CASTLE'S COMMAND
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Author's note: As previously stated, in this AU I often take real military/political situations and fictionalize them.
Aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, the South China Sea in the vicinity of the Taiwan Straits, 20, August 1958.
Rear Admiral (upper half) Mitchell Michaelson flew his flag on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington. Commander of the carrier battlegroup, he was a tall, thin, angular faced man of fifty-two. He wore his salt and pepper hair in a crew cut. Sea-gray eyes looked at the world from beneath a craggy brow. His teeth were clamped on the stem of his pipe as he awaited the teletype to quit chattering. New orders were coming in.
The battlegroup was on patrol, showing the flag, to protect Taiwan. The PRC and the ROC had been going at each other off and on since 1949 and it had yet to evolve into a full- on shooting war, although they exchanged artillery fire from time to time.
The admiral took the teletype message from the yeoman. He turned to the ship's signal officer.
"Commander Jeffords get an encrypted signal to all ship's captains. Orders are to stand into the Taiwan Straits ready to support Taiwan against communist forces with all force necessary. All ships on full alert ready to go to battle stations on a moment's notice. It seems that the PRC is ready to do more than rattle their sabers, this time." He then turned to the ship's captain.
"Dave, tell the CAG to have the air group on full alert. We may have more than surface action."
"Aye, Aye sir."
The carrier air group had two squadrons of FJ-4 "Fury" Fighter-bombers, two of F9F-8 "Cougars" one of A-4 "Skyhawks" and one squadron of A3D "Sky warriors." With her helicopters, she carried a total of 110 aircraft. The air group was commanded by Commander Danial "Tank" Tomlinson. A short, broad dark- haired man. A first -rate pilot and tactician, usually seen with a cigar clamped in his teeth. A holy terror to any member of the group, commissioned or enlisted who failed to meet his high standards.
The PA system went off. "CAG to report to the flag bridge, CAG to the bridge." Tank walked onto the bridge. He came to attention before the admiral. "Commander Tomlinson reporting sir."
"Commander, it looks like the fecal matter may be hitting the air circulator. I want constant CAP at all time starting at first light tomorrow. Start with the F-9's and rotate them with the FJ-4's. I want the A-4s and the A3D'so n a fifteen-minute alert. "
"AYE, aye sir, permission to lode the Cougars with the new bullpup missiles."
"You're the CAG. Handle your group as you see fit."
As soon as he got to his office he ordered the F-9'sfitted with Bullpup missiles and the FJs loaded with sidewinders. If the Chinese wanted to play hardball, he'd damn sure strike them out!
Aboard the U.S.S. Los Angeles one mile away from the Lexington.
Castle had just finished his breakfast and was savoring a second cup of coffee when the call came for him to come to the bridge.
"Damn it, can't a man finish his breakfast in peace?"
He put his jacket and cap on and went to the bridge
"Captain on the bridge!"
"As you were. What's going on Commander?"
"Message from flag, sir. We are on fifteen-minute alert, be ready to go to title stations at any time."
"Very well Commander. I wand the main battery pre- loaded secondaries as well. Light a fire under the radar and sonar people, I don't want any surprises."
"Aye, aye sir."
"Yeoman. Get Chief Worth to the bridge."
"Aye, aye sir." Commander Calvert began issuing orders to the division officers and in three minutes, Chief Ward was on the bridge."
"Sorry sir, I was in the head."
"No problem, Chief. From now, until further orders, we're on fifteen minutes alert. Fifteen minutes or not, I want this ship ready to go on five minutes notice. This is all I have for now. It looks like it may hit the fan with the two Chinas. If it does, we'll probably be drawn in. So, make sure that all your division chiefs know that if battle stations sound, it will not be a drill."
"Aye, aye sir."
"Commander, Officer's call in the wardroom. Thirty minutes."
If a movie director could have seen into the bridge, he would have sworn that the three men in conference were sent from central casting. All three were more than good looking. Two of them down right handsome. Castle tall and broad shouldered and muscular, ruggedly handsome.
Commander Calvert equally as tall, but with a slim, runner's build, blonde haired and green eyed, classic Hollywood star handsome.
Chief Worth was shorter than the two officers, stockily built, with a square jaw, wide set brown eyes, and fiery red hair worn in a crew cut.
His sleeves covered muscular arms adorned with tattoos. A friendly easy- going man when he could be, but hard as nails when it came to the welfare and efficiency of the ship More than one sailor felt the rough edge of his tongue when he didn't do his job the best he could.
The Wardroom
"Attention on deck, the captain. There was the rustle of cloth and scraping of shoes as the officers came to attention.
"At ease, gentlemen. Take your seats. A large map was displayed.
This, gentlemen are the coast of China and this is the island of Taiwan. The PRC has been trying to reclaim Taiwan. The Taiwanese want none of it. Chine tried to force Taiwan back under its' authority two years ago. Now it appears that they're at it again. If they actually attack, the battlegroup is ordered to intervene, with force if necessary. And knowing the PRC it will be necessary. In a few days we may be in action.
Starting immediately this ship will proceed as if we are already at war.
That is all for now."
"Attention, dismissed."
It had been a long day. Castle sat in his cabin writing a letter to Kate.
Dear Kate,
It's been a long day and I'm bushed. So, this letter will be short. I can't tell you what's going on, but you'll probably see it in the newspapers and on television, soon enough, I'm sorry that I will miss the children's birthdays. Damn, it will be the first time since they were born. We've been lucky. Well, I've got seventeen years in, I can retire in three, if that's what we decide to do. I miss you and the children so much and love you more than I can put into words. Good night, sweetheart.
With all my love.
Rick.
Lemon Grove, California, 23:00 hours 19. August 1958
Kate lay in their big bed. It seemed so empty with Rick not in it. Despite all the years they'd been married the ache when Rick was away just as fierce as the first time. Many couples grow apart after years together and having children They had not, they had only grown closer, their love stronger than ever.
With Rick only gone a week, the sleazeball Davidson accosted Kate, one Friday, in the BX, asking her for a date on Saturday. And she'd carried out her threat. Immediately reporting him to the hospital commander. Upon hearing about it a couple of other wives and two nurses also lodged complaints.
Having failed in his conquests, Davidson spent the weekend in a high-class bordello in Tijuana. He walked into the hospital on Monday morning, neatly uniformed, but bleary-eyed and more than two hours late.
The duty officer informed him that he was to report to the hospital commander, asap.
Davidson entered the office and to his surprise saw a Shore Patrol lieutenant and an SP chief standing there. The hospital commander was not only a fine, dedicated doctor he was a long service naval officer, just as likely to note scuffed shoes or a non-regulation haircut as he was to spot a medical deficiency.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Report properly, Lieutenant, that is if you even know how. And, no, I didn't want to see you but my duty says I must. You are a disgrace to this hospital, to your duty as a doctor, the conduct required of a naval officer and the naval service You are two hours AWOL and complaints have been lodged against you for accosting fellow officer's wives. Two nurses and a patient have accused you of unprofessional conduct. You are under arrest doctor, pending an investigation to these charges, you are confined to your quarters. Your on base quarters. Lieutenant Wayne", escort this officer to his quarters and post a guard. He next day, Davidson was escorted back to the captain's office.
"Lieutenant Davidson, I would prefer to court martial you, but I also would prefer not to have any more disgrace a court martial would cause. Therefore, I am offering you to resign. This offer will expire in two minutes." It took Davidson twenty seconds.
"I'll resign."
"Very well. Your resignation is already typed up. Just sign it and then be off this base in two hours or less. One more thing Mister Davidson. You are from New York. I suggest that you be back there within the week. The Navy has ways of making it very unpleasant for you if you stay in San Diego."
Needless to say, Davidson was back in New York within the week. but finding good jobs was a daunting experience The Navy has a long reach.
Aboard the Lexington 09:00 21, August 1958
"Admiral,aerial reconnaissance shows Chinese troops and landing craft assembling on the mainland coast it appears that they'll be ready to go in a couple of days."
"Very well. Send to the Marine command on Okinawa code name dragon slayer encrypted top secret."
"Aye, aye sir."
Six hours after the message was sent, the Fourth Marne Regiment with tanks and artillery attached to make it a regimental combat was embarked on the attack transport U.S.S. Gage
and the landing ship tank U,S.S. Marion County and they were sailing to join the battlegroup. By noon of the 22nd the transport and the landing ship had joined the battle group.
Aboard the Los Angeles, South China Sea, near the Taiwan Straits, 08:00 23, August 1958.
"Sound general quarters, sound general quarters, man your battle stations." Rang throughout the ship. There was a disciplined scramble as the well-drilled crew ran to their battle stations.
"All stations report manned and ready sir."
"Very well, maintain the present course, all ahead full."
Castle trained his binoculars on the carrier. He could see the first pair of fighters lift off. He turned to his exec.
"The communists have launched attacks on Quemoy and Matsu, probably as stepping stones to Taiwan. The orders have come down. We are to engage all PRC forces. The balloon has gone up, Gary. Time to earn our pay,"
The nationalist forces were holding their own, so far, having repulsed the initial attempts as they had defeated a force of armed junks and gunboats. A larger force in landing craft was on the way and a second force, estimated to be division strength had bypassed the lesser islands, headed for Taiwan itself. It had been spotted and the ROC Capitol Division was deploying to meet it.
The Capitol Division was armed and equipped with American weapons, tanks and artillery and trained to American standards, it was a proud, well- disciplined force. The Third Marines were sailing directly for Taiwan while the fourth went for Quemoy
The Marines reached Taiwan first and deployed to reinforce the ROC's
Taking up a concealed position on the ROC's right flank. The ROC division furiously opposed the PRC's landing for two hours, then fell back to a prepared position, inflicting heavy casualties on the advancing communists until the advance halted, The PRC division was shredded when the hard charging Marines ripped into their left flank forcing the mauled division to fall back to its' landing ships, being forced to abandon its' artillery and lost more than half their tanks to the Marine's M48A3 tanks.
The PRC division reboarded their landing craft and pulled out and headed back to mainland China to regroup and get replacements, they hadn't given up.
The PRC had a second division forming up and after replacing the first division's losses would try to mount a second attempt.
The Lexington Battlegroup, the Taiwan Straits, 24, August 1958.
The carrier's air group had been carrying out air strikes on PRC staging areas, after the fighters defeating a PRC air attack on the battle group. Twelve Mig 15's had been shot down with only one FJ4 damaged. The rest of the Migs had turned back.
Now the cruisers were coming into play. The cruisers split into two groups. The Los Angeles and the Atlanta with the destroyer Chevalier into one group, the Helena and the Dayton with the destroyer Cory the second.
The first group would stage around Quemoy and Matsu, the second around Taiwan.
Castle stood on the bridge watching the five and eight-inch shells land on the PRC positions. In a two- hour bombardment of the PRC force surrendered. The Atlanta had taken care of Matsu.
Despite the air attacks the PRC still tried to mount a second attempt on Taiwan, with the full second division and the remnants of the first. It was doomed to failure. The PRC didn't have enough naval assets to either drive off the American ships or protect its' convoy if it did get to sea.
Having determined that that there was little threat of submarine attacks on the carrier, three of the destroyers remained as escorts and three joined with the cruisers. The Helena, the Dayton and the Cory rejoined during the night.
Aboard the Los Angeles 15:00 hours, 24, August 1958.
"Captain, radar reports surface targets, at forty thousand yards."
"Very well, pass to main batteries to engage as soon as you have a solution. Secondaries engage when in range. Pass to flag, enemy on the move."
The Los Angeles shuddered as all nine eight-inch guns fired at the same time. No hits were registered with the first or second salvo, both ranging shots. The third scored on the largest of the transports, making her go dead in the water.
The convoy was escorted by three Chinese copies of British WWII cruisers, one heavy and two light and four destroyers, also copies of British types. Not having an experienced naval shipyard, the copies were inferior to the copied ships and hopelessly outclassed by the American ships. Nonetheless, they fired on the Americans. None of the shells landing closer than two hundred yards from the Los Angeles.
The PRC ships were not only outclassed they were outnumbered. The battle that followed was short lived, lasting a little over two hours, ending with the PRC heavy cruiser and two destroyers sunk, the other warships all heavily damaged. There were no U.S. ships sunk. The Dayton and the Hamner were lightly damaged, while the Forest Sherman received moderate damage.
The PRC's central committee finally understood that America was fully committed to the defense of Taiwan and China was not ready or willing to risk a full-on war with the United States and its' allies, knowing full well that Russia would not back China if war came.
What was left of the convoy withdrew. A few weeks later a
The battle group remained on patrol in the South China Sea, working out of bases in Japan.
South China Sea, 12. October, 1958.
The battle group was relieved by the U.S.S. Forrestal (CV-59) and her battlegroup. The battle group stopped over for one week, in Pearl Harbor for resupply and minor repairs as well as briefings of the Seventh fleet's staff.
Naval Base San Diego, 28, October 1958.
Kate, Jenny and their children stood on the pier waiting anxiously as the crews disembarked from their ships. Three and a half months. The longest Kate had been apart from Rick since they'd been married. The children had missed daddy as had Kate and on top of missing him, she was as horny as a bag of toads She flashed her brightest smile as she spotted Rick's tall broad form emerging from the crowd. She could barely restrain herself from running to him and throwing herself into his arms, but the children were there.
As it was, as soon as he reached them, she did claim first right and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, keeping it brief, mindful of the children's excited cries of "Daddy". Shel whispered;
"Later Darling."
Alex was still young enough to be picked and hugged then set down. When he picked Johanna up and kissed her, she clung to him like a Koala.
Kevin was just a few minutes behind Rick and the Ryan's welcome scene mirrored the Castle's. The two families rode home together in Kate's station wagon. As soon as they reached home Rick called his parents to tell them he was home safe. It was decided that Martha and George would fly out to spend Christmas and New year with them, while the Ryan's would fly east to spend the holidays with their extended family.
Christmas was special that year, daddy had been gone so long and was now home. The grandparents were there to do their best to spoil their grandchildren. Christmas Eve, after a superb dinner of ham, turkey, yams, carrots, green beans, a salad and apple pie, the presents were opened. The children got half a dozen presents each, both clothes and toys. Rick had brought Kate's Christmas presents from Japan. A lovely deep purple silk kimono and a 14-carat gold and jade necklace with matching earrings.
Kate gave Rick a buttery soft leather Jacket and a Hamilton chronometer to replace his rather battered one.
The children safely asleep, Kate and Rick, in bed, exchanged very special Christmas Presents.
Christmas day, the family enjoyed a leisurely brunch, then spent the afternoon visiting the Ryan's and the Kings, exchanging presents with them.
Headquarters, Naval Base San Diego. 01, December 1960.
"Admiral Kane will see you now, Captain."
"Rick entered the admiral's office, came to attention and said;
"Captain castle reporting as ordered sir."
"Take a seat Captain. Coffee?"
"Yes sir, thank you, sir."
The coffee came and the first sips taken then the cups set down.
"You will have your twenty in, net June, Captain. Have you decided if you are going to retire?"
"My wife and I have discussed it a lot and we've decided that I'll stay in and go for at least one more hitch, maybe go for thirty."
"I'm glad to hear that Captain, the Navy would hate to lose an officer of your abilities. That brings us to the question of your next assignment. You've had an excellent record in all of your commands. But it is time to think of the next step. The Navy wants you to attend the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island. It is a two- year assignment to get the full courses we need you to take. Do you want the assignment?"
"Yes sir. I've had enough time at sea for now. That will give our family some stable time so I won't be at sea.'
"Very good Captain. Classes start in September. You'll be relieved of command of the Los Angeles in January and work on my staff until it is time for you and your family to move. For your information, Commander Ryan is attending also. Dismissed Captain go tell your wife."
Kate was overjoyed that they would have almost three years of steady shore duty. And beyond that, who knew. She wasn't happy about the hassle of moving, but since the Navy paid for the transportation of their furnishings and for personal transportation costs, it wouldn't be too bad. She also knew that there would be adjustment issues for the children, as Lemon Grove was the only home they knew. They were however intelligent children and would be happy enough that daddy would be home all the time.
It would also help that the Ryan's would be in Rhode Island as well.
TBC
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