Back In the World
'Legacies'
This will be the only installment for about a week and a half. I'm heading to South Carolina on Spring Break for Habitat for Humanity. Also, Mel Gibson's movie the Passion will be coming out and I will be seeing a number of times, with a number of people. Plus I have presentations due the week I return....blah blah blah...so just hang in there, and maybe I'll find time to take a break and write a little. Until then, Enjoy!
Months passed and still nothing came of the hardship discharge for Blake. Hawkeye was fuming daily over it, and wrote just about every politician he could think of who would care. Jen had gotten substantially weaker. Her better days were now few and far between. She spoke often of seeing her boy one last time before she passed away.
-- The older man, blood soaked clothing, pleaded with the body beside him... "Don't give up! Pierce! Come on kid...Don't let Him win!!"
No one there knew who "HIM" was referring to. But one particular man, in Maine, writing letters to politicians knew. --
On Phone w/BJ
"He may have been in remission for a little while Beej, but this country can only go so long without a war."
"Who's "He" Hawk?"
Hawkeye replied simply. "The War"
"I see" his friend nodded on the other end.
"We can't let Him win, he'll get us all, I mean he got so many of those kids in Korea and He's taken how many more in Vietnam. Gosh, just the name of this war makes my hair stand on end!"
BJ agreed. "It's supposed to be over soon."
Hawkeye laughed. "I wish I could take it seriously. But if I do, all I will have are false hopes and I've had those shattered one too many times in my life to hang onto them."
"I understand, speaking of which, how is Jen hanging in?" BJ asked somberly.
Hawkeye sighed, glancing through to see his wife asleep. "Resting comfortably now, she hasn't had a good day in a while now, I'm pretty...ah never mind." "Never mind what? You're pretty what Hawk?"
"Nothing." He replied.
"Aw come on, its BJ you're talking to."
"Oh alright...I guess, well...I'm pretty scared." He finished almost with an embarrassed look on his face.
BJ shrugged on the other end. "That's completely understandable, I mean I can't imagine being in your position, you have every right to be terrified."
"Yeah I guess, it's just...I feel like I don't have time to be scared ya know? I feel like every day I'm one step away from losing my son, and one step away from losing my wife. I guess I'm surprised I've lasted this long."
BJ gathered his thoughts. "Hawk, you my friend, are the most resilient man I'll ever know. You amazed me in Korea...and you still never cease to amaze me now, Hawkeye, you just keep hanging on, and Jen will hang on right along with ya."
Hawkeye shook his head. "Where did you ever get all that wisdom of yours anyway?"
"You." He replied simply.
"Ha, I doubt that, from the drunken king of Korea?" He asked laughingly.
"You'd be surprised what people see in you, even when no words are said. Just keep that up; it's a legacy that will far precede you, Hawkeye Pierce."
"Trying to make me cry?" He asked with a fake sniffle.
"I'll cry if you will." BJ replied also with a few fake sniffles.
"Riiight, well hey, thanks as always for the chat pal, people can always count on you, BJ Hunnicutt, that my friend is a legacy that will far precede you."
"Yeah, you're welcome and thanks...just hang in there, Peg and I are praying for you, take care Hawk."
"You too Beej, thanks...yup...buh bye." He quietly hung up the phone and cuddled up with his wife for a much needed nap from his letter writing campaign.
"Kid...you have to hold on just a bit longer, I know someone is gonna come to get us, you just hold out soldier." He spoke over the body laying before him.
"Major, I don't know how much longer he has...he..."
"He's gonna make it son, we all are..." Just in that moment, a Vietnamese soldier stormed in, hollering in a language the Americans did not understand. The slightly older man, a Major sat tied to a pole in the middle of the tent. He saw the enemy start to kick Blake, trying to have him get up.
"He can't get up damnit, he's hurt!" The Major yelled. He turned to profanity as the solider began to violently kick Blake repeatedly. The Major swung his legs around to hit the soldier, in return he was hit across his face. The soldier then turned his attention back to Blake, lifting him off the ground. All the soldiers now started to yell but were quieted by their CO.
The Major continued his hollering and with the Vietnamese soldier within distance spit at his face. After being struck once again, they laid Blake's body back down and took the Major away in place of him. As the Major was being taken out, he hollered back words his men wouldn't forget... "You're fine men, you have Faith, you hear me...don't you let him win..."
Within moments of those words, they heard a gun shot ring in the air, they would never forget.
Days passed slowly and mail day after mail day passed even slower. Until.
"No way." Hawkeye said shaking his head.
"What is it Ben?"
"Frank Burns, did I ever tell you about him?"
She giggled. "Ferret Face I thought it was?"
Hawkeye didn't return the laugh. "He uh, he just wrote me the nicest letter I think I've ever gotten."
"He must have gone mad." She slightly giggled again.
Hawkeye's face stayed serious and he seemed touched by the letter.
"Yeah, or he's dying." He replied serious, not even a hint of sarcasm.
"Well what did he write?" She asked curious. Now becoming a bit concerned at her husbands reaction.
Hawkeye still re read it stunned each time his eyes ran over the words.
"Dear Doctor Pierce,
I write this letter in complete and utter humility. I have had much time to think of the times we shared back in Korea, especially recently.
I've looked back and wondered how in the world I could have even an ounce of respect for a man who did the things you did to me. For many years, I despised you. It was only until recently, when I received a letter from Margaret, sharing with me that your son had been drafted. And instead of feeling like you were getting what was due to you, I felt a hint of sadness. Strange I know.
I contemplated that feeling I had, over and over. I have much time on my hands these days. I came to the conclusion that throughout my life there have been very few people I considered worthy enough to receive praise from me, and there still remain very few I can actually express it to. I suppose you're wondering where I am going with this. And honestly so am I.
I am trying to say, merely that, you Captain, were the best surgeon I have ever seen. No one will ever top your skill and better yet, no one will ever top your grace. I know we all did things we never meant to, or in your case, things you did mean to do. I do know this that I am sorry your son was drafted, I know how you hate war, I know how you despise it and I am truly sorry. Please except my sympathies and know you remain, though it may be impossible for you to believe, one of the best men, I have ever known.
Sincerely,
Frank Burns, MD."
"Wow sweetheart...what do you have to say about that?" She waited for a reply and got nothing. "Sweetheart?" She looked down at her husband to see a tear streaking down his face.
Quickly he wiped it away and replied hastily. "Where's a pad and paper?"
"Where's...the Major....?" Blake muttered in between coughs, glancing around.
His friend looked down to the ground. "They shot him, he...they were...going to finish you off...and the Major, well, he stopped em..."
Blake closed his eyes then opened them. "This Major...what was his name?"
"Burns...sir...Lance Burns..."
Blake nodded slightly then slowly closed his eyes and thought about back home.
END.
AN: I know I know, that letter may not sound like the Frank we all know and love, but work with me here. I left a very small cliff, please no body fall over till I get back.
Take care - TLH
This will be the only installment for about a week and a half. I'm heading to South Carolina on Spring Break for Habitat for Humanity. Also, Mel Gibson's movie the Passion will be coming out and I will be seeing a number of times, with a number of people. Plus I have presentations due the week I return....blah blah blah...so just hang in there, and maybe I'll find time to take a break and write a little. Until then, Enjoy!
Months passed and still nothing came of the hardship discharge for Blake. Hawkeye was fuming daily over it, and wrote just about every politician he could think of who would care. Jen had gotten substantially weaker. Her better days were now few and far between. She spoke often of seeing her boy one last time before she passed away.
-- The older man, blood soaked clothing, pleaded with the body beside him... "Don't give up! Pierce! Come on kid...Don't let Him win!!"
No one there knew who "HIM" was referring to. But one particular man, in Maine, writing letters to politicians knew. --
On Phone w/BJ
"He may have been in remission for a little while Beej, but this country can only go so long without a war."
"Who's "He" Hawk?"
Hawkeye replied simply. "The War"
"I see" his friend nodded on the other end.
"We can't let Him win, he'll get us all, I mean he got so many of those kids in Korea and He's taken how many more in Vietnam. Gosh, just the name of this war makes my hair stand on end!"
BJ agreed. "It's supposed to be over soon."
Hawkeye laughed. "I wish I could take it seriously. But if I do, all I will have are false hopes and I've had those shattered one too many times in my life to hang onto them."
"I understand, speaking of which, how is Jen hanging in?" BJ asked somberly.
Hawkeye sighed, glancing through to see his wife asleep. "Resting comfortably now, she hasn't had a good day in a while now, I'm pretty...ah never mind." "Never mind what? You're pretty what Hawk?"
"Nothing." He replied.
"Aw come on, its BJ you're talking to."
"Oh alright...I guess, well...I'm pretty scared." He finished almost with an embarrassed look on his face.
BJ shrugged on the other end. "That's completely understandable, I mean I can't imagine being in your position, you have every right to be terrified."
"Yeah I guess, it's just...I feel like I don't have time to be scared ya know? I feel like every day I'm one step away from losing my son, and one step away from losing my wife. I guess I'm surprised I've lasted this long."
BJ gathered his thoughts. "Hawk, you my friend, are the most resilient man I'll ever know. You amazed me in Korea...and you still never cease to amaze me now, Hawkeye, you just keep hanging on, and Jen will hang on right along with ya."
Hawkeye shook his head. "Where did you ever get all that wisdom of yours anyway?"
"You." He replied simply.
"Ha, I doubt that, from the drunken king of Korea?" He asked laughingly.
"You'd be surprised what people see in you, even when no words are said. Just keep that up; it's a legacy that will far precede you, Hawkeye Pierce."
"Trying to make me cry?" He asked with a fake sniffle.
"I'll cry if you will." BJ replied also with a few fake sniffles.
"Riiight, well hey, thanks as always for the chat pal, people can always count on you, BJ Hunnicutt, that my friend is a legacy that will far precede you."
"Yeah, you're welcome and thanks...just hang in there, Peg and I are praying for you, take care Hawk."
"You too Beej, thanks...yup...buh bye." He quietly hung up the phone and cuddled up with his wife for a much needed nap from his letter writing campaign.
"Kid...you have to hold on just a bit longer, I know someone is gonna come to get us, you just hold out soldier." He spoke over the body laying before him.
"Major, I don't know how much longer he has...he..."
"He's gonna make it son, we all are..." Just in that moment, a Vietnamese soldier stormed in, hollering in a language the Americans did not understand. The slightly older man, a Major sat tied to a pole in the middle of the tent. He saw the enemy start to kick Blake, trying to have him get up.
"He can't get up damnit, he's hurt!" The Major yelled. He turned to profanity as the solider began to violently kick Blake repeatedly. The Major swung his legs around to hit the soldier, in return he was hit across his face. The soldier then turned his attention back to Blake, lifting him off the ground. All the soldiers now started to yell but were quieted by their CO.
The Major continued his hollering and with the Vietnamese soldier within distance spit at his face. After being struck once again, they laid Blake's body back down and took the Major away in place of him. As the Major was being taken out, he hollered back words his men wouldn't forget... "You're fine men, you have Faith, you hear me...don't you let him win..."
Within moments of those words, they heard a gun shot ring in the air, they would never forget.
Days passed slowly and mail day after mail day passed even slower. Until.
"No way." Hawkeye said shaking his head.
"What is it Ben?"
"Frank Burns, did I ever tell you about him?"
She giggled. "Ferret Face I thought it was?"
Hawkeye didn't return the laugh. "He uh, he just wrote me the nicest letter I think I've ever gotten."
"He must have gone mad." She slightly giggled again.
Hawkeye's face stayed serious and he seemed touched by the letter.
"Yeah, or he's dying." He replied serious, not even a hint of sarcasm.
"Well what did he write?" She asked curious. Now becoming a bit concerned at her husbands reaction.
Hawkeye still re read it stunned each time his eyes ran over the words.
"Dear Doctor Pierce,
I write this letter in complete and utter humility. I have had much time to think of the times we shared back in Korea, especially recently.
I've looked back and wondered how in the world I could have even an ounce of respect for a man who did the things you did to me. For many years, I despised you. It was only until recently, when I received a letter from Margaret, sharing with me that your son had been drafted. And instead of feeling like you were getting what was due to you, I felt a hint of sadness. Strange I know.
I contemplated that feeling I had, over and over. I have much time on my hands these days. I came to the conclusion that throughout my life there have been very few people I considered worthy enough to receive praise from me, and there still remain very few I can actually express it to. I suppose you're wondering where I am going with this. And honestly so am I.
I am trying to say, merely that, you Captain, were the best surgeon I have ever seen. No one will ever top your skill and better yet, no one will ever top your grace. I know we all did things we never meant to, or in your case, things you did mean to do. I do know this that I am sorry your son was drafted, I know how you hate war, I know how you despise it and I am truly sorry. Please except my sympathies and know you remain, though it may be impossible for you to believe, one of the best men, I have ever known.
Sincerely,
Frank Burns, MD."
"Wow sweetheart...what do you have to say about that?" She waited for a reply and got nothing. "Sweetheart?" She looked down at her husband to see a tear streaking down his face.
Quickly he wiped it away and replied hastily. "Where's a pad and paper?"
"Where's...the Major....?" Blake muttered in between coughs, glancing around.
His friend looked down to the ground. "They shot him, he...they were...going to finish you off...and the Major, well, he stopped em..."
Blake closed his eyes then opened them. "This Major...what was his name?"
"Burns...sir...Lance Burns..."
Blake nodded slightly then slowly closed his eyes and thought about back home.
END.
AN: I know I know, that letter may not sound like the Frank we all know and love, but work with me here. I left a very small cliff, please no body fall over till I get back.
Take care - TLH