HE WILL LOSE ANY TEETH, ALTHOUGH THE CONDITION OF HIS GUMS REFLECTS THE AFOREMENTIONED MALNUTRITION AND DYSENTERY.
4. SUBJECT OFFICER’S DYSENTERY HAS REACTED TO ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT, AND THE INTERNAL PARASITES HAVE REACTED TO ATABRINE AND OTHER TREATMENT. HE HAS BEEN PLACED ON A HIGH PROTEIN DIET.
5. THERE IS NO REASON SUBJECT OFFICER CANNOT BE AIR-LIFTED TO THE ZONE OF THE INTERIOR AT ANY TIME. HE CAN BE TRANSPORTED FROM BADOENG STRAIT EITHER BY TBM-3G AVENGER AIRCRAFT OR BY UNDER-WAY TRANSFER TO A DESTROYER OR DESTROYER ESCORT.
6. IN THE OPINION OF THE UNDERSIGNED, PRESENT AND PROJECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS MAKE AT-SEA TRANSFER THE LESS HAZARDOUS MEANS OF TRANSPORT. REQUEST DIRECTION.
7. BADOENG STRAIT PROCEEDING.
NORTON, CAPT USN
COMMANDING
Pickering read the message and handed it back to Huff.
“Fifty-eight pounds,” he said. “Jesus, he must look like a skeleton.”
Huff handed him another message.
SECRET
URGENT
FROM COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PACIFIC
0405 16 OCTOBER 1950
TO BADOENG STRAIT
INFO SUPREME COMMANDER UNC TOKYO CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS WASHINGTON COMMANDANT USMC WASHINGTON COMMANDER USNAVY BASE SASEBO JAPAN
1. REFERENCE IS MADE TOa. MESSAGE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT SUBJ: PICKERING, MAJ MALCOLM USMCR 15OCT50
b. YOUR SECRET URGENT SUBJECT AS ABOVE 0300 16 OCTOBER 1950
2. CINCPAC DIRECTSa. DETACHMENT OF DESTROYER OR DESTROYER ESCORT FROM COVERING FORCE FOR PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING SUBJECT OFFICER TO NEAREST PORT OFFERING SUITABLE AIR TRANSPORT OF SUBJECT OFFICER TO USNAVY HOSPITAL USNAVY BASE SASEBO JAPAN.
b. SUBJECT OFFICER BE ACCOMPANIED BY NAVY PHYSICIAN DURING MOVEMENT FROM BADOENG STRAIT TO SASEBO. TRANSFER TO TRANSPORTING VESSEL TO TAKE PLACE WHENEVER AND WHEREVER BADOENG STRAIT DEEMS ADVISABLE.
c. BADOENG STRAIT WILL ADVISE CINCPAC AND ADDRESSEES HEREON BY URGENT MESSAGE OF SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF SUBJECT OFFICER TO TRANSPORTING VESSEL, PORT OF DESTINATION, AND ETA THEREAT.
3. BADOENG STRAIT WILL PASS FOLLOWING PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM CINCPAC TO SUBJECT OFFICER AT EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. QUOTE WELL DONE. YOUR RECENT ACTIONS IN HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF USMC AND NAVAL SERVICE. WELCOME BACK. END QUOTE
FOR THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PACIFIC
STEVENS, VICE ADMIRAL, CHIEF OF STAFF
Pickering read the message and handed it back to Huff. Huff held the other messages up.
“You can read these, of course, if you like,” he said. “But they are simply administrative messages to implement what’s going to happen. The thumbnail of the situation is that a Navy R4-D hospital plane will be waiting at Pusan—that’s the nearest port—to fly your son to Sasebo. The Supreme Commander has arranged for you to be flown to either Pusan or Sasebo, whichever you prefer—”
“Sasebo,” Pickering interrupted. “I don’t see much point in going to Korea just to come back. And I would just be in the way.”
And it smacks of special treatment—not for Pick, for me.
“Yes, sir. There are two remaining problems.”
“Which are?”
“The President has directed that Major Pickering be flown to the naval hospital in the United States most convenient for Mrs. Pickering. They have apparently been unable to contact her.”
“San Diego,” Pickering said. “Send him to the Navy Hospital in San Diego.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And the second problem?”
“Miss Priestly. We haven’t been able to locate her. We know she’s in Korea, and probably in Pusan, but we haven’t been able to find her so far.”
“I understand she was headed for Wonsan.”
“We’ve checked Wonsan. They don’t know where she is, and her name does not appear on any flight manifest of flights from Pusan to Wonsan.” He paused, then added: “We’ll find her, General.”
“I’m sure you will,” Pickering said. “Thank you, Sid.”
“I know the Supreme Commander is expecting you, sir,” Huff said. “I’ll tell him you’re here.”
[SIX]
When Colonel Huff opened the door to MacArthur’s office and announced, “General Pickering, sir,” MacArthur and Major General Charles Willoughby, his intelligence officer, were standing at a table to one side of the room, looking down at a map.
“Ah, come on in, Fleming!” MacArthur called heartily. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Good morning, sir,” Pickering said, and saluted.
Marines and sailors do not salute indoors—unless under arms or “covered” (wearing a hat or cap)—soldiers do. Pickering had decided nine years before, in Australia, that it was wiser to follow the Army custom. His relationships with the officers around MacArthur were bad enough as it was without adding “the arrogant SOB doesn’t even salute” to the listings of what was wrong with him.
“The Supreme Commander has just told me about your son, Pickering,” General Willoughby said. “What good news!”
“Thank you, General,” Pickering said.
“And Huff has you up to speed, right, on what’s happened about that this morning?” MacArthur asked.
“Yes, sir, he has.”
“Are you going out to the carrier, or to Korea?”
“No, sir. I think I’d just be in the way. I’ll go to Sasebo and wait there.”
“Probably the wisest