We pick up this saga from Saturday Night going into Sunday Morning on a Memorial Day Weekend in 1985. RJ has arrived at the barracks after spending the night on Cece's couch. He is now getting some bad news from the Night Watch Commander, Sergeant Walton.
Morning came Cece dropped me off at MPD North, I checked in with Sergeant Walton who immediately called Gunny Townsend. “What’s the problem Walt, your looking at me like I’m some kind of victim” I said leaning against the wall.
“What’s going on now Walt, What? “A crime unit from Central was here last night in your room. I think things are now out of Gunny’s hands RJ, something weird is going on” said Walton with tremble in his voice.
I sprinted to my barracks. A crime scene cordon had been set up across my door. “Duty NCO, open my room,” I demanded. Duty NCO was on the phone, “standby Sergeant.” So I stood by waiting for the Gunny. Everybody in the barracks was going somewhere. When they saw me they gave their condolences as if I had died and ran out of the barracks like it had caught on fire. I could here a jeep pull up, I heard heels pop and then..”A’TTEN,HUUH.”
As he came into view I locked up at the position of attention, It was Captain Garrett accompanied by the Gunny. I greeted him, “Good morning Captain.” “At ease, unlock.” I greeted Gunny, then put the question, “Captain, may I ask why the crime scene tape is on my door?” “Sergeant, its not your door, its mine and we’re going to open it now” announced the Captain. I entered my room and knew it was the end for me. Almost everything had been packed up, except some uniforms and my civilian clothes.
The Captain sat at my desk, Gunny sat on my rack, I was left standing in the middle. “Why the fuck were you sharpening a ‘K-Bar’ on a Saturday evening Sergeant. “I didn’t have anything else to do at the time Captain.” “DON’T BLOW SMOKE UP MY ASS SERGEANT”, the Captain said raising his voice. “Blood oaths, dark rituals, self inflicted wounds, these are things that the Corps frowns on…I hope that’s not what happened here.” I fought back anger and tears.
“I most respectfully choose not to comment sir”, I said trying to keep from shaking apart. “RJ, relax, please-this isn’t quite what it looks like,” said the Captain. “I need you to stay wrapped as tight as you were the day you got here…we’re all under a microscope and believe me I won’t let you go down, you are not in trouble…your in crisis. All things will stay as the Gunny set up, you are still going to be here until we get word from Battalion on Wednesday” the Captain implored. We packed your gear because a mess was made.
“This morning your going on a picnic with the Navy at White Beach, we’ll drive you. Your gonna talk to a real sweet lady, a real good looker with auburn hair, blue eyes and long legs, her name is Rachel. Be there until just afternoon. Staff Sergeant McMichaels will come get you when its over, Understood Sergeant” snapped the Captain.
“With total clarity sir” I replied. “Good, …now shit, shower, shave, get in clean clothes and get out front asap. Gunny you got the ball” said the Captain as he departed. We all locked up at attention as he took off.
I’m at this picnic and I don’t know why, McMichaels introduces me to Rachel and leaves. “How are you, I’m RJ”. “RJ, I’m Rachel Friedan, I run the Psychological Services extension for the Navy and the Marines, sit down, eat…there’s plenty of food and no bugs to share it with.”
My appetite wasn’t quite the same after she introduced herself. We ate together and then she analyzed me, my medical record was in front of her.
“Ma’am if this gets on my record I’m finished” I said shaking visibly. “That’s why you’re here, we’re at a unit sanctioned picnic so its O.K. for an enlisted man to talk to an officer without suspicion” said Rachel. “I need to know that your injury was an accident, even though I know it wasn’t. Got it.”
“Yes Ma’am, I said softly.” She did her interrogation and/or analysis, she took a long look at my life, revealing a soul slowly going dark. “Until you forgive yourself you won’t really forgive your wife,” Rachel said. I told her I would let go of the vengeance. I walked to the beach alone to break my oath before God to kill Price. I hurt to my heart, it felt so bad, I crossed my arms and fell to my knees in tears.
It was a beautiful day to let it all out, to let it go. Rachel said she would see me later in the week, I didn’t ask why. A sailor ran in our direction, “Commander Friedan, we’re gonna wrap up soon.” “Carry on Doc, I’ll be there” she shouted. “Go and unwind yourself, get yourself together, your going to have a rough day Wednesday, be ready. Take Care Sergeant.” “Good Afternoon Commander” I said coming to attention. McMichaels showed up and whisked me back to the barracks.
I unpacked a seabag and found my camera. I prepared a small back pack with toiletries, a change of clothes and some water. I bought some trailmix and beef jerky at the PX. I checked out with the Duty NCO walked across the grass to MPD North and asked Sergeant Jackson to tell me the patrol routes so I could hitch rides to Camp Schwab, Tiger Beach and Onna Onna Son. Me and the Almighty needed to talk.
I walked and prayed all Sunday afternoon, taking pictures, watching combat maneuvers, strolling the Okinawa countryside. It was a unique privilege I had in this life to be where I was.
My Uncle’s fought the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, they were here getting shelled and shot at by the Japanese. The honor was not lost on me, my Uncle’s and their generation took this island with blood, I administer this same Island they fought, bled and died for. I swelled with pride.
Cece’s voice and her words echoed in my head, like the sound of the siren that tempted brave Ulysses. “..stay in the Corp with me… I have no trouble being loyal to you”. It was getting dark, I stopped by a local store, knowing little if any Japanese I tried to communicate. The locals stared at me astonished and surprised. I bought a Coke, an old man came out from the back of the store and shook my hand. We sat on the steps of his store drinking Cokes and talking with each other. I was genuinely moved. I felt forgiven and respected.
The M.P. vehicle pulled up, it was Cpl. Kierken. As I left, I bowed in the Japanese tradition at waist level first, the old Japanese man bowed not as low as me, which is what I expected. I wanted him to know I respected him and thanked him.
“Sayōnara, I said in departure, then jumped in back of the Chevy Luv Pickup. I got back to Hansen, checked in and picked up my messages. I had a hot message from Cece, another message from “T” and a message from Division at Camp Pendleton.
I called Cece who invited me out to dinner, I told her I didn’t feel like eating but would call her after she pulled duty on Monday. I contacted MP Co., 1st Marine Division and talked to SSgt. VanAlden who assured me that they would ‘take care’ of Corporal Price and that the Marines in my old unit felt dishonored and betrayed by his actions. I thanked him and said I couldn’t tell them just how much they all meant to me. Then I called “T”.
“T” said, “Good news and more good news, RJ. First, Cpl. Price was busted in LA, transported back to Pendleton after his people came up with $50,000 bail. He will be arraigned on charges as soon as he gets out of the Medical wing.” What, why is he in Medical? “Some Mexican bitch skewered his balls with a hatpin. He will serve twice for the same crimes, first with LA, then we will Court Martial him on the same charges plus some”, said “T” with glee.
“I might celebrate tonight, “T” you with me?” “No man gotta work. You go ahead, party…” I washed up, changed clothes, got some chow and got a ride to White Beach. McMichaels told me about a club mostly tourists went to because of the huge cover charge, Club Champion not far from the beach. I had some cash, so I went.
It was a very nice split level building, new construction, without any signs on it and no name. As I approached the door I was told their was a cover charge, I thought it would be about $50 bucks. $100 dollars U.S. the attendant said as he brushed his sleeve. I thanked him and was about to walk off when I saw her. Haruka was in a blue grey business suit and thin dark glasses. “He has been taken care of” said Haruka to the attendant who acknowledged her with a bow.
“Sergeant James will be seated up front, near the stage…Welcome to Club Champion” said Haruka. As I was being seated I noticed a more mature, cultured and cosmopolitan clientele than in the military bars in Kin Kin Cho. It was spacious with rooms off to the side and in the back with a huge bar and real nice grill.
The seats were very comfortable around large glass tables. As I sat drinking I nearly did a spit take as Kayo dressed in a tight pink and yellow satin mini skirt took to the stage.
After she introduced some preliminary strip acts, she explained about the “Championship dance series”. Essentially it was a contest to see how many women a man could ‘dance’ with before he lost his load.
Bets were taken by the house, the winner would get a prize after the house took a nice cut. Many men made bets, and after being sufficiently liquored up, took to the stage. As the second guy took to the stage Haruka tapped me on the shoulder and I followed her to the cashier.
Haruka then pointed discreetly to a room, her eyes demanded I go, so I went. Kayo was seated while an older Japanese woman prepared something on the counter, this was essentially a clean room, like a doctors office. “We are going into a business proposition, you will dance after you bid to take more women than the rest, you must last at least 10 minuets after the last woman gets started on you. Understand” said Kayo. I asked if that was cheating. “Dance or pay”, she snapped.
“O.K., I’ll dance, but I can’t guarantee I won’t blow like ‘Old Faithful’, I see what those dancers are doing up there” I said skeptically. “Leave that to me, remember what we did at my place, your going to be prepared in sort of the same way, undress and lay down” commanded Kayo. I got real nervous real fast as the old woman approached me with those long thin acupuncture needles. “Relax, your going to have the time of your life…I promise” said Kayo. I was terrified.
There were seven men on stage before me and I came back on the seventh act. So far this last guy handled four dancers before he shot his wad. Kayo got on stage, “Who can do better, none, so it looks like this gentleman…” I stood up and said I could do ‘5’ women. Kayo looked and sneered, “Oh, can you…get on stage.”
The show was on and I was being pimped. “Place your bets, place your bets now” barked Kayo as the floor girls collected the wagers.
As I got on stage, one of the dancers looked at me and gave me brief instructions , “let us touch you, bend you and do what we want – go with it.”
70’s soul music was being jammed loudly, the first two dancers both in skin tight, sleeveless, sheer lavender open leotards, the neckline plunged to the waist, revealing nearly all the cleavage of firm heaving breasts, they were bare legged with heels on. I went with the music as they stripped me in rhythm, I was now naked.
Naked, onstage with two erotic dancers, following their instructions, they got my manhood erect and gloved it discreetly. From the audience it looked like I was penetrating them as they moaned and gasped as I moved in motion faking a hard backdoor screwing. Then the third and fourth dancers came in, I did other “faked” sex with them that looked real, the audience was loosing their minds to this choreographed sex show. Then the fifth dancer came out and did her thing.
She used the other dancers to sit on as I was directed to put my erect member between her hefty tightly pressed breasts. The song was ‘Fire’ by the Ohio Players we did other acts that were out of the Kama Sutra. The crowd was now screaming, ranting and rowdy when the last dancer came out, now I was really nervous, it was Kayo. The other dancers stayed on stage doing exactly what Kayo commanded with mere gestures and eye movement.
The tempo changed as they played “Nikki” by Prince. I didn’t think it could get any raunchier, but it did. Kayo and I feigned analingus, cunnilingus, fellatio and we did other acts where she was inverted in a "69. Then it got real.
She put her hands behind her and arched her back, two dancers crawled under her to give support as she pulled me into her. The real intercourse lasted awhile, about 20 minuets. The crowd had grown to capacity and was so loud the music was barely audible.
Before Kayo stopped to bend over with her backside to me and her face to the crowd, the dancers discreetly changed the raincoat on my manhood and Kayo said “go all the way.”
I don’t remember getting off the stage, dressed or back to the barracks. I do remember waking up with a slight headache that Memorial Day morning. I heard a knock on my door, “Yo’ man its me open up.” I let “T” in. “Man like you don’t have enough trouble, now you’re a male stripper. Here’s the money you won last night.” It was over $600 dollars. ‘Was I that good “T”?’ “Man, Kayo and Haruka are still talking about last night. The whole base knows.”
Tuesday came and I prepared for Wednesday, I was on the last day of the pass. Cece picked me up and we went to lunch at the NCO club at Kadena, after that we went to the beach. We talked quite a bit, then she put the question. Cece looked at me with cool stern eyes and said, “You just might realize you made a big mistake, if you do, call me Rod. Call my home in North Carolina, I’ll get the message.” I was kind of angry, Cece knew that but she didn’t back off and she looked straight into me.
At my review I was found fit for duty, I now had 35 days left. Major McKinley offered me a commission in the Marine Corps and orders to Quantico if I stayed. I declined. Upon returning to my unit I was sent to Captain Garrett. “Are you sure you want to go Sergeant, If you decide to stay you will be immediately Commissioned”, said the Captain. Before I could answer he said, “You also have 90 days to change your mind…take your time with this either way, O.K”.
‘I understand Sir, I will finish out my time here without any further distraction.’ “No Sergeant, you won’t, this is from HQMC” Captain read me my new orders. “…Proceed immediately to MCB Camp Pendleton, SU3, for immediate honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps.” I couldn’t believe HQMC was discharging me over 30 days early.
I flew to L.A. unannounced, my key still worked to our apartment. I heard June and Jana come in and talk about how her doctor said she was lucky to be clean and healthy. I was in uniform standing out of sight in the living room. June walked in the living room without noticing me and almost walked out. June turned around and screamed, Jana ran in, June grabbed me and held me so tight I couldn’t breath. “I’m home for good June, I won’t leave you until death do us part.”
“How do I…I mean, can we …” I interrupted June, “No guilt, no shame, no fear…Just hold me love” I said looking in her tear stained face. “You must be kidding!” She then proceeded to rip my uniform off, Jana laughed and cried saying, “see you guys later” as she ran out the back door.
Deployment is a real hardship on everyone sent overseas in combat or combat support capacities. The sufferings and anguish of the separation is endured as much at home as it is abroad by the serviceperson in uniform. There are many stories like this with unhappy endings. If you know of a service person overseas, write them, If you know of one going overseas find a way to let them know they are appreciated.
Love.
1 comment:
I'm amazed why no one is asking how a serviceman can get charged twice for the same crime. Do you know why?
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