The President placed his hand on Ricks’ shoulder. “Just get back on your feet. I’ll worry about your length of service. If you want it, stay in,” the President said.
Ricks’ face brightened considerably. “Thank you, Mister President. I appreciate that.”
Across the room Hammond and the CNO were talking. “Actually, the important stops are in Hong Kong, Karachi, Muscat, Alexandria, and then St. Petersburg. The Chinese were playing their games during this thing. The rest you can imagine. The President would like to let them see what we have the capability of doing,” Johnson said.
“But we are decommissioning these ships,” said Hammond.
“True, but the way we’re going to do this will mean we can still bring them back. The President wants to lay them up with their systems still active. We’ll take off some of the classified electronics, but the rest will stay. The engineering spaces will remain usable. Iowa, for example, will be lit off periodically and the systems run for a day or two just to make sure things are working properly. At the same time we will allow the ships to act as emergency facilities for electrical power and berthing. That way we keep them in a minimal status. Since they are only 600 psi plants, that’s easier to do. The rest of the ships will be scrapped,” said Johnson.
“Which ones?”
“The DDs and the Adams Class DDGs. The Greeks and the others don’t really want them back.”
Hammond thought a moment. “You think the boss might be interested in a home for these ships?”
“Maybe. What do you have in mind?”
“Maybe we could get the museums caring for the battleships to take most of them. A straight donation might help them out and help us get rid of them. I’d hate for these old destroyers to go to the scrap heap.”
“Not a bad idea. I’ll broach it. I don’t particularly want to scrap them either — especially the old Fletchers. I bet some of the veterans associations would love to meet on them,” said Johnson.
The President walked over. “I see you guys cooking up something. Anything I should know?”
“Only that senior flag officers hate being blind-sided, sir,” said Hammond.
All three men laughed. “Roger, I did it because I didn’t need you telling me to give it all to the crew. The effect of your actions was electric. There are kids in college talking about what you did. That should keep the recruiters going for at least a year. Tomorrow I am going aboard the North Carolina and pin the Navy Cross on Chris Hustvedt for his brilliant action. You both did an outstanding job, but if it wasn’t for you, I might be an aircraft carrier short. So take the medal and shut up.”
The CNO slapped Hammond on the shoulder.
“Since you are going on this last cruise, be thinking about what you would like to do once you get home. We’ve been doing some housecleaning and there are some jobs available. Let’s keep talking and work it all out,” Johnson said.
“Ok. I can’t really complain. At least I was able to keep my ship. I hate to lose her.”
“We figured you would feel that way,” said O’Bannon. “There’s nothing in stone that you have to leave once you get a star, so we just added to your responsibilities. I think Perry has someone to help you out.”
“There’s a Commander Lawson and a couple other guys coming aboard in Seoul who will help keep the division stuff in line. He’s a good guy with a lot of savvy. If he doesn’t work out, let me know and I’ll send him elsewhere,” said Johnson.
“That helps. I’m actually looking forward to this little cruise.”
“Thought so. Just enjoy yourself. You and your guys deserve it,” said Johnson.
“Too bad you aren’t riding for a part of it, Boss,” Hammond said to the President.
“I might at that. I’m trying to set up a state visit to England. Don’t be surprised if I join you from Copenhagen on. Might be nice coming in on a battleship instead of Air Force One,” O’Bannon said.
“Me and my big mouth,” said Hammond, throwing up his hands. The group laughed again and began moving around the room talking to other guests. The party lasted until nearly dinner, with the President finally going on his walking tour after the meal. All through the ship the men stopped to speak and show the President what they did. It was a tired man who finally got to his cabin at 10 pm. It was the best Thanksgiving he ever had.
Epilogue
Once the war was over there was no longer any reason to keep the drivers in the refugee camp. As they were preparing to make their way back home, a representative from an electronics company walked through the door of the barracks and offered them all jobs. All but a few were transported by bus to a sprawling complex that appeared untouched by the war. The drain from the military had left the company short of all kinds of workers; especially drivers.
After signing several documents that Kee didn’t really understand, he was led out a side door to the loading dock. They explained he would be driving equipment and parts all over Korea and told him how much he would be paid. Kee hadn’t understood how much the pay was. In the North, he was given enough to stay alive but not much else. His apartment had been assigned by the state, which was a part of his salary. The supervisor walked him to a large semi-truck with a trailer. It was white and built by Hyundai.
The supervisor showed him around the truck. He especially liked the area behind the cab that was like a small apartment. They spent about an hour going over the controls and the operating procedures. It was unlike anything he had driven before, but after an hour of driving the truck around the facility and getting to know its systems, he returned to the loading docks and attached to a trailer.
Much to Kee’s amazement, his first load was to go to Pyongyang. Given new maps and directions to the major highway, Kee left with the rig on his first run as a free man. He was amazed to see how much better the roads were in the South. He was even more amazed that the gates along the border were open with no guards present. He knew the war was over, but after years of enforced separation it felt very strange.
After a day of driving, he found the warehouse that was confiscated from the government and delivered his trailer of supplies. Leaving the trailer in the yard, he drove back to the apartment where he had lived and gathered his meager belongings. After weeks of living in decent surroundings, he realized how bad his assigned apartment had been. Kee closed the door but left it unlocked. He would never come back. Now he had a job and a future.
The small freighter made its way toward Sasebo, Japan. It wasn’t new, but well maintained and usable, especially in smaller ports. At first, the owners planned to sell the ship, but after urging by their leading captain the decision was made to let it ply between the islands of the Western Pacific.
Captain Sohn enjoyed the breeze through the bridge windows. The old ship ran well. Engineer Hahn had adopted the engines as his own and nursed them every day. Much to his surprise, his entire crew volunteered to follow him aboard their new home. The ship was smaller than the last one he commanded, but it was a ship and it was his.
He watched several crewmen walking along the main deck checking the hatch covers. He saw them tighten some tie-downs and make their way forward. They would reach Sasebo the next day, then go to Hamhung in the new Korea to deliver foodstuffs. There he would allow the crew to have a few days to visit home. In particular, he planned to accompany a young crewman to fulfill his promise to one day get him back home.
Three months into her assignment as US Forces, Korea, General Richardson was sitting in her office with little to do. Most of the American forces had been shipped home. The equipment was being loaded for transport back to the States and she was relegated to speeches and hand shaking for the most part.