Title: The Case of Two Distinguished Officers

Description: Perry Mason is enlisted in the Navy and meets Della Street who is a nurse on a hospital ship. Their fate is undeniably entwined and the rest is history.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything nor the character's mentioned. ESG owns them and I claim nothing only for my own entertainment and I fill in the blanks.

Author's Note: I wanted to thank my beta reader Tammara Green Lee for helping me to bring this to light. On my note, my family has history of being in the military but this idea was in in the back of my mind. I wanted to shed some light since I am proud of our military service members. Read on and enjoy, if you like it, good, if you don't then read something else.

Part 1

On a bright sunny day in Los Angeles, the United States enlisted young men and women who wanted to aide in the war effort with Germany which had escalated over the years. The brave, young men and women vowed to serve and defend their home country at all costs. Perry Mason was a bright, young man just out of high school who wanted to further his career alongside his father, a successful attorney. Since Perry loved the sea life, he joined the Navy and served his duty. When his enlistment was over, he reenlisted so that he could continue his education in criminal law.

Della Street, an up-and-coming young woman, graduated at the top of her high school class. She enlisted as a nurse because she wanted to help fight in the war but staying at home with her family was not what she wanted. Being a woman, she thought there would be limitations for her, but she was surprised when she received her letter calling her in the Navy reserves on the Naval Hospital ship.

Della learned all the basic medical skills from the experienced medical field officers because she would utilize her skills to save the lives of countless men aboard ship and on land. However, one man would change her life forever, but their paths had not crossed yet. As the months went by, the United States Government issued a bleak warning that U.S. would be sending their military to war.

The Mason family knew it was inevitable, and their son would be leaving again. While Perry's mother feared he would not return home, his father knew his reenlistment was the right thing to do, and he was a proud father who raised his son right. Although he worried about his only son, he kept his feelings at bay because his family held deep military roots. Perry knew that his parents feared the worst, but he would risk his life like the other enlistees. Perry, a Lieutenant, lived in an apartment without a lady to call his own and shared his living quarters with a young man, Chief Petty Officer, Paul Drake.

The Streets worried about their strong-willed daughter, Della, who would not listen to reason to stay home and out of harm's way. Her mother tried to talk to her into settling down and get married. Della knew the risks involved with war and and decided to go against her families' wishes and enlisted in the Navy. Although their daughter would be in the medical field instead of combat, her family thought it was just as deadly too. Della's departure day arrived, and she boarded a plane from Chicago to Los Angeles. Due to the the strict instructions, more details would be given upon her arrival when she met with the other recruits.

"Della, you take care. We will be praying for your safe return." Her mother hugged her tightly while her father proudly watched them, but deep down, he was saddened that his daughter chose the life she wanted.

"I promise. I will miss you all and I will write you when time allows." Della hugged her father as he kissed her cheek. Her siblings waved goodbye as tears fell from their eyes since they might not see her again.

"Della, honey be careful and take care of yourself." Della's father kissed her on the cheek again and knew it might be the last time he would see her. While he solemnly smiled at his daughter, his wife shed tears. Della walked down the plank and boarded her flight along with a few other service members as their loved ones waved them goodbye.

San Diego, California

32nd Street Naval Station

1944

Perry departed the Union Station in Los Angeles to San Diego. The service men and women walked through the thicket of other passengers and boarded their respective trains. Meanwhile, Della was enroute with a train full of prospective nurses. A young, blonde woman rummaged through her satchel and found a magazine to read.

"My name is Gertie Lade, and what's your name?" Gertie smiled as she spoke to her.

"Della Street. I'm from Chicago, and I am glad to meet you." Della said once she got comfortable in her seat.

"What is your rank, Ms. Street?"

"I am Lieutenant Junior Grade, Chief Nurse, and what is your ranking, Ms. Lade?" Della asked her as Gertie browsed through her satchel.

"Ensign. I am a nurse. I wanted to see the world, so I enlisted. Why did you join?"

"I wanted to be effective in the world. The recruitment office placed me in no combat zone and on a mercy ship, USS Solace." Della gave her a hopeful smile while Gertie took a magazine out of her satchel to share with her companion.

"We have a little while to go before we reach our destination. The train conductor told me it is going to be two hours before we arrive to the port." Gertie handed her a magazine and peeked out the window. The train passed a flashing signal and blared its horn through the crossing, Della read the magazine and looked at the latest fashions before she leaned forward and watched the changing landscape go from mountainous terrain to shoreline.

Perry drifted off to sleep while Paul read the newspaper as the conductor entered their train car and announced that they would be arriving at their port shortly. With closed eyes, Perry yawned, and placed his officer's cap over his face which concealed the light coming from the windows on the other side of the train car. Perry was not anxious about heading out to sea as it was another day-to-day operation for him. When the train's whistle warned of the approaching station, the brakemen put on the brake which jarred the passengers. All the men looked out the windows and saw nothing but shoreline and other navy officials on the ground. The service members walked on the boardwalk as they waited to board their ship, USS San Diego. The mercy hospital ship waited in the background to board her passengers- the medical staff.

Della and Gertie departed their train together and since they were in the same unit. They walked toward their waiting area and passed the awaiting sailors who looked in the direction of the mercy ship and gazed at the uniformed ladies who were also waiting for their own ship. The sailors whistled and elbowed their companions at what was to come if they were injured, or if the ladies just happen to be on the islands for shore leave.

"Look at all those lovely ladies!" Paul exclaimed as he jostled Perry in the ribs.

"Paul, we do not have time for the ladies, we have plenty of things to worry about with the war. When we go on shore leave, then you can dance and drink to your hearts content." Perry replied and adjusted his cap on his head before he smoothed his hands down the front of his uniform and walked to get his orders from his Commander.

Della observed the young men as they boarded their ship. She took notice of a tall, broad- shouldered, decorated figure who was someone of importance walking down the plank. She watched in awe of him and wondered if he was the captain of the ship or a commanding officer. He bowed his head and entered the ship and disappeared before her eyes. Gertie watched as the men filed one by one on the plank and boarded their ship when she spotted a young, blonde-haired young man chatting up with another sailor.

"Look at all those young men risking their lives for this country. I wonder what they left behind at home, a family, their parents, or wives? Right now, it is so hard to know even as I look at their faces." Gertie softly spoke to Della who listened and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I know it is hard for each one of them. I can see it too." Della solemnly watched as the last sailors boarded the ship.

The mercy hospital ship, USS Solace, slowly approached before a radio call was announced through their intercom that the USS San Diego was departing in twenty minutes. After the dispatch's announcement, the engines of USS San Diego roared to life while the propellers' churned the water, and the rippling waves beat against the shoreline. The rest of the crew from the mercy ship watched in awe as the massive ship came to life and slowly departed from the dock loaded with young sailors and their crew.