The Soldier's Best Friend 2
Mark Hitchcock was quite concerned about Tully's frame of mind. He decided to talk to Troy and Moffitt when Tully left to go home for dinner with his wife, Charley. Hitch told them about the conversation he and Tully had and about his own concerns for Tully, who had always been their stalwart anchor in past battles.
Troy sighed, "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. He's been through a lot. That time he was tortured so badly by the Germans was a very close call for him. I remember the surgeons telling us that they didn't think he was going to make it. Yet, somehow he did. He's a strong guy in a lot of ways, but he's newly married, and there's more at stake now than just him."
Moffitt chimed in, "He's a very caring and compassionate young man, and I think his marrying Charley has brought out even more of that part of his personality. Look, he's cut way back on his drinking and his bar fights, and the two of them are very much in love. He is still a highly skilled and ferociously effective soldier, in many ways a tornado in combat, but I think he's starting to try to deal with the reality that when we kill or are killed, many more people than just us are effected. Tully doesn't always give us much insight into his deeper thoughts and concerns, but as the saying goes, still waters run deep."
Troy added, "Moffitt and I will talk with him. It might do him some good to talk with that psychiatrist or the chaplain again. I'll encourage him to do that, but we all have to be realistic.
He's no fool, he knows that any or all of us being killed in combat is a real possibility. But, I'm pretty sure we've all had those thoughts about the risks we face. I don't want to die in this war, but if it has to happen to help win the war, I can live with that. Moffitt and I have a meeting with Captain Boggs tomorrow at 10 AM, most likely to give us our new mission in the upcoming battle."
Meanwhile, in their apartment, Tully and Charley were having a similar conversation. Tully had told Charley about the conversation he'd had with Hitch. He sat on the edge of their bed, and gently pulled Charley onto his lap.
"You know I love you to pieces, Charley, and I will do everything I can to stay alive, but who knows what will happen? Just promise me one thing, sweetheart – if I do get killed, you will go on with your life as soon as you can?"
Charley wrapped her arms around his neck. "I knew that there was a real possibility of you being killed or crippled during this war, but I married you any way. I love you, and I hope we can grow old and gray together, but if it's not to be, at least we've had each other right now.
No matter what happens, I am so happy I met you and I pray every day that we both survive the war. Charley looked into his eyes and gave him a lengthy kiss. She started to unbutton his shirt, undid his belt buckle, and unzipped his pants, then she removed her own clothes and pushed him down on the bed. "I love you, Tully, and whatever happens, I'll find a way to handle it, but you do what you have to do and be as careful as you possibly can. Right now, what I have to do is to make love with you, right here and right now! Off with your pants, my love!"
Tully smiled, "No argument there!"
The Soldier's Best Friend 2
Mark Hitchcock was quite concerned about Tully's frame of mind. He decided to talk to Troy and Moffitt when Tully left to go home for dinner with his wife, Charley. Hitch told them about the conversation he and Tully had and about his own concerns for Tully, who had always been their stalwart anchor in past battles.
Troy sighed, "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. He's been through a lot. That time he was tortured so badly by the Germans was a very close call for him. I remember the surgeons telling us that they didn't think he was going to make it. Yet, somehow he did. He's a strong guy in a lot of ways, but he's newly married, and there's more at stake now than just him."
Moffitt chimed in, "He's a very caring and compassionate young man, and I think his marrying Charley has brought out even more of that part of his personality. Look, he's cut way back on his drinking and his bar fights, and the two of them are very much in love. He is still a highly skilled and ferociously effective soldier, in many ways a tornado in combat, but I think he's starting to try to deal with the reality that when we kill or are killed, many more people than just us are effected. Tully doesn't always give us much insight into his deeper thoughts and concerns, but as the saying goes, still waters run deep."
Troy added, "Moffitt and I will talk with him. It might do him some good to talk with that psychiatrist or the chaplain again. I'll encourage him to do that, but we all have to be realistic.
He's no fool, he knows that any or all of us being killed in combat is a real possibility. But, I'm pretty sure we've all had those thoughts about the risks we face. I don't want to die in this war, but if it has to happen to help win the war, I can live with that. Moffitt and I have a meeting with Captain Boggs tomorrow at 10 AM, most likely to give us our new mission in the upcoming battle."
Meanwhile, in their apartment, Tully and Charley were having a similar conversation. Tully had told Charley about the conversation he'd had with Hitch. He sat on the edge of their bed, and gently pulled Charley onto his lap.
"You know I love you to pieces, Charley, and I will do everything I can to stay alive, but who knows what will happen? Just promise me one thing, sweetheart – if I do get killed, you will go on with your life as soon as you can?"
Charley wrapped her arms around his neck. "I knew that there was a real possibility of you being killed or crippled during this war, but I married you any way. I love you, and I hope we can grow old and gray together, but if it's not to be, at least we've had each other right now.
No matter what happens, I am so happy I met you and I pray every day that we both survive the war. Charley looked into his eyes and gave him a lengthy kiss. She started to unbutton his shirt, undid his belt buckle, and unzipped his pants, then she removed her own clothes and pushed him down on the bed. "I love you, Tully, and whatever happens, I'll find a way to handle it, but you do what you have to do and be as careful as you possibly can. Right now, what I have to do is to make love with you, right here and right now! Off with your pants, my love!"
Tully smiled, "No argument there!"
