Suk Jai (สุขใจ – happy heart) Contented, satisfied and gratified.

Chapter Fifteen

Angie - Recompense

I lost my breath. My thoughts were upbeat. A grateful heart found me floating above those in the room, while peering in on a conversation about me and Ben. I owe a lot to these persons who went out of their way to help us to get back together.

Pappy, Granny and Lilly have discovered Bobby Olander's former in-laws, Martha and Rufus Olander. They had followed the General like my parents had followed me. Dual Thai citizenship was bestowed on them because of their relationship with Bobby. My parents, Lilly and I were extended the same privileges because of our relationship with Ben. Daddy and Rufus instantly became the best of buddies. The Olander's were retired farmers.

My Father, Mother and I were not farmers. However, we were gardeners. Daddy rented two acres of land in St. Louis County. The farmer who owned the land would till it in April every year. Daddy had a lightweight two cycle gas powered garden tiller/cultivator which he used between rows to keep the weeds under control. He put a small galvanized tub over the unit to keep rain off of it. The memories of the past improved my awareness.

In our garden, a third of an acre was planted in Peaches-n-Cream sweet corn. Three weeks later another third acre would be planted with the pleasing morsels. The last tri-week sowing was the final of the sugary delights. It permitted the season to be expanded. We enjoyed the savory delights.

The next acre grew a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, water-melons, zucchini and pickling cucumbers. Momma canned or froze what we could. The rest were sold at Soulard's Farmers Market in St. Louis. The money from the market made enough to pay the rent on the land and to buy seed for next year.

Rufus and Daddy compared notes on the best items to grow. Lilly (11) was more interested in the catfish ponds. She met Dawkmymy and Bobby's children and Malsa's siblings Seebhabe (11), Bobby III (10) and Leanna (9) feeding the fish. My daughter was their schoolmate.

Ling Noy's mother, Sy La Maaw (สายลมอ่อน – Reluctant Bride) was their after school teacher, governess and babysitter. The kids had already formed a bond. Seebhabe's dog was right in the mix. The dog's name was 'Dog.' I understand in earlier years Dog was used as a horse, headrest, helper and was an expert in MDCC.

Dog would defend the children with his life. On all fours, he stood taller than the kids. He initiated me by putting his front paws on my shoulders and washing my face with his tongue. Malsa assured me he only does the lapping with people he likes. On the outside I smiled, but my thoughts cried help me.

The New Job

My detachment was a rudimentary cargo component. The Commander had always been male. The first day on the job was without disturbance. I was the only female in the unit. The first woman in the unit was a Sergeant (E-5) Eva Holt. She was a Cuban refugee and the detachment clerk. Her time with the organization was two years. It had been twelve months since she left.

Her evaluation recognized the outstanding assets she held in the Air Force. Sergeant Holt fell in love with Sergeant Major (E-7) Adam Treadwater and they were married while stationed at Chiang Mai. Their friends affectionately called them Adam and Eve.

Both were accepted to attend Officer Training School, then to Pilot's Training School. It was related by one of their former colleagues that they transferred to the Military Airlift Command (MAC) and were working toward their C-130 certification.

General Olander introduced me as one tough woman. He related that a St. Louis newspaper reported that I faced twelve gang members who had knives and guns. However, she tells me the paper exaggerated the story. It was exactly six hoodlums. Only two had revolvers, while the other four had switchblades. She disarmed them, knocked them out and cut the clothes off their bodies leaving them naked on the ground. "Seriously she is one fine commander. Her main objectives are that all military personnel need to be prepared mentally and physically to fight at all times. Gentlemen, I present Lieutenant Colonel Angie Crossman."

"Gentlemen, the General tells me that you are ready and able to fight when needed. It will take time to know one another. I'm proud to serve as commander of your detachment. It is important we maintain the schedule of running and MDCC preparation that you are already required to do. That is a minimum to keep in shape after you have reached your peak. All of us are on the honor system to maintain three hours of running and three additional hours of MDCC instruction a week." I could feel my heart propelling faster. Sweat was flowing from my arm pits even though the air conditioning was working appropriately.

Additionally, "Our objective is to build endurance. It has never been anyone's goal to see who can win the race, but rather, who can persevere to the end. It is not who is fastest in MDCC, but making sure every blow, kick and throw count. I invite you to run with me at 0400 hours every morning Monday through Saturday. Your objective is to become a master in MDCC. Give it all you can. You may save yourself and your friend's life. Don't settle for less. Those of you who obtain the status of Grand Master should be teaching the art."

My final statement emphasized, "You are the best. I don't expect anything less. In Chiang Mai, we are far enough away from the borders to be free from the daily skirmishes. However, the war is brought to us by disgruntled infiltrators and clandestine operatives. Organizations like the pink handkerchief gang are profiteers who disregard the sanctity of innocent men, women and children. Our rescue teams constantly face an underground enemy. We will be called to assist them directly or in a roundabout way."

What I said is genuine. An alertness is demanded not unlike every war in history. We are more than support. What we do is essential to the war effort. Sensations of events change way to fast to come to grips with it in my mind, causing me to want to go into hiding. My limbs tightened, tensed and trembled. Do you flee, fight or remain frozen like a fawn from the flash of front headlights?

After the short meeting at Bob and Dawkmymy's home the talk switched to who would move up to first place in the professional association of Multi Discipline Close Combat. Ling Noy suggested that the organization raise funds to assist the families whose loved ones lost their lives defending Thailand's border.

The Defense Rests

Several suggested Mike and Ben were top contenders. Both confessed they were not in as good shape as they were three years earlier. General Lockhart suggested that there may be those in the world of fighting who would want to bar Ben from fighting since he flaked out while at Lackland. I knew that it was my fault. Before I could respond that the blame was mine, Ben said that was a rough time in his life. Ben declared that if anyone wanted to block him from the ring, he would respect them. That would be okay because it was the result of bad decisions plaguing his life at that time.

I could not hold the tears back any longer. Crying like a baby stung by a wasp, with trembling in my voice, I uttered, "It's my fault."

"You do not have to say another word," said Ben.

"Yes, I do. The night before the fight, he slept in his car. I had kicked him out of the house and told him not to come back. It was with regards to petty jealousy that I know now had no merit. The next morning, he asked me to forgive him. In my heart, I knew that he had done no wrong."

"Furthermore, there was nothing to forgive, but I was so stunned it affected my ability to speak. He took my silence as rejection. My lack of response instigated him to immediately resign his commission from the Air Force and to join the Marines as an enlisted man. What I did or didn't do made him despondent. While in the Marines, his view point was at its lowest. To him death was what he deserved, as result of our being torn apart. It would relieve him from his misery."

"In addition, dangerous situations gave him the motivation to ignore the risks ahead. While watching five of his men succumb to enemy firepower, he challenged the adversaries five times by rescuing a man on each occasion. He received fourteen shots landing him in a coma for several months. The Navy recommended him for the Medal of Honor.

Finally, he rejected the nation's highest award for heroism, because it was his job to protect his men. The Navy did give him their next prominent order, The Navy Cross. He is a hero in the eyes of the people of Thailand, as many of you are. Don't tell me he is a flake or a coward. Whoever says that will have to fight me. I am one mean woman when someone tries to put down my man."

Lockhart answered, "All in the room agree with you. We know that he is a brave man, and we will defend his name." The group responded in chorus, "Everyone of us will stand up for him." What was tense has now mellowed. Tears of delight replaced tears of enragement. My words and thoughts were muddled as I attempted to thank each person in the office.

That night I held him tight as he loved me deeper and stronger than my memory could recall. The bond between us expanded. Ben and I held hands while running around the tract early Monday morning. Most of the men in my detachment joined us, as well as their wives and girlfriends. All from the Sunday meeting, Lilly, my parents and Dog united with us to remain in shape.

Dog happily initiated many runners into the lap club, by swashing his tongue across their faces. He was in doggy heaven with a broad grin throughout his mouth.