The Will and Strength of a Man
Chapter 1: The Start
Go suit up Captain.
Those words had brought a large smile to the pilot's face. He had run immediately to his locker on Da Nang, the base where he had been stationed for the past year. He zipped up his flight suit, pausing to look into his locker. His bomber jacket hung on one of the hooks, the words Da Nang bold on the back and the date 1970 just below. A large tiger's face, mouth open in a fearful roar, its orange color contrasting with the faded brown of the jacket stared back at him.
Maybe I should bring it with me. It is my good luck charm.
Murdock had a bad feeling that on this mission they would need all the luck they could get. He had worn the jacket on other missions, some extremely dangerous, and he had always made it back. He reached out to grab it.
"Captain Murdock!" The voice came from a little ways behind him. Murdock spun on his heels, his hand automatically coming up to salute whatever senior officer had shouted his name. His hand dropped.
"Faceman," he said, annoyed. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He smiled broadly. "Annoying your superior officer isn't a wise choice, muchacho."
Lieutenant Templeton 'Faceman' Peck smiled back at him. "Hannibal says that we're about to leave. We're just waiting on you." He glanced into Murdock's locker and then back at the Captain. "Why don't you leave it here this time," he said, nodding at the jacket. "It'll still be here when we get back."
Murdock nodded, but as Face turned away he reached into his locker and grabbed the other item hanging up. He place his non-regulation baseball cap on his head and shut the locker door. This should give us enough luck for the mission. As he ran out onto the tarmac and toward his chopper he let a whoop of excitement. He loved being in the air, flying anything with wings. All the other pilots turned to watch as he about sprinted to his beloved chopper. H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdock was about to return to his domain, the sky, and any other man who tried to claim it was put to shame by the young Captain. Murdock expertly maneuverd the chopper into the air, blades whirring and spinning.
"This your Captain speaking," Murdock announced over his headset. "Thank you for flying Miracle Airlines. In a minute, Stewardess B.A..."
"Shut up fool!" B.A. yelled at him. The black Sergeant's eyes were filled with anger, annoyance, and fear. He hated to fly. Murdock recognized the look and quickly closed his mouth. B.A. was clutching his seat, sweat beading on his brow. Colonel John 'Hannibal' Smith began to laugh. That was how it started; Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, and Sergeant flying over the vast jungle called Vietnam.