Chapter 1
The small Army Air Corps base and part of the 49th Medical Detachment, was located in a dusty and isolated area of South Korea, away from the frontline but close enough to add air support and choppers to lift the wounded to the MASH units. The base was dotted with landing pads, a motor pool, a make shift hanger and tents for the pilots and ground crews.
The army was still training pilots to operate the new medevac choppers. Helicopters were a new technology and pilots were in short supply. Contractors were employed to help make up for manpower. One such contractor stood out from the men.
Walking across the dusty ground to the commander's tent was the shortest pilot of all the pilots who flew the new choppers. The pilot was dressed in men's clothing of tan slacks, brown leather shoes and white shirt under a A-2 style flight jacket. The jacket was decorated with captain's bars pinned to the leather collar. The insignia was gifted to her long ago by her uncle, a General in the Army Air Corps. Her wispy brown hair fluttered in the breeze as she walked. Edna "Eddy" Winchester made her way to the tent and opened the door to step inside.
She called as she stepped in, "Tom!"
The Commanding Officer, Major Tom Hardy stood at his desk looking over the maps behind him. He was tall and had dark hair with a stern jaw. He turned and his blue eyes settled on Edna. A slight smile crept across his handsome face. "Eddy!"
She came closer to the maps. "This is the our flight paths." she figured.
"Yup," he gave a nod. "The pins mark the MASH units and the first aid stations."
Her eyes scanned the markings. Her finger pointed, "The MASH 4077th!"
"Yup." he agreed.
She grinned, "I want to be on that flight path."
He cocked and eyebrow, "Why?"
"My brother is assigned to that MASH unit. Charles! I want to see him." she cheered.
"Your big brother the surgeon." he figured.
"I'm the youngest. Charles is the oldest and Honoria is in the middle. She has a stutter." she informed. "Boy, it would be fun to drop in on him. Rattle his cage a bit." she giggled.
Tom cocked an eyebrow, "Rattle his cage?"
"He was fun when were kids. Everyone called him 'Chucky' and then he got into Harvard and couldn't bear the nickname anymore. He became this posh, polished, prestigious snob. Charles Emerson Winchester the Third." she mocked.
"And you are going to rattle his cage." he laughed.
She nodded and grinned, "Boy am I ever. You know that stage makeup that accidentally got sent here."
He blinked, "What about it?"
"I want to borrow a mustache." she told him amused.
"A mustache?" he asked bewildered.
"I'm going to glue it on and go see Charles. I want to see the look on is face when he seems me show up at his MASH unit." she informed.
"Why the mustache?" he asked.
"Inside joke." she smirked.
"That makeup kit is all yours." he laughed. "Hey!" he reached for her chin and tilted her face up slightly. "Be careful out there." he then gently kissed her lips.
She kissed him in return. "I will, Tom." She then requested, "Can I borrow your crusher hat for the flight."
"Why?" he asked unsure.
"It will go good with the fake mustache." she insisted.
He laughed. "You never cease to make me smile." he agreed.
MASH 4077th
The wounded kept rolling into camp. It was an endless stream of busses and choppers bringing in the men from the battlefield. Charles Winchester the Third found himself elbow deep in surgery along with Colonel Potter while B.J. Hunnicutt and Hawkeye Pierce tended to the flowing stream of wounded outside.
Outside the operating tent B.J. Hunnicutt looked up at the chopper coming in to land. Smoke bellowed from the engine as it had sustained damage from a sniper. He and company clerk, Walter "Radar" O'Reilly came to the chopper wondering if the pilot was also injured.
Edna Winchester landed the damaged chopper on the pad to unload the two wounded men she ferried to the MASH 4077th. Dressed in her flight jacket with Tom's officer's cap on her head as a practical joke she wished to play on her brother, she was forced to shut down the chopper to assess the damage.
B.J. came to her side upon realizing the chopper had been hit. To the doctor the pilot looked much like a man with a mustache and crusher hat and A-2 style jacket. "You okay?" he shouted. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." she shouted in return. "The chopper got hit by a sniper. I need to repair it. Take care of the wounded." she told him.
With Eddy having to yell over the noise B.J. did not realize she was a woman. He thought she was a young man. As the doctor got the two wounded on a jeep he looked back at Eddy climbed onto the chopper to asses the damage. He hollered to Radar, "Help that pilot out."
"I will." the boy assured. He made his way to Eddy as B.J. rode the jeep down with the wounded and the driver. Radar asked, "Everything okay, Captain?" He had no idea who the new pilot was but found this pilot was shorter than most.
Eddy climbed down from the chopper and gave a heavy sigh, "I need parts to fix it. Can motor pool get the chopper off the pad? I don't want to be blocking other choppers." She let the title of Captain slid.
"I'll have Rizzo move it." he told her. He squinted and looked her face. He found she had the prettiest brown eyes and lush eyelashes which seemed very feminine to him. But the fake mustache threw him for a loop. "I'm Radar. You must be new."
She greeted, "Eddy Winchester. I'm new."
"Winchester?" Radar asked surprised.
She cocked her head, "Tell me…does this unit have a Major Charles Winchester the Third by any chance?"
"Are you any relation to Major Winchester?"
She grinned, "He's my brother."
"Should I tell him you are here?" Radar wondered. "He's in surgery right now."
"I don't want you to bother him while he's operating." she soothed him. "I need to speak to the C.O. and get on the horn to get a new fuel pump and some gaskets. I need to fix the chopper before I can fly it out."
Radar told her. "Colonel Potter is in the O.R. right now. I can get on the horn for ya, Captain Winchester."
She smiled, "Just call me 'Eddy.' I don't do ranks."
"Yes sir." Radar replied assuming Eddy was Charles brother and an officer.
"Where can I wait for my brother?" she wondered.
"Mess tent is open." he told her.
"Thanks, Corporal." she replied.
"Welcome Captain." he told her.
She let the mistake go as she wanted to play her joke on Charles first. She figured she would correct the boy after her joke played out. She gave a nod and stayed with the bird waiting for motor pool to assist her in moving the helicopter to a safer place.
Meanwhile, in the operating room B.J. Hunnicutt had entered to start working on the wounded men. Dressed in white scrubs and a mask he went to the table awaiting him.
Hawkeye was already scrubbed up and working on a young solider. He asked, "How did that pilot make out? Was he hit?"
"I don't know. He seemed okay but I had my hands full so I had Radar go check on him. Looks like that chopper got hit pretty good." he told him.
Radar soon walked into the operating room next. He wore a facemask as he entered. "Colonel," he started as he came to the foot of the operating table. "One of the pilots is stuck here. His chopper was hit by the sniper. He needs parts delivered to fix it. I got on the horn and they are scrambling to find the parts. He could be stuck here for a few days, sir."
B.J. asked, "Is he okay? That chopper took some damage."
"He's fine, Sir." the boy replied and was about to walk over to see Charles when Colonel Potter gave instructions.
"That's fine, Radar. We host our flyboys. I'll have him set up in the VP tent." he told him.
"Yes sir." he agreed and then spoke to Charles. "Major!"
Charles had no idea what Radar wanted to speak to him for. He asked, "What is it?"
"That pilot. His name is Captain Winchester. He says he's your brother." he informed.
Charles paused. He did not have a brother but he did have two sisters and the youngest was named Edna and had a history of trouble. He asked, "What does this pilot look like?"
"He's about my height, little skinny and has a mustache." Radar replied.
"A mustache!" he barked.
"Yes sir." Radar informed.
"Why that little…" he caught himself. "Did it again." He gathered his wits thinking his young sister had something illegal as she had a history of bucking the rules. "Where is my…brother?"
"He's waiting for you in the mess tent." Radar told him. He found it alarming how Charles seemed rather upset.
Hawkeye asked, "You okay, Charles? You seem upset that your brother is here."
"I'm overjoyed." he sneered. He grumbled under his breath, "That little pain the rear is going to give me a heart attack."
Nurse Margaret Houlihan was working with the Major and she heard the remark. She stated, "I didn't know you had a brother, Major."
Hawkeye agreed, "You never mentioned you had a brother."
Charles feared his sister would be arrested for sneaking into the military and passing as an officer. He decided he needed to protect her and family from such an embarrassment at all cost. He went with the story. "Yes! I have a younger brother who is a pilot and an engineer. Eddy designs and races Airplanes with our uncle."
B.J. asked, "Really! Why didn't you tell us about your brother before? He sounds kind of neat."
"We're not that close." was all he could say fearing she would be caught.
B.J. stated, "Maybe now is a good time to get to know him a little better since he will be here waiting for those parts."
"I look forward to it." Charles snapped.
The Colonel spoke up. "Radar, put Captain Winchester in the swamp. I think now would be a good time for these two brothers to get to know each other better."
Charles's mouth dropped. "I think it would be best if you put him in the VIP tent." He feared the other doctors finding out his brother is in fact his sister.
The Colonel disagreed. "Based on how you responded to Radar telling you that your brother is here, I think you two need to spend some time together."
He winced in virtual pain at the news.
Margaret stated, "I think it's good to get a chance to spend some time with family, Charles."
Later that Evening
Upon securing the chopper in the motor pool and requesting the needed parts for the repairs, Eddy found herself in the mess tent with a hot cup of coffee and a slice of buttered bread to eat. As the doctors and nurses emerged from the marathon surgery B.J and Hawkeye were eager to officially meet the brother. Charles understood they would be right on his heels to meet the sibling and he wanted a word alone with Edna. He managed to get the tent first. He ducked inside and spied his sister sitting at a table resting with her head on her hand. He cocked his eyebrow at the fake mustache. He walked over to the table and took a seat.
"I can't believe you did this again." he scolded.
She smirked at him and went to rip off the mustache though her joke seemed to have fallen flat. She found the glue was much tougher than she assumed and it would not come off. She tugged and tugged at the fake mustache. "Ah' damn. I used the wrong adhesive."
"What are you doing?" he demanded to know.
"I came to surprise you." she told him. "The mustache is from a theater makeup kit that got sent out accidentally. It's a joke." she assured.
"You snuck back in." he huffed. "What were you thinking? You know what father had to go through to keep you out of a military tribunal the first time you did this."
She cocked her head, "What? Are going about the bomber again?"
"You dressed up like a boy and snuck into the Army Air Corps and nearly got killed on a B-52." he reminded her.
She countered, "First I was recruited by the RAF and fly Spitfires in combat for them for well over a year. I can take car of myself, Chucky."
He waved a finger, "Do not call me that. That's a child's name."
"We were children together." she reminded him.
He began to berate her. "I can't believe you didn't learn your lesson the first time. You went and did it again. You stay low until I can get a hold of father and get you sent back home."
"I'm not going back home." she rebutted rather perturbed. She could have stated that she was under contract and her gender was not a secret from anyone but his attitude rubbed her wrongly and she decided at that point to let him think she did sneak into the Army Air Corp for a second time.
Charles insisted. "Yes you are. This is no place for a woman."
She asked, "Do you know how stupid that sounds?"
"Quiet." he shushed her. "Now, I have given you the cover of my brother. I told everyone that you are a pilot and engineer. What's wrong with the chopper you flew in on?"
"It's riddled with bullet holes and has damage to the fuel tank, fuel line and gasket." she informed. "It's going to be a bit to fix. Once I get it fixed, I will fly it back to base." She leaned closer rather upset. "Just a few days and I will be out of your balding head, big brother." She then stated, "Radar said I will be set up in the VIP tent."
"Not anymore." Charles regretfully replied. "The Colonel thinks you are a man and is putting you in the swamp with me and two other doctors."
"And you don't want them to know I'm a girl." she figured.
"It would be best for the family name and for your future if this little incident never got out." he insisted. "I will get a privacy curtain placed in the tent. Least there I can keep an eye on you."
"Keep an eye on me!" she scoffed annoyed.
"As long as you are here you are my responsibility. Once you go back home to father, he can deal with you." Charles determined.
"Really!" she smirked at him annoyed and upset.
Charles warned, "Whatever you do; do not let anyone find out that you are a girl. This could ruin the family."
She asked, "Don't you think you are being a bit overly dramatic, Chuck?"
"I am not!" he insisted. "Colonel Potter is a by the book C.O. If he finds out you are my sister. He will report you and have you arrested. You have to stick with the cover until I can find a way to get you out of this mess."
She nearly laughed. "If you say so, brother."
"This isn't funny, Edna." he scolded.
"Eddy!" she corrected. "Remember. Your family name and honor could be ruined if they figure out I'm your sister."
He snapped his finger, "You're right. It's Edward. I will call you Edward while you are here."
She looked dumbfounded at him. "Really!"
"Yes! Really!" he conjured up a plan to save his family reputation. "Once you get that chopper fixed, you fly back to base and me and Father will work on getting you sent home. Father can pulls some strings. Get you a discharge legally."
She could not get a discharge as she was not in the Army Air Corps. She was merely a contract worker. She replied amused, "You are putting a lot of effort into this, huh?"
"You leave me no choice." he huffed. He then heard voices behind him as his tent mates entered the mess tent.
Hawkeye sounded, "So that must be Charles's brother." He spoke to B.J. "You think he's as much of a snob as Charles is?"
"Don't know. He is a Winchester though." he replied as the pair made their way to the table.
Hawkeye looked upon the feminine face with the odd mustache. All he could do was assume it was some odd trait. He introduced himself. "Ah, you must be Captain Winchester. Charles's younger brother."
Eddy greeted the pair, "I'm Eddy Winchester." She never declared herself a captain and simply let the pair assume.
Charles stated, "This is my brother Edward Winchester."
B.J smiled, "Nice to meet you, Edward."
She cracked a joke, "I like your mustache. I wish I had one more full like yours."
B.J. beamed, "Thanks. I like yours too."
Charles's head rolled back annoyed.
Hawke took a seat at the table. "B.J always wanted a mustache club. So, Charles says you race airplanes and are an engineer."
She nodded, "I'm a racing pilot. I fly with my uncle. It's a modified Spitfire. I got it from the RAF after the war."
B.J. also took a seat, "You fly a warbird."
"For racing now. I flew a Spitfire during the German Blitz for the RAF. I was a fighter pilot. Then when American got involved I went into the Army Air Corps and got assigned to a B-52."
"You flew a bomber." B.J. assessed.
"I did fly a B-52 to land it after we took heavy flak and the pilot and co-pilot were taken out. It was pretty crippled. I was the navigator." she informed.
B.J. stated, "So you were in the war while Charles was in Medical School."
She nodded, "He was in med school."
Hawkeye asked, "You didn't go to Harvard?"
She shook her head. "No, I went to MIT. He's the humanitarian. I'm the engineer."
Hawkeye blinked, "Charles. A humanitarian. You sure he didn't go the med school for the prestige and money?"
She assured, "My brother is more of a people person." She smirked at him, "Aren't ya! Sometimes you care far too much about stuff out of your control."
"This isn't out of my control, dear brother." he deemed.
Hawkeye stated, "You have to have stories from when you and Charles were kids. I want to hear those stories."
Charles rolled his eyes annoyed.
Eddy promised, "How about tomorrow? I'm sure we all have had a long day today."
"Indeed!" Charles agreed. "Tomorrow."
