Special Ops - By W.E.B. Griffin Page 0,44

for your possible interest within 24 hours.

Howard W. O’Connor

HOWARD W. O’CONNOR

SECRET

[ THREE ]

Office of the Commanding General

The Army Aviation Center and Fort Rucker, Alabama

18 December 1964

Major General Robert F. Bellmon was, as he privately thought of it, up to his ass in paper, and it took some time before he noticed Captain Richard J. Hornsby was standing in the office door.

“Have you got something for me, Dick?”

“Yes, sir,” Captain Hornsby said. “This TWX just came in, and I thought you would like to see it.”

Bellmon took it and glanced at very quickly. It was a routine message, signed by some colonel for the adjutant general. It was probably, he decided, one more admonition to him to limit drinking by the troops over the holidays, or failing that, to keep them from killing themselves on the highway full of holiday cheer. Whatever it was, it probably could have waited until he wasn’t quite so up to his ass in paper. Hornsby, who was new, didn’t have the experience to make judgments about what messages were worthy of his immediate attention.

“Thank you, Dick,” Bellmon said, and picked up the TWX, which was printed on a roll of yellowish teletype paper, and read it. His lips tightened. He clenched his teeth and was aware that his temples were throbbing.

“Sonofabitch!” he said, and reached for his telephone.

Then he reminded himself of his solemn vow to count to twenty slowly twice before picking up a telephone when he was angry. He slumped back in his chair and read the TWX again.

ROUTINE

HQ DEPT OF THE ARMY WASH DC 1005 18DEC64

COMMANDING GENERAL

FORT RUCKER AND THE ARMY AVIATION CENTER

ALA

ATTN: AVNC-AG

INFO: PERSONAL ATTN MAJ GEN BELLMON

1. SO MUCH OF PARAGRAPH 23, GENERAL ORDER 297, HQ DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 29 NOVEMBER 1964 PERTAINING TO CAPT JOHN S. OLIVER ARMOR AS READS “IS RELIEVED OF PRESENT ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFERRED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 11TH AIR ASSAULT DIVISION FORT BENNING GA EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 1965” IS AMENDED TO READ “IS RELIEVED OF PRESENT ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFERRED TO HEADQUARTERS JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR SPECIAL WARFARE FORT BRAGG NC EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 1965.”

2. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SUBJECT OFFICER BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CHANGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

J.C. LESTER LTCOL AGC

ACTING ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL

Johnny Oliver had been a good aide, a very good aide, a goddamned good aide for a year. And not only that, he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty, and stuck his neck out as a friend for the Bellmons.

He wasn’t supposed to know, and Barbara and Bobby certainly didn’t know he knew, but he had his sources and he had found out that Bobby was about to be given an elimination check ride, and was almost certain to flunk it. And then, all of a sudden, Bobby had miraculously polished his skills literally overnight. He had passed the check ride and gone on and gotten rated.

Bellmon didn’t believe in miracles, so he checked that out, first with the instructor pilot, who told him he wouldn’t pass Jesus Christ himself if he didn’t think he was safe to fly and up to snuff. Bellmon believed him, and looked elsewhere for the answer.

It had been Johnny Oliver. Fully aware that if he got caught at it he would be permanently taken off flight status himself (not to mention getting the lousy efficiency report Bellmon would have been obliged to give him), he had taken Bobby out in a helicopter and taught him enough to get him past the check ride.

And he had not waived his general’s aide’s insignia in anybody’s face, either, hiding behind the throne. He had taken the risk knowing that if Bellmon had caught him at it, he could kiss his career goodbye. He had done it because he liked Bobby, and because he knew Bobby’s father would be heartbroken if Bobby busted out.

Bellmon, in the end, had—not without a certain uneasiness— decided that more harm than good would come from his becoming officially aware of what had taken place. The Army would lose two pilots, and in Johnny Oliver’s case, anyway, a bright young officer with great potential.

And that potential was going to be enhanced working for George Rand in the 11th Air Assault. He would come out of that assignment knowing how a division, not any division, but the Army’s first airmobile division, functioned in combat. And probably with a gold leaf on his collar point, too. He would have unusual knowledge and experience for an officer of his age and