Warning: This chapter contains the graphic description of a hanging and the near death by a major character, because of it.


In those two days of confinement in the tower his beard grew again, but he didn't care about that anymore. On the evening of the second day, Hogan got his last meal. As he was allowed to get anything he wished for, he asked them for a nice French dish made by his former chef, French corporal Louis LeBeau. The wish was granted. Sadly for LeBeau, he wasn't allowed to see his former CO one last time. General Butler told them all it would be better for them, to just remember Hogan as a strong and confident leader and not to see him at his lowest point in his military career. The men accepted this with heavy hearts; even Schultz and Klink had tears in their eyes at hearing the bad news about what was to happen to Colonel Hogan.

In the early morning hours of the third day of his confinement in the tower, Hogan was taken out of his cell. He was still in his dress uniform, although it had no longer any merit. The guards only bound his hands tightly together with a rope and brought him out of the building and to the courtyard, where a wooden platform had been erected. A wooden row of steps lead up to it and in its center was the noose, hanging from a thick beam. Without preamble Hogan was lead onto the platform and to its middle, right above the trapdoor. His executioner was traditionally dressed for the occasion, like they were in the golden age of piracy; completely in leather and with a black leather hood covering his face, only his eyes were visible. Not showing any emotion whatsoever the executioner walked up to Hogan and put the noose around his neck, tightening it. Then he stepped to the lever, putting his hand on it and waiting for the signal from the military judge to pull it.

A young guard came up to the platform and wanted to put a black hood over Hogan's head, but he declined this. He wanted to face his judge and jury with his head held high and looking them in the eyes till his last moment on God's green earth. The young guard shrugged his shoulders and headed back to his post. He had tried to comply with his order and keep up the British tradition when a person was facing death by the noose, but the American officer hadn't wanted it. Deep down the guard admired the American for his bravery. Not everyone would be able to face their untimely end with such dignity and honor, but Robert Hogan did. It was to be his last act of defiance, being impertinent. He even managed a smug grin, infuriating the judge further.

Just as the judge gave the sign and the executioner started to pull the lever, opening the trapdoor, a loud shout was heard throughout the courtyard of the Tower. It was the young JAG officer Lieutenant Hermann. He was waving a paper around and shouted, "Stop this execution immediately! Stop it! Colonel Hogan has been granted a full amnesty, a general pardon by US president Truman and Prime Minister Winston Churchill! You have to let him go! NOW!"

Hermann stopped in his tracks as he saw to his utter horror that he has come too late! The trapdoor was open and Hogan was dangling from the rope, still conscious but fighting for every breath. He was already turning blue! The young Lieutenant sprang into action. He ran over and beneath the platform and without pause, got a sharp knife out of his boot and cut through the rope, holding the colonel prisoner. The moment he had it cut through; Hogan fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings being cut. Hermann caught him and gently lowered him down the rest of the way and checked his breathing and pulse. Hogan got a pulse, but it was weak and he wasn't breathing! Not hesitating; the JAG officer started with CPR, begging the colonel to fight and to come back.

By now a small circle has formed around the pair, but Hermann paid them no mind. He only concentrated on trying to get the colonel to breathe again on his own. British and American MPs finally cordoned off the area, keeping the onlookers at bay with their bodies, forming a line. Hogan's former command team had arrived too, although there were asked to stay away; they couldn't, believing they owed it to their CO to be there for him. Seeing what had transpired before their very eyes, they were glad to have come. They pushed their way through the thong of people and finally got through and saw their colonel lying motionless on the ground, his hands still bound by rope. But what shocked them to the core, was the sight of another officer obviously trying to revive their commander.

Realizing the poor man might need a hand and to be relieved, Hogan's men took over. Newkirk was starting with mouth to mouth, while Baker constantly checked his pulse and for a breath. LeBeau just took hold of the colonel's bound hands and squeezed them, speaking to him in soft tones, encouraging him. Carter joined him and after what felt like an eternity to them all, Hogan started coughing and taking in a few deep gulping breaths of air. He couldn't believe he was still alive and it showed on his face and in his soulful brown orbs. He was very confused and too weak and exhausted to fully comprehend what just took place. So he just laid back and closed his eyes, trying to take in deep and even breaths, calming down.

His men were more than glad to have their colonel back with them. JAG officer Hermann had quickly introduced himself to them and he was immediately pulled into their inner circle, those who were closest to Colonel Hogan.

While Hogan was trying to get his breath back, Newkirk deftly untied the rope that was binding his hands tightly together; the rope around his neck had already been removed by Hermann before he started the resuscitation. After the rope was gone, Hogan slowly sat up, still supported by his men and massaged his hurting wrists. LeBeau was shocked at seeing the raw and bloodied skin. "Sacre chat! Those animals! How dare they hurt you, mon colonel. You did nothing to deserve this kind of treatment, right mes amies?"

His mates nodded in unison. Newkirk, who was still holding the colonel up with Baker, said, "I think you should let a doctor or at least a medic take a look at those wrists, Gov'ner. And while he is at it, he should also see to your neck, Sir. Those bruises look ugly and very painful." Under his breath, he grumbles heatedly, "Those bastards. I'd like to put their necks into the noose and see how they will like it."

Finally having his breath back and some of his color; Hogan looks up to Newkirk. "Stand down, Newkirk. That judge and jury only did their job, nothing more. I hold no grudge against them and neither should any of you guys. Is that understood?"

Again his men nodded in unison, letting their commander know they would follow his order. Hogan had enough of sitting on the ground and with a nod to his men, started getting upright, albeit slowly. Even though, a wave of nausea nearly felled him again, if his men hadn't had a good grip on him. Just as his nausea passed and he waved his men off to let him go, the military judge approached the small group. With a deep regret shown on his face, he said to Hogan, "I'm truly sorry, colonel. If that order had come just a tad bit sooner, you wouldn't have had to go through this. I will organize a transport for you and your men here to a base hospital, so that you can be treated. And don't worry about the expanses. They will be on my tab, Sir. Have a good day."

With those words the judge stepped away and left Hogan looking after him, astonishment written all over his handsome face. Carter asked, "What was that all about, Sir?"

"I have no idea, Carter. But I guess we are going to find it out", Hogan replied while gesturing to the General who was coming towards them from the other end of the courtyard. As he got closer, Hogan recognized him as his adopted father, General Butler, the head of the SOE. He too had a very worried look on his face. As he caught sight of the heavy bruising already forming on Hogan's throat, he forgot any military courtesy and just screamed, "My God, Robert!"

And in the very next moment, Hogan found himself the recipient of a bear hug, a hand clapping him on the back, while Butler happily let out, "I'm so glad you are alive, Robert. I feared this order would get here too late and we all would have lost a great man and even better friend. How are you doing, son…honestly?"

Losing himself from his mentor, Hogan cleared his throat and croaked out, "Just swell. What I could use now are a few pints of ice-cold beer. The combination of the alcohol and the cool liquid will do wonders for my aching throat." Here he paused a moment, before continuing, "But the judge has others plans for me and my men. He said he'll organize a transport for us to a base hospital, so my injuries can be treated. Oh and he mentioned those expanses will be on his tab, sir."

Butler agreed to this. "It is the least he can do, after doing such a rotten thing to such a good man, a great officer. He should be ashamed of himself and his actions against you. But I guess paying for your treatment is his way of redeeming his reputation as a fair judge; paying for his sins so to speak."

Motioning towards the other side of the courtyard and the archway leading out of it, he started walking; being sure Robert could keep up. His men dutifully followed the two officers.

Outside the gates of the Tower, a US army truck was waiting for them, its engine running. A young sergeant hopped out of the back and greeted them with a salute, saying, "I'm here by order of judge Lieutenant Colonel Forbes. I am to bring you to the base hospital at the 95th air base at Horham, Sir. If you would please, step up into the truck; I'll get you there as fast as possible, colonel."

Thanking the young sergeant, Hogan, Butler and Hogan's men got into the back of the truck, taking their seats on the benches to both sides. The sergeant closed the tailgate and the tarp, shielding the passengers from the wind and got behind the wheel. During the two and a half hour drive, Butler revealed a few more things to Hogan and his team. They all listened with apt attention to the words of their commander's CO, whereas the colonel just closed his eyes and tried to rest, feeling totally beat.

But as Butler started talking about that he would get another row of ribbons bars and even a long overdue promotion to General, Hogan opened his eyes in shock, not believing what he just heard. "There must be a mistake, sir. I don't want a promotion, especially not to general. I am a man of action, a true hands-on guy, not a desk jockey and not to forget, I am still a command pilot. Generals don't fly anymore, sir. So I will decline the promotion. I am perfectly content with being a colonel."

His men started to protest, telling him he really deserved this promotion with everything he did and risked for the operation, to ensure an Allied victory. They began begging him to reconsider; Newkirk even bet that if anyone could persuade the upper crust of the Army Air Force to allow a general to fly, it would be Robert Hogan. Carter, LeBeau, Baker and Butler had to laugh heartily at that. Shaking his head at first, Hogan joined in their laughter, enjoying those carefree moments with his men and his mentor.