The Story Begins (15 page)

*

Jaden
could not have known that the venerable couple he had encountered was none other than he and his beloved wife strolling through their days past.

*

AFTER
journeying for a few minutes shy of an hour, the bus finally arrived at the entrance gate to Sullivan Barracks in Mannheim. This was the central point through which all soldiers assigned to the Mannheim area were processed in transit to their specific duty station.

The bus stopped at the gate and was boarded by a soldier who inspected everyone’s military identification while another inspected the outside of the bus. Jaden noticed that the soldier outside was paying particular attention to the undercarriage of the vehicle. Searching for concealed explosives, he thought. After both soldiers had completed their respective tasks, the bus was then granted access to the installation.

After a few turns on the narrow and barricaded roads, the bus came to a halt before the United Services Organization building where all passengers disembarked. A sergeant from the Personnel Service Battalion, who had been awaiting their arrival, then greeted and welcomed them.

After unloading and placing their luggage in the USO building, they followed the PSB representative to the building adjacent to the USO. Once inside she led them to a large classroom located on the second floor, where she had them wait while she stepped out momentarily. She returned not too long thereafter with documents. Standing before the class, she conducted roll call. After everyone had been accounted for, she handed out the documents they’d need to fill out to initiate their in-processing.

While the soldiers busied themselves filling out the forms, the sergeant announced that she’d be making a few phone calls. Though most of the units already had soldiers on site awaiting some of the incoming personnel, not all units had sent a representative. Those were the units she’d be contacting.

Because Jaden was among the first to be given forms, by the time the sergeant was through issuing them to everyone, he was just about done; and he was also among those who didn’t have a unit representative already waiting there.

While twiddling his thumbs, he wondered just how far away his unit was, as that directly affected how long it’d take someone to get out to him. I already don’t like that Krappa, he thought, somewhat annoyed that someone hadn’t already been there waiting for him. He hoped that this was not an ominous sign as to what he might expect of his stay in Germany.

Incoming soldiers were always assigned sponsors, whose responsibility it was to ascertain that the transition process went well upon the arrival of a soldier. Lieutenant Krappa was Jaden’s assigned sponsor.

While waiting, Jaden reflected on his only correspondence with Lieutenant Krappa to date, a very brief email two days following the announcement of his assignment while still back in the States; however, the email had only stated that Lieutenant Krappa was to be his sponsor and nothing more. Jaden’s earnest attempts to contact his peer had been futile as the several emails he had sent all went unanswered. When that had failed, he sought to find a phone number to the unit. That undertaking had also been a fruitless endeavor. He considered that there was a fairly good chance that the unit might be away on an exercise or deployed.

Nevertheless, even if such were the case, there ought to have been a small contingent of soldiers who remained in the garrison tending to home station matters while the rest of the unit was deployed. As far as he was concerned, if the unit was, in fact, deployed, Krappa should have designated the sponsorship duties to someone who hadn’t gone. “What’s the point of being assigned a sponsor if the guy is not going to do his job?” he complained.

Looking about the classroom, Jaden wondered if any of the other soldiers there were assigned to his unit as well. Obviously none of the females were as women couldn’t be in the infantry. He often wondered why that was. After all, there were some pretty tough women out there who could probably give the hardest infantry guy a run for his money, physically, mentally and emotionally. He always believed that, in some respects, women were, by far, the stronger of the species.

“You look bored!” said a voice.

It was the young woman beside him who had spoken. “I am,” he said, turning his face towards her while struggling in a losing battle to stifle a yawn. “But I think I’m more tired than I am bored.”

“It’s been a long day, huh!”

“Yes, it has. Am I going to sleep good tonight!” Again he yawned and then apologized for doing so.

She introduced herself. “I’m Aminah.”

“Aminah… that’s a different name,” he said. “I’ve never heard anything like it. It sounds kind of just different… different in a nice way,” he quickly added, hoping that she hadn’t misunderstood him.

She smiled. “Thank you. What’s yours?”

“Oh, sorry! I’m Jaden.”

“Jaden!” she repeated. “I’ve always liked the sound of that. I think it sounds cool.”

“Thanks.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

He smiled. “Likewise, Aminah.”

Just then Sergeant Michel, the PSB soldier, stepped back into the classroom and announced that she had gotten a hold of all the units that hadn’t sent anyone out yet.

After collecting the paperwork, all those whose sponsors were already waiting for them were released to the charge of their unit. The remaining troops had no choice but to remain.

“So, where are you from?” he asked Aminah.

“My family is kind of from all over; been everywhere, done a bit of everything. You know. What about you?”

“Boston, Mass.”

“It gets quite cold there, doesn’t it?”

“Oh yeah it does… and how.”

“So what do you do? What unit are you with?”

“I’m a reluctant infantryman assigned to AMFL. What makes it bearable, though, is that I’m stationed in a nice city and not some obscure remote location you couldn’t probably even find with a GPS,” he answered.

“Yeah, I completely know what you mean. What does the acronym stand for?”

“ACE Mobile Force-Land,” he said. “If I’m not mistaken, the land part of the name designates the ground forces element but I’m not really sure,” he explained. “And you?”

“I’m a medic. I love to help people heal. Well, everything really, not just people. Yep, that’s what I’m here for.”

“I’m an infantryman for just a couple of years before I transition over to the Ordnance Corps. I really don’t know why I ended up an infantryman. Perhaps it may be that the Army doesn’t have enough infantry officers, and to make up the numbers, it details some of us to the infantry branch for a couple of years before releasing us to our respective branches. I wanted to be a Military Intelligence officer. That was my first choice.”

“Well, some people say that things happen for a reason.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before. I, however, don’t subscribe to that school of thought. I’m not saying that it isn’t a possibility. It is. I’m just not one to entertain such notions.”

“Now that I know, I should address you as, “sir,”” she said. “My apologies, I had no idea.”

“No worries. We’re all dressed in civilian attire and because I’m not one of those anal folks who introduce themselves emphasizing their rank first, how could you have known?”

She smiled. “You look young. A second lieutenant, I presume?”

But before he had a chance to respond, a voice called out. “I’m here for Second Lieutenant Ramiel.”

“That must be my ride… which also answers your question concerning my rank.” He then began gathering his copies of the paperwork he had filled out. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, Aminah. We’ll probably cross paths again sooner or later,” he said.

“Oh, we will!” she said, smiling and seeming very sure of herself.

“You make it sound like you’re quite sure of yourself,” he said as he rose from his seat.

“The odds in Mannheim aren’t as great as they would have been in, say, somewhere as huge as Berlin or Munich.”

“Ah! I see what you mean. I’ll see you when I see you then. Take care!”

“See ya,” she said.

He walked away.

“Sir, please report here again tomorrow morning at 0930 hours,” said Sergeant Michel as he headed towards the soldier who had called out for him.

“What’s on tomorrow’s agenda?” he asked.

“Tomorrow is when you begin your four-day orientation class.”

“Okay. I’ll be here. Thanks. I’m Lieutenant Ramiel,” he said, extending his hand to the sergeant that had come to pick him up. “You must be from AMFL.”

“Yes, sir, I am,” said the Sergeant, taking the lieutenant’s hand. “I’m Sergeant Phil.”

“Nice to meet you, Sergeant.”

“Same here, sir. Please follow me.” He led him out of the classroom. “Sir, is your luggage at the USO building?”

“Roger.”

“I’ll go and bring the van up front to its entrance.”

“Okay. While you do that, I’ll bring my stuff out. Thanks.”

A couple of minutes later the van pulled up. “We weren’t expecting you, sir,” Sergeant Phil said as he helped Jaden load his luggage into the trunk.

“Really?” Jaden asked, surprised. “Do you have a Lieutenant Krappa in the unit?” he asked, obviously baffled.

“Yes, he’s the Infantry platoon leader. Why?”

“He’s my sponsor… well, supposed to be my sponsor. Unless there are extenuating circumstances that impeded his ability to plan and coordinate for my arrival, I can’t imagine him to be a very effective soldier.”

It appeared to Jaden that Sergeant Phil was on the verge of stating something but rather decided against it. Did the silence insinuate something about Krappa? Jaden thought.

Sergeant Phil did speak then but evasively. “Roger, sir. You’re right. Every incoming soldier is always assigned a sponsor and it’s the sponsor’s responsibility to make sure that everything is in place and ready for the inbound troop.”

They hopped into the van.

“Where are we headed to?” the curious Lieutenant asked.

“To Coleman Barracks, sir. With traffic it’s about a twenty-minute drive from here.”

“So where’s this Krappa guy?” Jaden asked, once they had set off.

“The unit is actually away on a mission right now. That could explain the disconnect,” the Sergeant said.

“Where?”

“The guys are in the Ukraine, sir.”

“The Ukraine! Sounds interesting, it being a former Soviet Bloc country and all,” he said, intrigued by that. “How many guys stayed back?”

“Four of us did, sir.”

“And Krappa didn’t mention my arrival to anyone, huh? Well… obviously not. I got an email from him once and when I tried writing back, he never responded. I guess his being away could explain that… that is, if he doesn’t have email access where he is.”

“No, sir, they don’t have email access at their location. The company commander and I keep in touch via satellite phone.”

“That still does not excuse Krappa’s failing in passing on the message of my arrival and delegating sponsorship responsibilities to you or one of the other guys.”

Again Sergeant Phil seemed hesitant. Then he spoke. “Sir, it isn’t my intention to influence your opinion in any way whatsoever; however, suffice to say that Lieutenant Krappa isn’t the most popular guy in the unit.”

“They say that first impressions are lasting impressions. Not that I buy into that as initial encounters could occur when one of the party isn’t necessarily at their best for any number of valid reasons, and to judge a person based on an initial meeting may not necessarily always be a fair assessment; however, based on my experience thus far, coupled with what you just said about him, it would not surprise me if I too find him to be less than what I’d expect in a soldier, be he enlisted or in the Officers’ Corps.”

They pulled up at a red traffic light. “I’m afraid to ask because the answer, I believe, is all too obvious but nonetheless here goes; are quarters available for me?” Jaden asked apprehensively.

“Good question, sir!” Sergeant Phil said, his facial expression denoting doubt.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Jaden said. “Krappa is really beginning to piss me off.”

“Not to make light of the situation but welcome to the club, sir,” the Sergeant said, trying to refrain from smiling. “Tell you what!” he said, tapping his right index finger on the steering wheel, “as soon as the light turns green, we’ll find a place to turn back and head to the Housing Office and try to get you quarters today.”

“Are there any rooms available at the barracks?”

“Not sure, sir,” the Sergeant answered, looking rather uncertain as though disapproving of the idea. “Even if there is something available, sir, those rooms are for enlisted personnel not officers.”

Jaden grunted. “Does my rank make me any better than you?”

“Negative, sir.”

“So what makes me too good for a room in the barracks?”

“Other than troops getting nervous, nothing, sir,” the Sergeant said, surprised that the lieutenant was willing to stay in the barracks. There certainly were enough nice hotels in which the lieutenant could have been well catered for, yet he preferred opting for the barracks.

“Other than the three other soldiers possibly getting nervous over having an officer in the barracks and wondering how they should conduct themselves, I see no reason why I can’t bunk down in the same place that my troops do. Do you?”

“No, sir!”

“Then it’s settled. If there aren’t any rooms in the barracks then I’ll check into a hotel or the guest quarters back on Sullivan – Sullivan does have guest quarters lodging, right?”

“Roger, sir.”

AFTER
checking the room assignment roster, Sergeant Phil found a vacancy. Though the rooms were double occupancy, they were partitioned by a shared shower in the middle, which the main entrance opened to, and both sections on either side of the partition had its own door, which allowed for privacy.

Though Jaden didn’t mind the barracks, he believed Sergeant Phil right in that the soldiers, especially the one with whom he’d be sharing a room – he being one of the four who had not deployed with the rest of the unit – might perhaps be, to an extent, uncomfortable with him there; he did expect that they’d become somewhat self-conscious with him in their midst.