Part Two
Lieutenant JG Meg Austin sat in her office pouring over some articles of how naval, marine, air force and army officers died in the Vietnam War. Agent Orange…friendly fire…MIA…Viet Cong booby traps…torture in POW Camps…how did my dad die? She wondered. She had completed the grieving process two weeks ago, but she still wanted answers. Answers that might cause you to start the grieving process again Austin, she admonished herself harshly. She heard a knock at the door, and looked up. A smile spread over her face.
'Hey Harm,' she said softly. Meg had saved him two days before from being murdered in Arlington Cemetery by the Thai Ambassador's life. He was very grateful. He smiled back, and noticed the file as she tried unsuccessfully to hide it.
'Hey Meg…what's that?' He said, taking the file from her.
'Vietnam War deaths, Meg? Causes of death…people who died…bodies found…Meg what is this? Why are you reading this? It's awful stuff Lieutenant!' Harm said, concerned. Meg blushed.
'You wouldn't understand sir…'
'Try me Lieutenant,'
'You won't be able to do anything Harm…' Meg bit her lip, and her eyes travelled to some information she had accessed on the Web.
'Meg, why this stuff?' Harm sat in front of his junior partner, putting the file back down in front of her.
'Because my dad died in the Vietnam War when I was four years old, Harm. I just spent twenty-three years going through the grief cycle, and only the week I met you did I fully accept he was gone. I just want to know HOW it happened. I was never told that,' Meg explained carefully. She watched Harm's expression. He understood.
'Meg, my dad went MIA on Christmas Eve 1968, I was five…he was an F-14 pilot, part of why I decided to become one. Now, I don't know if he is dead, or alive, and if he is alive where he is, but I'm guessing he is dead. I know that doesn't help, but this might. I'll help you,'
'Help me what?' Meg asked him with an innocent look on her face. Harm smiled. He loved that look. She was so sweet, and kind.
'I'll help you find out how your dad died,'
Meg jumped up and ran around to hug him.
'Easy on there Meg!' Harm said as she released him. Meg just smiled, collecting her notes and printing an article off the Net.
'You don't know what that means to me Harm,'
Harm smiled. 'Have you checked your dad's service record? That might have some answers. Also, what about old friends from his battalion…'
'No, I have checked the service record. I tried but whoever was in charge of that stuff wouldn't release it to me,'
'Did you…'
'I said I was his daughter,' Meg replied. 'And I don't know any friends from his battalion, maybe one, but I am not talking to him right now, and haven't since I was sixteen,'
Harm sighed. The problem was, Meg still had that sixteen year old in her. It was in her eyes.
'Come, we'll go get that record, see if that has some clues,' He led her out of her office and took her to the Naval Archives.
'Lieutenant JG Austin would like to get her father's old service records,' he said to the person in charge.
'Can she prove she is his daughter?'
'Just give her the damn records,'
'Lieutenant Rabb, I see no reason…'
'I also need them, as I am conducting some research on families ripped apart by the Vietnam War. I wanted to contrast Lieutenant Austin's family experience to my own,' Harm lied. They were let through and fifteen minutes later a box was dumped unceremoniously in front of Meg.
'This is what was found of his and his service record,'
Meg began pulling things out the box, but Harm stalled her.
'How about I go see if you can keep this?'
Meg smiled. 'Thank you,' she continued to go through the box, finding titbits of her father's past. His shoulder bars, ribbons, and a few medals as well as some old family treasures he had taken with him, his watch, the service record, Death Notice and an envelope, which had never been sent with her name on it. Her hands shook as she picked it up. Harm re-entered.
'It's all cleared Meg. That box is yours…I had to pay…'
'Here let me pay you back,' Meg said hurriedly. Harm shook his head.
'Meg, no. Just let me do this for you, you have enough to go through there at home.'
Meg started putting everything back, starting with the letter.
'Will you…come over to my place tonight and…go through it with me?' Meg asked.
'What about your mom? Your brother or other family members?'
Meg shook her head. 'No, they're fine; they don't want to know how he died. I need to know Harm, and I need you there when I find out.'
'Okay Meg. How about I bring Chinese over?'
'That'll be nice,' Meg replied as she lifted the box and they left.
Meg's Apartment
Harm and Meg sat on the floor by her couch, going through the box. Harm picked up the shoulder bars.
'Your dad was a Lieutenant…'
'Yeah, pretty short naval career…I guess mine will be too,'
'My dad was a Lieutenant when he went MIA, and by no means will your career be short Meg,' He caught her smiling and she mouthed a silent thank you to him. Her father's stuff lay strewn around her and Harm, each one a distant memory for her. She picked up a small wooden Buddha, and saw an inscription on the bottom.
'For my darling Meg, rub his belly for good luck
Love Dad'
Meg wiped a tear away, but rubbed the Buddha's belly, making Harm smile. She passed it to him.
'It's nice Meg,' Harm said as she picked up the service record. She began reading it carefully until she came to the death report. She fought back the tears as she read the cause of death.
'Torture by the Viet Cong, Agent Orange immediate effects…' Harm took the file from her and read it.
'It was painful and slow…he suffered,'
'Meg, it's okay…here, read the letter…' Harm said uneasily, processing the information himself. He did so while he watched Meg open the letter and read it, the last remnant of her father. Harm packed the rest of the stuff in the box safely, but left the little wooden Buddha out for Meg. Meg unfolded her dad's letter and began to read.
Dearest Meg
It saddens me to know that if you are reading this I have not come home from Vietnam. Honey, I know that you may not get this until years after my death for several reasons, but I want you to know that that is how I wanted it. I wanted you to get this when you were old enough to understand what happened in the sixties and seventies, and what happened to me.
Meg, I loved you so much. I remember singing you to sleep at night before I left. I remember the day you born; you thin blonde hair and tiny hands and feet. You were the littlest baby in the nursery, and I loved you from the moment I saw you.
You kept me going through the hardest of times while I fought. I would think of you and the whole world would become clear and I knew what to do. Baby, when you find out what I was doing, it may chill you, but know I loved you the whole time, and that I did it to save America.
I'm sorry I had to leave your life so soon sweetheart, and if you had trouble letting go, I hope it didn't last too long, and that you eventually discovered the truth behind my death, because if I know my baby girl, she is nothing like her mother and brother, and would want to know everything for peace of mind.
Take care darling girl; we will meet again one day
Love
Daddy
Meg was in tears by the end of the letter, and was shaking as she put it back into the envelope and into the box. Harm moved the box and went closer to her, wrapping his arms around her as she cried.
'How are you Meg?'
'I feel more at ease knowing how it happened…if that makes sense…'
'Yeah…you have the whole story now, and you can be at peace.' He said gently. Meg nodded.
'The letter was lovely, and it reminded me of how much I miss him still.'
'Meg, you will always miss your dad. Nothing will ever change how much you loved him, or how much you miss him. Just remember he loved you…and I will always be here if you need me,'
Meg pulled away from him, smiling through her tears.
'Thank you Harm. Thank you for helping me do this. I feel lighter now. You have really helped me,' Meg said, hugging him tightly.
'Anytime Meg, anytime you need me, I'll help you,'
