SECRET
URGENT
FROM BADOENG STRAIT
0300 16 OCTOBER 1950
TO CHAIRMAN JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ATTN MAJGEN MASON
INFO CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
SUPREME COMMANDER UNC
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PACIFIC
COMMANDANT USMC
REFERENCE YOUR URGENT DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT SUBJ: PICKERING, MAJ MALCOLM USMCR
15OCT50
SUBJECT OFFICER SUFFERED NO WOUNDS OR INJURIES DURING THE CRASH LANDING OF HIS AIRCRAFT
OR IN THE PERIOD FOLLOWING UNTIL HIS RESCUE.
ON ARRIVAL BADOENG STRAIT SUBJECT OFFICER SUFFERED FROM EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION AND DYSENTERY AND WAS INFESTED WITH INTESTINAL PARASITES. AS A RESULT OF THE FOREGOING, HE HAS LOST BOTH FAT AND MUSCLE TISSUE AND WEIGHS 58 (FIFTY-EIGHT) POUNDS LESS THAN HE DID AT THE TIME OF HIS LAST FLIGHT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. IT IS NOT BELIEVED THAT HE WILL LOSE ANY TEETH, ALTHOUGH THE CONDITION OF HIS GUMS REFLECTS THE AFOREMENTIONED MALNUTRITION AND DYSENTERY.
4. SUBJECT OFFICER'S DYSENTERY HAS REACTED TO ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT, AND THE INTERNAL PARASITES HAVE REACTED TO ATABRINE AND OTHER TREATMENT. HE HAS BEEN PLACED ON A HIGH PROTEIN DIET.
THERE IS NO REASON SUBJECT OFFICER CANNOT BE AIRLIFTED TO THE ZONE OF THE INTERIOR AT
ANY TIME. HE CAN BE TRANSPORTED FROM BADOENG STRAIT EITHER BY TBM-3G AVENGER AIRCRAFT OR BY UNDER-WAY TRANSFER TO A DESTROYER OR DESTROYER ESCORT.
IN THE OPINION OF THE UNDERSIGNED, PRESENT AND PROJECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS MAKE AT-SEA
TRANSFER THE LESS HAZARDOUS MEANS OF TRANSPORT. REQUEST DIRECTION.
BADOENG STRAIT PROCEEDING.
NORTON, CAPT USN
COMMANDING
Pickering read the message and handed it back to Huff. "Fifty-eight pounds," he said. "Jesus, he must look like a skeleton." Huff handed him another message.
SECRET
URGENT
FROM COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PACIFIC
0405 16 OCTOBER 1950
TO BADOENG STRAIT
INFO SUPREME COMMANDER UNC TOKYO
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS WASHINGTON
COMMANDANT USMC WASHINGTON
COMMANDER USNAVY BASE SASEBO JAPAN
1 . REFERENCE IS MADE TO
A. MESSAGE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT SUBJ: PICKERING, MAJ MALCOLM USMCR 15OCT50
B. YOUR SECRET URGENT SUBJECT AS ABOVE 03 00 16 OCTOBER 1950
2. CINCPAC DIRECTS
A. DETACHMENT OF DESTROYER OR DESTROYER ESCORT FROM COVERING FORCE FOR PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING SUBJECT OFFICER TO NEAREST PORT OFFERING SUITABLE AIR TRANSPORT OF SUBJECT OFFICER TO USNAVY HOSPITAL USNAVY BASE SASEBO JAPAN.
B. SUBJECT OFFICER BE ACCOMPANIED BY NAVY PHYSICIAN DURING MOVEMENT FROM BADOENG STRAIT TO SASEBO. TRANSFER TO TRANSPORTING VESSEL TO TAKE PLACE WHENEVER AND WHEREVER BADOENG STRAIT DEEMS ADVISABLE.
C. BADOENG STRAIT WILL ADVISE CINCPAC AND ADDRESSEES HEREON BY URGENT MESSAGE OF SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF SUBJECT OFFICER TO TRANSPORTING VESSEL, PORT OF DESTINATION, AND ETA THEREAT.
3. BADOENG STRAIT WILL PASS FOLLOWING PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM CINCPAC TO SUBJECT OFFICER AT EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. QUOTE WELL DONE. YOUR RECENT ACTIONS IN HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF USMC AND NAVAL SERVICE. WELCOME BACK. END QUOTE
FOR THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PACIFIC
STEVENS, VICE ADMIRAL, CHIEF OF STAFF
Pickering read the message and handed it back to Huff. Huff held the other messages up.
"You can read these, of course, if you like," he said. "But they are simply administrative messages to implement what's going to happen. The thumbnail of the situation is that a Navy R4-D hospital plane will be waiting at Pusan—that's the nearest port—to fly your son to Sasebo. The Supreme Commander has arranged for you to be flown to either Pusan or Sasebo, whichever you prefer—"
"Sasebo," Pickering interrupted. "I don't see much point in going to Korea just to come back. And I would just be in the way."
And it smacks of special treatment—not for Pick, for me.
"Yes, sir. There are two remaining problems."
"Which are?"
"The President has directed that Major Pickering be flown to the naval hospital in the United States most convenient for Mrs. Pickering. They have apparently been unable to contact her."
"San Diego," Pickering said. "Send him to the Navy Hospital in San Diego."
"Yes, sir."
"And the second problem?"
"Miss Priestly. We haven't been able to locate her. We know she's in Korea, and probably in Pusan, but we haven't been able to find her so far."
"I understand she was headed for Wonsan."
"We've checked Wonsan. They don't know where she is, and her name does not appear on any flight manifest of flights from Pusan to Wonsan." He paused, then added: "We'll find her, General."
"I'm sure you will," Pickering said. "Thank you, Sid."
"I know the Supreme Commander is expecting you, sir," Huff said. "I'll tell him you're here."
[SIX]
When Colonel Huff opened the door to MacArthur's office and announced, "General Pickering, sir," MacArthur and Major General Charles Willoughby, his intelligence officer, were standing at a table to one side of the room, looking down at a map.
"Ah, come on in, Fleming!" MacArthur called heartily. "I've been waiting for you."
"Good morning, sir," Pickering said, and saluted.
Marines and sailors do not salute indoors—unless under arms or "covered" (wearing a hat or cap)—soldiers do. Pickering had decided nine years before, in Australia, that it was wiser to follow the Army custom. His relationships with the officers around MacArthur were bad enough as it was without adding "the arrogant SOB doesn't even salute" to the listings of what was wrong with him.
"The Supreme Commander has just told me about your son, Pickering," General Willoughby said. "What good news!"
"Thank you, General," Pickering said.
"And Huff has you up to speed, right, on what's happened about that this morning?" MacArthur asked.
"Yes, sir, he has."
"Are you going out to the carrier, or to Korea?"
"No, sir. I think I'd just be in the way. I'll go to Sasebo and wait there."
"Probably the wisest thing to do. Huff will arrange whatever is necessary."
"Thank you."
"Willoughby has been bringing me up to speed on what's happening. Would you like to listen, or are you anxious to leave for Sasebo?"
"I'd prefer to hear General Willoughby's briefing, sir, if I may."
"Start from the beginning, Willoughby," MacArthur ordered.
"Yes, sir," Willoughby said. "On the west coast," he began, using his swagger stick as a pointer, "I Corps is poised to take Pyongyang. ..."
The briefing took only ten minutes. It was upbeat and confident. The implication was that the Korea Peace Action was just about over.
MacArthur had asked only two questions of Willoughby.
"And the Wonsan mines, Willoughby?"
"Admiral Struble's Joint Task Force Seven, as of this morning, sir, has nineteen minesweeping vessels working on the problem."
"And?"
"X Corps will sail today from Inchon, General," Willoughby said. "I have every confidence that by the time the invasion fleet arrives off Wonsan, the mines will no longer pose any problem at all."
"And the Chinese?"
"There has been no reliable intelligence of any movement of Chinese troops toward the border, sir," Willoughby said. "I've personally taken a look at a good deal of the Air Force photography. There's simply nothing there."
Pickering had another unkind thought about Major General Charles Willoughby:
He obviously believes what he's saying, but that is not the same thing as saying that what he believes is true.
What I should do, I suppose, is stand up and say, "General, please remember that Willoughby is the guy who told you guerrilla operations in the Philippines were absolutely impossible, and that there was no indication of hostile intentions on the part of North Korea, and his confident statements about no mines and no Chinese should be judged accordingly."