No Greater Duty, page 26
Alex did a quick count of several Marine Corps officers there, and two whose presence honored him: Colonel Burlingame and Major Anderegg. Alex exchanged glances with the colonel, who motioned to join them.
On his walk over, he noticed another Marine standing a distance away: Colonel Wettstone. Alex recoiled seeing the person who had recommended separating him from the Academy. Where did he get off coming here today for my graduation and commissioning? Alex thought. If the deputy commandant had any words for him, Alex would acknowledge them. He would respect the rank but never the man.
“We were about to send out a search party for you,” announced Colonel Burlingame with a welcome greeting and handshake. “Marine officers always make it a point to be on time for commissioning and promotion ceremonies,” he kidded.
“I’m here, sir,” Alex answered, enjoying the humor and savoring the moment.
Suddenly, Alex spotted Carolyn Hagerty. She looked beautiful in a sleeveless dress with a V-neck. Three years had passed since he last saw her, before she married. He had no idea Carolyn was coming, let alone that she knew about today. Then he figured it out. Olivia Kramer had invited her and didn’t tell him.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, my family’s here.” Alex left to greet his family and Carolyn. He beamed at his sister, Tori, and wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly embrace. “It’s great seeing you, sis.”
“I wasn’t going to miss this day for anything,” Tori said, hugging Alex tightly.
Martin, Tori’s husband and an officer with the New York Fire Department, was attending a mandatory training in Brooklyn and sent his regrets.
Rear Admiral David and Olivia Kramer greeted their son with hugs and handshakes. Then Alex turned to Carolyn. “Thanks for coming. I had no idea,” he said, almost stuttering.
“I wanted to be here because I know what this day means to you.”
“This is my surprise,” interrupted Olivia, a mischievous smile revealed underneath high cheekbones that highlighted her natural beauty.
Alex was tempted to say, “Some surprise, Mom,” but didn’t want to embarrass Carolyn. The unanswered question for him was why her husband let her attend the ceremony or if he even knew about it.
“At this time, I would like to welcome families, friends, and honored guests,” announced a Navy lieutenant standing behind the podium, “to this extended graduation exercise for the Class of Two Thousand and Twenty-Four, United States Naval Academy. Please take your seats and we will begin in just a few minutes.”
All stood as the official party—the vice academic dean and members from his staff, the commandant, and the senior Marine, followed by the graduating midshipmen—entered the hall and walked between the rows of seats to the front. Everyone remained standing as musicians from the Naval Academy Band played the National Anthem followed by an Academy chaplain, a Navy lieutenant commander, who gave the invocation.
After brief remarks from Captain Brookshier, the Commandant of Midshipmen, Alex and his five other classmates approached, one at a time, to receive their diplomas. The vice academic dean handed him a navy blue leather folder decorated with the Naval Academy crest in gold with his diploma inside. Alex moved two steps to his left to receive congratulations from the Dant—the second officer who’d recommended his separation. Despite Captain Brookshier’s recommendation at his hearing, Alex had decided the man’s gesture right now was sincere. Next, Colonel Burlingame extended best wishes. With his diploma raised above his head in a gesture of victory, Alex turned toward his family and revealed a radiant smile.
Following the commandant administering the US Navy Oath of Office to the five other graduates, it was Alex’s turn. “Raise your right hand,” directed Colonel Burlingame. “I, state your name, having been appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
“I do!” Alex’s shout echoed in Memorial Hall and applause followed. “Congratulations, Lieutenant Kramer,” said the colonel, shaking Alex’s hand. “Semper Fidelis.”
“Semper Fidelis, sir,” Alex answered joyfully.
With the ceremony concluded, Alex joined his group of family members assembled near one of Memorial Hall’s tall majestic windows. They watched as David Kramer pinned Alex’s gold second lieutenant bars onto the shoulders of his blue dress uniform coat. It was official.
“Words can’t express how very proud I am of you, and for this day,” David told his son, then embraced him.
“Thank you, sir.”
Her eyes sparkling with joy, Olivia handed her son the box holding his white Marine Corps officer cover in it. “No mother on earth has a finer son,” she said, wiped the wetness from her eyes, and hugged Alex with deep affection.
“I love you, Mom,” he said, holding her embrace.
Several officers from the Academy’s Marine detachment came to see and support Alex, the ceremony’s only graduate being commissioned into the Marine Corps. They warmly welcomed him into their ranks with handshakes and backslaps. Then one by one, each raised a clenched fist and tapped down firmly on one of the gold second lieutenant bars pinned to Alex’s shoulders.
As Alex looked past the officers gathered around him, Colonel Wettstone stood in civilian clothes, away from any groups or families. The former deputy commandant had retired in June after thirty years of active-duty service. They exchanged hard stares across Memorial Hall. Alex thought Wettstone’s deadpan expression could have been mistaken for a callous sneer. You tried to steal this day from me, Alex thought. I won, now leave.
Lieutenant Marcellus had sent Alex a heartfelt apology for missing the ceremony. Alex owed so much to the officer who stood by him during his darkest days at the Academy. Tara had emailed to say she might be back to the DC area in a few months and would look him up at Quantico after he began at The Basic School.
“Sir, I request your presence to meet me outside the front doors of Bancroft Hall,” said Chief Sorrel with an admiring look on her face. Alex knew what she was up to. “I’d be honored, Chief.” He winked. “I’ll meet you in Tecumseh Court in ten minutes.”
“Aye, sir,” she said and smiled.
Carolyn Hagerty stood alone at the distant right corner of Memorial Hall. She looked up at the Operational Loss Panels listing the names of Academy graduates killed while on active duty performing military operations, and was surprised when Alex approached her from behind.
“You coming here today means a lot,” he told her. “I want you to know that.”
“Your Mom emailed and asked if I would like to come and I wrote back ‘yes,’” she said, her eyes smiling affectionately at him.
Eight years had passed—four in the Marine Corps and four more at the Academy—and Alex still cared for her. “Mom said you’re married now,” he told her carefully. Be careful where you go with this, he warned himself. “Your husband didn’t mind you being here? Because we used to be friends or something like that?” She looked away and sighed. “I’m divorced, Alex. Olivia didn’t tell you?”
Her announcement confused and pleased him at the same time. His mother had never mentioned it. “What happened?”
“My husband had no direction, no purpose,” she answered plainly. “He was adrift and we weren’t happy. That is, I wasn’t happy.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, because I’m not.” Carolyn wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “It’s taken me this long, too long, to finally realize you found a purpose for your life.” She took one of Alex’s hands resting along his side and held it. “You may not believe this but—” she started then stopped.
Alex waited and, looking down, noticed her hands shake. “But what?”
“I never stopped caring about you,” Carolyn added. “I suppose I needed time to find out what I’d been missing.” She raised a hand and gently touched his cheek. “It was us.”
Alex drew a quick breath. “I’m a Marine again. You sure that’s a lifestyle you can adapt to? Me serving in places that could put us far apart?”
“I’m willing to try,” she answered without skipping a beat. “Are you?”
“Yep.” He kissed her gently. “Excuse me, but someone’s waiting for me outside,” he said and chuckled. “It’s a military tradition. I’ll explain later.”
“Go on,” she told him with an affectionate smile, and waved him away.
Alex retrieved his cover from Olivia and stepped outside into a hot summer morning. He squinted against the brilliant sun looking for the SEL and spotted Lisa Sorrel standing below in Tecumseh Court wearing her Service Dress Whites. When Alex approached, she saluted smartly and he returned it.
“Sir,” she announced and showed him a perfect set of smiling white teeth.
“You’re my first salute, Chief. Thank you.” Following the tradition of a newly-commissioned officer’s first salute, Alex withdrew a silver dollar from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Thank you, sir, and best of luck,” said the sailor.
“Can you make the reception?” he asked.
“I’ll be there, sir.”
“That’s great.”
Guests from the ceremony exited Bancroft Hall on their way to graduation-commissioning receptions at the Naval Academy Club nearby on the Yard. Colonel Burlingame was among them and approached Alex. “I’m late for an important meeting, Lieutenant. Sorry to miss your reception,” said the colonel, sounding genuinely apologetic.
“It’s okay, sir,” Alex answered and straightened himself. “Thank you for helping me get ready to become an officer.”
The Naval Academy’s senior Marine withdrew a small cream-colored envelope from his uniform pocket and handed it to Alex. The Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem was printed on it. “This is for you. Good luck, Lieutenant.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Alex, accepting the envelope. His right hand lifted swiftly to his cover and saluted the Marine colonel, who returned the gesture.
Alex opened the envelope and withdrew a card carrying a handwritten message:
Second Lieutenant Kramer,
The Academy said you erred in judgment going UA to aid a Marine. I welcome an officer with such commitment serving under my command . . . one who will always protect his Marines and sailors.
Semper Fidelis!
Colonel G.A. Burlingame, USMC
EPILOGUE
The Basic School, Camp Barrett
Marine Corps Base Quantico—Triangle, VA
September 19, 2024 at 1019
Tara Marcellus looked around the sprawling military base in northern Virginia forty miles south of Washington, DC. She crossed the road and was surrounded by Marines going about their business. The grounds, littered with multicolored hues of red, amber, yellow, and orange from fallen autumn leaves, resembled a 1950s Norman Rockwell magazine cover.
She recognized Alex Kramer standing in front of Lopez Hall, dressed in Combat Utility Uniform with the sleeves rolled above the elbow and that same confident manner with which he presented himself, even as a midshipman. The last time they’d met had been five months ago at the Naval Academy. Tara approached Alex, and he saluted.
“It’s great to see you, ma’am.”
“Great to see you too, Lieutenant,” she said, returning his salute.
“You still at the Academy, ma’am?” Alex asked her.
“Not anymore. I’m at Naval Submarine Base New London, and halfway through Submarine Officer Advanced Course,” she said with an easy smile, her hazel eyes glistening. “Submarine officers call it DH school.”
Alex eyes widened. “You came all the way from Connecticut to check up on me?”
“I came to visit friends in Annapolis. But then I thought I’d hop down to Quantico to make sure you’re staying out of trouble,” she said with a chuckle.
Alex laughed with her. “Appreciate that, ma’am. We’re so busy at TBS there isn’t time to get into trouble.” Then he changed the conversation. “When you graduate from DH School, does that mean you make O-4?” he asked, referring to a promotion to lieutenant commander, the next rank on Tara’s career track as a naval officer.
“If I’m designated the engineer officer for my next boat tour, then I’ll be O-4. But I’m satisfied to continue wearing a lieutenant’s bars and be assigned DH for either combat systems or navigation and operations.”
Alex picked up on Tara’s optimism. “You’ll make a great DH, ma’am. Sailors on any Navy submarine crew will be fortunate to have you lead them.”
The creases along her cheeks formed by her smile complimented her creamy complexion. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” she said.
They made their way inside The Hawkins Room at Camp Barrett, home base of The Basic School for new Marine Corps second lieutenants, for a late morning meal. Alex grabbed two breakfast sandwiches, and they found a table and settled in to eat.
“Listen, our boat was out for an underway certification last month, and I couldn’t make it to your graduation and commissioning,” Tara reminded him. “But I wanted to be there.”
“I know, ma’am, and it’s okay.”
She drank from a large Starbucks coffee cup, then asked Alex if TBS was what he expected. Alex nodded eagerly between bites of his greasy bacon and egg sandwich. “I know it sounds dumb, but I love it.”
She turned the conversation to his delayed graduation and commissioning in August. “Everything go okay at the ceremony?”
“It was a great day all around, ma’am.”
“Any surprises?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah, two of ’em,” he remarked and downed the last of the orange juice from its wax carton. “One very good, but the other was kind of strange,” he said and wrinkled his nose.
“I’m listening,” she gave him a curious look. Alex’s voice lifted as he explained reconnecting with Carolyn Hagerty after being separated from each other for several years.
“That’s the good one that happened,” he said. “We’ve talked about being together. But that’ll wait until I get my orders after TBS and find out where I’ll be stationed.”
Hearing Alex speak those words, Tara felt fleeting sadness. Ray Lydon had said almost identical words during the final weekend they were together last April. He’d told Tara he loved her, and then said, “How would you feel about making us permanent?” Two weeks later, Ray had proposed and Tara had joyfully accepted.
“You okay, ma’am?” Alex asked, noticing Tara’s sudden sadness.
“I’m all right,” she said and waved one hand in the air. “Where’s your girlfriend now?”
“She lives and works in New York City.”
“That’s a very good story,” added Tara, her mood lifted again by Alex’s news. “What was the strange thing that happened?” she asked and watched his expression turn to displeasure.
“Colonel Wettstone showed up but he didn’t come over to me,” he said with resentment.
Tara’s eyes grew big. “Not even to congratulate you?”
“He eyeballed me across Memorial Hall, then did an about face and walked out.” Alex leaned forward in his chair. “Between you and me, ma’am, he wore the uniform but I never thought of him as an officer any Marine would want to follow.”
Tara heard Alex’s words loud and clear. “Copy that.”
They finished eating, collected their covers, and stepped outside into a stunning late September morning.
“We’ve covered a lot of ground since our deployments,” remarked Tara when they reached the street, “but we always remembered to do our duty.” She looked away, then at Alex. “You inspired me to be a better officer—and you reminded me what dedication to duty truly means. Thank you.”
“That goes both ways, Lieutenant,” Alex told her. “I was up against the wall at the Academy. You stood by me, you and Major Anderegg. That took real courage.”
Tara saw seriousness in the young Marine officer’s face, reliving the emotionally-taught experience he had borne in his final year as an Academy midshipman.
“I’d be proud to serve under your command, anytime,” Alex said. Then his serious face turned into a grin.
“What?” Tara said.
“A Marine recruiter once asked me if I had what it takes,” he said.
“You’ve always had it, Alex. Twice over.”
Alex took one step back and saluted her. “Semper Fi, ma’am.”
Tara raised her chin, smiled, and returned the salute. “Good luck to you always, Lieutenant Kramer.”
END
CHARACTERS
Alexander Matthew Kramer
Midshipman, US Naval Academy Class of 2024 (prior-enlisted); Sergeant, USMC, 24th MEU
Lieutenant Tara Marcellus, USN
19th Company Officer, US Naval Academy and USNA Class of 2016
Rear Admiral David Kramer, USN
Father of Alex Kramer and USNA Class of 1992
Olivia Kramer
Alex Kramer’s mother
Commander James Whikehart, USN
Command Officer, USS John Warner
Lieutenant Commander Walter Arroyo, USN
Executive Officer, USS John Warner
Lieutenant Commander Mike Urbanick, USN
Engineer Officer, USS John Warner
Lieutenant Hugh Kerr, USN
Weapons Officer, USS John Warner
Lieutenant Donald Schrager, USN
Navigator/Operations Officer, USS John Warner
Chief Greg Drysdale, USN
Sonar Supervisor, Weapons, USS John Warner
Lieutenant Commander Ann Forgash, USN
Clinical Psychologist, Midshipmen Development Center, USNA
Major Mark Anderegg, USMC
