Chapter
7
[Harm
and Nell kept in touch through the years, him through Law School,
Navy Justice School and finally JAG, Nell through all the engagements
France participated in, Djibouti, Bosnia.
We
find them again in July 1995, at the opening of the series.]
July
1995
Dear
Nell,
I
had the most intense experience in a long time, and I have to tell
you, because I know you'll understand.
I
was investigating the disappearance of a RIO on the Seahawk, my
carrier from back when. Going there was hard, so much memories, good
mostly, the smells, the sounds, the atmosphere of impatience and
hurry, and some very bad, of the night I crashed. It was both
heart-wrenching and exhilarating.
The
CAG (Commander Air Group) was my dad's wingman the day he went down.
He's a hell of a pilot, but very tough. He has to be to keep his crew
alive and flying. Kept pushing at me. I think from a talk we had he
felt guilty leaving my dad behind when he was shot down. I told him
it wasn't his fault, but you always feel responsible when you fail to
save a teammate. I also think he resented me for not being my dad,
like it should have been him, standing there, not me.
Wedge's
brother was here too, he's a pilot now, nicknamed Mace. I wasn't
surprised by his less-than-warm welcome. But that hurt nontheless.
Long
story short, the CAG took me up in a Tomcat modified for recon and
training, meaning there were a full set of controls in the back,
instead of all the navigation equipment. I wasn't supposed to touch
anything, of course. We went for a recon flyby, before an Alpha
Strike, you probably heard about it since you're flying there too.
One the way back, the Serbs were waiting for us. They hit us and the
CAG got wounded. I had to take control of the plane... I hadn't held
a joystick for five years and this baby was handling like a
jackhammer.
Dragon,
I think that was the scariest moment in my life. Training and old
habits kicked in, and with the help of the CAG's wingman Lobo I was
able to trap and catch the wire but I think I stopped breathing for a
full five minutes. The longest five minutes of my life.
Oh,
and did I mentioned night had fallen ? I couldn't see the deck,
I had to rely on what they were telling me. I hope I never have to do
that again ! And I never thought I'd say that some day...
When
we left the carrier, Mace and the others were waiting for me near the
COD. He put wings back on my uniform, Nell. I've never been so
touched. I don't know if he forgave me for the death of his brother,
but it was like a thank you for bringing the CAG back on board.
When
I got back to Washington, I went to the Admiral and got permission to
keep up with my quals and get my flying status back. You can imagine
what it felt like. In a few weeks, I'll be flying again. Not on a
daily basis, but enough to see the sun in the middle of winter.
I
know you get it, Nell.
Fly
high... always !
Harm
Dear
Harm,
If
you were right here, I'd give you the biggest hug. Because I do get
it. I haven't stopped flying, but I can imagine what it would be to
not fly. I'm so happy for you !
Fly
high... again !
Nell
September
1995
Dear
Nell,
I
don't like submarines. I had to spend a few days inside one and I
kept banging my head on the bulkheads. My six feet three are not made
for such small spaces. And I had a new partner, Meg, who is
claustrophobic.
I
can't tell you more about our assignment, confidentiality clause, but
that was not fun. I started breathing again only when we surfaced and
I was allowed to get outside.
I
don't know how bubbleheads do it ! I guess it takes all kinds !
Just
fly !
Harm
October
1995
Dear
Nell,
When
I decided to become a JAG lawyer, I never expected I'd see more
action than when I was a fighter pilot. And I certainly did not
expect to be shot at, drugged or almost murdered.
I
got mixed up in the Thai's ambassador personnal business because his
wife... she reminded me of a girl I knew when I went to Vietnam to
look for my dad. Gym got killed because she befriended me and I
couldn't help but see her in Angelique. And in return she tried to
kill me. I got lost in my memories and almost died.
The
past has an uncanny way to come back when you least expect it.
I
hope everything is all right with you. Where are you now ?
Take
care of the Dragon !
Harm
Dear
Harm,
Like
the past few years, I'm in Bosnia again. Operation Deny Flight is
still in motion, and we take part in it, as US pilots do. I flew a
mission with Lts Entwhistle and Painter the other day. Do you know
them ? Any advice ?
I
miss you in the air !
So
long, Sailor !
Nell
November
1995
Dear
Nell,
I
lost a friend, two days ago. A fellow pilot. Luke was my roommate at
the Academy and in Flight School and we had stayed good friends. I
even was his best man at his wedding. Everyone said it was his fault
he crashed, but when you fly with someone, you get to know them. And
I was right. He didn't screw the pooch. I got to clear his name. But
I miss him, Nell. I miss my friend.
He
leaves behind a widow and a six-years old son, Josh. And I remembered
the day my father went missing. I was about Josh's age, I recall the
two officers showing at the door, my mother's cry.
Why
does everything lately come back to my dad ? I know one day I
will find out what happened to him. Until then, I have my memories.
And
I know Painter, we met on the Seahawk when I was there in July. He's
a good guy !
Take
care of my Dragon !
Harm
December
1995
Dear
Nell,
It
seems I'm sent only where there's action and flying bullets.
Last
month we went to Peru to investigate a Marine who had killed a young
boy. Turned out the Shining Path had organized the assassination of
the Ambassador. It was a war zone and we lost good men.
Then,
we went to Seattle to question a sailor who had stolen a missile. It
lead to a brig break, Meg taken hostage, and the whole area almost
being blown up by a bomb set up by a traitor wanting to sell stolen
weapons to Irakis. With Navy Intelligence in the mix.
And
last week in Irak, we were supposed to defend a Marine tried for
espionage. In a mock trial, of course. I had some extraction combat
training for plan B, which was to get the Marine out of of jail and
bring him home.
To
be frank, I don't really mind action. Reminds me of my carrier days.
You know how it is. I just mind the « my life is in danger »
part !
Merry
Christmas and a very happy new year in advance
Fly
high !
Harm
January
1996
Dear
Harm,
A
happy New Year to you too ! I'm back in France, at last !
Well, I can't say I miss Bosnia. But I miss the excitement of flying
a mission, not just training. I have another six months in France
before I'm deployed again, so I'll keep training until I'm back in
OPEX (foreign deployment).
You
lead a full life, I can give you that ! I thought Navy lawyers
spent their time in courtrooms and offices, that doesn't seem to be
the case with you ! I was in a war zone, and it was more
peaceful than where you go !
Watch
your six, sailor !
Nell
Dear
Nell,
I
wrote I didn't mind action, well, somebody heard me too well !
Everytime I step out of JAG HQ, I'm targeted ! We went looking
for a little girl who had disappeared in an abandoned Navy base, and
we stumbled upon a drug operation ! Seriously ?
I'll
have my quals in a few days, can't wait to fly again !
Fly
high !
Harm
February
1996
Dear
Harm,
I've
been deployed early in Djibouti again. The peace agreement signed two
years ago wasn't enough for some of the rebels, so we're here to
enforce it. I was able to take a week off last month, but I wasn't
supposed to go further than five hundred kilometers from my base, so
I had the choice between Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen or Saudi Arabia...
some choice ! Ethiopia has been relativly stable for a while
now, so I did a treck in the Awash National Park. If you ever get a
chance to go there, you should check it out, it's an amazing place !
Take
care of my sailor !
Nell
March
1996
Dear
Nell,
I'm
sorry to tell you that Lt Entwhistle was shot down by the Serbs last
week. He and Painter were able to eject, but he didn't make it. I was
able to recover Painter who was unharmed. I know you flew with them,
so I wanted to tell you.
Be
careful up there, and watch your six.
Harm
Dear
Harm,
Oh,
I'm so sorry for his death. We got to fly a few times together, and I
enjoyed it. Give my regards and condolences to his squadron if you
get the chance.
But
seriously ? Going to Bosnia to recover Painter, isn't that a
SEAL's job ? Harm ! I know you like seeing action (and to
be frank, recon and patrol can be quite boring so i know what you
mean...) but it's not just « seeing action » ! It's
jumping into action feet first !
Please
take good care of my sailor !
Nell
April
1996
Dear
Nell,
A
lot has changed this past month. First I got promoted to Lieutenant
Commander. It was earlier than expected, so I was a bit surprised.
Then
Admiral Brovo is being replaced by Admiral Chegwidden, a former SEAL.
That should prove interesting... His aid is a full Commander who
keeps hitting on me. Engaging in a personnal relationship with her
would only bring me trouble, so I'm trying to steer clear of her.
Working together is going to be like playing chess : trying to
figure out what your opponent is doing three moves in advance...
I
got to fly to Cuba, and made a Learjet roll and loop... the Air Force
at the helm couldn't believe it ! (the Cuban Mig pilots couldn't
either...) I also did a HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jump to find
out why an Army General had a Naval Aviator killed, the Admiral
figured if I can punch out, I can jump. Fun times...
And
I had my annual flight check, meaning I can keep up with my quals and
keep my flying status up and running. I love it !
Fly
high ! (and roll, and loop!)
Harm
May
1996
Dear
Harm,
Is
it weird to tell you I'm dating ? I met Dominic a while back, on
my first tour in Djibouti. He's a local teacher. I've participated in
a program to help girls at his school learn how to defend themselves,
and we became close this time around. He makes me laugh and wonder...
I
don't know what the future holds, but I don't mind heading there.
I'm
glad you can keep flying, even Learjets !
Fly
high !
Nell
Dear
Nell,
I
haven't written in a long time because it took me a while to process
what happened to me. I was supposed to go sailing with a friend in
the Sea of China when I was captured and taken prisoner. You know the
training we undergo to resist interrogations, you've been through it.
But there's no way to be prepared to really experience prison and
torture. They shot me up with drugs, asked me questions I didn't have
the answer to, made me believe things...
Nell,
I think my father was there too. I told you he went MIA in 1969,
during the Vietnam war. They have trade agreements with China, and an
American prisoner is very valuable. I never saw him, but I heard his
voice. He told me things only he knew. And there was an engraving in
a cell just below mine that only he could have done.
A
Chinese defector told me I had been the only prisoner in this ward
for quite some time, so I don't know what to believe anymore. I was
so full of drugs it took me a whole week to be fit for duty.
Whatever
the truth is, talking to him when I was in that ugly cell is what
kept me sane. I have to find out what happened to him, Nell. I don't
care how long it's going to take, but I will find out.
And
if I can tell you anything, so can you. I'm happy you met someone.
Take
care of my Dragon !
Harm
Dear
Harm,
I
can't begin to imagine what you've been through. Yes we prepare for
enemy interrogation and torture, but I can't believe you know what
it's like, until you KNOW what it's like. My heart weeps for you.
But
why the hell would China want another American prisoner ? You're
a lawyer, you're not Intelligence ! I hope your government did
everything it could to get you back ! You don't leave a fellow
officer behind !
As
for your father... I have never lost someone the way you lost your
dad, so I can't see it the way you do. But be careful what you wish
for. You might find something you don't want to, God forbid.
I
love that we can tell each other everything. It helps so much when
times are difficult, and sharing the joy is contagious !
A
big hug from me to you !
Take
care of my sailor !
Nell
