Authors:
Historic Era:
Historic Theme:
Subject:
November/December 2002 | Volume 53, Issue 6
Authors:
Historic Era:
Historic Theme:
Subject:
November/December 2002 | Volume 53, Issue 6
I walked around the homes of the major and lieutenant generals. Very good; no saboteurs at cellar entrances, no spies signaling raiders in wait behind the nearby Arlington Cemetery wall. Finally I arrived at the back lawn of the Chief of Staff, checked my necktie, adjusted my cap, and walked through the gate.
The general and Mrs. Marshall were just starting a quiet backyard supper together, seated in comfortable old lawn chairs. I remembered to wait until I was 20 paces or so away from them and then threw my best salute. Mrs. Marshall smiled. The general put down his drink, stood up, returned the salute, and reseated himself. I disappeared around the side of the house, as my instructions mandated.
Fifteen short minutes and I was back. The homes of the lesser generals were still safe. I opened the Marshalls’ gate for the second time.
The general was just finishing a bite of potato salad. I saluted. Marshall stood up and returned the salute, just as snappily as he had the first time.
I went around the side of the house, and in 20 minutes I was back. This time Marshall had finished eating, but I saw his face change ever so slightly into what might have been the beginnings of a grin. Just as I raised my hand, he raised his and gave a slight wave.
“I think that will be enough for tonight, soldier,” he said. “Carry on.”
I went around the house again, thinking that I hadn’t done too badly in this, the only time I would ever see that great soldier face to face.
Six months later, on a cold afternoon, word reached our barracks that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, wherever that was. I was ordered out to the reservoir with my revolver to protect an exposed water main and then called back to Fort Myer at 5:00 A.M. to stand guard at the Arlington Gate, through which all the brass would pass on their way into a Washington shining frostily that