Chapter 9
A medical chopper approached the MASH 4077th but it carried no wounded. Major Tom Hardy had flown to the came to deliver the needed parts for Edna to rebuild the chopper that Rizzo had accidentally set fire previously. He radioed in ahead of time and thus the arrival was welcomed.
Eddy rode shotgun as Radar drove the jeep to meet the pilot at the landing pad. Radar watched on as Eddy grinned upon seeing her lover arrive at the camp with the parts. His arrival was much like a knight in shining amour for Eddy as she could not repair the damaged chopper without his help. She grinned wide as he climbed out of the cabin of the chopper.
"Tom!" she called and rushed to greet him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight for a moment.
Tom embraced her in return. His blue eyes settled on her face. He noticed the mustache was still stuck on. He gently tugged the piece. "Larry switched the glue in the kit with shoe glue." he informed. "That's not coming off for a little while."
"Larry did it!" she gasped recalling the aviation mechanic.
"The guys thought it would be funny." he confessed. "I gave him K.P. duty." he informed. "The boys won't try any stunt like that again." He then gently kissed her lips despite the fake mustache. He began to giggle. "That feels weird."
"Now you know what it's like for us women when you guys grow a mustache or beard." she smirked back.
Radar watched the interaction. He got a good look at the handsome pilot. He realized Edna could have any man she desired at that point. He had yet to see her without the mustache that was glued to her face but figured between her wealth, her family name and the way Tom held her so tight that she must have been a very attractive woman.
Eddy asked, "You got the parts?"
"Right here." he nodded and released her. He ducked back into the cabin and removed a box from the other seat. He then handed it to Radar. "Deliver this to the motor pool, Corporal."
Radar took the box, "Yes sir."
Eddy grinned, "Radar, I want you to meet, Tom Hardy. Tom," she addressed her boyfriend. "This is Walter O'Reilly. Everyone calls him 'Radar.' He can hear choppers before they come to camp. They say he as E.S.P.. He's an amazing young man."
Radar asked, "I have what?" He wondered if he had a disease that he was not aware of.
"Extra Sensory Perception." Eddy told him. "Harvard and the Defense Department are studying people with your gift."
Tom soured, "Let's not go there, Ed."
"I bet he could remote view." she smirked.
Radar stood befuddled. "Remote view?"
Tom warned, "Let it go, Eddy."
"I want to test him. He's got the gift like you do." she insisted.
His head rolled back annoyed.
Radar asked, "You hear choppers coming too, sir?"
"Sometimes I see things before it happens." he told the boy. He then looked upon the farm boy before him and the surrounding camp and got an uneasy feeling.
Radar perked up. "Wow! Really! I thought I was the only one."
He shook his head, "It's something the military is exploring."
"Neat." he replied and placed the box in the jeep.
Tom then climbed into the back of the jeep while Eddy took the passenger's seat. Radar got behind the wheel to drive back down from the landing pad. Tom spoke loudly over the noise of the vehicle. "So! When do I get to meet your brother?" he grinned at her.
"Soon!" she cheered. "I have to warn you. I'm on another mission. Uncle Fred authorized it. There is a crazy Colonel here doing an inspection of the camp. He thinks I'm a guy and a Colonel. My cover is that I am doing an audit for air medical. I have to keep Frank busy so he doesn't harass the camp. He used to be a surgeon here and had an affair with the head nurse. She dumped him and now he's out for revenge. He's a bit nuts!" she declared.
"Wait!" he paused. "What?"
"Uncle Fred snuck me back in to save the 4077th from the inspection." she told him. "It turns out Colonel Potter is the doctor who saved my life during my bomber days."
His blinked as he processed the informed. "Oh' boy." His plans were to propose to Edna were shot down as doing so would expose her and she was on yet another mission for her uncle.
Radar could not help but ask, "Did you fly in the last war, Major?"
"I did." he confirmed. "I was transport. I flew transports. I didn't see any action." He looked to Eddy, "Unlike Ed."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I was recruited. I did transport too at first."
He reminded her, "Your Uncle had you set up to go work at Avenger Field in Texas and fly with the little ladies' unit."
"He already got Nancy and Jackie to fly. He didn't need me. By then, I was already flying Spitfires." she replied.
"Would have been safer." he told her.
"I'm a stunt pilot and I know how to fly combat." she remarked. "I would have been bored there."
"You race against Jackie." he reminded her. "You are a racing pilot."
"And I do stunts." she smirked at him. "I bet I could get hired in Hollywood flying stunts."
Tom floated a suggestion. "Or get married, settle down and have kids."
She shook her head, "That's not for me. Too boring." she waved the suggestion off with no clue that Tom intended to ask her to marry him.
He grimaced as he quickly figured Edna was not ready to get married. He would have to go slowly. He pondered if perhaps he could speak to her brother about the idea. Maybe, Charles could have some input on the subject of marriage.
Short Time Later
After securing the chopper that Tom flew in and then checking on the progress that Rizzo had made in repairing and restoring Edna's chopper the pair made their way to Colonel Potter's office as Tom decided to stay for forty-eight hours to help get the damaged chopper back to being flight ready.
The pair walked into Colonel Potter's office only to find the Colonel was on the radio with a worried look upon his face. Standing in the office was Hawkeye Pierce, Margaret Houlihan and Radar.
Major Houlihan took one look at the handsome pilot and nearly melted. She couldn't help but smile as she noticed his stern jaw, bright blue eyes and light brown hair. He was dreamily handsome to the nurse.
Hawkeye also took notice of the pilot and soon realized who he was. He recalled the conversation Sherman had with General Winchester and the news about an engagement ring. He wondered if perhaps the man had come to propose to Edna Winchester.
Sherman gave a nod as he replied, "I'll get those supplies right up to you." He then placed the hand set back in with the radio. He looked upon his audience. "That was the orphanage. There is a sick little boy there who has all the symptoms of appendicitis." He the looked at his two pilots. "We need to get that boy back here…Pronto. Major Hardy!" he held out a hand to welcome the man.
"Colonel Potter." he replied with a handshake. "You need help?" he asked willing to assist.
"I need to get my doctor and nurse to that orphanage." he stated. "How many can you fit on that bird?"
"I only have room for 2 patients and a co-pilot." he explained. "I would have to transport one on a litter mounted on the skid."
Potter looked to Hawkeye and Houlihan, "I'm sending you two. Major Hardy can fly you both up in that chopper."
Hawkeye looked at Margaret and asked, "Who gets the ride the skid?"
"I will do it!" she volunteered with an eye roll.
Potter asked, "How fast can you get bird ready, Major?"
"I need to refuel and do a flight check. About fifteen minutes." he replied ready for action.
"Do it." he stated.
Eddy stated, "I'll help. That should cut pre-flight time down by a few minutes and I know every minute counts."
Margaret stated, "I'll get the supplies. We could end up doing surgery right there at the orphanage."
Hawkeye knew he had to go and gave a slight sigh. "I'll get my helmet." He then stated, "It was nice meeting you, Major." He looked at Edna and gave a wink knowing the man was her love interest. "Let's go Margaret," he pulled the nurse who stood still captivated by the handsome pilot.
Margaret agreed, "It is a pleasure meeting you, Major Hardy." She then rebuffed, "I'm coming, Pierce." She marched out behind Hawkeye as she was called to action.
Tom gave a slight chuckle upon watching the pair march out. He looked to the Colonel. "This is unexpected. I literally just landed. I'm staying for 2 days. Where can I stow my gear?"
The Colonel stated, "I will put you in with the Padre."
"Thank you, Colonel." Tom replied.
Edna stated, "I'll get the bird ready. You stow your gear and take a quick break and hit the latrine if you need to." She gave a quick hug and nuzzle into his chest before pulling away to assist in the rescue of the little boy.
Potter watched Edna leave his office. He stated, "She's a fine woman. Even with the fake mustache."
Tom retrieved a small black box from his trouser pocket. He requested, "Can you lock this up in your desk for me, Colonel? I don't want to risk losing it. It's a ring I bought for Edna."
He grasped the box as he assured. "I will lock it up good and tight, Major."
"Thank you, Colonel." he replied. "I better get ready." he excused himself and quickly left the office.
Radar stated after Tom left. "That's Eddy's fiancé?" he wondered.
"If she accepts." he agreed.
Radar sounded wide-eyed. "I hope Major Houlihan knows they are engaged."
He cocked his head and asked. "Why you say that, son?"
He insisted, "She will be all over him."
The Colonel assured. "I'm sure Major Hardy can take care of himself, Radar."
Minutes Later
Radar had just walked back into the clerk's office when he was nearly thrown off his feet by an explosion. He braced himself by the table and wondered what could have caused it. Then another explosion hit and another. It was soon evident that the camp was being shelled.
Colonel Potter sprinted through the door. "Radar!" He found the young man standing by the radio. "Get on the horn and find out who is shelling us."
"I'm on it, sir." he was already one step ahead.
Meanwhile
Outside men and women dove for cover as the shelling continued. In the mess tent staff dove down under the tables as the chess set spewed on the floor. Frank started to hyperventilate before Charles.
"We're all gonna die." Frank cried as he curled into a fetal position.
"Pull yourself together man." Charles told him as he knew he had to get to the wounded to ensure the patients were safe and secured. "We have to get to the recovery ward."
Frank pulled him back down. "You can't go out there."
Charles found Frank's cowering very irritating. "I have to make sure the wounded are okay."
"You can't leave me here." he begged.
Charles peeled Franks fingers off his shirt. "You stay here. Where you can do no harm." He then gathered himself, emerged from the table and soon went for the door to get to the wounded in his care.
Meanwhile
Edna had just gotten the chopper filled with fuel when the shelling started. She went to find Tom as another shell exploded and this one much closer to camp. She spied Tom laying face down in the dirt and not moving. Her heart sank as she went to his aid. "Tom!" she hollered over the shelling. She rolled him to his side and found he was bleeding. She looked around her for help. She saw Charles running out of the mess tent and she called out for him. "Charles!"
Charles heard his sister's call. He looked over and found she was kneeling over the body of a man. As he got closer he realized it was the pilot who just flew into camp less than ten minutes ago. "Edna!" he called as he got to the scene.
"Tom's been hit." she cried trying to not cry as tears swelled up.
Charles did a quick assessment. He stated, "He's hit with shrapnel. I have to operate on him."
"He's supposed to fly Hawkeye and Major Houlihan to get a sick boy from the orphanage." she explained.
Charles replied, "He cannot fly, Edna."
Hawkeye and Margaret soon discovered the down pilot with Charles and Edna hovering over him. The pair came to aid.
Margaret asked upon taking cover, "Is he okay?"
"I have to operate." Charles stated.
Hawkeye insisted, "I'll help." He noticed the wound to the chest and that Tom was not responding.
Eddy asked, "What about the boy?"
Hawkeye stated, "It will have to wait. We can't fly out under shelling. And who is shelling us?" he asked frustrated.
Charles asked, "How bad is the boy?"
"Appendicitis." Hawkeye reported. "A boy at the orphanage."
"The child could die without medical attention." Charles reminded him.
Hawkeye waved his arms, "We can't fly out under this."
Soon Klinger arrived in uniform with a litter as he saw the doctors huddled over the wounded man. He quickly got down. "I got a littler. Is he okay?"
"I need to operate immediate." Charles told him. Soon, Charles and Hawkeye moved Tom onto the littler and the two doctors lifted him and quickly made their way to the operating tent with Margaret, Eddy and Klinger in tow.
The camp was in shambles as men and women scrambled about trying to get cover from the shelling. Colonel Potter made his way to the operating tent to check on the wounded. He soon found all the doctors were in the tent minus Frank who was still hiding under the table in the mess tent. His laid eyes on Tom laying unconscious on the operating table as Charles was suiting up to operate on the man. He asked Hawkeye, "How bad is it?"
"Charles will have to take it." he told him as he stabilized Tom.
"I see." Potter than turned to Edna who was standing by Tom and holding his hand. "That boy's appendix is about to burst. I need to get a surgeon to him. Do you think you can fly that chopper out of this camp while under fire?"
She nodded, "I can."
Hawkeye gasped, "You're not serious!"
"That boy will die otherwise." The Colonel determined.
Edna stated, "I can only take one. It will be too dangerous loading Major Houlihan onto the skid."
"Understand." he agreed. "Take Captain Pierce."
Hawkeye stood wide-eyed, "Fly a chopper out while we are taking fire! What if a shell hits us?"
Eddy assured, "I can fly us out."
The Colonel gave an order. "Pierce! You need to get to that boy and Eddy is the only pilot we got that can fly you there. I can't send a nurse with you. You will be on your own."
"I get that." he agreed. He looked at Eddy, "You sure you can fly us out of this?" Another shell rocked the camp.
"With me eyes closed." she sounded. She looked at Charles as he walked back into the operating room donned with white scrubs and a mask. "Save him." she pleaded.
"I will do everything in my power." he assured her.
She gave a nod, squeezed Tom's lifeless hand once more and then looked at Hawkeye. "Ready!"
Margaret loaded up his arms with the supplies and put the helmet on his head. She gazed into his brown eyes for just a moment. "Come back to camp." she nearly pleaded knowing how dangerous the mission was.
"I will." He assured and then looked to Eddy.
"Let's go." she stated and started to lead Hawkeye towards the door.
Charles asked, "Go where?"
She paused and smirked, "I got one more combat mission to complete." She pushed her way out with Hawkeye behind her.
"This is insane." Hawkeye grumbled as he followed.
Charles looked to Colonel Potter.
The Colonel explained, "Edna is the only pilot here who has combat experience, Charles. That boy needs a doctor. It's up to Edna to get Pierce to that boy."
"That's suicide." he determined.
"It's a risky mission." he agreed. "But she can do it." he determined praying against all odds for the safe return of his doctor and the pilot.
Meanwhile
Hawkeye climbed into the co-pilot's seat of the bird clutching the medical bag. He thought for sure he was going to die. The shells were landing around them and in his mind he did not see anyway to fly out safely.
Hawkeye's element was surgery. Under pressure he could pull a young man's life back from the brink of death. Edna's element was the air. She slid into that pilot's seat like sliding on a glove. Hawkeye looked in doubt as she started the engines. He remained hunkered down even in the seat as he felt exposed.
Edna nudged him and handed him a pair of headphones with a microphone attached. She motioned for him to put the headset on.
He found he had to remove his helmet to do so. He then spoke into the microphone. "You sure you can fly us out of this?"
She smirked, "I'll get us out. Not flying back under fire. Once we get the boy, we fly to the 8063rd."
"Good idea." Hawkeye agreed. He then watched as Eddy took the bird up and then maneuvered them safely out of the danger zone of the shelling. Once in the air Hawkeye spied the burning wreckage of the other helicopter on the ground. Edna's chopper had been hit by a shell. He nudged and then pointed.
She winced, "So much for repairing that bird." She then focused her mind on getting Hawkeye to the orphanage. As she flew she was able to get radio traffic and started opening up a channel.
Hawkeye observed as she spoke to other radio operators trying to get a message out that the MASH 4077th was being shelled. It soon became apparent the shelling was coming from one of their own units. He then grew alarmed as Edna said something on the radio about fly to the front to speak the unit. He sat wide-eyed wondering just what he got himself into.