Flanked by two MPs on either side, Sgt. Collins could not understand why they stopped six feet from the back door to the morgue.
“We stop here.” One MP said. “You are to go through that door and take the second door to your right.”
Sgt. Collins shuffled past several dead soldiers in body bags on rolling tables. The smell of antiseptic with a faint smell of incense. The smell of incense increased as he entered the second door on the right. Collins prayed this was some sick joke.
Collins didn’t take time to survey the room. He saluted and snapped to attention while keeping his eyes straight forward, “Sgt. Jake Collins reporting as instructed.”
An awkward silence followed. While keeping his face pointing forward, Sgt. Collins scanned the 120 degrees with his eyes. To his right, at a 45-degree angle, a young woman sat behind a desk wearing an olive-green uniform with a lieutenant’s bar on her collar. Sitting on the corner of the desk was the Colonel from whom he had borrowed the two jeeps.
Collins shifted his stance to where he faced the two. “Sgt. Jake Collins, reporting as escorted and instructed, sir.”
Col. Beck rose and faced Collins. “Do you know why I had you escorted here?”
“For punishment for borrowing your vehicles?”
“No, I have been doing some checking up on you.” Col Beck glanced at the woman and back at Collins. “Sgt. Jake Collins had a reputation of having a cigar constantly hanging out of his mouth. I want to know where your cigar is?”
Collins could not contain the feeling that his time in the Army was over. Things had been going so well. The next words out of the Colonel’s mouth would mean heading back to the States and prison. In desperation of staying in the Army and keeping his rank, he recited the words Capt. Phillips told him to say, “After the ambush with Capt. Phillips, it shook me up so badly I decided to stop smoking altogether.”
Col. Beck clapped his hands. “Good answer. I know better.”
“So, you’re sending me back to the States?”
A grin rose on the Colonel’s face. “Like I have said, I’ve been doing some checking up on you. You have impressed me with your ability to handle yourself under fire and manipulate others to accomplish what you want.”
Collins stood silent, not sure what was about to come next.
“I have found very few soldiers in the Army with the abilities that you possess. I believe we can work together to the mutual benefit of the United States and you.”
With those words, Collins became more confused. If not in trouble, what did this Colonel want from him?
“You came on my radar after that ambush where you helped Capt. Phillips.” Turning to the Lieutenant behind the desk. “Before we go any further, I want you to meet Lt. Alice Doyle. She will be, for the lack of a better word, your handler. In addition to the assignments given to you by Capt. Phillips, the Lieutenant will pass along assignments from me.”
“If you want me to transport women and children for sexual purposes, like Capt. Phillips, you might as well put me in front of a firing squad.”
“Relax, whatever your name really is. I was aware that a group of MPs was waiting to arrest Capt. Phillips and Fourth Squad when it arrived at Moi Ai. I heard about how three of the four members of the squad were killed in the ambush. When I heard about the drastic change in Sgt. Collins’ behavior and Capt. Phillips ceasing his human trafficking enterprise, I decided to do some investigation of my own. Your explanation for killing that water buffalo was the most original explanation I have ever heard.”
Col. Beck gave Sgt. Collins a wink. “I purposely placed those two vehicles with the private to see if you would take the bait. I must admit you didn’t disappoint me. I didn’t expect you to get delayed on the way back to Da Nang.”
“Did you put Pham on the road as another test?”
“No, in a way I wish I had thought of it. Your actions surprised me and how quickly you used your available resources to take out that scout party.”
“Since you got me. What do you want from me?”
Lt. Doyle came out from behind the desk to stand beside Col. Beck while giving Sgt. Collins a world class poker face.
“I understand you convinced Capt. Phillips to rename Fourth Squad to C4.”
A grin came over Sgt. Collins. It was not met by either officer.
“Lt. Doyle will communicate to you the assignments I have for you and C4. She will also supply you and C4 with all the material needed for the assignments. When you write your after-action reports, make a copy and give it to the Lieutenant.”
“What reason can I give for coming to the morgue regularly?”
“Part of your punishment for stealing my vehicles will be assisting Lt. Doyle when she needs help retrieving bodies, in addition to bringing supplies up from Saigon.”
Sgt. Collins shot Lt. Doyle a flirting smile.
Doyle’s face remained unchanged.
Col. Beck couldn’t help but notice Collins’ attempt at flirting. “Watch yourself. The Lieutenant is more than she seems. She is trained to kill and maim. I’ll have you note; she prefers to kill.”
Collins stiffened and saluted the lieutenant.
“Is there anything else, sir?” Sgt. Collins asked.
“One more thing. You took on the identity of the real Sgt. Jake Collins. The lieutenant has the body of the real Sgt. Jake Collins, with the dog tags of Private Daniels. I am sure the family of the real Collins would like his body back.”
The Sergeant stood silent.
“I’m doing you one big favor. I want to keep you around. In order for me to do that, I need a new name for you.”
“Can I choose a unique one?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Collins looked at the ground in front of the Colonel. Both the Colonel and the Lieutenant waited. They thought they heard gears grinding in the Sergeant’s head.
Finally, Collins lifted his head, “Will all my military records reflect my new name?”
“They will only show after you landed in country. Anything before that will be marked classified.”
“I want the name of Sgt. Psycho.”
“Why Sgt. Psycho?” Lt. Doyle blurted out.
“At one point I was diagnosed as psycho. I hate the word crazy. I want to be referred to as Psycho. Can you make it happen?”
The expression on the Colonel’s face told of his struggle with how he could make it happen. Finally, he said. “Give the Lieutenant Collins’ dog tags. She will put one of those tags in Collins’ mouth. I will have a special set of dog tags made up as Sgt. Psycho. I will black out your history before your arrival in Vietnam as classified.”
“Sir, Capt. Phillips thinks he owns me and C4 are under his command.”
Col. Beck raised his right hand. “Well, Sgt. Psycho leave that up to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I believe we can use the Captain to our mutual benefit.” Col. Beck looked at his watch. “At eighteen hundred hours, go to Capt. Phillip’s office. He will have your new dog tags. If he questions you about our conversation, tell him you are under direct orders not to reveal anything discussed here.”
“What if other soldiers start asking questions?”
“Tell them your squad now has the classification of L.R.R.P. with a secondary MOS in logistics. Is there anything else?”
“Sir, I know it is common practice to have squads of three or four men. Right now, there are six of us back at our hooch.”
“Don’t push it. I’ll arrange for the personnel office to change from Fourth Squad to C4. I want you to realize you will be called upon to do some secret, exceptional assignments.”
“You won’t have to worry.” Sgt. Psycho said.
“You’re dismissed, Sergeant.”
As Sgt. Psycho walked out the door, Lt. Doyle was heard, “Do you really think this squad can handle what we have planned for them?”
“If they can’t, they will be dead.”
