thought they had in that area, sir,” McCoy replied.
“I was a little surprised myself, McCoy,” Almond said. “The 3d ROK is taking up—has taken up—a defensive position south of the reservoir. As soon as I finish my breakfast, I’m going to helicopter up there and have a personal look at the situation.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And one of the things I hope to do when I’m there is be able to put to rest a rumor circulating that this division-sized enemy force is not North Korean but rather Chinese.”
“There’s a rumor like that, sir?”
“Now, you and I both know that’s highly unlikely, if not outright impossible, don’t we? General Willoughby has assured us there is virtually no chance of, and certainly no intelligence suggesting, Chinese intervention, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, sir. He certainly has.”
“I thought you might find that interesting, Major McCoy, ” General Almond said. “If I had a means to do so, I’d suggest you come along with me. But unfortunately, I have only two operational helicopters, H-13s, and so there is room only for me and one of my Korean interpreters, who speaks Chinese. I can’t even take Al Haig with me.”
“General, I wonder how you and your interpreter and Captain Haig would feel about going with me in my Big Black Bird? The problem there is that it doesn’t have any markings on it. . . .”
“Major, I would think that would fall under what is known as ‘an exigency of the military service.’ It’s regretful that you were unable to fully comply with the Rules of Land Warfare by applying the required identification markings to your helicopter, but I don’t think that should keep us from using it, do you?”
“Sir, my concern was friendly fire from the 3d ROK. They’ve never seen a helicopter like this.”
“Al,” Almond ordered, “before we go, have someone get in touch with 3d ROK and tell them they are not, repeat not, to engage any aerial target until I personally give orders to the contrary. If necessary, send an L-19, and drop a written order.”
“Yes, sir.”
“On second thought, both communicate with and send an L-19,” Almond ordered.
“I’ll get right on it, sir,” Captain Haig said.
“Al, could you call the airstrip and make sure Donald fuels the Big Black Bird?” McCoy asked.
“Done,” Haig said.
Almond chuckled.
“You’re speaking of Major Donald?” the general asked. “My former assistant Army Aviation officer? Now a member of your . . . organization?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have you got him wearing pajamas?”
“No, sir. He has more faith in his helo than I do.”
“ ‘All things come to he who waits,’ ” Almond quoted. “I believe that.”
“Sir?”
“The day General MacArthur ordered me to transfer those machines to you, and I told Major Donald, he was heartbroken that he would not be able to show me what a wonderful machine his new toy was. Now he can.”
“Major Donald and the helicopters have been very useful, sir,” McCoy replied.
“That’s what he said, McCoy. He told me—and General MacArthur—that the helicopter was going to . . . What exactly did he say? Oh, yes: ‘usher in a new era of battlefield mobility.’ ”
“I’ve heard the sales pitch, sir. Many times.”
Almond chuckled, then looked at him thoughtfully.
“How are they going to function in the snow, McCoy? In twenty-, thirty-degrees-below-zero weather?”
“I guess we’re about to find out, sir.”
“On the subject of your organization, McCoy, I’ve got to warn you that the commanding general of 1st MarDiv is looking for your scalp.”
“Do you know why, sir?”
“Something about that company of Marines I borrowed to guard Major Donald’s hangar in Seoul. He has been informed they won’t be returning; that they are now members of your organization.”
“Yes, sir, they are.”
“He asked me if I knew anything about the transfer. I told him no. Then he said . . . I don’t think I’d better tell you what he said. But he did ask me to tell him if you ever showed up here.”
“Their transfer was General Howe’s idea, sir. His and General Pickering’s.”
“I have the feeling he suspects you were behind it,” Almond said. “Or that I was and don’t want to admit it.”
“Why would he doubt your word, sir?”
“I have the feeling he’s not in my legion of admirers,” Almond said. “His primary purpose in coming to see me was to discuss . . . No. To be honest, it was to question, to request that I reconsider my orders to the 1st MarDiv. They’ve been ordered to proceed as quickly as possible past the Chosin Reservoir. . . .”