Before I begin, I want to thank you all who sent the feedback. You have insired me to continue on.
My boys and I arrived at my home in Marietta, Georgia. I wasn't ready for this, and quite frankly neither was America. About twenty minutes after arriving at home, there was a knock on my door. I opened the door to a pair of uniformed Military Police officers. They politely explained that I was to report to Ft. Benning, Georgia to catch a plane. I asked where I was going they simply replied Norfolk. My boys and I were ushered into a Hum Vee and driven to the airstrip at Benning. Once there we were promptly taken to a C-130 transport and flown to Virginia. Apparently, I was needed by my country once again. After I left the Corps, my thoughts still focused on my duty to my country. That was one of the big reasons I was divorced. My thoughts turned to my ex-wife, and I radioed ahead to Norfolk to request a car be sent for her. I told them she was at Cleveland Memorial Hospital. The response that I got was expected. The radio operator told me that was a negative. Apparently, our new heads of government wanted me in to speak with them before any of my requests would be considered. I arrived on the base and left my children outside of the briefing room with the two MP's. My services were needed to help gather and analyze any and all information that we could get on the Chinese. I was given the rank of Major, and told to assemble a team of other Recon Marines that I trusted to get the job done. I responded that I would do that as soon as I had taken care of some person issues. First and foremost, getting my ex-wife to Norfolk with the kids. I was given permission to saddle up a flight team and fly to Cleveland. Before I left, I hugged my boys and told them I loved them. I turned them over to a pair of Marines for safe keeping. I told them to stay put, to which the marines and my boys replied with an emphatic "Yes Sir".
The Joint Chiefs decided that we needed help in our hospitals for the military, and commissioned me to "enlist" as much help as I could at Cleveland Memorial. We landed on the helipad at the hospital about an hour and a half later. I stepped out of the helicopter in my dress blues and quietly made my way to the administration offices. I handed the orders of conscription to the Head of the hospital and left to find my ex. I handed her the orders that had been written up specifically for her. Her new husband had left for Detroit two days prior for a business trip. She was uncertain as to where he was. She reluctantly agreed to board the helo. As the trucks arrived to transport the rest of the hospital staff and patients to Norfolk, we lifted off. Apparently, a few of the hospital personnel decided that they weren't going to leave. They quickly changed their minds when a pair of orderlies tried to force their way out of the truck. Both men were in intensive care very shortly after that.
