Another Dream.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Note: The events are real. Cdr. McCampbell is a real person. I read his story in a book, several books actually. He truly was an amazing man and a hero. He won the Medal of Honor and shot down 34 Japanese aircraft during his WWII career.
Reviews are requested please.
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Harm's Apartment
After taking Harm to Reston Hospital Mac drove Harm home.
"Why did we have to go all the way to Reston?" Harm whined. "Harm it was a 20 minute drive and we needed to make sure you didn't have a concussion, you were out for about 30 minutes." Mac replied, in an exasperated tone.
If I hadn't been the one to open the door, I wouldn't be here now listening to him being such a baby. She thought. Of course I would, who else would put up with this? And deep down I love taking care of him. She smiled to herself.
"Ok, Harm, you need to get into bed." Mac said. "Mac, my head hurts." Harm's whining was beginning to grate on Mac's nerves. "Besides, with a head injury like mine, I should not go sleep." He said with a very innocent little boy look.
Mac rolled her eyes and said, "Harm you have a bump on your head and no sign of a concussion, the Doctor said that you could sleep for 2 hours at a time and it would be a good idea."
"I guess I could set the alarm clock to wake me," he said with a pout. "I just hope I hear it."
"Harm, cut it out. You're such a baby." Mac teased. Just then there was a knock at the door. Sturgis walked in. "So, how's the patient?" He asked. "You'd think he had the plague." Mac laughed. "Now Harm," she continued as though she were speaking to a child, "Sturgis is going to stay until 10pm, then I will be back. I have to get some motions ready." As she walked out the door, she turned to Sturgis with a smile and said "Good luck."
"You need anything Harm?" Sturgis asked. "No I'm fine." Harm laughed, "I just wanted to see how far I could push Mac."
"You're taking your life in your hands." Sturgis joked.
"Oh, I know," Harm smiled. "This bump on the head has really set me back."
"Set you back? Harm it's more like it SENT you back. When you came to you were mumbling something about the Stage Door Canteen and coming back to Mac." Sturgis said.
"Oh yeah?" Harm said as he rubbed his head. "I had this dream or vision that was so real, I was in 1944 on leave just before being sent to the Pacific."
"It sounded real from the way you were calling after Mac or should I say Sarah." Sturgis said.
"Sturg," Harm said getting up, "I think I am going to get some rest."
"I'll wake you in two." Sturgis replied.
Harm went to his room and laid down. He was thinking about his dream. A Naval Pilot during World War II, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
San Diego Naval Base
Spring 1944
"Lt. Rabb, welcome to San Diego, Sir." The Ensign said, handing Harm an envelope.
"Thank you." Harm said. He studied the papers they were his final orders. This was it, where would he be going.
The next day he met with other pilots, some already combat experienced, others like Harm just starting out.
Harm would be joining the Fifteenth Air group on the U.S.S. Essex under the command of Cdr. David McCampbell. Cdr. McCampbell was the CAG and one of the true Flying Aces of World War II.
His group was called the Fabled Fifteen. During the last 7 months they had logged more than 20,000 hours of operations. The men of the Fifteenth had destroyed more enemy planes (318 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy ships (296,500 tons sunk, and more than a half million tons damaged and/or probably sunk) than any other air group in the Pacific Theatre. They were the most highly decorated Air Group in the Pacific and Harm was about to join them.
U.S.S. Essex
June 18, 1944
"Lt. Rabb, it's a pleasure to meet you." Cdr. McCampbell said returning Harm's salute. "The honor is mine, Sir." Harm said in awe of the CAG standing before him. McCampbell had graduated from the Academy in 1931 years before, but Harm knew who he was. His leadership and team were legendary.
Harm and the rest of the pilots were briefed on their assignments. They were to protect the Navy at all costs. The Americans were preparing for the invasion of Guam and Saipan. The carrier group was going west to the Philippine Sea.
In desperation the Japanese had planned an aerial attack on the US Ships. They had planned two attacks. The Japanese mission was slated to begin on June 19th.
McCampbell's group was ready. Another group handled the first attack. The Fabled Fifteen handled the second wave of attacks. As Harm sat in his Hellcat preparing for take off a rush of adrenaline swept though him, his mind was on the task at hand however as he looked down at his hand, he thought of the beautiful woman he had met a few weeks before. Sarah, she had his ring and he was going to go back to get it. Harm was cleared for departure and he was airborne. It was 11:30am the morning of June 19th. Listening to commands they flew to the combat zone. There they spotted a dive-bomber. Firing his guns, he shot it down. His first kill. He didn't know what to think, he could hear the voices of his fellow pilots as the called locations of other zero's and dive-bombers in the area. He flew with McCampbell and seeing a steady burst of machine gun bullets watched as a diving enemy aircraft was destroyed. The Battle was over and the Navy had ruined the plans of the Japanese. The Fabled Fifteen had lived to fight another day.
Back on the Essex, the men were in the ready room discussing the mission. There were celebrating and debriefing all at the same time. McCampbell had 7 kills that day. "How was your first day in combat?" Another Lieutenant asked Harm. "Exhilarating," was all Harm could say. "I cannot believe how close it was. I could practically see their faces."
Harm's Apartment "See who's faces Harm?" It was Sturgis, waking Harm up. "Harm?" "Hey Sturgis, you aren't going to believe this." Harm just looked at him as he sat up.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Note: The events are real. Cdr. McCampbell is a real person. I read his story in a book, several books actually. He truly was an amazing man and a hero. He won the Medal of Honor and shot down 34 Japanese aircraft during his WWII career.
Reviews are requested please.
============================================================================
Harm's Apartment
After taking Harm to Reston Hospital Mac drove Harm home.
"Why did we have to go all the way to Reston?" Harm whined. "Harm it was a 20 minute drive and we needed to make sure you didn't have a concussion, you were out for about 30 minutes." Mac replied, in an exasperated tone.
If I hadn't been the one to open the door, I wouldn't be here now listening to him being such a baby. She thought. Of course I would, who else would put up with this? And deep down I love taking care of him. She smiled to herself.
"Ok, Harm, you need to get into bed." Mac said. "Mac, my head hurts." Harm's whining was beginning to grate on Mac's nerves. "Besides, with a head injury like mine, I should not go sleep." He said with a very innocent little boy look.
Mac rolled her eyes and said, "Harm you have a bump on your head and no sign of a concussion, the Doctor said that you could sleep for 2 hours at a time and it would be a good idea."
"I guess I could set the alarm clock to wake me," he said with a pout. "I just hope I hear it."
"Harm, cut it out. You're such a baby." Mac teased. Just then there was a knock at the door. Sturgis walked in. "So, how's the patient?" He asked. "You'd think he had the plague." Mac laughed. "Now Harm," she continued as though she were speaking to a child, "Sturgis is going to stay until 10pm, then I will be back. I have to get some motions ready." As she walked out the door, she turned to Sturgis with a smile and said "Good luck."
"You need anything Harm?" Sturgis asked. "No I'm fine." Harm laughed, "I just wanted to see how far I could push Mac."
"You're taking your life in your hands." Sturgis joked.
"Oh, I know," Harm smiled. "This bump on the head has really set me back."
"Set you back? Harm it's more like it SENT you back. When you came to you were mumbling something about the Stage Door Canteen and coming back to Mac." Sturgis said.
"Oh yeah?" Harm said as he rubbed his head. "I had this dream or vision that was so real, I was in 1944 on leave just before being sent to the Pacific."
"It sounded real from the way you were calling after Mac or should I say Sarah." Sturgis said.
"Sturg," Harm said getting up, "I think I am going to get some rest."
"I'll wake you in two." Sturgis replied.
Harm went to his room and laid down. He was thinking about his dream. A Naval Pilot during World War II, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
San Diego Naval Base
Spring 1944
"Lt. Rabb, welcome to San Diego, Sir." The Ensign said, handing Harm an envelope.
"Thank you." Harm said. He studied the papers they were his final orders. This was it, where would he be going.
The next day he met with other pilots, some already combat experienced, others like Harm just starting out.
Harm would be joining the Fifteenth Air group on the U.S.S. Essex under the command of Cdr. David McCampbell. Cdr. McCampbell was the CAG and one of the true Flying Aces of World War II.
His group was called the Fabled Fifteen. During the last 7 months they had logged more than 20,000 hours of operations. The men of the Fifteenth had destroyed more enemy planes (318 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy ships (296,500 tons sunk, and more than a half million tons damaged and/or probably sunk) than any other air group in the Pacific Theatre. They were the most highly decorated Air Group in the Pacific and Harm was about to join them.
U.S.S. Essex
June 18, 1944
"Lt. Rabb, it's a pleasure to meet you." Cdr. McCampbell said returning Harm's salute. "The honor is mine, Sir." Harm said in awe of the CAG standing before him. McCampbell had graduated from the Academy in 1931 years before, but Harm knew who he was. His leadership and team were legendary.
Harm and the rest of the pilots were briefed on their assignments. They were to protect the Navy at all costs. The Americans were preparing for the invasion of Guam and Saipan. The carrier group was going west to the Philippine Sea.
In desperation the Japanese had planned an aerial attack on the US Ships. They had planned two attacks. The Japanese mission was slated to begin on June 19th.
McCampbell's group was ready. Another group handled the first attack. The Fabled Fifteen handled the second wave of attacks. As Harm sat in his Hellcat preparing for take off a rush of adrenaline swept though him, his mind was on the task at hand however as he looked down at his hand, he thought of the beautiful woman he had met a few weeks before. Sarah, she had his ring and he was going to go back to get it. Harm was cleared for departure and he was airborne. It was 11:30am the morning of June 19th. Listening to commands they flew to the combat zone. There they spotted a dive-bomber. Firing his guns, he shot it down. His first kill. He didn't know what to think, he could hear the voices of his fellow pilots as the called locations of other zero's and dive-bombers in the area. He flew with McCampbell and seeing a steady burst of machine gun bullets watched as a diving enemy aircraft was destroyed. The Battle was over and the Navy had ruined the plans of the Japanese. The Fabled Fifteen had lived to fight another day.
Back on the Essex, the men were in the ready room discussing the mission. There were celebrating and debriefing all at the same time. McCampbell had 7 kills that day. "How was your first day in combat?" Another Lieutenant asked Harm. "Exhilarating," was all Harm could say. "I cannot believe how close it was. I could practically see their faces."
Harm's Apartment "See who's faces Harm?" It was Sturgis, waking Harm up. "Harm?" "Hey Sturgis, you aren't going to believe this." Harm just looked at him as he sat up.