap cotton rucksack. The ARVN found something that interested him and chattered excitedly, first in Vietnamese and then in singsong English.

  “Bull’s-eye,” Dessler called to Ellis. “We got the sonofabitch.”

  “He’s sure?”

  “What’s he excited about is we got a visiting fireman too. A VC light bird.”

  “No kidding?” Ellis said, pleased. He urged the ARVNs forward to where Dessler was. Then he started to lower himself to the ground.

  There was a bright orange light, and the jungle, the rude shelters the Viet Cong had built, the wood fire, and Dessler himself started to move in circles, and the ground came up and smacked him in the face.

  Sixty feet above them, Captain Van Lee Duc, commanding officer of Ninth Company, Fifty-third Regiment, swung gently in a hammock suspended between branches of a large tree. He was bleeding slightly from several small wounds where small fragments of the hand grenades had struck him, but was neither seriously wounded nor in great pain.

  From the first grenade, it had never entered his mind to fire his AK-47. If the attack failed, there would have been no need to, and he would have needlessly endangered his life by calling attention to himself in a position from which he had no means of withdrawal. And since the attack had succeeded, there were nineteen bodies on the ground, which meant that no more than eight or ten of his men had escaped. It would have been folly to expose himself.

  His immediate problem, as he saw it, was to explain to the staff of the Fifty-third Regiment how the attack had happened in the first place, and why he had permitted the enemy to kill a senior staff officer.

  There was no question in Captain Van Lee Duc’s mind what had happened. It was just bad luck. The enemy had by chance passed close enough by to smell the smoke of the fires.

  In the future, fires would be used only for cooking and then extinguished. In the future, he would also select campgrounds with more care.

  For the time being, there was nothing that he could do but wait until the Americans and their puppet soldiers left.

  Thirty minutes later they did.

  XIII

  (One)

  Headquarters

  U.S. Army Special Warfare School and Center

  Fort Bragg, North Carolina

  1645 Hours, 29 January 1962

  PRIORITY

  CONFIDENTIAL

  HQ USARMY MIL ASSISTANCE COMMAND, VIETNAM

  SAIGON RVN 1005 ZULU 27 JAN 1962

  VIA CINC USARMYPAC

  FOR DCSOPS DA WASH DC

  INFO: SURGEON GENERAL

  CG XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS & FT BRAGG NC

  CG USASWS&C FT BRAGG NC

  CO USARMY STATION HOSP FT BRAGG NC

  1. 1st LT ELLIS, THOMAS J INFANTRY 0-326745 DET OF PATIENTS, 811TH FIELD HOSPITAL, SAIGON RVN HAS ABSENTED HIMSELFWITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY FROM 811TH FIELD HOSP AND IS CONSIDERED ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

  2. SUBJECT OFFICER, WHO PURSUANT TO PARA 31 GENERAL ORDERS 305 HG DA DATED 29 DEC 61, WAS PLACED ON TDY TO HQ USA MAC VIETNAM AS DCSOPS OFFICER COURIER WAS ADMITTED TO USA MEDICAL FACILITY KONTUM RVN 0545 HOURS 19 JAN 62 FOLLOWING MEDICAL EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER FROM POSITION NEAR AN LAC SHI. MEDICAL EVALUATION OF SUBJECT OFFICER AT THAT TIME INDICATED REQUIREMENT FOR TREATMENT BEYOND CAPABILITY OF USA MED FAC KONTUM AND SUBJECT OFFICER WAS TRANSPORTED BY USAF MED EVAC AIRCRAFT TO 811TH FIELD HOSP SAIGON WHERE OVER SUBJECT OFFICERS OBJECTIONS HE WAS ADMITTED FOR TREATMENT AND ASSIGNED DETACHMENT OF PATIENTS.

  3. SUBJECT OFFICER SUFFERS FROM SEVERE PENETRATING LACERATIONS OF LEFT FOOT, WITH ATTENDANT DAMAGE TO MUSCLE, TENDON AND BONE AND SEVERE PENETRATING LACERATION OF LEFT CALF WITH ATTENDANT MUSCLE DAMAGE. PENETRATING WOUNDS WERE CAUSED BY SHARPENED WOOD, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “PUNJI STICKS,” WHICH ARE CONTAMINATED WITH THE INTENTION OF CAUSING INFECTION BY HUMAN FECES AND OTHER UNKNOWN TOXIC SUBSTANCES. SUBJECT OFFICER HAD LOST SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF BLOOD, WHICH EXACERBATED HIS CONDITION. HIS CONDITION ON ADMISSION WAS “SERIOUS, GUARDED.”

  4. SUBJECT OFFICER WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS UNFIT FOR DUTY, AND THAT HE WOULD BE CONFINED TO 811TH FIELD HOSP FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS, PRESUMING NORMAL RECOVERY, WHILE UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT TO REDUCE INFECTION AND WHATEVER SURGERY AND THERAPY WAS INDICATED. SUBJECT OFFICER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF PARA 31 DA GEN ORDERS 305 WAS OBVIATED ON HIS ADMISSION AND THAT FURTHER ORDERS WOULD BE ISSUED BY PROPER AUTHORITY WHEN HE WAS CERTIFIED AS FIT FOR DUTY BY MEDICAL OFFICERS OF 811TH STATION HOSPITAL.

  5. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT BY 811TH STATION HOSPITAL AND HQ MACV HAS REVEALED THAT SUBJECT OFFICER WAS INJURED WHILE ENGAGED IN PATROL ACTION AGAINST VIET CONG FORCES IN VICINITY AN LAC SHI. COMMANDING OFFICER FIFTH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP STATES THAT SUBJECT OFFICER DID NOT REPEAT NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY ACTIVITIES OF UNITS SUBORDINATE TO FIFTH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP.

  6. MEDICAL RECORDS OF SUBJECT OFFICER AT THE TIME OF HIS ABSENTING HIMSELF WITHOUT LEAVE INDICATE HIS CONDITION TO BE “RECUPERATING, STILL UNDER ANTIBIOTIC REGIMEN, WOUNDS HEALING NORMALLY, GOOD.” IT HAD BEEN THE INTENTION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS TO CONTINUE ANTIBIOTIC REGIMEN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS, TO ENSURE AGAINST A RECURRENCE OF INFECTION.

  7. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE, HQ MAC V HAVE DETERMINED THAT SUBJECT OFFICER LEFT TAN SON NHUT AIR TERMINAL SAIGON ABOARD NORTHWEST ORIENT AIRLINES FLIGHT 303 1305 ZULU 26 JAN 1962. SUBJECT OFFICER OBTAINED NECESSARY TICKETS BY PRESENTING HIS INVALIDATED DA ORDERS TO AIR TRANS OFFICER AT TAN SON NHUT AIR TERMINAL. ETA NORTHWEST ORIENT AIRLINES FLIGHT 303 AT SAN FRANCISCO CALIF IS 1715 ZULU 28 JAN 1962.

  8. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT IF POSSIBLE SUBJECT OFFICER BE MET AT SAN FRANCISCO CALIF BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO PATIENT STATUS. SUBJECT OFFICER HAS TICKETS FOR, BUT NO RESERVATION, FOR FURTHER TRAVEL TO FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.

  9. IN THE EVENT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RETURN SUBJECT OFFICER TO PATIENT STATUS AT SAN FRANCISCO CALIF IT IS MOST STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT IMMEDIATELY UPON HIS RETURN TO MILITARY CONTROL HE UNDERGO AN IMMEDIATE MEDICAL REEVALUATION AND BE SUBJECTED TO SUCH MEDICAL TREATMENT AS IS INDICATED, PRIOR TO WHATEVER DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS ARE DEEMED NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

  10. PHOTOCOPIES OF ALL MEDICAL RECORDS ARE BEING FORWARDED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL, DA, BY COURIER.

  11. AFFIDAVITS FROM PERSONNEL FAMILIAR WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SUBJECT OFFICER’S ACTIVITIES WHILE IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARE BEING PREPARED AND WILL BE FORWARDED BY COURIER AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

  12. IT IS REQUESTED THAT THIS HEADQUARTERS BE ADVISED BY MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS OF SUBJECT OFFICER’S MEDICAL CONDITION WHEN SUBJECT OFFICER IS RETURNED TO MILITARY CONTROL, AND OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN.

  BY COMMAND OF GENERAL HARKINS:

  ALEX W. DONALD, COLONEL, AGC

  It thus came as no surprise to Paul H
anrahan when Lieutenant Ellis showed up, hobbling on crutches, in Hanrahan’s office. Lieutenant Ellis looked like death warmed over. When he saluted, Hanrahan thought Ellis was going to fall over.

  “Lieutenant Ellis,” Hanrahan said, “pending a decision regarding charges which may be placed against you, you will consider yourself under arrest.”

  As pale as Tom Ellis looked, Hanrahan was surprised that his face could get any whiter, but it did.

  “I thought it would be better if I came home, sir,” Ellis said.

  “And you thought, ‘What the hell, once I’m gone, what can they do to me?’ right?” Hanrahan said icily.

  Ellis did not reply.

  “Lieutenant Ellis, you will consider the following a direct order,” Hanrahan said. “You will report to the station hospital immediately. You will inform hospital authorities that you are in arrest status. You will remain in the station hospital, undergoing whatever medical treatment is prescribed, until released by competent medical authority. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Sergeant Major, would you please assist Lieutenant Ellis to the hospital? You may use my car.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “That is all, Lieutenant,” Hanrahan said. “You are dismissed.”

  Ellis saluted. When he tried to turn around, he almost fell. Taylor moved quickly and caught him.

  Sergeant Major Taylor and General Hanrahan locked eyes. Hanrahan shook his head.

  When they were gone, Paul Hanrahan went to his window and moved the curtain aside just enough so that he could see out. Taylor had one hell of a time getting Ellis into the staff car. Hanrahan wondered how the hell he had managed to get from the airport to Bragg.

  Ellis’s foot was wrapped in bandages. The bandages were dark with what looked like fresh blood.

  Shit, I should have called for an ambulance, Hanrahan thought.

  When the staff car finally drove off, Hanrahan dialed a number.

  “Hello?” his wife’s cheerful voice greeted him.

  “Tom just walked in,” he said. “Hobbled in.”

  “Thank God!” she breathed. “Is he all right?”

  “No, he looks awful.”

  “You sent him to the hospital, I hope,” Patricia asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “Under arrest.”

  “That was necessary?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Can I go see him? Take him something?”

  “I told you, he’s under arrest,” he said, more sharply than he intended.

  Her reply was silence.

  “Maybe tomorrow,” he said. “He shouldn’t have any visitors anyhow in his condition.”

  “All right,” she said. Her tone made it evident that she thought he was a heartless sonofabitch.

  “I’ve got to go,” he said.

  Patricia hung up without another word.

  Hanrahan dialed another number.

  “Liberty 7-2338,” a female voice said.

  “General Hanrahan for Colonel Felter,” Hanrahan said.

  “One moment, please,” she said, and then: “I’m sorry, General. Colonel Felter is not in his office at the moment. Would you care to leave a message?”

  “Please,” Hanrahan said. “Tell him ‘The Prodigal Son has returned.’”

  “‘The Prodigal Son has returned,’” she quoted. “I’ll give him the message, General.”

  “Thank you,” Hanrahan said, broke the connection, dialed a number from memory and got “Charley Company, 505th, First Sergeant, sir.”

  “Sorry,” Hanrahan said, broke the connection, swore, and consulted the directory.

  “Pathology, Sergeant Finster.”

  “Dr. Parker, please,” Hanrahan said.

  “The doctor is in the lab, sir.”

  “Get her on the phone,” Hanrahan ordered. “This is important.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Dr. Parker?”

  “Taylor is en route with Tom Ellis,” Hanrahan said.

  There was a pause before Toni Parker replied.

  “Well, he won’t suffer from lack of attention, Paul,” she said.

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’ve been reading about those punji sticks and the infection they cause,” she said. “I hate to use this word, but the infections are ‘interesting.’”

  “‘Infections,’ plural?”

  “Several strains of unfamiliar bacillus and such that resist antibiotics,” she said. “Some of them seem to cause morbidity in tissue that’s hard to stop.”

  “Great!” he said.

  “There’s a couple of people here who are delighted he ran away from the hospital in Saigon. He’ll be their first case.”

  “Which means they won’t know what to do about it?”

  “They don’t know much more in Saigon, Paul,” she said.

  “Have a look when you have a chance, Toni, will you, and call me.”

  “I’ll be there when they bring him in,” she said. “I’ll call you when I know something.”

  “Thank you, Toni,” he said. “If you can’t get me, call Pat.”

  “I was going to call her first anyway,” Toni Parker chuckled and hung up.

  General Hanrahan started to dial the operator, changed his mind, went into the outer office and poured himself a cup of coffee, and then set it down untouched and went back to his office and put in a call to Miss Dianne Eaglebury at the Delta Delta Delta House at Duke University in Durham.

  When he got Dianne on the line, he told her that he had nothing special in mind, except that he had sort of expected her to take the tour of the Special Warfare Center he had offered, and he just wanted to repeat the invitation.

  She said that she really wanted to come down there, but one thing and another had come up, and she just hadn’t been able to find the time.

  “Well, whenever, we’ll roll the carpet out,” Hanrahan said.

  “I appreciate the invitation,” Dianne said. “One of these days, I’ll take you up on it.”

  “Oh, incidentally, Tom Ellis’s back. And doing well.”

  “Back? Back from where? ‘Doing well?’ Is something the matter with him?”

  “I thought you knew,” Hanrahan said. “He’s been in Indochina.”

  “No, I didn’t know,” she said angrily. “What do you mean, ‘He’s doing well’?”

  “He stepped on something over there,” Hanrahan said. “They’ve put him in the hospital.”

  “There, at Fort Bragg?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, thank you for telling me, General,” she said. “And thank you again for calling.”

  (Two)

  The Oval Office

  The White House

  Washington, D.C.

  1715 Hours, 29 January 1962

  The President’s secretary walked into the office with an envelope and extended it to him.

  “Mr. Kennedy sent it over marked for immediate delivery,” she said.

  “Thank you,” the President said, and tore the envelope open and read the typewritten sheet it held.

  “I’ve got a message for you too,” the President’s secretary said to Lieutenant Colonel Sanford T. Felter, who was standing behind the President’s desk. There was a stack of aerial photographs on the desk.

  “Oh?” Felter asked.

  “The switchboard asked me to tell you that General Hanrahan wants you to know the Prodigal Son has returned,” she said.

  “Why do I sometimes get the feeling that Senator Goldwater doesn’t like me?” the President asked, and then he picked up on what his secretary said. “What Prodigal Son is that, Sandy? Your pal Lowell?”

  “No, sir,” Felter said, hesitated, and went on. “In this case the prodigal is Lieutenant Ellis.”

  “The boy-faced warrior? Where was he?”

  “In Vietnam, sir.”

  “And General Hanrahan considered his return of such significance that he tells you via a cryptic message?” the President asked. �
�You can tell me, Felter. I’m the President. I can be trusted, despite the opinion of a certain silver-headed senatorgeneral.”

  The secretary laughed out loud.

  “He was over there as a courier,” Felter said. “And while he was there, he went on a patrol he shouldn’t have where he stepped on a punji stick. They put him in the hospital, and he left the hospital and came home.”

  “He just took off from the hospital?” the President asked.

  “What’s a punji stick?” the secretary asked.

  The President told her, and then rephrased his question: “He went AWOL from the hospital? Why?”

  “I would guess, Mr. President, that he hoped if he came home it would not come out that he had gone on the patrol.”

  “But he got caught?”

  “The medics were concerned for his health, sir. He really should have been in the hospital. They sent a TWX.”

  “You think he’s in the hospital at Fort Bragg now?”

  “If he’s at Bragg, Mr. President, he’s in the hospital.”

  “Why do you suppose he wanted to go on a patrol?”

  “Vietnam is nectar, Mr. President,” Felter said, “and Lieutenant Ellis is a bee.”

  “Do I infer that he’s in hot water with the army?”

  “MAC V considers him AWOL, sir,” Felter said.

  “Well, far be it from me to interfere with good military order and discipline,” the President said wryly. “But on the other hand, when you’re going to be there anyway, I can’t see any reason why you should not, Felter, express to Lieutenant Ellis my best wishes for his speedy recovery. Preferably in the hearing of whoever is concerned with the question of AWOL.”

  “I wasn’t aware that I was going to Fort Bragg, Mr. President,” Felter said.

  “I’ve sometimes noticed that when I tell people to do something they don’t really want to do, they tend to forget I told them. If you visited Bragg, I wouldn’t be at all surprised that it would serve to keep memories sharp.”

  “I’m sure it would, Mr. President,” Felter said. He wondered whether he was being sent to Bragg because something in Kennedy made him admire a young officer who went on a patrol he hadn’t been ordered to go on and then went AWOL from a hospital, or whether it was because Kennedy meant what he said about jogging memories. He decided it was probably both, with emphasis on the latter.