1345 Hrs Local, July 30, The Officers Club, Washington Navy Yard,
Washington, DC
As the steward cleared away the last remnants of lunch Adm. Chegwidden surveyed his dining partners with a satisfied smile. "You did 'good' gentlemen. I haven't seen the SECDEF offer much more than a perfunctory 'thanks' to any other briefer that has stood in that room in the last couple of weeks. But you've got to remember that you are only half way to the house on this one. If I were a betting man I would put the farm on the line that we, I'm sorry, you will see a very detailed review of this morning's meeting in your e-mail no later than 0700 tomorrow from either the Secretary himself or his Chief of Staff.
"Once that is incorporated into the program, I would guess that you will get to brief the Secretary one more time with the changes. He will play 20 questions with you then head across the river to brief the VP. I wouldn't expect much feedback from that session unless he gets his head handed to him, and I would anticipate that we would have to start reducing the approved concept into operational guidance via the orders group by 15 August.
"On that note, it's time to head back to the Puzzle Palace for more joy and laughter. Tom, Harm, that was 4.0 work."
1415 Hrs Local, July 30, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Harm's phone was ringing when he walked into the office, and Bud was at the other end of the connection.
"Bud, how are you? It's good to see that the long ride didn't kill you."
"It was a near thing Sir, but the most hazardous part of the trip was the walk from the bird to the operations shack at DG. I ran into LTC MacKenzie on the ramp, or rather she ran into me while looking for you. Ray Charles could have seen how hot she was that you weren't on the flight. I told her that Adm. Boone had kidnapped you, and that seemed to take some of the fire out of the moment.
"We had dinner, and I came to the VOQ to crash and call you with a SITREP (situation report) before you stepped into the line of fire somewhere."
"Thanks, Bud. I will track Mac down. Is there anything I need to pass along to Harriett?"
"No sir, I just sent her an e-mail message, and I am sure I will hear back from her by morning. Good night sir."
"Night Bud, keep your head down at the conference. Don't be a 'friendly fire' victim."
As the computer booted Harm considered what to say to Mac, and by the time it was up and running he was ready to write.
'Mac:
'I am sorry that Bud wound up being the bearer of the news that I had been trapped by the CAG for a briefing, but that's just the way the deal went down. He grabbed me almost literally off the flight, and its been just crazy here since then.
'We cleared a huge hurdle today, and I think it will get a little easier at this end, at least for a few days. If things will settle down a bit here I'm expected at Aviano Air Base for a meeting in a couple of weeks. Maybe you can wrangle leave for a couple of days and we can meet in Naples or somewhere. Otherwise I'm not sure what will be happening here after early September.
'As easy as it would be to agree with you that there's no 'us' right now, I don't want to do that. Maybe I'm just to hard headed.
'Mac, I've got to run. The CAG is on the phone. Keep safe!
'Luv,
'Harm'
He hit the send key as he picked up the phone.
0630 Local, July 31, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean
When Mac logged onto the network to check her mail she was immediately rewarded with 15 new messages including an update from Gen. Buckner concerning the position he wanted the 3rd MEU to take on several issues on the conference agenda. Harm's message was next to last, so she saved it until she was through with all of the Corps housekeeping issues.
After reading the message a second time she felt a little misty, but tramped the feeling down as quickly as it came. 'There isn't an 'us' right now. Harm's going to have to get over it for the next few months until I either get transferred out of here or he gets away from Tom Boone's little project.' With a final exhortation to 'focus' she shut her laptop down, secured her room, and headed off to the opening session.
1305 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
'I don't know why Adm. Boone bothers with the phone,' PO2 Coates thought to herself. 'The way he yells into the speaker phone I can hear him without picking up.' "Yes, Sir. The captain is down in the dungeon with someone from sea systems.
"Yes sir, I'll go down there and, if necessary, drag him to the phone since he won't answer the phone down there."
A pair of short walks, a quiet elevator ride, and a brief conversation, with a heavily armed Marine got Jennifer into the dungeon where she interrupted her boss. "Sir, Adm. Boone wants you to call him ASAP.
"Okay Jen, we will be done here in a couple of minutes and I will call him."
"Sir, that won't cut it. The CAG said 'right now,' and I am sure that means 'right now.' I'll get him on the line for you."
When she pointed to the phone on the table from the other instrument Harm picked up the line to get an earful of admiral. "Harm, Adm. Chegwidden wants you and I in his office immediately. Tell the guy from NAVSEA you will have to get back with him then get the hell over to the admiral's office. I will see you there."
1320 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Before the two visitors could go through the formalities of reporting to the senior officer they were told to "grab a chair."
Meeting with Adm. Chegwidden generally didn't involve a lot of small talk, particularly since he made the move to the SECDEF's office, and this time he went directly to the point. "The Secretary called on his way to lunch across the river at The House. The Vice President had high praise for the work you have done, and he wants to see you at the office in the OEOB (Old Executive Office Building) at 1445 today. Don't worry about your briefing materials. The Secretary said it was informal, but be on your toes.
"Remember: You have two Secretaries of Defense in the same room, and they both lean toward tough questions and won't tolerate anything short of concise answers. There is a car waiting for you at the South Entrance, so you better get moving."
As the two officers started out the door there was an insincere note in the voice from behind the desk, "Have a nice day guys."
1500 Hrs Local, July 31, Crossing the 14th Street Bridge, Washington, DC
"CAG, that was a helluva meeting. I really thought we looked at all of the potential scenarios we might see in the (Persian) Gulf and the entire southeast Asia area, but it looks like we may have missed a few. I can't remember walking out of a conference feeling this drained since my first year at the academy."
Tom Boone regarded his battered deputy for a moment before responding. "Harm, you did good in there and don't forget it. The VP and the SECDEF have been briefed out the ass by state, NSA (National Security Agency), CIA, and who knows whom else. They should have been ready, and they certainly were.
"The key is that we have enough flexibility in where we are trying to go with the reorganization that there was support available from the Navy at every turn. I'm guessing that hasn't been the case with some of the other briefings. I would love to be a fly on the wall at CENTCOM when they are hit with the kind of tasking they are likely to get."
"Don't be to big with the wishful thinking boss," Harm offered. "We will probably be served up whole at CENTCOM before this gets too much further."
1520 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Harm returned Adm. Chegwidden's telephone call as soon as he walked into his office, and was amazed at what his old boss wanted to discuss.
"Harm, The Secretary's office just called, and you are invited to join he and his wife and a few 'friends' at 1845 for drinks tonight at a reception before The National Symphony performance at The Kennedy Center. There will be a small dinner afterward at Blair House. The dress is black tie, and the boss really doesn't want to see anyone show in dress whites, so wear a tux. You do have a tux don't you? Renting one at this hour will be a bitch if you don't. Anyway, some flunky from his office is heading for your office with the details. Have a nice evening."
The phone was banged onto the hook and Harm charged out of the office past his yeoman's empty desk. As he walked quickly out of the section he only paused long enough to tell the chief of the watch that he would be available by cell phone the balance of the day.
1835 Hrs Local, The Kennedy Center Grand Foyer, Washington, DC
Capt. Harmon Rabb looked a little like a cover photo from Gentleman's Quarterly as he walked into the Kennedy Center. The tuxedo he wore, purchased under great duress from a former girl friend, was immaculate.
A quick word with a uniformed Secret Service guard directed provided directions to the small room where the SECDEF's party was gathered. Once he showed his ID card and invitation to the agent at the door he was admitted into an entirely different world.
As the steward cleared away the last remnants of lunch Adm. Chegwidden surveyed his dining partners with a satisfied smile. "You did 'good' gentlemen. I haven't seen the SECDEF offer much more than a perfunctory 'thanks' to any other briefer that has stood in that room in the last couple of weeks. But you've got to remember that you are only half way to the house on this one. If I were a betting man I would put the farm on the line that we, I'm sorry, you will see a very detailed review of this morning's meeting in your e-mail no later than 0700 tomorrow from either the Secretary himself or his Chief of Staff.
"Once that is incorporated into the program, I would guess that you will get to brief the Secretary one more time with the changes. He will play 20 questions with you then head across the river to brief the VP. I wouldn't expect much feedback from that session unless he gets his head handed to him, and I would anticipate that we would have to start reducing the approved concept into operational guidance via the orders group by 15 August.
"On that note, it's time to head back to the Puzzle Palace for more joy and laughter. Tom, Harm, that was 4.0 work."
1415 Hrs Local, July 30, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Harm's phone was ringing when he walked into the office, and Bud was at the other end of the connection.
"Bud, how are you? It's good to see that the long ride didn't kill you."
"It was a near thing Sir, but the most hazardous part of the trip was the walk from the bird to the operations shack at DG. I ran into LTC MacKenzie on the ramp, or rather she ran into me while looking for you. Ray Charles could have seen how hot she was that you weren't on the flight. I told her that Adm. Boone had kidnapped you, and that seemed to take some of the fire out of the moment.
"We had dinner, and I came to the VOQ to crash and call you with a SITREP (situation report) before you stepped into the line of fire somewhere."
"Thanks, Bud. I will track Mac down. Is there anything I need to pass along to Harriett?"
"No sir, I just sent her an e-mail message, and I am sure I will hear back from her by morning. Good night sir."
"Night Bud, keep your head down at the conference. Don't be a 'friendly fire' victim."
As the computer booted Harm considered what to say to Mac, and by the time it was up and running he was ready to write.
'Mac:
'I am sorry that Bud wound up being the bearer of the news that I had been trapped by the CAG for a briefing, but that's just the way the deal went down. He grabbed me almost literally off the flight, and its been just crazy here since then.
'We cleared a huge hurdle today, and I think it will get a little easier at this end, at least for a few days. If things will settle down a bit here I'm expected at Aviano Air Base for a meeting in a couple of weeks. Maybe you can wrangle leave for a couple of days and we can meet in Naples or somewhere. Otherwise I'm not sure what will be happening here after early September.
'As easy as it would be to agree with you that there's no 'us' right now, I don't want to do that. Maybe I'm just to hard headed.
'Mac, I've got to run. The CAG is on the phone. Keep safe!
'Luv,
'Harm'
He hit the send key as he picked up the phone.
0630 Local, July 31, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean
When Mac logged onto the network to check her mail she was immediately rewarded with 15 new messages including an update from Gen. Buckner concerning the position he wanted the 3rd MEU to take on several issues on the conference agenda. Harm's message was next to last, so she saved it until she was through with all of the Corps housekeeping issues.
After reading the message a second time she felt a little misty, but tramped the feeling down as quickly as it came. 'There isn't an 'us' right now. Harm's going to have to get over it for the next few months until I either get transferred out of here or he gets away from Tom Boone's little project.' With a final exhortation to 'focus' she shut her laptop down, secured her room, and headed off to the opening session.
1305 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
'I don't know why Adm. Boone bothers with the phone,' PO2 Coates thought to herself. 'The way he yells into the speaker phone I can hear him without picking up.' "Yes, Sir. The captain is down in the dungeon with someone from sea systems.
"Yes sir, I'll go down there and, if necessary, drag him to the phone since he won't answer the phone down there."
A pair of short walks, a quiet elevator ride, and a brief conversation, with a heavily armed Marine got Jennifer into the dungeon where she interrupted her boss. "Sir, Adm. Boone wants you to call him ASAP.
"Okay Jen, we will be done here in a couple of minutes and I will call him."
"Sir, that won't cut it. The CAG said 'right now,' and I am sure that means 'right now.' I'll get him on the line for you."
When she pointed to the phone on the table from the other instrument Harm picked up the line to get an earful of admiral. "Harm, Adm. Chegwidden wants you and I in his office immediately. Tell the guy from NAVSEA you will have to get back with him then get the hell over to the admiral's office. I will see you there."
1320 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Before the two visitors could go through the formalities of reporting to the senior officer they were told to "grab a chair."
Meeting with Adm. Chegwidden generally didn't involve a lot of small talk, particularly since he made the move to the SECDEF's office, and this time he went directly to the point. "The Secretary called on his way to lunch across the river at The House. The Vice President had high praise for the work you have done, and he wants to see you at the office in the OEOB (Old Executive Office Building) at 1445 today. Don't worry about your briefing materials. The Secretary said it was informal, but be on your toes.
"Remember: You have two Secretaries of Defense in the same room, and they both lean toward tough questions and won't tolerate anything short of concise answers. There is a car waiting for you at the South Entrance, so you better get moving."
As the two officers started out the door there was an insincere note in the voice from behind the desk, "Have a nice day guys."
1500 Hrs Local, July 31, Crossing the 14th Street Bridge, Washington, DC
"CAG, that was a helluva meeting. I really thought we looked at all of the potential scenarios we might see in the (Persian) Gulf and the entire southeast Asia area, but it looks like we may have missed a few. I can't remember walking out of a conference feeling this drained since my first year at the academy."
Tom Boone regarded his battered deputy for a moment before responding. "Harm, you did good in there and don't forget it. The VP and the SECDEF have been briefed out the ass by state, NSA (National Security Agency), CIA, and who knows whom else. They should have been ready, and they certainly were.
"The key is that we have enough flexibility in where we are trying to go with the reorganization that there was support available from the Navy at every turn. I'm guessing that hasn't been the case with some of the other briefings. I would love to be a fly on the wall at CENTCOM when they are hit with the kind of tasking they are likely to get."
"Don't be to big with the wishful thinking boss," Harm offered. "We will probably be served up whole at CENTCOM before this gets too much further."
1520 Hrs Local, July 31, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Harm returned Adm. Chegwidden's telephone call as soon as he walked into his office, and was amazed at what his old boss wanted to discuss.
"Harm, The Secretary's office just called, and you are invited to join he and his wife and a few 'friends' at 1845 for drinks tonight at a reception before The National Symphony performance at The Kennedy Center. There will be a small dinner afterward at Blair House. The dress is black tie, and the boss really doesn't want to see anyone show in dress whites, so wear a tux. You do have a tux don't you? Renting one at this hour will be a bitch if you don't. Anyway, some flunky from his office is heading for your office with the details. Have a nice evening."
The phone was banged onto the hook and Harm charged out of the office past his yeoman's empty desk. As he walked quickly out of the section he only paused long enough to tell the chief of the watch that he would be available by cell phone the balance of the day.
1835 Hrs Local, The Kennedy Center Grand Foyer, Washington, DC
Capt. Harmon Rabb looked a little like a cover photo from Gentleman's Quarterly as he walked into the Kennedy Center. The tuxedo he wore, purchased under great duress from a former girl friend, was immaculate.
A quick word with a uniformed Secret Service guard directed provided directions to the small room where the SECDEF's party was gathered. Once he showed his ID card and invitation to the agent at the door he was admitted into an entirely different world.
