After The Last Full Measure (AU)

[Poohbah]

August 18th, 1990
Provo, UT

Sophie gave Josh a hug and said, "Welcome to our home."

Marianne waved from the kitchen. "Hello again! Let me get this to the table."

Mantell said, "It smells delicious."

"Chicken kebab and potato salad, with an apple cobbler for desert."

"Sounds wonderful."

Over dinner, Josh told Sophie and Marianne what had happened, and the decision to move him to BYU.

"And I'm kind of glad Uncle Sam arranged that. Just being in a new place is helping me."

Marianne raised an eyebrow, and Josh said, "I don't have any family left aside from my sister, and she's already planning to move up to Orange County. Too many of my friends are gone. My wife is gone." He sighed. "And my brain works by locations more than anything else. That's how I organize my memories, so most of San Diego County is like a mausoleum for me."

Marianne nodded. "I understand that. I know that folks doing New Year's resolutions will say 'new year, new me,' and that usually doesn't work, because that's not how any of us are really wired. But for you, a new place is a chance to make new memories." She smiled. "So, what do you think of BYU?"

"It's a fine school."

"And the code of conduct?"

"I will abide by it."

Sophie chuckled. "That's why I'm getting my master's at University of Utah."

Marianne asked, "But you're just going to abide by it?"

"I promised that I would, and therefore I will."

Marianne sighed. "That's so wonderfully old-fashioned . . . and I wish it were a new-fangled trend."

* * *

Sophie and Marianne snuggled together in their bed.

Sophie asked, "So, what do you think?"

Marianne said, "He's ruggedly handsome, he has good notions of masculinity and honor . . . honestly, I might have a little bit of a crush."

Sophie started giggling.

"Sophie, you're supposed to be outraged and jealous. Not amused."

Sophie felt herself laughing all the harder as she tried to restrain it.

"Oh, Marianne . . . I had such a crush on him in junior high!"

Marianne asked, "Seriously?"

Sophie nodded, trying to hold in the giggles, and failing.

Soon both women were laughing.

Finally, Sophie kissed Marianne and said, "God, I love you."

Marianne returned the kiss. "I love you, too, darling." She smiled. "Once he's finished grieving, we're going to have to fix him up."

"Oh, Lordy. I'm not sure I can do that."

"Oh, don't worry, Utah has it down to a science. You set up a blind date, and if he asks anything about how she looks, you simply say 'she has a sweet spirit.' Easy-peasey."

* * *

September 4th, 1990
AEROSPACE 100 Class
AFROTC Detachment 855
Brigram Young University
Provo, UT

"Good morning, class! I am Colonel Douglas MacKenzie, United States Air Force, and this is Aerospace 100, which is a survey course that will introduce you to the United States Air Force and the basics of being an Air Force officer. This course, the accompanying leadership lab, and the physical training courses are required to continue in the AFROTC program. If you are not enrolled in all three elements, it would behoove you to add and drop courses as necessary. Failure to maintain full AFROTC status will get you academically released from BYU, and your local draft board will be notified of your change in status. 'Nuff said about that.

"You may notice that there is a Major sitting in the front row. Major Mantell, if you would be so kind as to stand up, please?"

Mantell stood and faced the class.

MacKenzie said, "Major Mantell served as a Marine for most of the war; he transferred to the Air Force during the preparation for the assault on Cuba. He will be going into Air Force Special Operations. Right now, he's dual-hatted as a AFROTC student . . . and as the Detachment Executive Officer. I expect him to set the standard; and I will expect all of you to meet that standard. So, yes, I am demanding a lot. You will learn to be worthy of leading men and women of Major Mantell's caliber. Deal with it."

6 September 1990
Smith Fieldhouse
Brigham Young University


Mantell said, "Good morning, cadets!"

There was a ragged reply of "Good morning, sir."

"Let's try that one more time, with FEELING, please! Good morning, cadets!"

"GOOD MORNING, SIR!"

"Much better! So, first things first, we're going to start off with the Daily 7, and then we're going to do a nice, easy formation run."

* * *

Mantell looked over the groaning, wheezing cadets and sighed.

"How many of you intend to seek pilot's wings?"

Almost everyone raised their hand.

"How of you many want fighters?"

No hands lowered.

Mantell nodded. "All right, then. Y'all better work out on your own on top of what we do here, or none of you are going to make it to fighters. Flying fighters requires outstanding physical fitness; just moving your head under max Gs means you're moving about 120 pounds of weight. Leadership requires it as well. As officers, you're going to be expected to set the example in everything--in military bearing and appearance, physical fitness, professional development, and work ethic alike.

"I'm not dumping on you. I'm telling you that it's going to be an arduous journey to get to where you will need to be to have a shot at your dream. I'm also telling you that, with disciplined effort, you can all get there, and most importantly, I really want you to get there. I want all of you to have the best possible shot at achieving your professional goals. We're going to set intermediate goals, and I'm going to push you to meet them. Physical fitness is but one requirement, but like all of the requirements, it's non-negotiable. As Yoda put it, 'Do, or do not. There is no try.' And as my former branch of service put it, 'Nobody ever drowned in sweat.' So, I'm releasing you for the day. Think about what I said, and vow to work on your weak spots. As for me, I'm going to do my own workout. Y'all are free to watch."

* * *

17 October 1990

Captain Robin Krasner said, "All right, class, who can tell me the top ribbon on Major Mantell's rack?"

A female cadet raised her hand. "Cadet Nielsen."

"Ma'am, if I'm reading the chart and Major Mantell's ribbons correctly, that's the Air Force Cross."

"And the one just below it?"

"That's the Silver Star, ma'am, and I believe he has a second award."

Krasner nodded. "You are correct. Yes, one of your fellow students--who happens to be the detachment XO--is a genuine American hero."

Mantell said, "Cap'n, let's get something straight: I just did what I had to do."

* * *

18 October 1990

Krasner knocked on the door to Mantell's office. "Uh, sir?"

"Come in, Captain. What's on your mind?"

Krasner sighed. "I really shouldn't have singled you out like that."

"What's done is done, Captain Krasner. It was going to come up at some point." He paused, then said, "I wear them for those who didn't make it home."

Krasner nodded. "Look, I'm a Chairborne Ranger, I spent the war flying a desk at the Vandenberg Basic Military Training camp and the West Coast CSP School."

"Important job. Wars chew through people rapid-fire, Captain. Those airmen you graduated kept guard posts manned and wrenches turning." He sighed. "I packed up a lot of Marines' personal effects and sent them to their next of kin, I wrote a lot of letters to parents and spouses."

"Sir . . . you seem to know leadership like you were born to it."

Mantell chuckled. "Some of that was my father. He went to the Naval Academy in 1944, graduated in 1947--the wartime classes were done in three years, and he was in the last one--and served 33 years, retired as a Captain. He taught me the basics--good character, integrity, personal courage, physical and moral alike. The Marines then demanded that I assume more responsibilities during the war. And then I was leading the JTAC training for GABLE COTTONMOUTH, the Cuban POW rescue."

"Any advice for me?"

"Know the Air Force inside and out, be a person of integrity, and set the standard. There's no such thing as bad airmen. They'll perform at whatever level you choose to set by your example."

Krasner was quiet a long moment before finally saying, "Thank you, sir."

[Johnnie Lyle]

One happy ending.

Marriage is a beginning, not an ending.