The Admiral's Meeting
Charlie woke from a poor night's sleep. He hadn't been able to clear his mind of his admiral's idea about the first man on Omaha Beach being a sailor. He had dressed and had entered the hall outside his room.
There he met Bus. Bus cocked his head sideways and wrinkled his forehead.
"Charlie, do I remember correctly. Did you tell me the team needs to be in the admiral's office at O-nine hundred hours?"
"You did, Bus. He wants the entire team there at nine o'clock to discuss this idea of his that the first dead man on Omaha Beach must be a sailor."
"Was he in his right mind, Charlie?"
"That I don't know. My girl and I thought it was an odd statement."
"Your girl, Charlie?" Bus asked with a furrowed brow.
"You heard correctly. I might as well tell you, she's my driver, Emily Barham."
"Was she that beautiful girl in the black dress?"
"That's her. I'm going by her house today to meet her mother. I hope this meeting won't delay me too long."
"We'll soon learn. It's already fifteen to nine. We better be on time."
Charlie agreed and the two officers soon were walking into the admiral's office along with the other two men. One was Captain Marvin Ellender, the admiral's technical advisor. The other member of the team was Paul, a chief petty officer. They stood at attention as they heard.
"We've got about a month men. I want a movie made that shows the Navy's contribution to D-day, from the procurement of vessels to the actual landings. This movie will prove to the members of the Armed Service Committee that the navy is responsible for all those ships getting to France and that navy engineers are going to be the ones who clear the waters of all the mines."
No one spoke because the admiral continued with specifics.
"I especially want a movie that shows the Navy demolition units who are going to be
the first men on those beaches. Now, here's what I want done.
"I want a photography team assigned to the demolition engineers to record their activities on film right up to the beaches.
"I'm leaving this in your hands, Bus. I consider it urgent. You're dismissed."
They all walk out of the office together.
"Dear God, he's gone mad, Marvin. What are we going to do?"
"Hope he forgets about it."
None of them really believed he would. Charlie headed out of the office while the others were still mulling over this movie. Bus noticed and asked.
"Where are you going?"
"I already told you."
Bus acted flustered as he remembered. He was preoccupied by the admiral's demands.
Now Charlie did something quite unusual; he took a bus. He wanted to keep his relationship with Emily a secret for as long as he could. He still had to walk a couple of blocks to her house.
His steps were almost a hop skip and a jump; he couldn't wait to be with the woman he loved. Emily might have heard him on the walk to the front door. She opened the door the moment he rang the doorbell.
Neither said hello; they embraced and kissed. When they broke away, she heard. "Just as I remembered, your kisses set my heart on fire. I love you."
"And I love you. Mother's waiting in the garden. She prepared tea for us."
"How many times a day do you have tea?"
"Usually only in the afternoon, but when I told her I invited you to come by this morning she fixed tea and plates of sweets."
"Did you tell her I was your beau?"
"Of course I did."
"Just checking," said as he kissed her cheek.
They walked together to the garden door. Emily slowly opened it. Her mother must have heard a noise. She turned.
"Ah, you're here commander." She stood. "Emily dear, you didn't tell me he was so handsome. What a stud you have snagged."
"Now Mother, don't embarrass Charlie."
"I'm not embarrassed, Emily. Allow me to greet your mother properly. Mrs. Barham may I hold your hand?"
"Of course you may."
She held her hand palm down with her knuckles slightly bent. Charlie bowed slightly and brought her hand to his lips for a little peck. He immediately released her hand.
"You Americans really do know the old English custom."
"They teach us the customs of many countries when we're in officer training."
"Tell me about yourself. May I call you Charlie?"
"Of course, I prefer it. My parents raised three boys during hard times in America. I'm sure you both know the United States is as large as all of Europe. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In the middle, between rivers and mountain ranges, are the flatlands.
"In the early 1930's the area suffered from years of drought. When desert winds raged, it became a dust bowl. And then the entire country collapsed when the banks were closed.
"My dad moved us west to California. Those farmers were still able to grow crops. He didn't have a job which made a lot of money but we didn't starve. When I was sixteen I enlisted in the Merchant Marines.
"This group wasn't a forerunner of the Marines we have today. They were a group of men who staffed cargo ships. During a trip to South America, my ship pulled into port and docked alongside of an American Navy Battleship.
"It was there I met Admiral Jessup who was only a Commander then. He told me my experience as a Merchant Marine qualified me for entrance in the Navy's Officer Training Program. I took the bait and upon graduation was signed to him at naval headquarters in Washington DC.
"My mother worried about me when America entered the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I was assigned to a ship in the Pacific. When I found myself being shot at, I decided right then, my new passion was being a coward.
"Your daughter, Mrs. Barham, suspected I was a coward because I'm a Dog-Robber."
"She did?" What's a Dog-Robber?"
"It's a position of high esteem. My job is to see my admiral is well-fed, well-dressed and if warranted, well-loved. Up until last year, Admiral Jessup was a faithful husband. His wife died and he has been so busy with our Supreme Commander's plans that he hasn't made any requests to meet any women."
"Emily, did you know all this?"
"Not all of it, Mother. Charlie needs to get back before his Commander sends someone to find him."
"Well finish your tea and sconces. Charlie, I do hope you will come again."
"I'll try Mrs. Barham."
She took the empty tea pot into the house. Charlie and Emily had a few minutes alone.
"Charlie, how did the meeting go?"
"For starters, the admiral hadn't forgotten about the first man on Omaha Beach being a dead sailor. He also wants us to photograph that sailor."
"Oh my, is he unstable?"
"I don't what to think. But he has ordered us to make a movie about it. I should get back. Maybe I'll be surprised and he'll accept the movie made by the Navy's Photographers. Are you working today?"
"Yes, give me a few minutes to change into my uniform and we'll catch the bus together."
The couple left the garden together. Charlie waited in the front room for her. He was gazing at a portrait when she returned.
"That's my father. He was a career officer in the British Army. He lost a leg during the first world war. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Sadly he died in the early days of the blitz."
"I'm sorry. I can't even imagine what that was like."
"This area was fortunate. It was spared. But we still heard the sirens and spent hours in the underground bomb shelters. Did you know London constructed an underground train system many years ago?"
"No I didn't. It must be similar to the system that is in America's largest city."
"My government prepared them to use as shelters. They have electricity and are stocked with water and food rations. My mum and I slept there many nights. We were both pleased when our superior air force was able to stop the Germans. We better go; I don't want my beau in trouble with his commanding officer."
"I doubt I've been missed."
The couple walked together to the bus stop. They got off at the same stop.
"Emily, I don't need to go anywhere. Why don't you wait in my suite?"
"I'd love to."
They rode the elevator together. The first person they saw when the door opened was Tom, one of the hotel staff.
"Charlie, right after you left this morning, Admiral Jessup began a meeting with two of General Eisenhower's navy advisors, Admirals Healy and Hoyle. They're still together in his office."
"Is Commander Cummings with him?"
"Yes."
"Thank you." Charlie, always the gentleman, opened the door to his suite.
"Seems like we have the suite all to ourselves, Emily."
"Is this unusual for the admiral to be meeting with these advisors?"
"Not really, I suspect they are putting the final touches on the big invasion."
"I wonder if he's still complaining about the lack of publicity of the navy's involvement in it."
"Quite possible, Emily. Now, come sit beside me; we can take advantage of being alone in here. It may not last."