Radar was shaken enough when the tanker went through the tent, destroying it along with the card game he'd been playing with Hawkeye, Father Mulchay, BJ
and the others. He'd run for his life, having no idea where the tanker came from. But it was big! Boy, was it big!
But things turned from bad to worse when he heard about the incident. Despite Colonel Potter's attempts to stop the tanker with a jeep, the tanker was much
bigger and no match for the jeep. Radar sprinted out of the radio room, his heart pounding, praying that the Commanding Officer was okay. His eyes widened at
the sight of the jeep, which was now a pile of mangled metal and he rushed over to Major Burns and Major Houlihan. The ma'am Major was attending to Major
Burns, although Radar couldn't figure out why. At the moment the only person he cared about was Colonel Potter.
"Major Burns! Major Burns!" He yelled, trying to catch his breath.
"What do you want, you little pipsqueak?" Burns snapped.
"Hey, that's not very nice!" Radar shot back. "I'm just trying to make sure that Colonel Potter's okay! Who was driving this thing anyway?"
Major Houlihan and Major Burns exchanged glances.
"Well, Radar, that's… classified." Major Houlihan said.
"It is?"
"Um, yes…" Frank said. "You see, it's… well, like the major said. Highly classified."
Radar didn't understand a word, but then again, Frank never made sense to him. He just grinned and nodded. "If you say so. Where's um, Colonel Potter?"
"How should I know?" Burns snapped again. "Get back to your post you little weasel!"
Radar fumed. There were so many things he wanted to say, but any of them could get him sent to the stockade-or worse! As fast as he could he ran back to the
radio room, hoping to see Colonel Potter along the way. But when he reached the office, his heart sank when he found it empty.
He went to his bunk and sat down, clutching his teddy bear in his arms. He hated to act like a little kid, because he sure wasn't a kid (not in his mind anyway),
but geez, hadn't he been through enough lately? It had only been a short time since Colonel Blake was….
He shuddered, unable to finish the thought. But that horrible memory came back anyway. Sparky calling him on the radio to tell him the urgent message, and
then having to go into the OR to deliver the news. It was the worst day of his life and when he saw that chopper get smaller and smaller in the sky, he had no
idea it would be the last time he'd ever see his friend again.
His glasses fogged up and when he blinked he realized that he was crying. Darn it, he couldn't be crying like a kid. He was in the army and guys in the army just
didn't cry. But all he could think about was Colonel Blake and the fact that he was the swellest guy that Radar had ever known. A guy that Radar looked up to
like a father.
He was so deep in thought that he didn't realize that someone walked past him, but something told him to go into Colonel Potter's office. When he reached the
door, he was overcome with relief. The Colonel was there, shuffling through paperwork, as though nothing had happened. But something did happen, something
awful and horribly bad. Something that could have been much, much worse.
Slowly he entered the office.
"Colonel Potter?"
The Colonel looked up. "Radar. I didn't see you there."
"I just arrived, sir."
"So you did. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I-."
"Something to sign? Well, let me have it."
"No sir, I just-."
Colonel Potter looked up. "What is it, Son?"
"I just… I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine."
"I can see that, sir, but I meant from before. With the tanker and the jeep and all."
"Oh that. Well, that's all said and done. Could have been a lot worse, but thank God it wasn't. I-."
Radar turned around and faced the window, embarrassed at the flow of tears that were now streaming down his cheeks. He knew he should just go back to his
desk and pretend like everything was fine. And even though everything was fine, it wasn't… Not in his mind, anyway.
"Radar…"
He felt a hand on his shoulder and slowly turned around. But he couldn't look Colonel Potter in the eye.
"Son, you're crying."
"Um, no sir, I-."
"Look, I know tears when I see them and those are tears! What's wrong?"
"It's not your fault, sir. I just-."
"Radar, you're not in trouble. I just want to make sure that you're okay."
"Well, I was but then I heard about the jeep and the tanker and I thought…"
Colonel Potter nodded. "I see…"
"You do?"
"Colonel Blake, right?"
Radar bit his lip to keep his emotions in tact, but it didn't do much good. Within seconds he was sobbing into his hands. He wanted to leave but then he felt two
comforting arms around him and his face was pressed against a beating heart.
"I know son, I know. I wish I had known Colonel Blake. Hawkeye said was a good man."
"He was the bestest Colonel ever!" Radar said, his voice muffled against Colonel Potter's chest. As soon as the words were out, he lifted his head and gasped.
"Oh Sir! I'm sorry I didn't mean…."
"I know what you meant, son. And I'm sure he was. Damn shame what happened to him."
"I'm sorry for carrying on like this. I'll go back to my desk now."
"It's all right to cry, Son. It takes a man to show his emotions. I've cried more than I care to admit in my lifetime. But a good cry always makes me feel better."
Radar smiled. Thank you sir. I was just so worried. I thought…"
But suddenly Colonel Potter's face reddened. "Horse Hockey!" He pounded his fist on the desk making Radar jump.
"Sir?"
"Damn that Frank Burns!"
"Major Burns, sir?"
"He was the one driving that tank that almost killed me!"
Radar gasped and put his hand over his mouth. "What?"
"Yep." Colonel Potter nodded. "But Pierce and Hunnicutt say that he was a hero. I don't believe a word of it, but as long as no one was hurt, that's all that
matters."
"I'm glad you weren't hurt, sir. Real glad."
Colonel Potter smiled and hugged Radar tightly. "I'm glad that you're okay too, Radar. Real glad."
~Fin~
