Monday Morning With The Admiral

He continued to rise and his control returned. He heard his voice from somewhere up there in that icy rain in the North Pacific off Okinawa when he was burying the 16-year-old signalman who was so good that the hot-shots on the big ships had to ask him to slow his light.

"No, Sir, Admiral. I wrote enough letters to mothers and wives and sisters and brothers. I didn't need any more of those. But we'd won the war. The pig boats had isolated Japan even before Okinawa. It was over. And I was taught at Annapolis that there are certain things that an officer of the line and a gentleman simply does not do."

Breckinridge was furious with himself for not being satisfied with Wye's earlier oblique acceptance of the reprimand.

-- Now I've got to find a way out.

He stood and returned Wye's salute.

"Well, Lieutenant, I don't think that The Bomb was covered by that tradition; but, as I'm sure you know, there are some very high-ranking officers who agree with you. Maybe we ought to have an open wardroom discussion about it one of these days."

"Thank you, Sir."

The yeoman, a twenty-year man with few illusions, watched Wye out of sight. Then shook his head and started to type.

-- There's a baby Commander Taylor growin' up right in front of me. Maybe I might reconsider and do another hitch.

Table of Contents

• Introduction

1. Maggie and Mr. Hank
2. The Reverend
3. Squalls Along the Flight Line
4. Flying Home to Church
5. A Visit with The Judge
6. Communion
7. Afterthoughts
8. Monday Morning With The Admiral
9. Into the Dining Room
10. On Toward Walking the Streets
11. Glimpses of An Election
12. The Dream and The Reality of Violence
13. The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men
14. Down That Lonesome Road

• Cast of Characters
• Credits and Acknowledgements