“War Department, Washington, D.C., twenty-sixth October 1945,” Admiral Souers read from a sheet of paper. “Extract of General Orders. Classified SECRET. Paragraph one. Second Lieutenant James D. Cronley Junior, Cavalry, Army of the United States, with detail to Military Intelligence, is promoted to Captain, Cavalry, with detail to Military Intelligence, with date of rank twenty-six October 1945. Authority, Verbal Order of the President of the United States.”
Two men entered the sitting room. One was a photographer and the other a full colonel, from whose epaulet hung the heavy golden cords that identify the military aide to the President.
He handed a small box to the President. He took it and walked to Jimmy’s mother.
“Would you like to pin these onto Captain Cronley’s epaulets, Mrs. Cronley?”
She started sobbing again, and Mrs. Truman again put her arms around her.
“Maybe you’d better do it, Mr. Cronley,” the President suggested.
When he had done so, he hugged his son.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” Jimmy said.
“Right now you’re probably thinking ‘So what?’” the President said. “But that will change, Captain Cronley—believe me, based on my own experience—when some other soldier calls you ‘Captain’ for the first time.”
“Yes, sir,” Jimmy said, chuckling. “Thanks again, sir.”
“We’re not finished,” the President said. “Sid?”
“Attention to orders,” Admiral Souers proclaimed. “The White House, Washington, D.C., twenty-sixth October 1945. Award of the Distinguished Service Medal. By order of the President of the United States, the Distinguished Service Medal is presented to Captain James D. Cronley Junior, Cavalry, Detail Military Intelligence, Army of the United States. Citation: Captain Cronley, then second lieutenant, while engaged in a classified operation of vital importance to the United States demonstrated great courage and valor and a willingness, far above and beyond the call of duty, to risk his life in the completion of his mission. In doing so, he also demonstrated a level of professional skill and knowledge far above that which could be expected of someone of his rank, youth, and experience. His actions and valor reflect great credit upon the U.S. Army. Entered the military service from Texas. Signed, George C. Marshall, general of the Army.”
The aide extended to Truman an oblong blue box from which he took the DSM. He then pinned the medal to Jimmy’s uniform.
The photographer went into action.
“You understand,” the President said to the photographer, “that those photos are not to be given to the press?”
“Yes, sir. Admiral Souers made that quite clear, Mr. President.”
“You’ll be given copies, of course,” the President said to the room in general. “But I’m going to have to ask that you, at least for the time being, regard them as secret.”
He waited until he got acknowledgment from everyone, and then he said, “Bess and I will be leaving now. Please forgive our intrusion on your grief.”
II
[ ONE ]
Arriving Passenger Terminal
Rhine-Main USAF Base
Frankfurt am Main
American Zone, Occupied Germany
0825 28 October 1945
“Captain,” the sergeant called.
And then he called “Captain!” again, this time a little louder.
Captain James D. Cronley Jr. belatedly realized he was the subject of the sergeant’s interest.
“What?”
“I think that’s yours, and the colonel’s, stuff over there,” the sergeant said, pointing. “You must have been the last people to get on the plane and they didn’t have time to put your stuff in the cargo hold with the other luggage.”