The shop slowly fell silent as the men completed tasks and turned to look toward the front of the shop. They all recognized his voice.
“Thanks, guys,” he said once it got quiet. “I just wanted to share the news. It’s a good thing we finished all those Navy jobs, because they just announced the war is over,” he said.
A great whoop emerged from the voices in the shop. Work was abandoned and the men began slapping each other on the back and cheering. Latham walked from shop to shop to spread the news. After a couple of hours he walked onto the pier in front of the shipyard where one of the newer Navy ships was receiving an overhaul. Several of the sailors on the ship were celebrating too and he waved up at them.
Latham continued to walk down the pier, eventually looking out along the river to the museum down the quay. It had all started there. This was where he had gotten the inspiration that had resulted in so much for the city and his shipyard. Mayor Pat was over in Korea even now probably on their ship celebrating with them. He wished he could have gone.
They would be coming home soon. The brief time again as a warship would be over and the great ship would be relegated to being a museum again. At least she would be kept up. He would see to that. Who knew? Maybe she would be needed again in another twenty years or so. After tomorrow’s holiday he would concentrate on her homecoming. He already knew it would not be something to miss.
The word of the end of the war came as no surprise to the Iowa crew. They already received a message to cease all aggressive activities. Instead they and the other ships were assigned the task of patrolling off the coasts once more. There was one exception. The North Carolina was to return to Yuktae-dong with a number of scientists and environmentalists to act as a base of operations as the effects of the nuclear blast were studied. Hustvedt sailed first to Sasebo to pick up the teams and then anchored off Yuktae-dong the next day. The ship would remain until another research ship, more properly equipped, could be sent from the United States.
Hammond made the announcement to the crew and sat back in his seat on the bridge. It was actually over. A part of him was saddened because soon this ship and this crew would disband. The ship would return to Vallejo and the crew to their homes. He would miss these men. They had worked very hard to do his bidding. They faced the danger and hadn’t even flinched. It would be hard to say goodbye.
Chapter 22
“OK, now that the announcements are out and everybody’s happy, whose idea was it to do all this up in Pyongyang?” asked President O’Bannon. Seated around the table were the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of State. Everyone thought the President was totally upset with the move.
Black stood up. “Mister President, it was something worked out between General Richardson and the South Koreans. General Monahan was in on it too. Things were going very quickly as you know, but General Richardson felt it would be more effective if this was an all South Korean show. She told me this morning she was afraid of what might happen if a bunch of Marines started marching up the street, but she also figured North Koreans might be more cooperative if only Koreans were involved. She was right. It made things a lot easier to swallow for the North,” he said. “I am backing her to the hilt. She got the job done.”
A hint of a smile appeared on O’Bannon’s face. “She wasn’t right. She was brilliant,” he said as he couldn’t hide his feelings any longer. “I hope you guys realize this lady is not your average grunt,” he said. The tension in the room was immediately released and the men and women were visibly relieved. “Look, I know there was no way to coordinate all this and I’m very pleased with the result. How does it look at State?”
“Having them capitulate without surrendering was a stroke of genius. General Yao, their army commander, even allowed the DPR army to return home with their rifles and sidearms. It should allow the North Koreans to retain some face. That won’t hurt in the long run,” said the Secretary.
“Ok, what do we do now?”
“Actually, except for a few units, I recommend we simply blend into the woodwork and not make a show of force. They all know we were there and they all know we did it. If we just ease away it will make a nice statement for our allies that we aren’t in this for our own glory. It will be there, but we won’t flaunt it,” the Secretary recommended.
“I agree with that,” said Black. “I am recommending Claire stay there as Commander of US Forces in Korea. She can handle the low profile and still get things done. She can also make the arrangements for our units to start coming home.”
“Does everyone agree?” the President asked. All heads nodded. “Good enough. Now Mister Secretary, what do you have up your sleeve?”
“Mr. President, I have made arrangements for a state visit to Japan, China, and the Philippines with a quick stop in Seoul. The purpose of the visit is to further relations with these countries and cement a few bonds of friendship and trade. I have already made the diplomatic requests and have received invitations from these countries. Seoul has not responded yet since we did not know if the war would be over. The ambassador has assured me that the invitation is in the mail. Your Chief of Staff is setting up the itinerary with our ambassadors, and is setting aside plenty of time for other visits and side tours. I should have the final itinerary in a few days.”
“Good. General Black, please work with State to block out time for the awards and other ceremonies. I believe there are a few guys for me to see including General Richardson. You might even have some time for us to visit the military hospitals.”
“Yes, sir. My staff is already working on it.”
“Good. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for your support and your professionalism. You have pulled the United States out of a bad situation and have set a nice high standard for us to emulate in the future. I personally thank each of you for a job well done.”
O’Bannon walked around the table and shook everyone’s hand, softly saying a little something to each of them. After a few minutes he bid the room farewell and went back to the Oval Office.
“There’s something I would like to do for you, Sergeant,” the orthopedic surgeon said to the room. Ricks was sitting up in his wheel chair and eating with Su Lynn and his parents. Ricks had made a remarkable recovery. Much of it was attributed to his dedicated wife.
“I want to send you to a specialist in Atlanta for a special operation. There are some new prosthetics out there that would probably help you make your deadline. They will attach a titanium pin to the end of the bones in your legs. That pin will stick out of your skin and the prosthetic will latch into it. Between that and the fit around the remainder of your leg, it should act just as your normal leg.”
“But how will I move it?” Ricks asked.
“When we removed the lower parts of your leg I was able to save a length of bone and I attached what muscle was left to that bone. It may not move exactly like your leg, but you will be able to control it,” the surgeon said.
Ricks smiled at the man. “That sounds a little more promising than something I have to strap on and adjust all the time. But what about this pin that will go through the skin?”
“It can be done. The pin is titanium and not something you might be allergic to. The only thing we should be alert for is infection. By the way you have healed, there is plenty of meat below the end of the bone. That should act as a natural barrier. It just means you have to be careful to keep your legs clean.”