My Son - The Unsung Hero
By
Jennaya O'Neill
DISCLAIMER:
All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of CBS and Ryscher Entertainment. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Author's Notes: Even though we're not told Dobson might have made references to Hogan's group in later articles or had conversations that were never printed. Yes, I promoted LeBeau and Kinchloe after the war. As always I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. All mistakes are mine. Tag for No Names Please
Episodes related: No Names Please, Operation Tiger, D-Day at Stalag 13, Axis Annie, Hold that Tiger, A Tiger Hunt in Paris, Nights in Shining Armor, Request Permission to Escape, War Takes a Holiday, Hogan Gives A Birthday Party, The Great Brinksmeyer Robbery.
Colonel Robert Hogan sat under the big tree in backyard drinking homemade lemonade, watching the dog chase the ducks around the pond. He'd been back in the United States for three weeks now, and was thoroughly enjoying his freedom. The first week stateside continued his debriefings which had started in London and also included photo ops for the Army Air Corps. His second week brought his family and friends from around the country to welcome him home. It was nice to see everyone, but this third week of freedom was all his to do as he pleased. If he wanted to sleep to noon, layout in the warm summer sun, or take a leisurely stroll downtown he was free to do any of it. Strange how it felt sometimes to not have guards around and no barbed wire fences for miles and miles. He was making the transition from prisoner of war to hometown hero with little difficulty.
Today, he decided to lounge around his parent's house with his mother hovering close enough to get him anything, but far enough away to allow his privacy. He enjoyed her company, but right now he wanted to completely relax with no one making demands on his time.
"Rob," his father called from behind him as he placed another lawn chair next to his son's side. "Your mother wants to know if you need anymore lemonade."
"No, I'm fine with this one, but thank you. She worries a lot doesn't she?"
"More than you will ever know. We're both still amazed and overjoyed you're home."
"Thanks dad, I'm just as happy to be here."
"Do you know that your mom is making a Sunday pot-roast for dinner and it's Tuesday?"
"I'm afraid I'm to blame for that, she asked me last night if there was anything I craved while I was a POW. I told her that there were nights I'd lay awake dreaming of her pot-roast, vegetables, and cheese covered mashed potatoes. So guess what we're having for dinner tonight." Hogan smiled at his dad.
"Did you also mention rhubarb-blueberry pie?"
"No, I didn't but wow, it's going to be a feast." He grinned at the mention of his favorite desert.
"Don't tell her I told you, it might be a surprise."
"No need to worry, I'll act happily thrilled."
"Son, I know a lot of what happened over there you can't tell me, and I'm not prying. However, I do have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"What is it dad?" Hogan inquired.
"When we heard that you had been captured, I must admit I expected you to call and say you were back in England shortly afterwards. I had visions of how hard a time we had keeping you in the house growing up; sneaking out of the top story window; or off of any base we were stationed at kept floating around in my mind. I couldn't imagine the Germans having any more luck keeping you inside a prison, than your mother or I did in the house when you were grounded. Unless they were using means I didn't want to think about."
"Well dad, I was in toughest Stalag of all. No one ever was able to escape from it, but we were treated as humanely as possible within the confines of war. Rarely did those things you didn't want to think about ever happen. Usually the worst case scenario was we'd spend a few days in solitary confinement, and even that wasn't so bad. Life consisted of a boring, dull routine with lots of paperwork for the nearly one thousand men I was responsible for."
"Rob, this article came out about half way through your capture." His father handed him a manila folder with a few pieces of paper in it. Hogan flipped through them, not needing to read the main article; he'd memorized it from the copy Colonel Klink had.
"Dad if I knew anything about this, and I'm not saying that I do it would be classified. I can't comment on this one way or the other."
"I know son. I wanted to show it to you, and tell you what I did, while you were in that POW camp. I read this article and then collected every piece Walter Hobson wrote about the war following it. Kept the articles I felt were important and started seeing a pattern in them especially from that first one. After having him thoroughly checked out, I accidently ran into Hobson at a bar in DC."
"Accidently? How does a retired General 'accidently' run into a newspaper reporter eight states away?"
"Very carefully, Rob." His father smiled mischievously at him. "We had a long talk and you should know that he never gave up any information that could identify the Stalag or the men running the group. I had a suspicion though, when he told me the officer loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He never told me the name, but I had a pretty good idea of who that officer was."
"Dad, as much as I'd like to tell you about my experiences, I simply wasn't that officer."
"I know son, and it'd be unfair of me to ask if you were. But…if at anytime you need a General's shoulder to debrief, I'm available." His dad placed a hand on Hogan's arm. He knew the drill; what his son had done in the war was classified, and he wouldn't break protocol lightly. His intent was to allow his son to know he was there for him, if he wanted or needed someone safe to talk too. "In the mean time, there is someone else who you might want to discuss certain topics with."
"Who is that, dad?" Hogan was confused, had one of his men called?
"There's a person in the sitting room, waiting to see if you'd speak with them."
"Who is it?" Hogan had hoped to have this afternoon away from all company.
"Lieutenant LeBeau and Major Kinchloe arranged for her arrival this morning. I'm told her name is Tiger and she's a friend of yours."
Hogan grinned, stood up, and checked his appearance before walking briskly inside. His parents joyfully watching their son take the beautiful French woman into his arms. They kissed like passionate lovers who had be apart for to long a time.
There was no doubt in the General's mind; his son was definitely the unsung hero in the article. He'd known it since the newspaper clipping came out. General Hogan squeezed Mrs. Hogan's hand as they closed the parlor room doors allowing their son and his lady to be alone.