Ricks heard the exclamation and saw the expression on Peterson’s face. Then he saw a bloodstained hand. He rushed over and threw his arm around Peterson’s shoulder to give him some support. The two men made it a few yards before a medic grabbed Peterson and eased him to the ground. The uniform was cut away revealing a gash about four inches long gouged an inch deep into his hip. The medic worked quickly, bandaging the wound and then having two men move him back to the courtyard.
Hufham stayed still. A bullet had entered under his left arm and he could feel the blood running down his side. When Ricks deposited the Colonel with the medics, he saw the pained look on Hufham’s face. He was already starting to turn pale with shock. “Get me a medic over here!” Ricks shouted.
Rushing to his side, Ricks lay Hufham down and grabbed for his first aid pouch. Before he had time to do anything a medic grabbed Hufham and began pulling away the flack vest and uniform shirt. He pressed a bandage against the wound, noting it wasn’t gushing blood, just a slow steady bleed. “It didn’t hit an artery,” he said as he worked.
While pressing the bandage firmly to help stop the bleeding, another medic felt around the shoulder and along the chest. “I feel it up front,” he said after a moment. His fingers were resting in front of Hufham’s collar bone just below his neck. The medic smiled down at Hufham. “That’s good. It means it didn’t go into your chest,” he said.
“You’re not feeling it the way I am,” Hufham grunted in pain. That was when the first medic jabbed him with a dose of morphine.
“Goddammit, Paul, can’t you keep out of trouble,” Ricks said to his friend. Concern was written all over his face. Hufham just grunted.
The major walked up and looked at Peterson and Hufham. “Get these three on a truck back to Pusan. I want a medic to go back with them,” he ordered. “Don’t worry guys,” he said. “We’ll get you home. Thanks for helping us out last night,” the man said extending his hand.
Peterson shook it firmly. “Just kick their ass all the way to China.”
The major headed back to his Bradley as the column began to circle around and start down a road heading northwest. Ricks, Hufham, and Peterson were loaded in the back of a deuce and a half and started back down the road they came in on. When they arrived in Pusan late in the afternoon, Hufham and Peterson were admitted to the military hospital where Peterson was sewed up and Hufham was taken into surgery. Ricks reported in to headquarters and was told to report to the barracks for some “R and R.”
After checking in, Ricks returned to the hospital where he stayed until Hufham was out of recovery and in a room. He was sitting in the waiting room when an attractive young Korean woman entered.
Su Lynn could see the heavy burden on Ricks’ shoulders. He looked up to see her standing in front of him. She knelt and took his hands in hers. Ricks reached forward and pulled her into a tender hug. She held him close while caressing the back of his head. No words were spoken. There was no need. By now they both knew how they felt.
Ricks pulled Su Lynn into the chair beside him, still holding her hand. “He was hit under the arm and it went up into his chest. The doctors are making sure the bullet didn’t do any more damage,” he said softly.
She nodded. “He be okay. You see,” she said. “We wait.”
After another thirty minutes a doctor came in and walked up to Ricks. “Your buddy is okay. The bullet’s out and it appears it didn’t really hit anything substantial. Give him a few days and he’ll be good as new,” he said. “Now why don’t you get out of here and get some rest. After what you’ve been going through, you need a break,” he said.
Su Lynn took Ricks by the hand and pulled him from the chair. “Let’s go home,” she said. Gently, she led the tired man out the door. Ricks didn’t pay any attention to where he was going. He just let her lead him wherever she wanted to go. In ten minutes they rounded the corner near her refugee center. They entered through the kitchen door and walked quietly through the darkened kitchen past two of the people putting away some linen. The couple smiled at them when they passed.
Su Lynn led Ricks to her small room in the corner. She pulled back the bed clothes and helped Ricks put away his gear and take off his soiled uniform. She laid him on the clean sheets and then turned off the small overhead lamp. Before she got in the bed with him, she closed the door.
Chapter 14
“Inbound aircraft now bearing 095 distance 50 miles, multiple aircraft, course 280 speed 350,” the watch coordinator reported.
“How many have you made out?” Hammond asked from his seat in Strike.
“About 150, sir,” the coordinator said.
“Well, we know they’re not Korean. They’re coming from the wrong direction,” said the Operations Officer or OPS.
“I could use the air cover. Despite all this armor, I don’t like the idea of us being out here by ourselves. One DDG and a frigate are not really enough,” Hammond said. The door opened and Admiral Thacke entered.
“Admiral in Strike,” someone announced.
Thacke walked over beside Hammond and sat in a chair. “Believe it or not, those are ours,” he said. “Please don’t shoot at them.”
Hammond chuckled. “Wasn’t planning to right off. You mind telling me what’s going on?” he asked.
“Phase two. Now that we’re in it, I can tell you that there are a couple of carriers around here that just started operating. They should be coming up on the net any time now.” He sat back and took a deep breath. “According to the plan, we took out just about anything they had last night. We figure it will take a day for them to get their act together. So it gives us one day before we can expect any real retaliation. Those guys are going in to support the troops so we can make as much ground as possible. Just so we don’t get left out, I’ve ordered the North Carolina, Wisconcin and New Jersey up the east coast and the Alabama, Massachusetts and Missouri up the west. If I were them, I might try and make a general sortie out of their naval bases. So, no matter what we’ll be ready,” the Admiral said.
“Sounds like a plan,” said Hammond. “We should be on station by 1300. My guys have been briefed on the call for fire, so anything else will be a target of opportunity. Any word on how far the troops got last night?”
“About 40 miles as far as I could see, but they’re still spreading out. A big collection of troops and armor was set up on the western side of the peninsula. Looks like they were planning some sort of end run. I don’t know how they’re doing, but the lines keep pushing out, so I guess they’re okay,” Thacke said. “In a few days you guys will be ordered to Sasebo to refuel and rearm. Get your guys a couple of days of liberty, then get back on station. I’m going to transfer my flag to the North Carolina and stay in the area. So at least you won’t have to put up with me the whole time,” he grinned.
Hammond gave him a sideways glance. “About time,” he said with a sly smile. “To tell you the truth, we could use a little break. It’s been non-stop for a while.”
“Hazards of war, sir. That or no rest for the wicked,” Thacke quipped. “By the way, whose idea was it to let the band play this morning?”
“Thought it might be good to wake everyone up. The crew enjoys it. I might just let them play for everything we do.”
“Seems to have worked. Did you see all the people on the docks?”
“Yes. Quite a party. I’m glad somebody enjoyed it,” Hammond said.
The men watched the screen of the computer showing the inputs of the satellite signal. On it was the entire disposition of forces in Korea. They watched as the signals for two aircraft carriers suddenly appeared on the screen along with all the aircraft. It didn’t seem so lonely any more. One carrier was on the west coast and one on the east.