Chapter 4

Tuesday, Week Two

I was up early on Tuesday and reported to HHC - 21^st MI Battalion at 0730. I signed in and met the First Sergeant. I then went to register my car and shotgun and then to join the Rod and Gun Club as recommended by the MP Desk Sergeant. I also got a permanent membership in the Senior NCO Club. That took care of in processing. I had gotten an active duty ID card the previous afternoon. I didn't need the Ed Center and had no medical records. The administrative types would need to get all my records from St. Louis. I stopped by S-1 to remind them about that.

I met with the Battalion CO, later in the day. He had some of his people in to brief me on their operations. I took the Post Sergeant Major's advice, kept quiet and listened a lot. Later when I was more settled, I would get to know them better. Then I could let them hear some of my LRP and Ranger stories. Like the Post Sergeant Major said — he knew that all airborne soldiers had a few good stories.

Wednesday, Week Two

Wednesday morning, I went to see my new Commander.

"Sir, I have a problem I need to discuss with you."

"What is it, Sergeant Major?" he asked.

"Two things, sir. First off, I'm not an E-9 - yet. I'm just the E-8 with the most time in grade in this man's Army."

"How many years?"

"Twenty seven years, sir. The General frocked me on Monday, because the G-1 at DA told him that I would make the new list and that he could do that. So they pinned these stripes on me."

"Well, Sergeant Major, if DA thinks it's OK, then it probably is. Anyway, I already knew. The S-1 showed me your orders. They had you as E-8(P) (promotable). I spoke to the General yesterday. It's cool," he said.

"The second problem is more personal, sir. Do you know LTC O'Day?" I asked.

"Yes, go on," he answered in a guarded voice.

"Well Friday night, I rescued his daughter, Amber, from being raped by a couple of guys. She has sort of adopted me. I promised to look after her because, to be honest sir, her parents don't seem to give a good damn about the girl."

"That is putting the situation rather mildly, Sergeant Major," he responded. "Her parents are the biggest disgrace on Post. They are more interested in their friends and climbing the social ladder than in their daughter. I am glad someone has taken her under their wing."

"Don't be too glad, sir. The psychologist says that she's in love with me. I'm not sure what to do about that," I informed him.

"Has anything happened yet, Sergeant Major?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing more than some hand holding and a little heavy petting, sir. Oh yes, several dinners at restaurants and a couple of lunches. I also bought her some clothes, because I made her change into descent dresses, and out of those tramp clothes most of the young girls wear today. She only had two dresses."

"Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Where is the problem?"

"I promised to take her to the shrink today, and to and from school everyday."

"That shouldn't be a problem, Sergeant Major. We're pretty flexible here. Go ahead and take care of her. I'm sure you can work out your own schedule. Can you do PT with us?" the Colonel inquired

"I can do most of the exercises, sir, but the running is out. Bad knees like I said yesterday."

"Sergeant Major, I just hope I'm in as good a shape as you are when I hit 65," he said.

I spent more time that day getting acquainted with their operations. I left to pick up Amber at 1450. She was very quiet when she got in the car and didn't say much on the way to the hospital. We got there in plenty of time for her appointment. The Doctor said to come back in an hour and a half. I went to the cafeteria.

Upon returning to pick Amber up just before 1700 hrs, Doctor Mary called me into her office. Amber was elsewhere.

"Did you know that her mother slapped her around on Monday night when she got home?" the Doctor asked.

"WHAT? No, this is the first I've heard of it. I haven't seen her since Monday night. I've been busy getting situated in my new unit. How did it happen?" I asked.

"One of her friends from school stopped in to see if she was sick, because she wasn't in school on Monday. Her mother just started slapping her around when she came in, no questions, no explanations, just smack! I'm going to call Ch ... the General, when I finish talking to you. You can expect a call in the morning. I don't know what the solution is, but she cannot stay in that house. I won't have it, even if I have to take her in myself," Doctor Mary said, getting emotional.

"Why didn't she say something to me when I picked her up?" I wondered.

"She is really traumatized by the whole thing," Mary replied. "She is sure they are going to throw her out."

"Will she be all right to stay there tonight?" I asked.

"Yes, I am going to call her mother before she goes back home. Can you keep her occupied till then?" she asked.

"Yes, I can take her to dinner at the Club or in town. I can keep her out till 2100 hrs per the General's orders. That shouldn't be a problem."

"All right, take her to dinner, maybe a little soft music. Keep her mind off of her family. She could barely talk for the first half-hour she was here. She was frightened out of her mind. I can only imagine what it must have been like in that house. My God, now I'm getting upset!" Doctor Mary exclaimed with a sniffle.

"Take it easy there, Doc," I said. "I need someone with a cool head in charge here. The way I feel about her, I am tempted to go in there and smack her mother myself," I told her.

"No," the Doctor said, "let the General handle it tomorrow. Just make sure that she gets in OK tonight."

"All right, I can do that," I said. Doctor Mary sent for Amber. She gave her the re-admittance note for school when she arrived. She also gave me a copy.

It was all ready past 1730 when we left her office.

"Where would you like to go to eat tonight?" I asked on the way to the car.

"I don't know. I... ?" was all Amber got out before she broke down in tears. I hugged her to me for a short while and kissed the hair on the top of her head.

"Let's get out to the car," I told her. "I will take us somewhere private." She continued to cry, but moved with me to the car. I put her in the back seat, and moved the vehicle to the area behind the hospital. It was much less public and less visible than out front. I moved to the rear seat with her. Amber clung to me with all her strength and cried like there was no tomorrow. I tried to comfort her, but it seemed to do little good for some time. Finally, she quieted enough to talk.

"She beat me when I came home on Monday," she managed between sobs. "She called me terrible names, and accused me of doing awful things with you. She threw my new cloths out the back door. I had to go out later in the dark to find them. They're all dirty now. She wouldn't even let me wash them," she whimpered in a rising voice, near hysteria, before she broke out in tears again. I hugged her tighter. It still took her some time to calm down enough to talk any more.

"She made me stay naked in the house all day yesterday and this morning. It was only when the Hospital called to remind me of my appointment that she let me put on any clothes," Amber broke down again and cried some more. I was definitely ready to kill her mother. I held her for some time trying to calm her down again. Eventually she was better. By now it was after 1900 hrs.

"Have you eaten today?" I asked, gently.

"No, not since Monday night," she answered between sobs.

"Didn't they feed you yesterday?"

"No, she said I could live on the cum you fed me the night before," she moaned in tears. I decided I would kill the bitch, if I ever got a hold of her.

"How about we just go to the drive through at the burger place, and I drive us somewhere, so we can eat in private. Would that be OK?" I asked, quietly.

"Yes, that would be OK, Uncle Jim," she whispered. I got back in the driver's seat, and turned back toward her.

"Are you going to sit up in the front?" I asked.

"Yes, if you want me to," she answered, shyly.

"Sit up here with me. I like you nearby. There are tissues back there. Bring some with you so you can cleanup in the vanity mirror up here," I told her. Amber got in the front, and we drove to the burger place. She seemed to be better now. We got our order, and I drove to the chapel parking lot. It was deserted. We parked in the rear, and had dinner, a little hugging and kissing followed.

Just before 2100 hrs, we arrived at her parents house. I didn't drop her off this time. I went up and rang the bell instead. Her father answered the door.

"Sir," I said, "I am bringing your daughter home for the night. I will pick her up at 0730 in the morning to take her to school."

"That is mighty big of you ... Sergeant Major," he said on seeing the pins my collar. "However, I don't like your..." That was as far as I let him get, before I interrupted.

"With all due respect, Colonel, if I hear one single word from her in the morning about anything happening tonight or in the morning, I will file charges against you and your wife, and I WILL make them stick."

"How dare you, and on my own front porch," he started.

"Yes, I dare. You all have treated this girl very poorly for a long time now. It will stop," I turned around and called Amber over to me. She ran into my arms.

"Amber, go directly to your room," I ordered her. "Stay there except for using the bathroom. Be sure to eat breakfast in the morning. I will pick you up at 0730 hrs."

"Yes, Uncle Jim," she answered, ran through the door and up to her room. I saluted, did a left face, and departed before I decided to hit some one. I spent a very restless night, wondering if I should have left her in that house for the night.

Thursday, Week Two

I was up early, 0430 hrs. I couldn't sleep. I took care of the 4 S's and headed for the unit. I got there at around 0515 hrs. The gate guard and the Staff duty NCO were really surprised. No NCOs ever came in that early. I went to my office and rummaged around and changed things to suit me. Then I went down to the mess hall at 0615. It wasn't very crowded. I had a very light breakfast and returned to the office for a couple minutes before leaving to pick up Amber. I arrived at her house just before 0730 and rang the bell. Amber was just coming out of the kitchen and answered the door. She grabbed her school things and joined me outside.

"Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yes, no one bothered me at all last night."

"Are you ready for school? Did you eat, and do you have your note?" I inquired.

"Yes to all of your questions, Uncle Jim," Amber answered. She closed the door, and we drove over to the school. We arrived at the school just before 0800 hrs and went to the office. The receptionist was still cool to my uniform.

"I am returning Amber to school after an absence," I told her.