Call to Arms

PRIORITY

HQ USMC WASH DC X 16 JANUARY 1942 X COMMANDING GENERAL X MARINE BARRACKS PEARL HARBOR HAWAII X INFO COMMANDING GENERAL MARINE BARRACKS SAN DIEGO X REFERENCE YOUR TWX SUBJECT ARRIVAL PEARL HARBOR CAPT EDWARD J BANNING USMC X PHYSICAL CONDITION PERMITTING SUBJECT OFFICER WILL PROCEED HQ USMC BY FIRST AVAILABLE AIR TRANSPORTATION X PRIORITY AAA2 AUTHORIZED X COMMGEN MARBAR PEARL WILL ADVISE COMMGEN MARBAR DIEGO AND HQ USMC ATTN G2 ETA CONUS AND ETA WASH X

"How'd you know it was me, Sergeant?" Banning asked.

"They called-a Captain Sessions called-this morning, after they heard you'd left Pearl, sir. Captain Sessions described you. And he said to tell you 'Welcome home,' sir."

Banning nodded.

"We've got you a seat on the two thirty-five Western flight to Los Angeles, sir, connecting at five oh-five with a United flight to Washington. That's if you feel up to it."

Banning nodded again, but didn't reply. He didn't trust his voice to speak.

"It's up to you, sir. We can reschedule you later, if you're tired. My orders are to stick with you and do whatever has to be done."

Banning looked at the sergeant for a long moment, until he was reasonably sure that when he spoke he would display no more emotion than is appropriate for a Marine officer.

"What has to be done, Sergeant," he said, "if I am to get on civilian airplanes without disgracing the Corps, is to acquire a decent-looking uniform. And to do that, I'm going to have to get some money. How do I do that?"

"That's all laid on, sir," the technical sergeant said. "Captain Sessions suggested that there might be a problem with your pay and luggage."