Part 2

PMDSXXXX

The USS San Diego left the port enroute to the island of Hawaii for drills. After completion of their drills, the captain approved shore leave for the crew. The island lounges and bars awaited them, but they were still a day away at sea. The sailors anxiously waited to see the lovely ladies on the island. As Perry wrote a letter to his parents about his current assignment and his longing for seeing them again. Paul and another buddy entered Perry's cabin and inquired about his participation in the upcoming swim call. The Swim call- a right of passage in the navy- was when the crew jumped off the navy ship and swam. Brave men also would climb up and jump off the anchor into the depths of the ocean.

While Paul was always the risk taker, and Perry had proven himself countless times. A decorated Lieutenant now, Perry hardly participated in the initiation.

"Lt. Mason, you want to join us in the swim call?" Paul eagerly asked him.

"No, I'm sitting this one out but show the boys how it's done, Chief Petty Officer Drake." Perry replied as he wrote his letter.

"You have a girl back home, Lt.?" Drake lit his cigarette as he leaned against the door frame.

"No, I am writing a letter to the family. If I had a girl, Mr. Drake, you'll know it." Perry waved his hand and dismissed him.

Meanwhile aboard the USS Solace, Della, and Gertie, who were bunk mates, returned to their quarters with their hospital uniforms in hand. Being away from home, everyone was on edge. The tour of the boat was next on the agenda for the nurses after they met the doctors and surgeons who will be depending on them during their operations. After everyone received their assignments and routes, they maintained their areas and remained on standby. In case of a surprise attack on the USS San Diego or the Marine barracks that was located on the beach near the Hawaiian island of Oahu, they had practiced drills and scenarios.

"Ms. Street, are you nervous? I'm not going to lie to you, but I'm terrified for the first time in my life." Gertie quietly told her as they walked the halls of the ship to the galley.

"Yes, I am." Della spoke above a whisper and walked to the area for lunch before they returned to their respective units.

Captain Tragg, the highly respected officer aboard the USS San Diego, discussed his shore leave plans with Lt. Commander Burger. The sailors were excited about leaving the ship for a two-day period. In the meantime, everyone was abuzz about getting lucky with a local island girl and having some fun. As a group of sailors moved a large crate of ammunition, it had slipped off its pallet and fell on one of the sailor's feet. The Petty officer alerted the Chief Petty Officer, who inspected the incident, and since the sailor needed medical attention, Lt. Mason was on scene of the accident. Upon his arrival, Perry knew the sailor needed medical treatment immediately. Lt. Mason informed the captain that medical attention would be necessary and dispatched radio transmission to USS Solace.

Senior Nurse Matron Mary Higgs was on the unit floor when the dispatch came over the radio about an injured sailor and three Marines who would need treatment for their injuries. After the announcement was heard over the intercom, alerted personnel- the nurses, corpsmen, and doctors- quickly set up their stations and readied their sick bays. The three Marines were airlifted and would be arriving shortly while the USS San Diego deployed their amphibious boat for the injured sailor transporting him to the USS Solace. Lt. Mason escorted the injured sailor to USS Solace for evaluation. The physician reviewed the results of his x-ray and informed the nurse that surgery was required because of his broken ankle. Lt. Della Street, the tending nurse in the room, was instructed to tell Lt. Mason about the young sailor's upcoming surgery since she would be assisting with the operation.

She walked through the corridor and found a robust man standing alone at the end of the ward. Della thought she recognized the officer when she first boarded her own ship. Since she was on duty, she must inform him of the the news of the comrade, which wasn't the first time she handled this task.

Dressed in full surgical garb and mask, Della walked towards Lt. Mason, who heard the nurse as she approached him, turned around and saw a beautiful woman with a clip board in her hand. He couldn't see her whole face, and only her chestnut hair peaked outside her nurse's cap while her hazel eyes sparkled at him. Lt. Mason saluted before Della returned her salute to the him. He removed his hat from his head when she suddenly stopped and informed him of the diagnosis of the injured sailor.

"Lt. Mason? I am Lt. Della Street. I am one of the Chief nurses on USS Solace, and I was informed that the sailor aboard your ship will be needing surgery because of his injury. You will need to wait here until I get further orders." She told him directly and waited for his response.

"I am Lt. Mason." He introduced himself after she explained the upcoming procedure, but he was mostly all eyes on the beauty before him, but he wanted very much to see the rest of her face. He nodded as she saluted in dismissal. Lt. Mason returned her salute, and she turned and walked to the operating room as he watched her disappear down the long corridor.

Although Lt. Street collaborated with many male officers as part of her job duties, Lt. Mason distracted her because he was handsome, well-groomed, and dashing due to his dark, brooding eyes which were hidden by his officer's cap. In the back of her mind, she thought he was married and had a family back home. Although she was still single, she always placed her work first and didn't date unless one of her friends set her up on a blind date. Since she was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, Della wasn't sure if she could be a nurse until her retirement. After she had completed her two-year tour, she could be honorably discharged, or she could re-enlist for another four years. The choice was hers to make.

The surgery went well without any complications, and the physician wrote up direct orders for the patient. He would be in the hospital recovering for a week before he assumed light duty when he was discharged from the USS Solace to the USS San Diego. Meanwhile, Lt. Mason returned to his ship with instructions for the sailor's recovery and submitted the paperwork to the captain before he returned to his quarters. He thought about Lt. Street, and wondered if she was married to one of the fellow officer's or if her husband was of another rank. He didn't see a wedding band on her finger, and the jewelry that she wore were pierced earrings that adorned her earlobes.

He closed his eyes and remembered her facial features, but couldn't get past the barrier of the mask, which she didn't remove during their discussion. He daydreamed as he looked out the portal window with his hands behind his back and looked toward USS Solace. He needed to conversate with her off the ship. What would he say to her? Would she tell him she was married, or if she was a widow? Would she want to engage in a relationship with him? He desired to see her again, and would when the time was right, he would see her again.

One month passed, and the captain ordered shore leave for all the men aboard USS San Diego. Once everyone completed their job duties, it was time to get ready for civilian life on land. All the crew were to be instructed to be clean shaven, well-groomed, and presentable in front of their Commanding officers before they arrived at port and departed the ship. The men waited for the ship to dock on land. Lt. Mason wasn't sure if he'd be in the grace of Lt. Street because her ship wasn't in sight. He stood out on the deck looked into the distance with a keen eye before something caught his eye. USS. Solace was just a mere speck out on the horizon, but his heart skipped a beat before C.P.O. Drake interrupted him.

"Lt. Mason, sir! Do you have any plans once we dock at shore? I am going to have a beautiful lady in my arms and two drinks under my belt. What's the matter? I've seen that look on your face many times before. Are you missing your family back home?" Drake inquired as he stood beside him with his hands behind his back.

"I've plans to relax and have a good time with a beautiful woman from USS Solace if I can catch a glimpse of her on land. She is a Lt. Chief Nurse on duty and she was simply stunning. The white uniform and her voice captivated me. I couldn't see her face because she was headed into surgery with our injured sailor. I hope to see her on land and get to know her better." He stated while his eyes never left the sea looking at the Mercy ship as it came into view.

"Lt. Mason, may I speak, Sir? Your smitten with one of the pretty nurses, and she has you hooked." C.P.O. Drake chuckled, and Perry smiled for the first time since he boarded in San Diego. The Lt. knew he was right about his feelings for her. Lieutenant Mason smiled before he shook his head and joined the captain at the helm and waited for the ship to dock at port.

The crew of USS Solace informed everyone that they would be going on shore leave and instructed them to dress down and out of their uniforms. Normally, their dress code was a double-breasted navy-blue jacket closed with six gold buttons, a lined skirt, white shirt and black tie. Della wasn't thinking about Lt. Mason at all because he might have a happy family life, with someone back home who was awaiting on his return. Della kept his image in the back of her mind due to the way he looked at her, along with his stature at his first meeting. Was he truly interested in her? She dressed in her outfit while her roommate Gertie put on light makeup and fixed her hair as she looked into the mirror.

"We're finally going to get a break on dry land. I can't wait to get my sea legs on sturdy ground and have a handsome sailor escort me around town." She giggled at Della, who was unamused because wherever she went, she attracted all the unwanted attention.

"I'm going to find a nice restaurant and finally eat some local cuisine, and drink a cocktail or two and relax my nerves. These soldiers' injuries have shown me I need a stiff drink." Lt. Street told her and they left their room to gather at the bow of the ship while the remaining officers inspected the sailors before the ship docked.

"Who knows you just might meet a nice fellow and have a good time like me." Gertie quietly told her while they walked down the corridor.

"You're kidding right? I truly doubt a man would find me that interesting, and he probably has a wife and family back home. I don't want to be the other woman in the relationship so that's out for me. You know they all throw themselves at us single gals until we find out they are married from their comrades." She quietly told her when they arrived on deck as land came into view. The USS San Diego docked at her port and it was several hours before the captain of the USS Solace maneuvered the ship into her own dock.