“Yes, they were supposed to do that,” said Missy. “I’ll go check to see I have everything I’m supposed to wear.”
Major Grimes smiled and said, “Be sure to wear all your ribbons and badges. We want to impress all those Air Force people.”
“Absolutely, sir!” exclaimed Missy. She then went back to her room and found Mel had already unpacked everything the SOD Group had shipped over there. Her Class A uniform was hanging inside her closet and already had the correct ribbons and badges on it. There were also dress shoes in the correct size for her. It was nice having other people lending a hand whenneeded. Missy had always believed good teamwork was the key to success.
Since she couldn’t bring anything with her when she teleported, Missy relied on those other people, her teammates, to help support her. She saw there was even the correct size green beret on the closet shelf, with her second lieutenant bar pinned on it. Yes, she would no doubt make an impression at tomorrow’s meeting.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Major Grimes and Missy were shown into the Air Force squadron’s large conference room. They were both dressed in their Class A uniforms as were all the military personnel gathered there. Since they were indoors and not reporting to the base commander, there was no exchange of salutes. They took their seats at one end of the table, where placards had been arranged with their names on them.
The chair for Lieutenant Colonel Horvath, the commander of both the base and the squadron, was positioned at the head of the table on the opposite end. His staff officers were seated along both sides with those with higher ranks closest to him. Then, officers from his subordinate units (flights and elements) were seated further away. This seating arrangement was obviously one which suggested the Army unit was of low importance.
Once all the attendees had arrived and found their places, the lieutenant colonel made his entrance and walked over to stand behind his chair. Everyone stood as his aide called,“Attention!” Once the general took his seat, everyone sat back down to wait for him to begin the meeting. Major Grimes and Missy remained standing, however.
Major Grimes said, “Sir, before we begin, I would like to introduce my executive officer Lieutenant McCrea to everyone. I have asked that she attend these meetings whenever that is possible. That way, one of us should always be available despite any missions which our unit might be on.”
The lieutenant colonel nodded and said, “I see. Yes, welcome lieutenant.” He now looked directly at Missy and after a long pause, he asked, “Those look likesecondlieutenant bars that she’s wearing. I can only assume her assignment has something to do with the unique organization which I know your unit seems to have.” He knew it was normally required for an officer to be at least a first lieutenant prior to assignment to a Special Forces unit.
Major Grimes explained, “Yes, sir, that is correct. Lieutenant McCrea has recently graduated from West Point and she has some special qualifications which are both essential and appropriate to our QRF missions.” After looking at all the others in the room, he then stated, “We’ll take our seats now.” With that, he and Missy sat down.
The lieutenant colonel said, “Okay, then. I’d like to meet with you both in private after we finish with today’s agenda.” He wanted more information on this lieutenant whom he could see was young and very attractive. He had noticed she was wearing three rows of ribbons (which were too far away for him to identify) as well as the Combat Infantryman Badge and Jump Wings, which he could recognize. This seemed ratherunusual for someone who had only recently graduated from the academy.
He then asked his operations officer to proceed with the various agenda items and the meeting continued for the next ninety minutes.
Chapter Three
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
After the meeting had ended, Major Grimes and Missy followed the lieutenant colonel from the room and over into his corner office a couple of doors away. Lieutenant Colonel Horvath took a seat behind his large desk and gestured for the two of them to sit in some comfortable leather chairs in front of that desk.
“All right now, Major Grimes,” began the lieutenant colonel. He was now able to clearly identify the awards which Missy was wearing and he was very curious. “I know you enjoy telling me how I’m not cleared to know very much of what your unit is doing. But surely, you can explain how it is possible for this young woman to be in your unit. I can see she has more combat medals than anyone in my command, which rather boggles my mind.”
Major Grimes smiled and said, “Lieutenant McCrea has been assigned to Team Twenty-Two for the last three years and she has earned those awards during several of our unit’s earlier missions. The details concerning those missions are classified, however.”
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, the lieutenant colonel asked, “If she’s been in your unit for three years, how could she just now be graduating from West Point?”
Major Grimes looked at Missy and said, “I’ll let you explain that, Lieutenant.”
Missy nodded and said, “Sir, I joined Team Twenty-Two after my first year at the academy. That was as a Private First Class back then. The Army had asked me to volunteer for a special study they were doing concerning women in combat roles. They made several exceptions so that could be possible, including agreeing I could return to the academy whenever possible. Thus, while serving as an enlisted member of this unit I managed to complete subsequent semesters back at West Point while there on TDY.” TDY was the military’s acronym for Temporary Duty.
The lieutenant colonel noted there was a gold star affixed to her Jump Wings which designated at least five combat jumps. Four of her nine ribbons were for the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with “V” device, the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device and oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. Oak leaf clusters designated a second award of that medal while the “V” device was for valor. He said, “You’re saying these combat medals were earned while you were performing missions in between your semesters?” Seeing she was also wearing a unit citation award, he went on to ask, “Which unit citation is that?”
“Yes, sir, each summer when I was not back at the academy, I participated in several combat operations over here in the Mid-East. My unit citation is for Campaign Angel’s Wing which was during that first summer, when I volunteered to participate in the Army’s women in combat study.”
The lieutenant colonel was well aware of that campaign and had served as a major in Afghanistan himself during that. He knew the Special Forces had played a huge role in helping the Afghan forces defeat the Taliban. He asked, “Were you wounded while fighting during that campaign?”
Major Grimes answered, “Sir, she was carried off the battlefield with three bullet wounds. Her bronze star was for going back out under fire, despite already being wounded, and saving the lives of two of her team members. She was shot again while doing so. Hence, one of her Purple Hearts.”
The lieutenant colonel was impressed. He said, “And these missions are all highly classified. I see. I have to say, this is remarkable.” He stared into Missy’s deep green eyes and was mesmerized. He asked, “What was your rank when you finally received your commission? Obviously, the Army’s study concerning women in combat has determined certain women like you are indeed very capable.”
“I was a Staff Sergeant E-6 earlier this month when I finally graduated from the academy,” replied Missy. “Amongst my accomplishments there I was recognized for becoming fluent in several foreign languages.”
Major Grimes laughed and said, “Yes, in addition to her learning Pashto, Farsi, Spanish and Russian, Lieutenant McCrea finished in the top ten percent of her class. She also got the trophy for Best Marksmanship as well as another trophy for Most Valuable Service to Athletics during her Career as a Cadet. There was a reason she was selected by the Army for that study three years ago and she has more than demonstrated that was a good choice for them to make.”
“Hence all the exceptions and waivers they’ve made on her behalf. Okay, I think I understand now,” said the lieutenant colonel with a big smile. “I can also appreciate why General Hingham has decided to have his QRF unit located here at Izmir. Her being fluent in Russian will certainly be helpful. No doubtyour future missions will likely be up north rather than down below in the Mid-East.”
