Maybe Korea
January 1950
Troy was tired. He needed to get away from Washington, D.C. for a much needed break. For weeks, the Pentagon was abuzz with growing concern about a possible escalation of hostility between North and South Korea. He had been in dozens of briefings, and it seemed to be all his Army colleagues could discuss both in and out of the office. Troy wasn't very confident with Dean Acheson, the Secretary of State, and he definitely didn't trust North Korean leader, Kim Il-Sung.
He could feel it in his bones that something was about to happen in Korea, and he had learned a long time ago to trust his feelings in such situations. It made him nervous about the United States becoming involved in another major war. They were still recovering from World War II, and they certainly didn't need to send more young men onto a battlefield to be killed, maimed or emotionally scarred for life.
Like many other World War II vets, he knew he suffered from combat fatigue. Just when he thought the nightmares were beginning to lessen, he would awaken bathed in sweat and his heart pounding with memories of the torture he had experienced at the hands of Nazi POW Camp Commander, Colonel Beckman. He knew his fellow Rats also suffered from night terrors as their subconscious minds dredged up remembrances they would as soon regret.
Would he be sent to Korea if a war broke out or would he have to be content with staying stateside? He would by far prefer to be in the midst of the action. He excelled in developing strategy and attack plans, and he was getting terribly tired of endless rounds of discussion and suppositions. Still, he didn't wish a war to replace his boredom.
Even if a war broke out and he was assigned to the battlefront, it would be totally different from the previous war. He wouldn't have Moffitt, Hitch and Tully at his side. They had certainly been a formidable team, and he was pleased they had all remained good friends. They had all moved on and married, some had children. He was happy for them, but he still hadn't found someone with whom he could share his life. He doubted if he ever would but would be open if the right person came along.
He didn't regret saying in the Army. He was only a few years away from retirement. Then he would decide whether to return to the ranch in Colorado or go in another direction. He wasn't sure where his future lay and sometimes this caused him to be anxious but usually he decided to just take things as they came.
He had trouble believing the United States would be drawn into a war over Korea. So far, the reasons didn't seem to support such an action. It had been different before. Protecting not just their own country, but the world from a Fascist dictator like Hitler was a clear cut reason to fight. The United States should have entered the war earlier to help stop Hitler's march across Europe and possibly stopping the death camps. Next to his memories of Beckman, it was what he had encountered at Lambach, Austria that he couldn't remove from his mind. Those living skeletons would haunt him the rest of his life.
Did he want to put himself through another war? He wasn't as young as he used to be and the injuries he suffered in service to his country had left him with scars and pain that resurfaced from time to time. He knew the answer to that question. Of course, he would go if he got the chance. He preferred to be a part of the solution and in the midst of the action. He wouldn't feel right, strategizing from long distance. He couldn't imagine ordering men into a situation that he himself wasn't prepared to go as well. This was one of the major reasons he had never wanted to be an officer. The thought of sending soldiers into battle to be killed was something he didn't want to think about. Still, it was part of the job.
Troy sighed and organized the papers in his briefcase. He was off to yet another meeting. He would face whatever came but it didn't stop him from being nervous about what the future would bring.