“Why weren’t these photographs . . . ,” Cushman began. “Pickering, you have my word that every effort will be made—”
“Sir, with respect,” McCoy said. “Colonel Dunn knew that if these pictures got out, a lot of people and, as important, the helicopters would be put at risk to try to get him.”
“You’re a Marine, Captain. You know our tradition. . . .”
“Colonel Dunn knows the only way to look for Major Pickering, to get him out, would be with helicopters, and the only helicopters we have are carrying the wounded. Colonel Dunn knows, and I know, that Major Pickering wouldn’t want that.”
“And neither do I,” General Pickering said. “I don’t want helicopters put at risk looking for my son, General Cushman. We’ll think of something else.”
“That’s really not your decision to make, is it, Fleming? ” Cushman argued.
“I think it is,” Pickering said. “I would deeply appreciate your respecting my wishes in this matter.”
Cushman met Pickering’s eyes.
After a long moment, he said, “Of course.”
“I’ve got a couple of ideas,” McCoy said.
“And so far as you’re concerned, Ken, the priority is the taking of Taemuui-do and Yonghung-do,” Pickering said.
“Aye, aye, sir,” McCoy said.
[THREE]
THE DEWEY SUITE THE IMPERIAL HOTEL TOKYO, JAPAN 1425 10 AUGUST 1950
Mrs. Ernestine McCoy was helping herself to another piece of pastry when the door chime went off, so she answered it.
It was Brigadier General Pickering, trailed by Captain Hart. Pickering kissed her on the cheek, looked around the room, and said, “You’ve eaten, good. The Grand Encounter lasted longer than it was supposed to.”
“Ken wanted to wait,” Ernie said.
“And you didn’t,” Pickering said. “Proving what I’ve suspected all along, that you’re the smarter of the two.”
He went to the room-service cart, opened silver covers until he found a bowl of salad, and popped a radish into his mouth. Then he turned to Hart.
“In this order, George, order us some lunch. A small steak, a tomato, more salad for me, hold the dressing. And coffee, of course. Then show McCoy where we’ve moved the typewriter. And then run down Sergeant Keller, and have him standing by here, and have a car standing by downstairs to carry him to the Dai-Ichi Building.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Ken, you feel up to a little fast typing?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, let’s get started. I want what happened at that meeting to be in the President’s hands as soon as possible.”
General Pickering had just finished his small steak when McCoy came back in the room with several sheets of typewriter paper in his hands. Pickering took them and read them.
“You’re a great typist, McCoy,” Pickering said, cheerfully. “If you ever need work, we can always use a good typist at P&FE.”
“I think I’d rather sell deodorant for American Personal Pharmaceuticals, but thanks just the same,” McCoy replied.
“Uncle Flem,” Ernie McCoy flared. “My God!”
“Sometimes my mouth runs away with itself,” Pickering said. “Ken, I’m sorry. You know that was a bad shot at trying to be funny.”
“It’s Okay?” McCoy asked, indicating the material he’d typed.
“It’s perfect,” Pickering said, handing it back. “If you’d have made a couple of typos, I wouldn’t have . . .”
McCoy took the sheets of paper from Pickering and handed them to Master Sergeant Keller.
“Take a look, Keller,” McCoy ordered, “then stick them in an envelope and get them going.”
Keller read them.
TOP SECRET/WHITE HOUSE DUPLICATION FORBIDDEN ONE (1) COPY ONLY DESTROY AFTER TRANSMISSION
TOKYO, JAPAN 0625 GREENWICH 10 AUGUST 1950 VIA SPECIAL CHANNEL EYES ONLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT:
IT IS NOW ABOUT 3 PM TOKYO TIME. I HAVE JUST COME FROM THE DAI-ICHI BUILDING WHERE I ATTENDED THE MEETING BETWEEN GENERAL OF THE ARMY DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, GENERAL JOSEPH C. COLLINS, USA, AND ADMIRAL FORREST SHERMAN, USN, AND OTHER SENIOR MEMBERS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE STAFFS. GENERAL HOWE IS IN KOREA, BUT I FEEL SURE, HAD HE BEEN PRESENT, HE WOULD CONCUR WITH THE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN HEREIN.
THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO GIVE GENERAL MACARTHUR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN HIS PLAN TO MAKE THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT INCHON, SCHEDULED AT THE MOMENT FOR 15 SEPTEMBER 1950.
I HAD THE FEELING THAT BOTH COLLINS AND SHERMAN ENTERED THE MEETING STRONGLY OPPOSED ESPECIALLY TO THE INCHON LANDING (THE TIDES ARGUMENT, WITH WHICH YOU ARE FAMILIAR), AND GENERALLY OPPOSED TO ANY AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION UNTIL THE SITUATION IN THE PUSAN PERIMETER IS STABILIZED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE INCHON INVASION WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF THE MARINES NOW FIGHTING IN THE PUSAN PERIMETER.
I ALSO FELT THAT WHILE COLLINS LEFT THE MEETING UNSWAYED BY