O.K., fans! I think I'm ready to start the next segment of "Between Seasons."
I hope you enjoy it as much as the first.
Please R&R. Will do same for those who do mine.
Chapter Three
The mess tent was empty, except for Father Mulcahy and Corporal Klinger, who were busy trying to set up for Henry Blake's memorial services. It was the day following Radar's gut-wrenching announcement in the O.R., and they still couldn't believe it was true. People had given the father letters, poems, stories, and even scraps of paper with their own personal fond memories of Henry at Mulcahy's request. Because they didn't have a body to do a proper funeral, (he was being shipped home as soon as he was found) the Padre suggested putting the bulletin board up with pictures, stories, and such to commemorate their beloved former boss.
It was ten minutes to three, and people were starting to fill the tent, as the services were scheduled to start at three o'clock sharp. Mulcahy sat behind the pulpit as nurses, doctors, corpsmen, and servicemen alike walked through the door and paused to glance at the board. Some laughed, some half-heartedly grinned, but mostly, they fought to hold back their tears.
Everyone was eventually seated. Father Mulcahy stood and walked slowly to the pulpit, finding it difficult to even begin. He glanced over the crowd.
This is my biggest crowd yet, he thought. How will I make it through this? I'm their spiritual leader, their rock, and yet here I am, trembling like a child myself.
Major Frank Burns, the new 'beloved' commander was sitting in the front row. "Can we get started, Father? I still have my office to finish setting up." Major Houlihan nudged him in the ribs hard enough to make him cringe. "Sorry!" Frank apologized.
"My friends. Where do I begin? He was a great man," Mulcahy started. "He listened when on of us needed someone to talk to. Always had a good drink when one needed one." This elicited a few laughs. "Always knew what to say and when to say it. He had a heart as big as all outdoors." A bit more sobs. "He was a fine surgeon, doctor commander and friend." He paused, eyes watering. "Goodbye, dear, sweet man! Goodbye, Henry!"
His voice cracked, and, unable to hold back, broke down into sobs. "And now, I'll leave it up to you, my flock as it were, to say a few words."
Major Sidney Freedman stood up. "I'll keep this short. Henry was a man who didn't belong here, and yet without him, I don't think we could have made it through the war as far as we have, neither could his patients. He was unmilitary, and yet he kept this army camp running as smooth as possible while in the face of impossible horror. He will be missed." He stopped for a moment. "I will be around for a day or so if anyone wishes to stop by the V.I.P. tent to talk for a while after the service."
One by one, people stood and spoke. Some told humorous tales, somber, but all were teary-eyed. Hawkeye, Trapper, Klinger (wearing his best evening gown), Nurse Craddy, Hot Lips, even Frank, Rosie from the gin joint across the road, Nurse Kellye, Igor the cook, Nurse Ginger Bailey, and others.
The service lasted for over one-and-a-half hours. It finished with Radar, who could barely stand.
"Oh, please, God! Not Colonel Blake! No!" He fell back into his seat, his face buried in his hands, shoulders racking with barely audible sobs.
O.K. that's it for now. Big twist in the next segment involving Frank. Keep a Hawkeye out for it. R&R, please!
I hope you enjoy it as much as the first.
Please R&R. Will do same for those who do mine.
Chapter Three
The mess tent was empty, except for Father Mulcahy and Corporal Klinger, who were busy trying to set up for Henry Blake's memorial services. It was the day following Radar's gut-wrenching announcement in the O.R., and they still couldn't believe it was true. People had given the father letters, poems, stories, and even scraps of paper with their own personal fond memories of Henry at Mulcahy's request. Because they didn't have a body to do a proper funeral, (he was being shipped home as soon as he was found) the Padre suggested putting the bulletin board up with pictures, stories, and such to commemorate their beloved former boss.
It was ten minutes to three, and people were starting to fill the tent, as the services were scheduled to start at three o'clock sharp. Mulcahy sat behind the pulpit as nurses, doctors, corpsmen, and servicemen alike walked through the door and paused to glance at the board. Some laughed, some half-heartedly grinned, but mostly, they fought to hold back their tears.
Everyone was eventually seated. Father Mulcahy stood and walked slowly to the pulpit, finding it difficult to even begin. He glanced over the crowd.
This is my biggest crowd yet, he thought. How will I make it through this? I'm their spiritual leader, their rock, and yet here I am, trembling like a child myself.
Major Frank Burns, the new 'beloved' commander was sitting in the front row. "Can we get started, Father? I still have my office to finish setting up." Major Houlihan nudged him in the ribs hard enough to make him cringe. "Sorry!" Frank apologized.
"My friends. Where do I begin? He was a great man," Mulcahy started. "He listened when on of us needed someone to talk to. Always had a good drink when one needed one." This elicited a few laughs. "Always knew what to say and when to say it. He had a heart as big as all outdoors." A bit more sobs. "He was a fine surgeon, doctor commander and friend." He paused, eyes watering. "Goodbye, dear, sweet man! Goodbye, Henry!"
His voice cracked, and, unable to hold back, broke down into sobs. "And now, I'll leave it up to you, my flock as it were, to say a few words."
Major Sidney Freedman stood up. "I'll keep this short. Henry was a man who didn't belong here, and yet without him, I don't think we could have made it through the war as far as we have, neither could his patients. He was unmilitary, and yet he kept this army camp running as smooth as possible while in the face of impossible horror. He will be missed." He stopped for a moment. "I will be around for a day or so if anyone wishes to stop by the V.I.P. tent to talk for a while after the service."
One by one, people stood and spoke. Some told humorous tales, somber, but all were teary-eyed. Hawkeye, Trapper, Klinger (wearing his best evening gown), Nurse Craddy, Hot Lips, even Frank, Rosie from the gin joint across the road, Nurse Kellye, Igor the cook, Nurse Ginger Bailey, and others.
The service lasted for over one-and-a-half hours. It finished with Radar, who could barely stand.
"Oh, please, God! Not Colonel Blake! No!" He fell back into his seat, his face buried in his hands, shoulders racking with barely audible sobs.
O.K. that's it for now. Big twist in the next segment involving Frank. Keep a Hawkeye out for it. R&R, please!