The Secret Corps
Page 1
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Praise for The Secret Corps
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
Dedication
Preface
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Epilogue
About the Author
A Thriller By
Peter Telep
Copyright © 2015 by Peter Telep
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author, expect by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be published in print or electronic form. All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.
Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this novel. Use of any USMC insignia is not intended to imply any official or unofficial connection between the Marine Corps and the author, especially in regard to logo or branding strategy.
ISBN-13: 9781495154270
Cover Design by Peter O’Connor
http://bespokebookcovers.com
Praise for The Secret Corps
“After reading this book, I am awed by Peter Telep’s attention to detail and how plausible this story could be. His portrayal of Marines (lingo/mindset, etc.) is spot on, and his character development is impressive—mainly because I identify in so many ways with each character’s backstory (some of their stories are the same as mine). Anyway, wonderful job, loved it.”
—Master Sergeant Clifton Lee, USMC (Ret)
“Exciting and fast moving. Peter Telep covers all potential territory in the current operating environment. Entertaining reading that incorporates real Marines, current technological challenges, and takes place in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area.”
—Colonel S.W. Davis, USMC (Ret)
“Peter Telep has written an imaginative and enjoyable tale. The read is swift, riveting, and contains a bit of painful realism in this fact-based fiction. The players from Johnny and "the boys" to the Marine Corps Band of Brothers will all seem larger than life to the uninitiated, but let me assure you there is not one in this story that would fail to live up to the challenge.”
—Lieutenant Colonel R.C. Adams USMC (Ret)
“Reading about actual events in my life, with fictional twists and story lines, was extremely amusing for me. I can personally tell you that Peter Telep did his homework on this novel—from our verbiage and personality nuances to the gear and equipment we use. He also extensively researched the agencies, local and federal, as well as the little details, such as road names, to make you feel as if this story were real! I truly enjoyed reading this novel!”
—Joseph "Willie" Parent, Former GySgt USMC, 2D Force Recon / 2 Marine Special Operations Battalion
“Simply stated, I liked the book; I liked it a lot. It firmly grips you and wont let you go. Its story genuinely personifies our Corps's character/characteristics (cohesion, loyalty, selfless devotion to duty and each other, to name a few) routinely resident in Marines and their units. And after knowing Johnny for over twenty-eight years, this story is believable.”
—Major J. W. Dorsey IV, USMC (Ret) Vice President, Glock, Inc.
“The Secret Corps was a bittersweet read. It's a perfect blend ‘factual fiction.’ The accuracy and detail brought me back to my time in the Marine Corps and sparked memories of so many great people and amazing stories. I truly appreciate and respect Mr. Telep's desire to make his novel as realistic as possible, and it is—often painfully so. The bond between Marines can never be broken. In The Secret Corps, you really get to understand that. I am proud that I contributed my expertise to its creation."
—Josh Iversen, Former Staff Sergeant, USMC
“This was an awesome read. The story line pulled me in and kept my attention to the end. Mr. Telep has done a fantastic job of capturing the life long brotherhood that we share as Marines and our drive to accomplish the mission. Semper Fi!”
—Gunnery Sergeant Eric N. Gordon, USMC (Ret)
“Peter Telep's research into Marine Corps operations and the people who carry them out is meticulous. A great read for everyone, but especially past, present and future Marines. Well done and Semper Fi!
—Tom Marino, Former Sergeant (0331/0311), USMC
“The story line is exciting and fast moving. I liked the concept that the main good guys were former Marines who were bonded by their service in combat. I thought that it was an interesting and perhaps plausible scenario if such a threat ever developed. I would want to be a part of a reaction group like that even if it was loosely organized.”
—Fred Frederiksen, Former Sergeant (0311), USMC
“I was completely engulfed by The Secret Corps. Mr. Telep understands that Marines always have a strong bond and will always help each other, as the roots drive deep. He does an excellent job with the meticulous details of the weapons systems and setting the stage for the action. I literally felt like I was there. This is a great adventure from cover to cover.”
—Corey Peters, Former Sergeant, USMC
“This story reminds me of what it means to be a Marine. Becoming a Marine is the most proud thing a person can ever do, to serve next to your fellow Marines, that pride never goes away. Just ask a vet from any other branch and they will say they served in the Military.... ask a Marine and he will always say he served in the US Marine Corps. Semper Fi.”
—Ray Johnson, Former Corporal, USMC
“Peter Telep understands that there are three things a man must have in his life in order to receive fulfillment: a war to wage, an adventure to lead, and a loved one to rescue. When we read his writing, it is obvious to us all that Mr. Telep 'gets it.’”
—Master Sergeant James “Johnny” Johnson, USMC (Ret)
Acknowledgments
This novel is the collective work of many talented researchers and warriors who graciously volunteered their time. They are, in fact, the “secret corps” behind the conception and completion of a very chal
lenging and rewarding project.
Mr. James Ide, Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy (Ret.) is my long-time collaborator who helped me develop the story from the initial sixty-seven page outline to the final polished manuscript. His technical prowess and military experience are most evident in the clues presented in this murder/mystery and in the epic attacks described herein. Jim challenged me at every turn to make this story more credible and exciting. His contributions are significant, and I’m deeply indebted to him for the many hours he dedicated to this project.
My agent, Mr. John Talbot, encouraged me to develop this story and offered some valuable suggestions during the early stages of brainstorming. His note to “keep the action in and around the United States” served as a strong framework for the entire plot.
The men I’ll refer to as “the Marines from North Carolina”—Mr. James “Johnny” Johnson, Mr. Joseph “Willie” Parent, Mr. Josh Iversen, and Mr. Corey Peters—spent countless hours answering my questions and submitting to interviews regarding themselves and their families. I was even fortunate enough to speak with their wives. These discussions were personal, even painful, but they forged on, reminding me of how incredibly fortunate and honored I am to know them.
Veteran Marine Corps Corporal Paul R. Bagby and veteran Army Specialist Fourth Class Chris Lipp served as “beta readers” and provided their reactions and criticism while the novel was being written. Their hard work and encouragement are deeply appreciated.
Mr. John Guandolo, author of Raising a Jihadi Generation, addressed my pointed questions and provided remarkable insight into the minds of Islamic radicals. John is not only an excellent author but a veteran Reconnaissance Marine, a former FBI special agent, and a counterterrorism expert with a keen understanding of Sharia Law and the Muslim Brotherhood. His work can be found here: http://www.understandingthethreat.com
Mr. Adam Painchaud, senior director of the Sig Sauer Academy, described in detail information I needed about weapons, ballistics, and tactics. His generosity and great sense of humor contributed much to this manuscript.
Troy L. Wagner, TMC (SS), EOD, U.S. Navy, is a retired chief torpedoman, a submariner, and a specialist in explosive ordnance disposal who provided considerable knowledge and insight into our attack scenes.
The talented and gracious Mr. Matt Bowlin gave me permission to write about him in this novel. If you would like to hear and/or purchase some of his remarkable and patriotic music, visit:
www.mattbowlin.com or www.facebook.com/MattBowlinOfficial
My former student Mr. Will Wight provided me with guidance regarding e-book and trade paperback conversion. His own excellent and engaging work can be found on Amazon.com and at www.willwight.com.
Many other friends and military experts answered questions, provided me with research, or indirectly influenced this book, including:
Gunnery Sergeant Eric N. Gordon, USMC (Ret)
Colonel Mark John Aitken, U.S. Army
Command Master Chief (SEAL) Steve Rose, U.S. Navy (Ret)
Dee Rybiski, FBI Richmond Division Community Outreach Specialist
Mr. Tom O’Sullivan, Senior Director, North American Rescue
Mr. Derwin Bradley, Master Police Officer, Orlando Police Department
Mrs. Carol Ide (my keen-eyed proofreader)
Mr. Steve Berger, Mr. Chris Fallen, Mr. Pat Rugg, Mr. Gary Mulchan, Mr. Michael Janich, Mr. Kurt Telep, and Dr. Rudy McDaniel.
I could not complete this book without the support of my wife Nancy and my two beautiful daughters, Lauren and Kendall.
“A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago—there's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There's no such thing as a former Marine.”
—General James F. Amos, 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps
“…They were from two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple Americas exist simultaneously depending on one’s race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman...”
—Lieutenant General John Kelly USMC, in a speech 13 November 2010 at the Hyatt Under the Arch, St. Louis regarding Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, KIA 22 April, 2008
"We should bleed America economically by motivating it to continue its huge expenditure on its security as America's weak point is its economy, which already has begun stumbling because of the military and security expenditure. America is not a mythic power and the Americans, after all, are humans who can be defeated, felled, and punished."
—Ayman al-Zawahiri, successor to Osama Bin Laden
This book is dedicated to the United States Marine Corps,
and to every Marine who has ever served...
past, present, and future...
We are forever in your debt.
Support our men and women in the military:
operationshoebox.com
semperfifund.org
Preface
The United States Marine Corps is one of the smallest combat forces of America’s military, yet Marines have a reputation for leaving the largest footprint on the battlefield. For over two centuries, the Corps has been transforming young men and women into warriors with few peers. Their commitment to each other, to the mission, to the Corps, and to our country is embodied in their motto, Semper Fidelis, “always faithful.”
Admittedly, it is difficult for civilians to comprehend the bond that Marines share with each other. General William Thorson of the United States Army said, “There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.”
When asked, the Marines themselves talk about going downrange and trusting their teammates with their lives. They describe the mutual respect they have for those who have become one of the few, the proud. They discuss friendships and the common desire to uphold the storied traditions of the Corps and make their forefathers proud.
The bond is about honor, courage, and commitment, yet it is even more... an almost mythic and secretive intangible that has intrigued me for years. With this challenge in mind, I set out to capture lightning in a bottle and turn it into a novel—a lofty ambition to be sure.
The Secret Corps could be more accurately described as a hybrid between fiction and nonfiction. The characters are closely based on four veteran Marines who epitomize that extraordinary brotherhood forged in the Corps. These men took me under their wing; they taught me to fire their weapons and to think like them. They shared their stories of great triumph and heartbreaking loss. They treated me, an outsider, like one of their brothers. They helped me discover that I could use their bond as the very backbone of my plot.
The old saying about Marines is true: they can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. Their generosity and their ferocity are extreme.
—Peter Telep, Winter Springs, Florida
Prologue
“We all knew each other before that night in Fallujah, but afterward, something changed. We realized we couldn’t say goodbye after leaving the Corps. We had shared a large part of our past together, and you don’t walk away from that. Our experiences shaped who we are, and, in turn, we shaped those around us.”
—Johnny Johansen (FBI interview, 23 December)
Four riverine patrol boats thundered upriver beneath an overcast night sky. The boats were in column formation and running blacked out. Their five-man crews resembled cyborgs with Night Observation Devices (NODs) jutting from their helmets. These were the hardened Marines of Small Craft Company, 2nd Platoon, 1st section, the innovators who had roared through the deserts of Iraq with their boats in tow
, drawing curious stares from officers and enlisted alike. The unit’s primary mission was to provide tactical mobility, personnel transport, and a fire support platform in support of Military Operations in a Riverine Environment. When insurgents began exploiting the Euphrates River to smuggle weapons and personnel, the Marines—in typical Marine Corps fashion—stepped up with a large caliber maritime response. They deployed heavily-armed aluminum jet boats with solid cell polyethylene collars making them the most dangerous and maneuverable craft on the water.
On this particular November morning in 2004, three hours before sunrise, the crews of Small Craft Company were transporting a platoon of twenty-eight men divided into “stacks” designated Alpha and Bravo. Each stack had boarded one of the thirty-nine-foot-long boats. The men straddled the pairs of rodeo seats positioned between the coxswain’s station and the bow, or they sat on deck along the gunwale. This GCE or Ground Combat Element was primarily from 3rd Platoon, Second Force Reconnaissance Company, a special operations capable unit that belonged exclusively to the Marine Corps. These boys had basic infantry skills as sharp as an officer’s Mameluke sword, but they were much more than infantry. Each had earned the coveted Military Occupational Specialist “0321” designator. They were reconnaissance men trained as static line and free-fall jumpers and combat divers. They could scout and patrol like a disembodied squad who had returned from the afterlife. What they knew about assault weaponry, breaching demolitions, close quarters combat, and raid techniques would buckle a bookshelf were it printed in hardcopy. Most importantly, they were the eyes and ears of their commanders.