1215 Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
With the sandwich and drink orders out of the way the Admiral turned to the business at hand giving Bud one of his 'stern' looks before proceeding. "Lieutenant, although I am sure I don't need to remind you of the need for confidentiality in any JAG proceeding, I'm going to make an exception here. The situation I am passing along to you is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. You are not to discuss any of the details with anyone without specific clearance from me. Progress reports, notes, documents, and all other working papers are to be kept secure at all times. Are there any questions?"
The question wasn't rhetorical.
Verbally Bud responded in the anticipated manner: "No sir." Mentally the reaction was a little different: 'Questions? None at this point, but something about this just screams about future questions.'
Without any additional preamble the Admiral moved into the details of his assignment. "Bud, 11 days ago several Marines and a Naval officer were ambushed south of Baghdad, and they took one KIA. A routine road patrol found the survivors, a burned out LAV-25, and a batch of dead Iraqi soldiers all stacked up at the roadside in a burned out hooch (No, A. J. Chegwidden didn't even think about his inadvertent slip into old Vietnamese terminology).
"Everyone was evacuated to Baghdad and after action reports were taken by some Army intelligence types. After review in the field and at Fifth Corps the KIA was awarded a posthumous Silver Star, and I understand the staff judge advocate in country is finishing up some paperwork to pass out a variety of other 'gongs' to the participants.
"All of the after action reports have been forwarded to this office for review. Your job, lieutenant, is to complete that review, and I want that done ASAP. I have taken the liberty of having PO Coates start rounding up all of the participants for interviews, although the people who are still in country may not be immediately available.
"She is also cutting orders that will authorize you to travel to Iraq or any other locations in connection with this investigation on a very high priority. She will also have letter orders for your use if they are required to obtain any level of cooperation that may be required in the completion of your assignment.
"Bud, this should be a very routine operation, but I want to be sure you look under every rock then look under the rock under the rock to be sure we have all of the details. Keep me appraised of developments verbally."
Coates' discrete knock was quickly followed by lunch, which was quickly dispatched, and a heavily loaded LT Roberts made his way back to his office.
'Okay,' Bud thought to himself as he settled back into his chair, 'I've got to finish the research for this filing before I can even think about this new project.' Much of the afternoon was devoted to drafting a brief. A trip to the printer and stop for a cup of coffee brought him back to the office, and he shoved the door closed before sitting down to read the after action reports.
Without really thinking about why Bud just picked up the top interview transcript and started reading Pvt. J. W. Waller's account of the incident. He did notice that each time either the interviewer or the subject used someone's name that information had been redacted, but that was standard procedure when after action reports were referred for review.
It took the better part of an hour to read through the versions recalled by Pvt. Waller and Cpl. McKay. There were some minor differences in the stories, but as a matter of perspective that was to be expected in witness statements. The next report in the stack was the interview of another Marine non commissioned officer, so Bud decided to refresh his coffee before plunging back into the reading. When he walked out into the bullpen he was surprised to find that it was almost 1630 and most of the first shift staff were in the process of securing their areas before heading out the door.
'Crap! I've got to head for the house on time this evening, so I will get to the last three after actions in the morning.'
With a fresh cup of coffee he headed back into the office and quickly dictated his progress notes and secured the paperwork in his safe. A quick look around assured that everything was ship shape, so he flipped the lights off and walked toward the door. The trip was when PO Coates handed Bud orders that were folded into his other paperwork.
"Thanks Jen! Good night."
"Good night lieutenant."
2025 Hrs Local, The Roberts' Residence, Suburban Virginia
AJ was off to bed and Harriett was busy with something in the den when Bud finally took a minute to read his orders and almost dropped his coffee cup. The boilerplate in the orders was very familiar, although the high travel was a surprise, however, the letter orders were stunning.
'The officer bearing these orders is traveling under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, and all elements of the Naval Service, including the United States Marine Corps, are directed to provide whatever assistance this officer may request. If any request is to be declined Navy Judge Advocate General must personally approve that refusal in writing PRIOR to any action. All other elements of the Department of Defense are strongly urged to provide any support requested.
'If any security issues are raised this officer is presumed to HAVE A NEED TO KNOW.'
'What in the hell,' Bud wondered, 'have I gotten myself into?'
0725 Hrs Local, State Rt. 7, Falls Church, VA
Without any actual thought Mac guided the red Corvette through the morning traffic heading into work for her first day back since returning from Iraq. Some extra preparation time and artful makeup application hid most of the signs of sleep deprivation, but the driver's side visor mirror clearly reflected her flat, dead eyes. The slight tremor in her left hand really wasn't visible as long as she remembered to hold her coffee cup in the right.
'Well, hell, I guess it's time to make an appearance,' she thought pulling the car's parking brake up sharply with her right hand. After retrieving her cover from the passenger seat and settling it correctly on her head LTC Sarah MacKenzie couldn't help the thought: 'This is as good as I'm going to get. I hope it's good enough.'
0805 Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
Harm grabbed a cup of coffee as he walked past the break room and made a sharp turn into his office parking his cover on the bookcase and briefcase on the credenza. A cursory look at the mountain of paper in the IN basket didn't reveal anything critical. Before he had a chance to boot his computer up PO Coates appeared in his door.
"Good morning Sir! I hate to interrupt, but the Admiral wants to see you at 0900, so don't get to occupied with that stack of paperwork."
"Thanks, Jennifer. Have you seen Col. MacKenzie this morning?"
"Yes sir, she's in with him right now, and you're the on deck hitter. Oh, welcome back! Did everything go okay in Iowa?"
That really depends on whom you ask, Harm thought. "It probably went as well as you could expect, but I really don't want to do that again anytime soon." He got a sad smile in return before Jennifer vanished out of the door.
0855 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
"Okay, Mac that about wraps it up for now. I am sure Lt. Roberts will want to interview you today because he's heading East this evening and will not be back for a few days."
Her response was an automatic, "Yes sir."
"That will be all Mac, and please send Rabb in when you leave. Dismissed."
An "aye sir" and an about face were all that were needed to end the meeting and get Mac headed out the admiral's door. A left turn and a few steps later she was at Harm's open office door. "Harm, you're up."
Looking up from the stack of paperwork on the desk he took a long look at his partner's drawn face. 'She looks like crap,' he thought without saying anything. Fatigue lined her face and the slight left hand tremor was obvious. "Okay, I'm headed that way now colonel. How did your powwow with the big chief go?"
Without thinking she looked slightly away. "Oh, the usual welcome back pep talk along with a detailed list of loose ends that need to be tied up. You know, the standard chief of staff stuff."
Obviously there was something more, but Harm wisely didn't press the issue and headed for the admiral's office. PO Coates was waiting for him. "Go right in commander. He's expecting you."
When Harm closed the door behind himself the admiral was standing behind his desk looking out the windows, and that was never a good sign. Over the years Harm could not think of an instance where finding his boss looking out the window gathering his thoughts was the initial sign of a good meeting.
"Have a seat by the fireplace commander," was the over the shoulder greeting. 'Okay,' Harm thought, 'if this is an ass chewing it will at least be informal, but I can't think of anything that should be under the old man's sea blanket right now.'
Slowly A. J. Chegwidden walked over to the facing chairs by the fireplace.
"Harm, I've got a pretty good idea about how things were in Iraq, how were things in Iowa?"
That opening was unexpected. "Sir, we buried a Marine who died too young. I've been on better trips."
"Harm they all 'die too young.' That's a hard reality to face, but that's not what I am asking about. How are you and Mac holding up? I've got the feeling that neither of you really were required at the services, so that makes it some kind of a pilgrimage. That's a bad move son."
It took a moment to process the nuances of the admiral's statement, and Harm really wasn't sure where the conversation was heading. So he temporized filling the vacuum with words that really weren't on point. "Sir, Steve Newman was killed protecting Mac. You can't be suggesting that honoring his memory by turning up at the funeral was a bad idea."
Before he could continue the admiral held up a hand to cut off the conversation. "No. That's not what I was saying. The young man's actions merited a Silver Star, and it was important for the family to know that his death wasn't meaningless.
"It's a bad idea for you and Mac to spend a lot of time looking into the abyss. The philosopher who observed that looking into the abyss would eventually lead to it looking back was 100% on the money. Don't dwell on it.
"Before this conversation gets any more philosophical I need to officially inform you that the after action reports have been reviewed in the field, at Fifth Corps, and at CENTCOM. Now they're here for a final review. LT Roberts is the reviewing officer, and he will want to discuss your report later today. He's heading east this evening, so please make whatever time he needs available.
"That will be all commander."
If three levels of command have looked at this incident and it's been referred to JAG for final determination there's something screwy here, Harm immediately thought. "Sir, if I may, why all of the official scrutiny? We had a KIA, but that's not enough for this kind of examination. What's up?"
A.J. Chegwidden wasn't the kind of man who could simply dismiss a question, nor could he be less than truthful with a trusted subordinate. "Harm, I can't get into that with you until after Roberts completes your interview and gets back from Iraq, and you are going to have to leave it at that for now.
"A final thought commander: Keep an eye on Mac. She looks like crap, so I'm guessing she's not sleeping, and I really don't like the 1000-yard stare or the shaking left hand. Talk her into getting help, or I'm going to order her to Bethesda to have her head candled. Now, for the last time you are dismissed. Go back to work."
1005 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
Mac was clearly exasperated, "Bud, I really don't have any additional details to add here. Like I said I don't have any clear recollections between the time the RPG smacked the LAV and about the time the road patrol found us. There are random bits and pieces that are more like impressions than clear memories, but I can't tell you what happened. You're going to have to get that from the other after action interviews."
Concerned about his friend and mentor Bud tried to brush off the memory lapse with a dismissive hand wave and a reference to traumatic amnesia. "That's fine ma'am. Don't worry about things. If there are any more questions after I speak with the others we can talk again.
"Now, can I speak freely ma'am?" Mac just nodded certain she knew what was coming. "You really don't look that good Mac. How are you doing with all of this?"
She took a brief look at Bud's concerned expression before turning away to look out the window. "I'm not doing all that well, but I'll get through it. I have before. Are we wrapped up here? I know you've got to talk with Harm before heading for Andrews." The automatic pleasantries finished the meeting and Mac was gone leaving Bud more than a little worried about his friend.
1325 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
"Okay Commander please walk me through the time after the RPG hit the LAV until the action was over one more time."
Harm took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying to ease the tension that had built up over the last 20 minutes. "When the RPG hit the LAV it was obvious we couldn't just 'sit tight' and wait for some road patrol to relieve us. The bad guys had obviously pumped up their firepower, and if they kept the initiative it was just a matter of time before their superior numbers would have left us in a world of hurt.
"Mac told McKay to hit the hut across the road with the SMAW and while the Iraqis were trying to get their heads clear we crossed the road and cleared the building. Some of fighting was hand-to-hand, but they were pretty well chewed up from the SMAW. Once we had everybody down we secured the building and waited for a road movement to come along. It was about 10 minutes later when the Marines rode up in a couple of HUMVEES."
Harm's recollection of the story was very much in line with the interview transcripts. Sgt. Wheeler and the two enlisted Marines had crossed the road to Harm and Mac's left under the cover of the SMAW blast. The three Marines had quickly cleared that end of the building before backing up the two officers.
"Sir, at any time was Col. MacKenzie out of your sight?"
Immediately Harm started to say 'no,' but after a moment. "The only time she was out of sight was when we split up to cut off a couple of guys who were trying to make a run for the waddi behind the hut. I had them penned in the upper end of the ditch and Mac flanked 'em. There was a little gunfire, the sound of a fight, then Mac was yelling it was all clear; that everyone was down. I jumped into the waddi and she was slumped against one side and an Iraqi lieutenant was dead next to her. Once I determined she was uninjured we got the hell out of the waddi and returned to the hut."
When Bud finished making notes he looked up at Harm. "Sir, when you jumped into the waddi what was the first thing you saw?" Harm thought for a moment before recalling: "Mac was flat on the ground on her left side facing the Iraqi officer. Both of them were down, but Mac turned to look at me when my feet hit the ground."
"Okay," Bud was wrapping up, "did the Iraqi still have a weapon? Where were his hands?" That answer didn't take any thought. "Bud, they were wrapped around the grip of the bayonet that was stuck into his chest. You don't forget that sight easily."
With the sandwich and drink orders out of the way the Admiral turned to the business at hand giving Bud one of his 'stern' looks before proceeding. "Lieutenant, although I am sure I don't need to remind you of the need for confidentiality in any JAG proceeding, I'm going to make an exception here. The situation I am passing along to you is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. You are not to discuss any of the details with anyone without specific clearance from me. Progress reports, notes, documents, and all other working papers are to be kept secure at all times. Are there any questions?"
The question wasn't rhetorical.
Verbally Bud responded in the anticipated manner: "No sir." Mentally the reaction was a little different: 'Questions? None at this point, but something about this just screams about future questions.'
Without any additional preamble the Admiral moved into the details of his assignment. "Bud, 11 days ago several Marines and a Naval officer were ambushed south of Baghdad, and they took one KIA. A routine road patrol found the survivors, a burned out LAV-25, and a batch of dead Iraqi soldiers all stacked up at the roadside in a burned out hooch (No, A. J. Chegwidden didn't even think about his inadvertent slip into old Vietnamese terminology).
"Everyone was evacuated to Baghdad and after action reports were taken by some Army intelligence types. After review in the field and at Fifth Corps the KIA was awarded a posthumous Silver Star, and I understand the staff judge advocate in country is finishing up some paperwork to pass out a variety of other 'gongs' to the participants.
"All of the after action reports have been forwarded to this office for review. Your job, lieutenant, is to complete that review, and I want that done ASAP. I have taken the liberty of having PO Coates start rounding up all of the participants for interviews, although the people who are still in country may not be immediately available.
"She is also cutting orders that will authorize you to travel to Iraq or any other locations in connection with this investigation on a very high priority. She will also have letter orders for your use if they are required to obtain any level of cooperation that may be required in the completion of your assignment.
"Bud, this should be a very routine operation, but I want to be sure you look under every rock then look under the rock under the rock to be sure we have all of the details. Keep me appraised of developments verbally."
Coates' discrete knock was quickly followed by lunch, which was quickly dispatched, and a heavily loaded LT Roberts made his way back to his office.
'Okay,' Bud thought to himself as he settled back into his chair, 'I've got to finish the research for this filing before I can even think about this new project.' Much of the afternoon was devoted to drafting a brief. A trip to the printer and stop for a cup of coffee brought him back to the office, and he shoved the door closed before sitting down to read the after action reports.
Without really thinking about why Bud just picked up the top interview transcript and started reading Pvt. J. W. Waller's account of the incident. He did notice that each time either the interviewer or the subject used someone's name that information had been redacted, but that was standard procedure when after action reports were referred for review.
It took the better part of an hour to read through the versions recalled by Pvt. Waller and Cpl. McKay. There were some minor differences in the stories, but as a matter of perspective that was to be expected in witness statements. The next report in the stack was the interview of another Marine non commissioned officer, so Bud decided to refresh his coffee before plunging back into the reading. When he walked out into the bullpen he was surprised to find that it was almost 1630 and most of the first shift staff were in the process of securing their areas before heading out the door.
'Crap! I've got to head for the house on time this evening, so I will get to the last three after actions in the morning.'
With a fresh cup of coffee he headed back into the office and quickly dictated his progress notes and secured the paperwork in his safe. A quick look around assured that everything was ship shape, so he flipped the lights off and walked toward the door. The trip was when PO Coates handed Bud orders that were folded into his other paperwork.
"Thanks Jen! Good night."
"Good night lieutenant."
2025 Hrs Local, The Roberts' Residence, Suburban Virginia
AJ was off to bed and Harriett was busy with something in the den when Bud finally took a minute to read his orders and almost dropped his coffee cup. The boilerplate in the orders was very familiar, although the high travel was a surprise, however, the letter orders were stunning.
'The officer bearing these orders is traveling under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, and all elements of the Naval Service, including the United States Marine Corps, are directed to provide whatever assistance this officer may request. If any request is to be declined Navy Judge Advocate General must personally approve that refusal in writing PRIOR to any action. All other elements of the Department of Defense are strongly urged to provide any support requested.
'If any security issues are raised this officer is presumed to HAVE A NEED TO KNOW.'
'What in the hell,' Bud wondered, 'have I gotten myself into?'
0725 Hrs Local, State Rt. 7, Falls Church, VA
Without any actual thought Mac guided the red Corvette through the morning traffic heading into work for her first day back since returning from Iraq. Some extra preparation time and artful makeup application hid most of the signs of sleep deprivation, but the driver's side visor mirror clearly reflected her flat, dead eyes. The slight tremor in her left hand really wasn't visible as long as she remembered to hold her coffee cup in the right.
'Well, hell, I guess it's time to make an appearance,' she thought pulling the car's parking brake up sharply with her right hand. After retrieving her cover from the passenger seat and settling it correctly on her head LTC Sarah MacKenzie couldn't help the thought: 'This is as good as I'm going to get. I hope it's good enough.'
0805 Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
Harm grabbed a cup of coffee as he walked past the break room and made a sharp turn into his office parking his cover on the bookcase and briefcase on the credenza. A cursory look at the mountain of paper in the IN basket didn't reveal anything critical. Before he had a chance to boot his computer up PO Coates appeared in his door.
"Good morning Sir! I hate to interrupt, but the Admiral wants to see you at 0900, so don't get to occupied with that stack of paperwork."
"Thanks, Jennifer. Have you seen Col. MacKenzie this morning?"
"Yes sir, she's in with him right now, and you're the on deck hitter. Oh, welcome back! Did everything go okay in Iowa?"
That really depends on whom you ask, Harm thought. "It probably went as well as you could expect, but I really don't want to do that again anytime soon." He got a sad smile in return before Jennifer vanished out of the door.
0855 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
"Okay, Mac that about wraps it up for now. I am sure Lt. Roberts will want to interview you today because he's heading East this evening and will not be back for a few days."
Her response was an automatic, "Yes sir."
"That will be all Mac, and please send Rabb in when you leave. Dismissed."
An "aye sir" and an about face were all that were needed to end the meeting and get Mac headed out the admiral's door. A left turn and a few steps later she was at Harm's open office door. "Harm, you're up."
Looking up from the stack of paperwork on the desk he took a long look at his partner's drawn face. 'She looks like crap,' he thought without saying anything. Fatigue lined her face and the slight left hand tremor was obvious. "Okay, I'm headed that way now colonel. How did your powwow with the big chief go?"
Without thinking she looked slightly away. "Oh, the usual welcome back pep talk along with a detailed list of loose ends that need to be tied up. You know, the standard chief of staff stuff."
Obviously there was something more, but Harm wisely didn't press the issue and headed for the admiral's office. PO Coates was waiting for him. "Go right in commander. He's expecting you."
When Harm closed the door behind himself the admiral was standing behind his desk looking out the windows, and that was never a good sign. Over the years Harm could not think of an instance where finding his boss looking out the window gathering his thoughts was the initial sign of a good meeting.
"Have a seat by the fireplace commander," was the over the shoulder greeting. 'Okay,' Harm thought, 'if this is an ass chewing it will at least be informal, but I can't think of anything that should be under the old man's sea blanket right now.'
Slowly A. J. Chegwidden walked over to the facing chairs by the fireplace.
"Harm, I've got a pretty good idea about how things were in Iraq, how were things in Iowa?"
That opening was unexpected. "Sir, we buried a Marine who died too young. I've been on better trips."
"Harm they all 'die too young.' That's a hard reality to face, but that's not what I am asking about. How are you and Mac holding up? I've got the feeling that neither of you really were required at the services, so that makes it some kind of a pilgrimage. That's a bad move son."
It took a moment to process the nuances of the admiral's statement, and Harm really wasn't sure where the conversation was heading. So he temporized filling the vacuum with words that really weren't on point. "Sir, Steve Newman was killed protecting Mac. You can't be suggesting that honoring his memory by turning up at the funeral was a bad idea."
Before he could continue the admiral held up a hand to cut off the conversation. "No. That's not what I was saying. The young man's actions merited a Silver Star, and it was important for the family to know that his death wasn't meaningless.
"It's a bad idea for you and Mac to spend a lot of time looking into the abyss. The philosopher who observed that looking into the abyss would eventually lead to it looking back was 100% on the money. Don't dwell on it.
"Before this conversation gets any more philosophical I need to officially inform you that the after action reports have been reviewed in the field, at Fifth Corps, and at CENTCOM. Now they're here for a final review. LT Roberts is the reviewing officer, and he will want to discuss your report later today. He's heading east this evening, so please make whatever time he needs available.
"That will be all commander."
If three levels of command have looked at this incident and it's been referred to JAG for final determination there's something screwy here, Harm immediately thought. "Sir, if I may, why all of the official scrutiny? We had a KIA, but that's not enough for this kind of examination. What's up?"
A.J. Chegwidden wasn't the kind of man who could simply dismiss a question, nor could he be less than truthful with a trusted subordinate. "Harm, I can't get into that with you until after Roberts completes your interview and gets back from Iraq, and you are going to have to leave it at that for now.
"A final thought commander: Keep an eye on Mac. She looks like crap, so I'm guessing she's not sleeping, and I really don't like the 1000-yard stare or the shaking left hand. Talk her into getting help, or I'm going to order her to Bethesda to have her head candled. Now, for the last time you are dismissed. Go back to work."
1005 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
Mac was clearly exasperated, "Bud, I really don't have any additional details to add here. Like I said I don't have any clear recollections between the time the RPG smacked the LAV and about the time the road patrol found us. There are random bits and pieces that are more like impressions than clear memories, but I can't tell you what happened. You're going to have to get that from the other after action interviews."
Concerned about his friend and mentor Bud tried to brush off the memory lapse with a dismissive hand wave and a reference to traumatic amnesia. "That's fine ma'am. Don't worry about things. If there are any more questions after I speak with the others we can talk again.
"Now, can I speak freely ma'am?" Mac just nodded certain she knew what was coming. "You really don't look that good Mac. How are you doing with all of this?"
She took a brief look at Bud's concerned expression before turning away to look out the window. "I'm not doing all that well, but I'll get through it. I have before. Are we wrapped up here? I know you've got to talk with Harm before heading for Andrews." The automatic pleasantries finished the meeting and Mac was gone leaving Bud more than a little worried about his friend.
1325 Hrs Local, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA
"Okay Commander please walk me through the time after the RPG hit the LAV until the action was over one more time."
Harm took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying to ease the tension that had built up over the last 20 minutes. "When the RPG hit the LAV it was obvious we couldn't just 'sit tight' and wait for some road patrol to relieve us. The bad guys had obviously pumped up their firepower, and if they kept the initiative it was just a matter of time before their superior numbers would have left us in a world of hurt.
"Mac told McKay to hit the hut across the road with the SMAW and while the Iraqis were trying to get their heads clear we crossed the road and cleared the building. Some of fighting was hand-to-hand, but they were pretty well chewed up from the SMAW. Once we had everybody down we secured the building and waited for a road movement to come along. It was about 10 minutes later when the Marines rode up in a couple of HUMVEES."
Harm's recollection of the story was very much in line with the interview transcripts. Sgt. Wheeler and the two enlisted Marines had crossed the road to Harm and Mac's left under the cover of the SMAW blast. The three Marines had quickly cleared that end of the building before backing up the two officers.
"Sir, at any time was Col. MacKenzie out of your sight?"
Immediately Harm started to say 'no,' but after a moment. "The only time she was out of sight was when we split up to cut off a couple of guys who were trying to make a run for the waddi behind the hut. I had them penned in the upper end of the ditch and Mac flanked 'em. There was a little gunfire, the sound of a fight, then Mac was yelling it was all clear; that everyone was down. I jumped into the waddi and she was slumped against one side and an Iraqi lieutenant was dead next to her. Once I determined she was uninjured we got the hell out of the waddi and returned to the hut."
When Bud finished making notes he looked up at Harm. "Sir, when you jumped into the waddi what was the first thing you saw?" Harm thought for a moment before recalling: "Mac was flat on the ground on her left side facing the Iraqi officer. Both of them were down, but Mac turned to look at me when my feet hit the ground."
"Okay," Bud was wrapping up, "did the Iraqi still have a weapon? Where were his hands?" That answer didn't take any thought. "Bud, they were wrapped around the grip of the bayonet that was stuck into his chest. You don't forget that sight easily."
