| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 8 |
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TxJAG_b
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Date Posted: 09:10:26 06/13/11 Mon
In reply to:
TxJAG_b
's message, "...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 1" on 10:48:20 04/12/11 Tue
Chapter 8
As Harm stepped out of the cell, he saw Mac coming down the hall. Looking at her face, the Commander could tell she was deep in thought.
“Something troubling you Mac?”
She looked up, momentarily distracted from her train of thought. “Just finished with Chief Warrant Officer Buell.” She said absently, and then started looking back through her stenographer’s pad.
Harm was intrigued. “And?”
She flipped her pad closed with a flourish “…And, I’m having trouble believing this guy could kill in cold blood.”
“Why? Because he looks so innocent? Remember your basic courses on the criminal mind, Counselor….” But Harm was curious as to why she thought this.
She held up her hand in mock surrender. “I know, I know, I should know better.” she said disgustedly, “But Harm, this guy doesn’t impress me as a killer.”
Harm looked thoughtfully at her. “Well if it’s any consolation, I don’t think Lieutenant Lukens did it either.”
She shook her head. “But the mountain of evidence against them is staggering--”
“Overwhelming.” He added.
“Besides we’re just supposed to be investigating whether or not this should be brought to trial at this point.” She tried to put the best face on the situation. “You know, we may find that there’s not even enough evidence for a trial.”
Harm shook his head. “You and I both know that we don’t believe that for a moment.”
She sighed heavily at the truth of his statement. “True.” In all likelihood this would go to trial, but first, at least they would have to have a hearing. There was still hope of keeping this from going any further.
He crossed his arms and leaned back against the hallway wall. “So where does that leave us?”
She leaned back against the wall on the opposite side, with her arms crossed. “Well, it’s only 1000, the Admiral won’t be in until 1530 our time at the earliest. So why don’t we find as many witnesses as we can, that might be able to help them, before we have to give our progress report.”
He smiled as he pushed himself away from the wall. “I like the way you think MacKenzie.”
She smiled briefly but then quickly sobered as she joined him. “Don’t get your hopes up too high Commander, with Dodge being a hero; we have a pretty big hurdle to clear.”
“I’m in pretty good shape and I’ve cleared some pretty big hurdles in my time,” he quipped jocularly. “What do you say Colonel; care to join me?” He held out his arm.
She rolled her eyes while shaking her head. “Why do I feel like Sancho working with Don Quixote?”
He tried his best to look wounded by her sarcastic comment. “Hey Marine, I thought I was Batman….”
She smirked. “Right, and I, as your faithful sidekick, am supposed to talk some sense into you.”
Harm pretended to be pondering her comment. “Hmm, I don’t remember Robin doing that.” He winked at her.
She dropped her voice to soft whisper, looking intently at him. “Robin’s a lot more sophisticated than she used to be.” He locked eyes with her. Both felt the electricity. She unconsciously licked her lips. He stared, feeling a war beginning between his common sense and his baser emotions. With effort, he managed to subdue the baser demons, although a part of him was eager to explore these feelings for Mac. They were growing stronger each day.
Harm smiled, chuckling. “Well, we can go find someplace private and debate this all day or we can start interviewing witnesses.”
It broke the spell. Mac cocked her head. Not sure what had just happened. This Harm was definitely freer with his feelings for her. She smiled. “Let’s go, Flyboy, and interview those witnesses; maybe we’ll get lucky…”
1242 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Lieutenant Sims had just deposited the case files that came in with the morning courier. Admiral Chegwidden was looking at these new ones when his phone buzzed.
“Yes Coates?”
“Admiral, it’s Colonel Briggs on line one.”
“I’ll take it Coates,” AJ punched the line and put the caller on the intercom. “Good evening Ashton,
“AJ,”
“How is the investigation progressing?”
“I’ll get right to the point, Admiral. Do you always send four officers to do a JAGMan investigation?” The Colonel asked piercingly.
The Admiral was taken aback and slightly annoyed with the man’s attitude. “Ash, you’re the one who asked for a quick and quiet review of this case.” He wasn’t asking him to be falling down grateful, but it wouldn’t hurt for him to show just a little gratitude.
“Well, they have been quick, I’ll give them that, but I’m not so sure about quiet,”
“What do you mean Ash?” (If Harmon Rabb has screwed this up, a certain Commander would find himself transferred to the Aleutians, or maybe Kansas.)
“They’re interviewing everyone AJ! Hell, the only person they haven’t talked to yet is the unit mascot!”
AJ smiled. No doubt, this was the Colonel and the Commander’s idea. “My people do a thorough job Ash, and it seems like you *should* want them to be thorough.”
“That’s not the point AJ.”
“Well exactly what is the point, Colonel?” AJ was becoming more aggravated by the minute with his ‘friend’s’ sarcastic and antagonistic tone.
“As I see it, there are three possible outcomes to this investigation. First, Lieutenant Dodge was killed in the line of duty-died a hero’s death. Tragic, but end of story. He’ll get a hero’s burial with full honors and his wife will get a flag and some nice benefits. Second, the Lieutenant was killed by friendly fire – again tragic, and it’ll be up to your team to find out who did it. Third, Dodge was murdered. That is one that has most of the 36th and the higher ups whispering. It means there is someone here that has killed a fellow solder, and may kill again, if they think it is necessary. But you know, to me that seems like the least likely one, so I really don’t think this should even be considered.”
“So what you’re saying is you would rather--”
“--I would rather they find the Lieutenant’s death was an accident or a case of friendly fire.”
“Colonel,…” AJ took the phone off the intercom and picked up the receiver. “Ashton,” he said with quiet intensity, “Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”
“I do AJ. This can’t be murder. They have to prove it’s something else. You owe me Admiral,”
“Ash, we go back a long way--”
“A long way, AJ.”
The Admiral closed his eyes. “I can’t do this Ash.”
“AJ--”
His voice became hard as he opened his eyes. Treating Ashton Briggs like junior officer rather than as a friend hurt him worse than the Marine Colonel could ever imagine. “Denied Colonel. Commander Rabb has my full backing to carry out this investigation as he sees fit. If it’s found to be a murder, then he, and they, will prosecute it as such.”
“If it’s found that Dodge was murdered on my watch, you know it’ll be the end of my career. It’ll be yet another black mark on Operation Iraqi Freedom, AJ.”
AJ knew it was a desperate attempt to save himself, but he couldn’t allow it. “I’m sorry Ashton.”
“Yeah, AJ,” Colonel Ashton Briggs said bitterly, realizing he had lost the argument. “Me too.”
The line clicked off, leaving a buzzing dial tone. AJ stared at the phone, listening to the drone. The sullen voice of his former friend replayed in his mind. Friend or no friend, AJ Chegwidden just couldn’t do this. He couldn’t ask Rabb and the others to ignore the fact someone may have killed in cold blood The killer, if there was one, had to be brought to justice, and unfortunately if it meant damaging or ending his friend’s career and even if it made trouble for the American expeditionary forces in Iraq, they would have to do it.
AJ savagely punched the button, cutting off the drone. He looked up at the accommodations and awards on his wall. Had it always been this messy? Sure it had. There were no clean wars, there were no good fights, there was just armed combat against a designated enemy. It wasn’t the warrior’s business to determine who was morally right and who was morally wrong. Their job was to protect and defend the United States and its citizens. However, it was his job as Judge Advocate General to make sure that the laws, regulations and rules of the American military were enforced. And if someone violated those rules, it was his job to make sure they were punished for their crimes.
1120 Local
Outpost Bravo
Camp Chesty Puller
Near Mirbullah, Iraq
“I need to speak with Staff Sergeant Thomas Z. Fuller.”
Sturgis and Bud stood looking at the mechanic who had emerged from underneath the LAV he was working on.
The man wiped his hands on oil stained cloth he was holding and looked at the two legal officers. “Aye Sir, I’ll see if I can locate him.”
He got up and walked away from the two naval officers. Bud and Sturgis looked at each other for a moment, and then Bud looked at the armored vehicle.
“Have you ever been in one of these Sir?”
“Can’t say that I have, Lieutenant.” His tone indicated he really wasn’t interested in small talk right now.
An awkward silence ensued. Fortunately, it didn’t last long. The mechanic came back.
“Over there, Sirs.” He pointed to a group of Light Armored Vehicles parked a few hundred feet from where they were standing.
Bud looked at Sturgis for a moment. Then they both began trudging toward the vehicle park.
*~*
Staff Sergeant Fuller, ‘Zeke’ to his friends, studied his cards.
“Rover Two to Rover Four, I got a pair of kings, Over.”
Zeke looked back at his cards. (Damn!)
Disgusted, he picked up his radio mike and depressed the talk button. “I fold, Over.”
“That’s six MRE’s that you owe me,” came back the jovial voice of Rover Two.
Zeke smiled. “Just what are you going to do with all of those MREs?”
“Make a casserole,” came back the laconic reply. “You’re welcome to have some if you like, Over.”
Zeke shook his head. “No, I’ll pass Rover Two; I’ve had your casseroles before.”
“Staff Sergeant Fuller?”
Zeke turned around in his hatch and looked at the two officers approaching.
“Wait one, Rover Two.” He disconnected his radio. “I’m Staff Sergeant Fuller.” He looked at the two Naval officers looking up at him and quickly saluted. “Sorry, Commander, Lieutenant.”
Sturgis walked up closer to the truck. “Commander Sturgis Turner, JAG Corps – this is my partner, Lieutenant Bud Roberts.
Zeke pulled himself out of the hatch and hopped down to the ground next to the two men.
“Commander, Lieutenant. I guess you’re here to discuss Lieutenant Dodge’s murder, Sir. Captain Johnson told me to expect you.”
The former Naval submarine officer looked around. “Is there some place we can talk, Sergeant?”
“Aye Sir. We can use the back of the truck.” He picked up his com wire and plugged it back into his helmet. “Excuse me for a moment, Sirs.”
“Rover Two, this is Rover Four. We’ll have to continue another time. I’ve got company.”
“Roger wilco, Four. Rover Two, out.”
“Back here, Sirs.” He disconnected the wire again and led the two lawyers to the back of the truck. He opened the LAV’s back doors. “After you, Commander, Lieutenant.”
Bud and Sturgis climbed in. Zeke looked at his driver and gunner who had appeared in the turret hatch.
“Guys, do me a favor and get scarce for a while.”
“Sure Staff Sergeant,” replied the gunner, “Come on Kev, and let’s go see if Weinrich has that ZNN guy interviewing him.”
Both men jumped down from the truck and walked toward the battalion vehicle park. Zeke watched them as they approached the ZNN mini-cam operator. They were reluctant to leave Zeke, but the tone in his voice left little room for objection. He turned back to the two JAG officers.
“What do you want to know, Commander?” He said casually sitting down across from them in the personnel compartment.
“Why don’t we start at the beginning?” asked Sturgis as Bud uncapped his pen.
“Okay,” the Staff Sergeant studied the two lawyers and then focused on a distant point just behind them. “We were scouting…my unit was scouting for the main body. We had gotten the word from Force Recon that the Republican Guard had a base of operations in the town of Mirbullah. They also notified us the several mid-level Al-Qaeda operatives had been spotted in the town. We were ordered by Colonel Briggs to look for a way in. I split my platoon into two forces. I lead Alpha section to the heights just outside the village and had our scout teams recon the entry points into the village. Bravo section lead by Sergeant Benson rolled into town and scouted for enemy positions.”
Bud looked up from his notes. “Did either of you initially find any enemy positions?”
The Staff Sergeant looked vacantly at them. “Initially? No. We scouted the whole town – it wasn’t until later in the action that we learned they had positioned themselves on the hill just to the west of town and in the upper levels of the buildings in Mirbullah – they were watching us the whole time.”
“So you gave the go ahead for the main body to move in.” added Sturgis. (Hmm, he didn’t mention this in his official report. I’ll let it slide for now….)
“Aye Sir; and about the time the main body began to move through the town, all hell broke loose on the north side. We broke contact, and rushed over to help Force Recon who had been pinned down by enemy fire.”
Sir, if you don’t mind, could you verify for me and the Commander the deployment of the MEU around Mirbullah? Bud produced a blank mapsheet of the town.
The Sergeant looked at the map. “Uh well Sir, as I said, I was with Alpha section on this set of low hills east of Mirbullah, Bravo section was reconnoitering the bridge crossings into the town. The AMTRAC and Weapons platoons were to the east of us getting ready to move in when we gave the word. The tank platoon was moving to the north side of the town to support Force Recon and one of the infantry companies that had become pinned down by a probing attack by Republican Guard troops.”
Bud marked the positions he indicated. “Thank you Sergeant.”
Sturgis looked at the map and then at the LAV commander. “When did you get back to the southern side where the main body was?”
“When our heavy support reached the Force Recon positions, we heard Lieutenant Hawkins, the AMTRAC unit commander, radioing that they had been ambushed. We broke contact with the enemy force on that side of the village and raced back, trying to break the AMTRACs out of their encirclement.”
Bud added more notes to his map. Sturgis nodded. “Okay Sergeant, what happened next?”
“We succeeded in forcing the ambushers back, but in the process we got too close. Sergeant Benson’s vehicle took a direct hit from a missile. He never knew what hit him.”
He looked at both JAG attorneys for a moment, letting a momentary shadow of pain cross his face. Then as quick as it appeared, it was gone.
“After that, we pulled back out of their range and continued to lay down suppressive fire on Lieutenant Hawkins’s attackers.”
Chaplain Turner’s son continued his interview. “Did you see what happened next?”
“My gunner spotted him first….”
**~~**
Sergeant , I got an AMTRAC headed for Lieutenant Hawkins’s position!
What the hell?! Who is it Ben? Talk to me…
It…it’s Lieutenant Dodge, Sergeant! He’s trying to break through to Lieutenant Hawkins and Gunny Sanchez!
Rover Four to all Rovers! Give the Lieutenant cover fire! Don’t let’em them line him up for an RPG shot!
Aye, aye Sergeant!
**~~**
“We began our cover fire and the Lieutenant barreled full speed into that stone wall that was standing between him and the village square.”
“What did you see next?”
**~~**
Hot damn! The Lieutenant did it Sergeant!! He broke through and he’s in the square!!
Rover Four to all Rovers! Move in and support the Lieutenant!!
**~~**
“Lieutenant Dodge had disrupted their attack. So, we moved in to exploit the damage done. Meantime, chatter on the local net was hot and heavy.”
“How so?”
“You know Commander, the Gunny was trying to rally the AMTRAC squads, and Lieutenant Hawkins was radioing for close air support--”
“…And this was when Colonel Briggs sent in Lieutenant Lukens’s Cobra, FIREFLY ONE?”
“Aye Sir. We saw him approaching fast. The Lieutenant, like Dodge, didn’t waste any time – he went in guns blazing—making the enemy troops dive for cover.”
“And what was Dodge doing during all this?”
“Lieutenant Dodge was working his way over to the Gunny.”
*~*
“…And he deliberately placed himself between the enemy and the Gunny?” Harm hastily scribbled down the man’s account. Lance Corporal Wil Delfin had been crouched down by a nearby burning Humvee and had witnessed Dodge’s actions.
“Aye Sir – if it hadn’t been for Lieutenant Dodge…well sir, Gunnery Sergeant Sanchez and the rest of us would be dead.”
*~*
“Lieutenant Dodge helped Lieutenant Hawkins rally the company?” Mac was sitting on a crate of bottled water facing Sergeant Perez. Perez had been with riding in one of the Humvees near the front of the column when the ambush happened.
“Affirmative—no disrespect to Lieutenant Hawkins or Captain Lewis Ma’am, but the enemy had the company so badly broken up, that they needed the help and they didn’t refuse Lieutenant Dodge’s assistance.”
*~*
“What about FIREFLY ONE?” Harm’s notes listed that Corporal Chris Kirtland, the scout unit leader attached to Fuller’s LAV unit, had been dismounted and witnessed the whole attack on Lukens’s Cobra.
“From what we could see, he was giving as good as he was getting. The Iraqis had labeled him public nuisance number one and wanted him out of there.”
“…But they couldn’t get rid of him.”
“No Sir; Lieutenant Lukens was holding his own and then some.”
*~*
“Until some Republican Guard snipers found their mark.” Bud handed Lance Corporal Randy Cruze, Dodge’s driver, a plastic bottle of water. The man nodded his thanks and drank deeply. The heat inside an AAV personnel carrier was unbearable during this time in the afternoon.
“Yes Sir. Lukens’s Weapon Officer started radioing that they had a problem, but they didn’t think it was serious. About that time, the Lieutenant told me smoke was boiling from underneath the Gunship. I listened to the conversation between the two….”
**~~**
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! This is FIREFLY ONE! We are taking heavy sustained ground fire! I’m declaring an emergency! Gonna autorotate down!!
FIREFLY ONE! This is TRACK TWO ZERO! HOW BAD IS IT?!
Losing hydraulics fast! I’ve got smoke coming from underneath and enough chirping signals in here to attract a flock of birds!!
FIREFLY ONE can you get clear of the combat zone?!
NEGATIVE! NEGATIVE! Losing oil pressure way too fast TWO ZERO! Gotta bring her down quick or she’s coming down the hard way!!
Understood FIREFLY head for the far side of the stream! I’ll cover you!
Much obliged TWO ZERO! Out!
**~~**
“We kept hammering at those Guard troops – they smelled blood and they wanted all of us--bad. I watched as FIREFLY ONE veered away and headed for that stream.”
*~*
Mac noted that Lance Corporal Greg Tacewell, the fireteam leader for Rover two had seen the majority of the firefight between the Cobra and the Iraqi ambushers. Tacewell had had the unique advantage of being able to see Lieutenant Dodge, Gunny Sanchez and the crash of FIREFLY ONE.
“I saw the Gunny rally a couple of squads. They headed toward the emergency LZ for FIREFLY ONE.
“What did Lieutenant Dodge do?”
“He had his driver gun the engine and the Lieutenant’s AMTRAC raced across open ground trying to protect FIREFLY ONE as Lieutenant Lukens autorotated her down.”
*~*
“What about your squad?” Mac noted that Corporal Vick Dremmond, the leader of Rover three’s scout team, was the furthest back from the action, and helped with the rallying of the company’s troops. But he also saw Dodge’s actions, and the controlled crash of FIREFLY ONE.
“We were trying to help Lieutenant Hawkins and Captain Lewis rally the troops and mop up the last of the ambushers – but we did see FIREFLY ONE land hard. Right after that, as Lieutenant Lukens and Chief Warrant Officer Buell got out of that smoking wreck; Lieutenant Dodge pulled his track in front of FIREFLY ONE shielding it from enemy fire.”
*~*
“Are you saying he deliberately put himself between the downed Cobra and the enemy fire?” Lieutenant Hank Borden, commander of SLUGGER ONE, one of the MEU’s M1A1 Abrams tanks, nodded sagely as Harm wrote down his account.
“Yes Sir. The Guard troops were apparently occupying the houses in front of Lukens’s LZ as soon as FIREFLY ONE landed; they started shooting, trying to finish off the Cobra crew.”
“…And Lieutenant Dodge as well?”
“Aye Sir; he had spoiled their fun one too many times. He did the exact same thing he had done with the Gunny, he blocked the enemy fire with his vehicle.”
“And during all this, Lieutenant Lukens and Chief Warrant Officer Buell were--”
--in back of Lieutenant Dodge, yes Sir.”
*~*
“Where were you at this point?” Sturgis made a note on his pad that Corporal Larry Glanz, Rover Four’s driver, might not be the best witness since most of his information was second hand.
“About 175 to 190 yards away. We were moving toward them.”
*~*
“Could you see Lukens, Buell and Dodge?” As Mac glanced up from her notepad, Sergeant Phil Watkins, Commander of SLUGGER TWO, gave her a brief smile before turning serious again.
“Yes Ma’am, very clearly – the bulk of the enemy fire was coming from our front. I saw Gunny and the others reach the Cobra just about the same time I could see Captain Lewis and Lieutenant Hawkins bringing up the rear.”
*~*
“What about the enemy fire?” Mac paused as Lance Corporal Rick Bauer, one the grenadiers for Rover Three’s scout team, smiled.
“As I said Ma’am, to our front it was furious – to the rear and sides, practically non-existent. To our rear, the surviving AMTRAC squads had been joined by heavier support.”
“Heavier support? You mean the tank platoon?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
*~*
“What was happening with Dodge?” Harm handed the man half of his MRE. Private First Class Jack Rogers, one of the few survivors of the first AMTRAC ambushed, eagerly attacked the food. Harm’s vegetarian tendencies made him an unlikely fan of any meat products, but he especially detested corned beef and the way Rogers tore into it. PFC Rogers, noting the Commander’s look of shock, became self conscious and wiped his mouth carefully before continuing his story.
“Lieutenant Dodge’s AMTRAC was taking a beating and the Gunny, Lukens and Buell along with the rest of the survivors were shooting anything that moved and I guess that’s when it happened.”
*~*
“Did you see Lieutenant Dodge go down?” Bud studied Sergeant Kyle Sewett, Commander of Rover two. Because of his position during the battle, he was able to see most of what happened.
“Yes Sir, I saw him straighten up and then fall over in his hatch.”
*~*
“Did you get a clear view of who shot him?” Private First Class Adam Secord nodded his head. Mac’s witness list indicated that PFC Secord had been one of the men to join Gunny Sanchez in their charge toward the enemy positions.
“Lukens and Buell Sir, …er, I mean, Ma’am – they had their guns drawn and pointed towards him. Everyone else had their guns drawn toward the enemy.”
“Are you certain about this Private? It seems to me there were a lot of people firing, anyone of them could have hit the Lieutenant.”
“Possibly Ma’am, but only Lukens and Buell had their guns pointed at the AMTRAC.
---TBC…
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