The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

‘‘Lieutenant Whittaker reporting as ordered, sir,’’ Whittaker said, and saluted.

‘‘I understand you were strafed on your way here,’’ MacArthur said.

‘‘Yes, sir.’’

"But you came through all right," MacArthur said.

‘‘Yes, sir.’’

"I was acquainted with your uncle," MacArthur said. ‘‘In happier times, we played bridge. I was distressed to learn of his passing.’’

‘‘Thank you, sir.’’

"He would have been proud of you," MacArthur said. ‘‘Colonel Huff has made inquiries for me. Yours was the only fighter craft to rise and challenge the enemy at Iba, as I understand it.’’

‘‘I took off, sir, because I knew that I would have no chance at all on the ground,’’ Whittaker said.

‘‘I have also been informed that you downed three of the enemy before you were yourself shot down. Is that the case?’’

‘‘I wasn’t shot down, General,’’ Whittaker said. ‘‘When the Japanese, who were out of fuel, broke off engagement, Iba’s runways were blocked. I couldn’t land there, so I made for Clark. I was machine-gunned as I made my approach to land.’’

MacArthur obviously did not want to pursue that subject. ‘‘But you did down three of the enemy?’’ he asked.

‘‘Yes, sir.’’

‘‘And your subsequent performance of duty, I have been informed, with the 26th Cavalry and with the Philippine Scouts, has been exemplary.’’

Whittaker did not reply until MacArthur made it plain with his expression that he expected one. Then he said, ‘‘Thank you, sir.’’

"Deserving of formal recognition," MacArthur said. "I am therefore about to award you the Distinguished Flying Cross for your service as an aviator, and the Silver Star for your gallant service on Bataan. And you are promoted, effective today, to captain. I will pin the decorations on you, but you’ll have to give them back. Our supply of the medals, like everything else, has been exhausted. Colonel Huff has found a captain’s insignia for you somewhere.’’

MacArthur got up and walked around the little table and pinned the two medals to the pocket of Jim Whittaker’s white civilian shirt. Then, with some difficulty, he unpinned Whittaker’s silver lieutenant’s bar and replaced it with the twin silver bars of a captain.

MacArthur stepped back and then shook Whittaker’s hand with both of his.

‘‘Congratulations, Captain,’’ he said. ‘‘It is a great honor to command courageous men such as yourself.’’

Whittaker was at once embarrassed, pleased, and confused. He was made uncomfortable by the flattery, but pleased (although a corner of his mind said ‘‘So what?’’) to be a captain. And confused because it looked as if he had been ordered to Corregidor on some sort of whim by MacArthur.

War is insane, Whittaker reasoned. Therefore, I should not be surprised that I have been sent for to be given medals I can’t keep, and a meaningless promotion.

‘‘I believe, Captain, you are acquainted with the Commander in Chief?" MacArthur asked.

‘‘Yes, sir,’’ Whittaker said.

‘‘Sufficiently close to the President that he considered it his obligation to use military communications to direct me to inform you of your uncle’s unfortunate demise,’’ MacArthur said.

He’s pissed about that, Jim Whittaker thought. But certainly, he can’t blame me for it.

‘‘I have received other communications from our Commander in Chief, Captain Whittaker, via the Chief of Staff, General Marshall. I have been ordered to leave Corregidor, the Philippine Islands, to assume command of United States forces in Australia. My wife, Colonel Sutherland, Colonel Huff, and others have put it to me that I cannot, as I would prefer to do, resign my commission and go into the ranks; that I have to obey that order.

‘‘At sunset tonight, we are leaving Corregidor aboard PT boats. You are going with us, Captain. On our arrival in Australia, you will be sent home, carrying a letter from me to our Commander in Chief, which you are ordered to deliver to him personally. As I recall, Mr. Roosevelt is a gracious man, and it is my hope, considering his affection for your late uncle, that he will give you a few minutes of his time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had you to dinner. If that should take place, I feel sure that you will be able to make him really aware of our situation here. Perhaps you will even be able to make the Commander in Chief aware of how difficult it has been for me to obey his order to desert my command.’’

Out of the corner of his eye, Jim Whittaker could see Lieutenant Colonel Huff and read on his face that Huff had not known about this until just now.

‘‘Perhaps you will be good enough, Captain, to assist in loading the boats," MacArthur said.

‘‘Sir,’’ Whittaker said, ‘‘I would prefer to go back to Bataan.’’