"And if you don't, I'm sure you can make something up?", I replied with a laugh, and shook his hand. I turned to Mindy and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Buckminster is an old friend from way, way back."
Mindy blushed deeply. "I am so sorry, Colonel..."
Harlan laughed and waved it off. "Forget it, Miss. Ask me sometime and I'll tell you those same stories about the Congressman I am going to tell his wife."
"An empty threat. I know just as many about you. Come on in, gentlemen. How can I help the U.S. Army today?" I let Mindy out of my office and showed the two men over to the couch it my sitting area. I sat in an armchair facing them. "What brings you here?"
It was the general who responded. "Congressman, I'm with the Congressional Liaison Office at the Pentagon, and I wanted to introduce you to the officer we have selected to be your liaison. Colonel Buckminster will be able to help you with any requests for information or assistance you might have, as well as to answer any questions you might have in regards to your duties on the Armed Services Committee. We think it's important to provide all the help we can, especially since this is your first time on the committee."
I arched an eyebrow at this gigantic load of horseshit, and glanced over at Harlan. "And this is the officer you've selected? I am sure the colonel told you we have known each other for years."
"Yes, sir, he did. The rest of the office and I think that will help to make a good working relationship. Is that going to be a problem?", he responded innocently.
"Oh, no, no problem. Exactly what do you see Colonel Buckminster doing?"
At that the general and Harlan alternated explaining Harlan's duties, which consisted of working half the time with me and the other half the time with the Armed Services Committee, helping out however he could. It smelled to the high heavens, but I couldn't fault the Pentagon for trying to influence me. After a few minutes, I nodded and said that Harlan would certainly be acceptable, and asked General Thompson if Harlan could stay so we could catch up on old times.
Thompson beamed and said, "Of course, Congressman. Lieutenant Colonel Buckminster can find his way home, I'm sure."
"We'll make sure of it.", I asserted. I stood and ushered the General out. Harlan stayed in his seat.
I came back over and sat across from Harlan again. "The last I heard, you were out at Sill doing something staff-like. When did you come to Washington? How's Anna Lee and the kids?"
"Anna Lee and the kids are fine. I only arrived yesterday. You're my new duty assignment."
"That figures. And you just happened to be available, right?"
"You're not buying that? Are you possibly implying that a general officer of the United States Army might be less than truthful to a Representative of the People in this great democracy?", asked my friend. "Carl, you've become so cynical as you've aged!"
I snorted and laughed at that. "How many hundreds of officers did they have to sift through to find you?"
He gave me a wry smile and shrugged. "Probably several hundred. I think they took every officer's name from all the way back to our ROTC training camp classes and added in anybody you might have served with in the 82nd, and then stripped out everybody who had either left the service or had a command. I got called into my boss' office at Sill and put on the phone and asked if I had ever heard of you. When I said sure, that you and I were old buddies in fact, I got stuck on a plane so fast my ass is still catching up. I had just enough time to go home and pack a few uniforms and a civilian suit. Anna Lee told me to make sure to send her love and to give Marilyn a hug when I see her."
I nodded. "That will be tonight. I'll take you to the house. Listen, you don't mind this? They yank you from whatever you're doing to be my babysitter? You're okay with that?"
"Carl, I am just trying to finish out my twenty before they heave my ass to the wolves. You know what's happening to the Army. Half the Army is gone, and those of us left are just trying to survive. If you aren't the reincarnation of George Patton, you get a 'reduction in force' notice and don't let the door hit you on the way out. The only reason I'm still around is my combat experience in the 'Sandpile' a few years ago. They've been unloading some really good guys in job lot quantities!"
I grimaced and nodded in understanding. "And this is your choice? What the hell were you doing out at Sill, anyway?"
"Strategic planning and readiness. I write memos and doctrines that nobody will read and then file them in places nobody will remember. If I don't find a new home here, I am probably gone in six months."
"Jesus!" This was the ugly downside to cutting the military down in size. A huge number of really good, dedicated, brave, and smart guys were being cut loose left and right. I leaned forward and rubbed my face. "Well, we can't be having that, now, can we? So, you're going to be the Pentagon's spy in my office. I might as well introduce you to my Chief of Staff."
I stood up and opened my office door. I didn't have far to look. Marty was standing at Mindy's desk talking to both her and Babs. He saw the door open and looked up, and I motioned him in. "Marty, got a few minutes?"
"Of course, Congressman."
Marty came through the door and saw I was with someone. I closed the door behind us and invited him over. "Harlan, I'd like to introduce my Chief of Staff, Marty Adrianopolis. Marty, this is Lieutenant Colonel Harlan Buckminster, my new liaison officer from the Pentagon."
Harlan stood and the two men shook hands. I waved them both to seats and looked over at Marty. "Marty, feel free to call me by my first name when we're with Harlan. He's almost as old a friend as you. He and I go back to summer training when I was still at RPI with you." To Harlan I explained, "Marty likes to use my title when I'm with the staff or people outside of the office, but he's an old buddy like you are."
"You were at college with Carl?", asked Harlan.
"I was two years ahead of him. Did the two of you really capture an entire enemy army all by yourselves, or is he just full of crap?", asked Marty.
"I'll tell you his army stories if you tell me his college stories."
"Keep it up, guys. I'll send you both back where I found you.", I laughed. "Hey, Marty, Harlan is supposed to be our new liaison..."
"Yeah, I heard something about us getting a liaison officer. How's that going to work?", Marty replied, as much to Harlan as to me.
"The way it's been explained to me, if you need something from the Pentagon, you tell me and I go and get it.", answered Harlan.
I smiled at Marty. "And then he runs and tells his boss what Congressman Buckman is up to."
Marty nodded and said, "Bingo!"
Harlan smiled at me but looked confused. "You want to explain that?"
I shrugged. "Harlan, correct me if I'm wrong, you've been staff before but this is your first duty at the Pentagon, right?" He nodded agreement, so I continued. "Trust me on this. The first thing that your General Thompson is going to ask the next time he sees you is for a total debrief on our visit, right down to the size of the meal we served you at the house and whether we offered you seconds. I am one of the most dangerous legislators they will ever meet, because I'm a legislator who actually knows something about the military. They won't be able to buffalo me like they would really prefer."