[A/N] I continue to be overwhelmed by the interest in this story, which has outperformed my previous action stories by a huge margin. I offer my thanks to all of those who have taken the time to read the story, and especially to those of you who have left a review.
Chapter 5
Of Phantoms and Photos
Once Harm had finished unpacking, he showered and changed into white boxer shorts and a white undershirt. He placed a stack of San Diego travel brochures on the end table next the Sony tape player and began scanning the study's bookcase until he spotted the photo album he wanted.
After removing the album, Harm was relaxing on the sofa bed when heard a knock on the door. "Come in."
"I saw your light was on," said Mac, who wearing a teal colored, round-neck flannel nightgown.
The nightgown was ankle length, and Harm couldn't help but laugh. "Is that what you sleep in?"
"Yes, it is (when I'm alone in bed- which was your choice). Hatch open, or closed?"
"Close it."
Mac saw the photo album open in front of Harm. "Looking through some Rabb family memories?"
"These are photos of my dad taken while he was deployed. Sit down and I'll show them to you." Harm patted to a spot next to him and Mac quickly slid into bed with him.
The early photos were in B&W and could have served as a virtual time capsule of 1960's naval aviation. The album's first color photos were of Harm Senior standing next to a Grumman F-11 Tiger, the single seat fighter that the Blue Angels were flying in the mid-1960's.
Mac's eyes went wide at the sight of Big Harm dressed in the blue and gold flight suit of a Blue Angel.
My God! he was handsome. I'm sorry Trish, but I like his mustache. Mac wondered if Harm would look equally good with one?
"You really do look like your dad," Mac said.
"People always tell me that, but I think that I looked more like my grandfather, Warren Rabb. He was killed during the Battle of Midway while flying off the old Hornet."
The next few pages had photos of flight deck operations, including launching and recovering classic Cold War naval aircraft like the Rockwell A-5 Vigilante.
Harm identified each aircraft type, and explained what role it played in combat. When Mac seemed uninterested, Harm skipped ahead to photos his father had taken during a liberty call in Hong Kong, including photos of the ferry which carried passengers across Victoria Harbor.
Tom Boone was shown standing on the outside of the safety rail which ran along the edge of the ferry, and was hamming it up for the camera.
The next photo showed Tom being arrested by the Hong Kong Police.
"If I can remember the story, it cost my dad fifty bucks to get Tom out of jail. Tom jumped bail in Hong Kong, and I'm not sure if he can ever go back."
The final pages of the album contained photos taken during the USS Ticonderoga's deployment in the Summer of 1969.
There were several photos of shipboard life featuring Harm Senior, Tom Boone, Bill Ross, Al Cherry, and Gary Grissom.
"This was Gary Grissom's final deployment. He was 'sheep-dipped' and went to work for Air America, flying in and out of Cambodia and Laos from Thailand. No one heard much from him until the fall of Saigon when an Air America Huey landed on the Hornet and Grissom climbed out of it. Grits went back into the Navy and eventually commanded my training squadron at Pensacola."
"Small world," said Mac.
The next few pages contained photos taken in Subic Bay, Philippine Islands.
"Subic Bay was the Pacific Fleets largest base. During the Vietnam era over 200 ships a month stopped there. A carrier would normally spend four weeks on the line and then spend a week in Subic Bay or Hong Kong. The base exchange at Subic Bay had the highest volume of sales of any exchange in the world."
Harm remembered the Christmas presents his father had sent to him in the Fall of 1969. The gifts sat unopened for several months after the shootdown.
There were photos taken in nearby Olongapo City. Harm Senior, Tom, Bill, Al Cherry and Gary Grissom were shown piling out of a jeepney; a crude bus fabricated from a surplus military jeep.
There was also a photo of the little bus stopped in front of Pauline's Bar, the largest night club in Olongapo.
"According to Tom and Bill, Pauline's was a US Navy institution. Pauline's had a pit out front which was surrounded by a low iron fence. A six foot long alligator lived in the pit and feasted on the ducklings and chickens which the locals sold to sailors and Marines."
Mac frowned at the following photos which showed Tom and Bill feeding baby ducks to the hungry reptile.
"The alligator was tame, or reasonably so," said Harm. "Even so, every once and a while a drunken sailor or jarhead would jump into the pit and get a chunk taken out of his ass."
"Is Pauline's still there?" asked Mac.
"It burned to the ground in early 1973. Some sort of an electrical fire. It must have put a lot of girls out of work."
Mac scowled. "Perhaps they went back to school and then found gainful employment at local shops or in offices."
"No doubt." Mac had climbed onto her high-horse, and Harm could barely contain his laughter.
"I suppose that you've been to Subic Bay?"
"By the time I got into the fleet, Olongapo City was a church camp."
The pair kept working through the album until they found photos of Tom Boone on the flight deck of the Ticonderoga taken after he had downed a MiG-21 Fishbed.
"In addition to being Tom's only kill in Vietnam, it was VF-111's first and only kill in an F-4 Phantom. Tom was awarded a Silver Star, and he earned some overdue respect in the squadron."
"Is Captain Boone a good pilot?" Mac imagined Boone, now a senior officer, as nothing more than paper-pushing administrator who flew a few times a month.
"Tom is among the best pilots in the fleet. I'd fly with Tom any time...if he'd let me."
Mac looked at Harm. Do you still want that life? If you went back into the fleet I'd never see you again.
More photos followed, including Harm Senior and his RIO, Hoot Gibson, standing in front of Sweet Sarah. "This was my dad's F-4. My dad and Tom ferried her back to NAS San Diego from the McDonnell Douglas factory in St. Louis. She was right off the factory floor."
"Your dad's Phantom is pretty, but she's not beautiful like your Stearman," Mac said.
"Thanks. It took a lot of hours of by a lot of people to complete Sarah's restoration."
"Is there any way to know what happened to Sweet Sarah?" asked Mac.
"The Naval Historical Center in DC has cards on virtually every aircraft ever owned or operated by the Navy. Sarah survived the war and stayed in the fleet until she was retired and sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in Arizona where she was converted into a remote-controlled target drone. Sweet Sarah was shot down during a weapons test in June, 1992."
"That's sad."
Harm shrugged. "She went down flying. It's better than sitting on the ground and then being cut up for scrap. Sweet Sarah was in the intermediate maintenance shop on the day that my dad was shot down. (If he'd been flying Sarah on Christmas Eve, he would have dodged that SAM, just like had dodged all of the others). When she came out of the shop, Tom Boone flew her for the rest of his deployment."
The last two pages in the album were photos of members of the Bob Hope USO troop who had come aboard the Ticonderoga for a Christmas Day, including Jenny Lake, a popular singer in the late '60's.
The final photo in the album was of Harm Senior, Tom Boone, Bill Ross, Gary Grissom, and Al Cherry holding a handwritten sign which read:
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
USS Ticonderoga.
Yankee Station. December, 1969
Harm wondered why this particular photo appeared to have been removed from the album and then put back inside?
"That's a great photo," said Mac.
"It was taken by LTJG Tony "Tinkerbell" Taylor, who was a nugget on his first deployment. Tony Taylor was my squadron commander on board USS Midway during the Gulf War. I flew with Commander Taylor several times. He's a great pilot."
"How did you get these photos?" Mac asked.
"After the shoot down, my dad's camera and his undeveloped rolls of film were returned with the his personal effects. The Navy even sent back the sign from Yankee Station. When my mom had the film developed and saw the finished prints, she cried. That was the first time I had actually seen her cry. I wanted to comfort her, but I was only 6 years old and I didn't know what to do, so I just let her hold me."
"You're a good son, Harm." Mac wanted to lighten the mood. "I can't believe how young Captain Boone and Captain Ross looked in those photos. I guess Captain Boone went bald early."
"I can't remember Tom having a full head of hair."
Mac looked closer at the photo of Harm Senior. "Did you ever have a mustache?"
Harm shrugged. "Yes. Everyone grew a mustache during flight school...excepting the females."
"It's amazing to me how all of the pilots in your dad' squadron remain linked together. Did the same men fly together during the entire deployment?" Mac asked.
"The Navy kept individual crews together. Navy fighters flew 'the loose deuce-flexible four', which was a flight of four aircraft, split into pairs. The flight leader and element leader are the ones who opened fire on enemy aircraft, while their wingmen have defensive roles and provide cover. Al Cherry flew lead in the first element with Bill Ross as his wingman. My dad flew lead in the second element with Tom Boone flying his wing. As the deputy squadron commander, Buster commanded the flight of four aircraft."
"Buster?" asked Mac.
"Buster is Al Cherry's call sign."
"Al Buster Cherry? That's offensive. I thought that Navy pilots had cool names like Maverick and Iceman."
"That's only in the movies. No one in the Navy has call signs likes that."
"Then how is the name decided on?"
"Each squadron has naming committee. They decide what your call sign will be, and it's usually based on your actual name, some screw up you've made, or something equally embarrassing."
"And your dad's call sign was Hammer because his name was Harmon?"
"No. It was because he kept hammering his head while walking through passageways. My father was taller than I am, so he was constantly ducking his head aboard ship."
"And Captain Ross?" asked Mac.
"His call sign is 'Rooster'. It had to do with his hair, which used to be bright red. Bill Ross began going gray so early that I can't remember him with red hair."
"What's Captain Boone's call sign?" Mac asked.
"It's 'T-Bone'. During advanced flight training, Tom's T-28 lost engine power and he had to set it down in a farm field. A cow was directly in Tom's path and he T-boned it. His name was eventually shortened to "Bone".
"So, how did you end up with 'Zapper'?
"That's a long story involving Luke and myself."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Luke and I were flying out of NAS Corpus Christi when our F-14s were caught in a violent thunderstorm. Both aircraft were struck by lighting and we had to make emergency landings. During the debrief, Luke said that he saw a bright flash, then I said 'That's when we were zapped.' Luke and I became Flash and Zapper."
"What about names for female pilots?"
"They receive no special treatment. My favorite is Commander Marcia 'Mounds' Madison. Mounds is a flight instructor at NAS Middleton Field."
"She's called Mounds because she has big boobs?"
"No, she isn't particularly endowed. The name came from what she didn't have."
"I don't follow you."
"Think about candy bars." When Mac drew a blank, Harm said, "Almond Joy's got nuts...Mounds don't."
Mac climbed back onto her high horse. "It's a sickness! Commander Madison should have demand that her name be changed."
Harm shook his head furiously. "If you bitch about your call sign they'll change it to something worse...much worse."
"Are Captains Boone and Ross still called T-Bone and Rooster?" Mac asked.
"Perhaps by their contemporaries, but I've never heard either of them called anything besides CAG or Skipper." Harm set the photo album aside and then he smiled at Mac. "I'm glad that you came with me. Having you here has made it all a lot easier."
"How are you holding up?" Mac asked.
"It has been hard to grasp that my father is actually dead. While he was MIA my mom continued to draw his full pay and benefits, which made it seem like he was still providing for us. When my mother married Frank, I continued to receive a monthly allotment. I saved that money and used to finance my trip to Vietnam to look for him."
"Most boys would have spent it on a new car." Mac was impressed with Harm's level of maturity at such a young age.
"When we get back to DC I'll have to arrange a settlement with the DoD for his accumulated pay. It will take a CPA to sort it out."
"Do you have plans for the money?"
"I was going to use some of it to pay back Frank for the cash we lost in Russia, but he refused. Instead, I'm going to donate a portion of it to the USO."
"Harmon Rabb Junior, I am proud of you." Mac wrapped her arms around Harm and he instinctively pulled her to him.
Mac's nipples were big and hard, and they were poking through the thin material of her nightgown and into Harm's chest.
Harm gently slid his hands down Mac's body, surprised by the narrowness of her waist. When his hands came to rest on her hips, Mac's enormous brown eyes were eager in anticipation.
They kissed, but Harm was hesitant. Mac trailed her lips gently across his cheek and whispered in his ear, "It's okay, Harm, I'm ready."
Harm kissed her again, only this time with desire.
Mac looked into Harm's eyes and began lifting her nightgown. "My god. I've wanted you so badly, and for so long. I want you to take me right here and right now."
When the hemline of Mac's nightgown had reached mid-thigh, Harm pulled away and opened up space between them.
"Mac, I can't. Not here. Not like this."
Mac dropped her nightgown and moved away to the edge of the bed. "Are you punishing me or yourself?" she demanded.
"It was not my intention to do either."
Mac was exasperated. "I thought that when we came back from Russia we'd move forward, but we're at a standstill."
Harm ignored what Mac had said and grabbed the travel brochures from the end table.
"Would you like to go to Sea World tomorrow or Balboa Park? The Park has a wonderful air and space museum." Harm's eyes lit up at the thought of visiting the museum.
Mac pushed the brochures aside. "Trish invited me to her gallery tomorrow. I'm spending the day with her."
"I think that's great. The two of us can go the air and space museum later this week."
"Pardon me while I contain my excitement."
"Mac, what's wrong?"
"For the life of me, Harm, I don't understand what's going on? Actually, I don't understand why nothing is going on. Is it because you don't find me attractive? If I'm not your type, just say so."
"Mac, anything that you don't have, no woman would ever need," explained Harm.
"Then what is it?" When Harm gave Mac a deer in the headlights look she was exasperated. "Jesus Christ, Harm. You've got more secrets wrapped up inside of you than Webb. Spit it out!" she demanded.
It's because my father and my grandfather each left behind a young widow to raise a small child alone. Mac, I can't bear the thought of the same thing happening to you.
"Do we have to talk about this here?" asked Harm.
"Is it because of all of the wonderful memories you have of being here with Diane?"
"You've been bringing up Diane since we got into the rental car. You act as though she's still alive and is living in this house. It doesn't make any sense."
"What doesn't make sense is that I know you've slept with her, but you won't so much as touch me. Why is that? Are you afraid of me?"
"Of course not. It's only because I have so much respect for you."
"Don't bullshit me, Harm. Men give that line to the women who they don't want to be romantically involved with."
Harm took hold of Mac's hands. "That's not close to being the truth."
Mac pulled her hands way. "Harm, right now, you and I are on different planets."
Harm sighed. "We're both tired from the flight and the time change. Go with my mother tomorrow and have a good time. The gallery is closed on Mondays so she'll take Frank to his doctor's appointment. After that they'll go to the club and have lunch with their friends."
"Where do we fit in?"
"I know a place where we can be alone. You and I will sit down and we can discuss anything that you want to, for as long as you like." Harm saw Mac scowling at him. "I've never taken Diane there, or anyone else."
When Mac saw Harm's flyboy smile she gave up. Why fight it?
Mac shrugged. "Fine. Of course I don't think that was what the Admiral had in mind when he gave us the five days leave."
"We can fly home tomorrow night and be at our desks on Monday morning."
Mac gave Harm a playful punch on the shoulder. "I feel a bit guilty, I didn't say that I had gone insane. Besides, I never had a family vacation."
My dad would just lay on the couch watching TV and drinking beer, when he wasn't beating my mother.
"When my mother married Frank they had to drag me kicking and screaming on vacation with them. I ruined so many trips that they began sending me to stay with my grandmother. That was what I wanted, but I made everyone miserable in the process."
"You were a kid, Harm. You can't hold yourself to an adult standard for the things you did as a child," Mac explained.
"I knew what I was doing. I apologized to Frank for my past behavior. With his bad heart, I'm glad I finally told him."
"Frank is a wonderful man. I enjoyed our walk together." Mac paused. "Harm, Frank loves your mother, and he loves you. The two of you are his family. As far as he is concerned, Trish is his wife, and you are his son."
"I know that." Harm was anxious to change the subject. "What did you and my mom talk about?"
We talked about Diane, your first love. News flash: your mother didn't like her. After that, Trish shared things about her personal life which I will never divulge to you. Finally, your mother said she'd like me to become a part of her family. Of course you've taken no positive steps towards making that happen.
"Just some girl talk. Trish told me how she met your dad."
"They met on a blind date arranged by Vicki Ross. My parents went to see The Longest Day." Harm's voice became excited. "I'll bet that Frank has it on DVD. Do you want to watch it tonight?"
Mac began rubbing her temple. Dear God, give me strength.
"Not tonight." Mac spotted the tape player sitting on the end table. "Is that the tape that Webb gave you?"
Mac had the curiosity of a cat, so it was senseless trying to ignore the tape any longer.
"It's a recording of my dad's final mission in Vietnam. It contains audio of the actual shoot down."
There was a long silence. "Can I listen to it?"
"Webb never said that the tape was eyes-only, but please, don't tell my mother that it exists. This shouldn't be the final time that she hears my father's voice." and Harm passed Mac the tape player and the headphones.
Mac didn't have an aviation background. Although she didn't understand much of the dialog, the horror of Harm Senior being shot down and being helpless on the ground crossed all barriers.
When the tape concluded, Mac looked shocked. "My god! Captain Boone...he was crying."
Harm pulled Mac close to him. "Mac, the real reason that men don't want women in combat is because we don't want you to know that we cry."
