The Casualty of War

 by: Hankster

© 2020 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

hankster@tickiestories.us

May 3, 1953:

Sgt. Jake Moran, USMC, and his unit were just settling down to eat their evening meal.  It was called ‘mess’ for good reason.  They had been living in the field in Korea for several weeks, and this life was wearing on them.  They were hardly in a boy scout camp.  Enemy mortar threatened them daily.

A handsome young man approached the sergeant.  Jake hadn’t seen him before.  His interest peaked way up.  He was a very closeted gay man, and he liked what he saw.  He would never make a move on the man, but he could enjoy the eye candy.

“Are you Sgt. Moran?” the good-looking young man asked.

“Sure am, and you are?”

The young man stuck out his hand for Jake to shake.  “I’m Tom Harrison, Hospital Corpsman third-class.”

The marine corps is a branch of the navy, and all medical personnel; doctors, nurses and corpsmen, are navy.  When the medics are assigned to duty with the marines, they are known as the fleet marines.  Jake knew that a third-class petty officer was equivalent to a three striped sergeant.  They were the same rank.

He returned Tom’s handshake, and asked, “What are you doing here, Doc?”

“I’ve been assigned to your unit.”

“Well, welcome, then.  After our gourmet dinner, I’ll introduce you to the other guys.”

Tom and Jake ate together from their canteens.  They were silent, and just to make conversation, Jake asked, “Where are you from?”

“Trumball, Connecticut.  It’s a small town, a little west of New Haven.  Where are you from?”

“Buffalo, New York.” 

Then they were silent again.  Finally, Tom asked, “Have you heard that the US and North Korea have begun truce negotiations?”

Jake grunted.

“I can’t wait to get out of here,” Tom said.  “I became a father in February.  I had a boy, and I want so much to see him and hold him.”

“Congratulations, Tom,” Jake said.  “It looks like your wish will come true shortly.  What’s your son’s name?”

“He’s Junior, Little Tommy.”

“How about your wife?

“Her name is Connie.”

A few days later, Tom received a letter from Connie.  Included in the letter was a picture of her and the baby.  Proudly, he showed Jake the picture.  Tom’s wife was a beautiful brown-haired girl, no more than nineteen.  His baby was hairless, but cute as a button.  Tom put the picture and the letter back in the envelope, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Over the next few weeks, the two non-coms became really good buddies.  Tom made Jake promise to come to Trumball after this conflict was over.  He wanted him to meet his wife and baby, but he stressed that he wanted him to meet his older brother also.

July 6, 1953:

There was an elevated site, twenty to thirty miles from the thirty-eighth parallel, called Pork Chop Hill.  Notwithstanding that truce negotiations were in progress, the Chinese invaded Pork Chop.  The battle was bloody, and unnecessary.  Casualties were heavy on both sides.

Jake was leading a charge, when he fell to the ground.  He had been shot in his left leg.  The pain was excruciating, but beyond that, he was bleeding profusely.

“Corpsman, corpsman,” he yelled over and over.

Tom was busy treating another wounded marine, but he came running to Jake as soon as he could.  He took a thick wad of gauze from his field kit, and slapped it on Jake’s wound.  He secured it with some tape.  When that was done, he gave Tom a shot of morphine.

“You’ve been shot in the leg,” Tom said, “and I think it’s gone right through your femur.  I’ve done what I can.  Just lie still until the evac crew comes to get you.”

Those were the last words Tom ever spoke.  A bullet entered his skull right between his eyes. His body fell on top of Jakes, and it shielded Jake all night.  In the morning, the shelling had ceased.  Tom’s body was removed first.  As the evacuation crew picked him up, an envelope fell out of his jacket, and onto Jake.  The sergeant grabbed the envelope and clutched it tightly until he was evacuated also.  He kept the envelope close to him, even when he arrived at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

Jake did not remember much about his evacuation, or his first few days in Bethesda.  Once he began to become lucid again, his surgeon came to speak to him.

“You’re femur was badly shattered,” the doctor said.  “We put a metal rod in it, and repaired it as best we could.  You’re going to need lots and lots of rehab, but at least we saved the leg.”

“What’s my prognosis, Doctor?” Jake asked in fear.

“The worst-case scenario is that you won’t be able to walk on the leg ever again, and you’ll need a wheelchair.  It’s possible you’ll be able to walk with crutches or a cane, and the best-case scenario is that you’ll walk unaided again, but with a limp.  The success of your rehab will determine the outcome.”

There was no doubt in Jake’s mind.  He knew for certain that he would walk again unaided, and his limp would be minimal.

Between recovery from surgery, and almost fourteen months of rehab, Jake remained in Bethesda for nearly a year and a half.  In all that time, he held Tom’s letter close to his heart.  On the day he was discharged, he made it his mission to find Tom’s widow and child, and thank them for Tom’s heroism, and for his life.

November 5, 1954:

Jake flew to New Haven and rented a car for his drive to Trumball, and for his use during the time he’d be there.  He didn’t expect it would be for any great length of time.  He’d thank Connie and move on.  At this point, he didn’t know where he’d go after Trumball.  He didn’t much care to go back to Buffalo.

Connie’s return address was on the envelope.  As soon as he arrived, he checked into a motel, and then asked for directions to Connie’s house.  It turned out to be an apartment in a duplex.  He was more frightened than when he faced enemy fire in Korea.  Shaking like a leaf, he rang the front door bell.  A woman in her late sixties answered.

“May I help you, young man?” she inquired.

Jake was confused, but he managed to ask, “Is Connie Harrison at home?”

“There’s nobody with that name living here.  I’ve been here over a year.”

Clearly disappointed, Jake apologized.  “Excuse me ma’am,” he said.  “I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

“Wait a minute,” the woman said.  “Did you say Harrison?”

Jake nodded.

“I’ve lived in Trumball all my life.  My husband died about a year ago, so I sold my house and scaled down.  I moved into this apartment.  I was told that the woman who lived here before me was a widow, and she went back to Michigan to be near her parents.  I’m pretty sure her name was Harrison.”

“Do you know how I might find out where she lives in Michigan?”

“No, but there’s a hardware store on Spring Hill Rd. called Harrison’s   It might be owned by a member of her family.  Someone there might know.”

“That’s great.  Can you give me directions to the store?”

“Of course, and you can’t miss it.  It’s called Harrison’s”

Tom had told Jake that he had an older brother, Mark, who owned a hardware store, so his hopes were raised.

When Jake walked into the store, it was loaded with shoppers.  He was glad to see that Tom’s brother seemed to be doing so well.  He looked around, and he spotted Mark immediately.  He was about three years older than Tom would have been at that time, but no matter, they looked exactly alike.  Jake’s heart had flipped when he laid eyes on Tom.  Now, he had to beg his heart to start beating again.  It had stopped its regular rhythm when he saw Mark.

He waited until Mark was through with the customer he was serving, and he approached him.  “Are you Mark Harrison?” Jake asked.

Mark smiled broadly at him.  “Yes, I am, and who might you be?”

Jake suddenly got very emotional.  He had to take a deep breath before he could talk again.  “My name’s Jake Moran.  I served with your brother in Korea.  We were good friends.”

Now it was Mark’s turn to be speechless.  He tried to say something, but only a little sob came out, so Jake continued.  “Tom saved my life and he died in my arms.  I came to thank Connie, and express my condolences.  I was hoping you could give me her address in Michigan.”

Finally, Mark got himself together.  He came out from behind the counter, and threw his arms around Jake.  Jake pulled away because he started to get hard.

“I can do better than that,” Mark said.  “Next Monday, the town is celebrating Veterans Day.  There’s going to be a special ceremony to honor Tom.  They would have done it last year, but it was too fresh, and Connie had just moved to Ann Arbor.  Anyway, she and Tommy are coming back for the ceremony.  Why don’t you hang out until then, and you’ll meet them?”

“Yeah, sure,” Jake said.  “That’ll be great.”

“Where are you staying?”

“At a motel, just outside of town.”

“Look,” Mark said, “I rattle around in a huge four-bedroom house that I inherited from my parents along with this business.  I have plenty of room, please stay with me, until you leave.”

Jake would love to do that, but he was afraid of being inappropriate with this Adonis.  “I don’t think that’s wise,” he said thoughtlessly.

Mark misinterpreted Jake’s intent.  “Listen,” he said, “someone may have snitched on me, and told you that I’m gay, but I swear, I won’t do anything to embarrass you.”

Finally, Jake’s heart did stop beating.  He had to pinch himself before he could say, “I wasn’t worried about you.  I was worried about me.  I’m gay also, and you are so hot, man.”

Mark may have begun to sob a short while ago, but now he was beaming.  His smile made him even more attractive, if that were possible.

“Look, Jake,” he said, “I live walking distance from here.  My night manager gets here at four.  I’ll drive to the motel with you, and you’ll check out.  Please stay with me.”

“Of course, I will.”

As they walked to Jake’s rental car, Mark noted, “You walk with a slight limp, and you said that Tom saved your life.  Has the limp got anything to do with that?”

“Yes, it’s an old war wound.”

When they entered Mark’s home, both men felt slightly awkward.  Mark took Jake to one of the three unoccupied bedrooms.

“You can leave your stuff in here,” he said, “but since my brother saved your life, you owe me big time.”

“Yes, I do,” Jake agreed.  “What can I do for you?”

“You can sleep in my bed tonight, and every night for the rest of our lives.”

Jake laughed.  “We just met.  You don’t know anything about me.”

“You’re wrong,” Mark contradicted Jake.  “I know you well.  Any man who would come all this way to thank my brother’s widow, has a good heart, a huge one.  You were even willing to go on to Michigan to thank Connie.  You’ve got just the kind of heart that I could love, that I already love.”

“This is so crazy,” Jake said, but when I’m in your presence, I can’t breathe.  You have a strange effect on me.”

“It’s called love, Dude,” Mark said, as he grabbed Jake and they shared their first kiss.

“It’s funny,” Jake said, “Tom always urged me to visit here one day so I could meet Connie and you.  He said he knew that you and I would hit it off.  Having been raised with a gay brother, I think he knew that I was gay, or at least, he suspected.  Did he know about you?”

“Yes, He was the first one I came out to.”

Jake caressed Mark’s hardened cock, but Mark pulled back.  “As much as I want to make love with you, you’re right that this is too soon.  I’m going to take you out to dinner, and wine and dine you.  Then we’ll make love to each other.”

“In that case, I have to unpack,” Jake said.  “I need to get appropriate clothing.

Mark drove Jake to New Haven, and to a fancy French restaurant near the Yale campus.  For Jake, and actually for Mark also, it was gourmet heaven.  They both tried to enjoy the meal, and the wine, but the only thing on their minds was what was waiting for them at home.

Mark drove back to Trumball above the speed limit, and Jake had to ask him to slow down a couple of times.  They rushed to Mark’s bedroom, and stripped faster than Superman used to strip in a phone booth.

For a full minute their eyes just feasted on each other.  They stood perfectly still.  They were both six feet tall.  Mark was circumcised.  His cock was four inches flaccid, but Jake didn’t know that.  Right now, it was seven hard inches.  Jake was not cut.  He was about four and a half inches flaccid, but at the moment, he was about seven and a half pulsating, throbbing, inches.

“We should shower,” Mark said, but I can’t wait.  We’ll shower afterward.”

He grabbed Jake’s hand and led him to his bed.

“I’m going first,” Mark said.  “Like I told you, you owe me.  Now lie flat on your back and spread your legs.  The first round is mine.  I’m going to do all the work.”

“You’ll get no argument from me,” Jake said, “as long as I get to reciprocate.”

“You will.  I promise you.” 

Mark threw himself on top of Jake, and the ex-marine was reminded of that awful night when Tom’s body covered him, and protected him from further gunfire.  But this was infinitely more pleasant.  Mark began to give Jake a trip around the world that blew his mind.  Mark labored for more than an hour.  He wouldn’t give up his trip until he was satisfied that he covered every square inch of Jake’s body.  He wasn’t even put off by Jakes scarred leg.  In fact, he gave it extra love and care.

Jake was squirming like a bait worm, so finally Mark began to work on Jake’s cock.  He kissed every bit of it, and swabbed it until he was wearing away Jake’s skin.

“I’m cumming,” Jake yelled.

“Not yet.  Hold on,” Mark said.

He opened a drawer in his bedside table and took out a tube of lube.  He coated Jake’s cock generously and then he shoved a good glob up his own ass.  He straddled Jake and sat down on him, guiding Jake’s cock as far up his ass as he could possibly get it.  Jake tried to delay, but he was a goner.  After less than half a dozen thrusts, he spurted a massive amount of cum up Mark’s ass.  After he came, he broke out into some very watery tears.  Mark leaned over him, and they began a long period of passionate kissing.  They only stopped when Jake slipped out of Mark’s ass.  Then they lay side by side.  They fondled each other and resumed kissing.

Mark was sobbing.  “How did you come into my life?  What brought you to me?  I want to know which god to thank.”

“It was providence brought us together, Love,” Jake said.

“Take a good look at my face, and the rest of me,” Mark ordered.  “You’re going to see a lot of it.  I’m not letting you get away.”

“Well and good,” Jake said, “but it’s my turn.”  He rolled over on top of his new love (in reality, his first love) and repeated everything Mark had done to him.  Mark was a lot noisier than he was.  He kept screaming, “Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

The Next Day:

Mark dressed for work, but Jake lounged in bed, reluctant to leave it.  He got out of bed only when Mark called him to breakfast.

They had poached eggs on toast with coffee, and Jake was prompted to say, “Don’t spoil me.  I’ll expect this every morning.”

“Forget about it.  Tomorrow you’re making breakfast.”

“So, the honeymoon is over,” Jake lamented.

“What will you do all day, while I’m at the store, aside from going back to bed?” Mark asked.

“Well,” Jake smiled disarmingly at Mark, “if I’m going to live here, I think I’ll explore Trumbull.”

“You can work in the store,” Mark said trying to sound very practical.

“That’ll never work,” Jake laughed.  “I’d be wanting to jump your bones in front of all the customers.”

“You’re bad,” Mark said.  He kissed Jake on his cheek as he got ready to leave.

Jake started to laugh.  “Do you realize how domestic this scene is?”

When he got home that evening, Mark was greeted with a heavenly aroma, and he realized that Jake had cooked dinner.

“What are we having?” he asked.

“My favorite; beef stew on wide noodles with an extra thick gravy, and apple pie a la mode for dessert.”

“Now you’re spoiling me,” Mark said.

“Not really.  Tomorrow you’re cooking dinner.”

“So, the honeymoon is over,” Mark mimicked Jake.

After they cleaned up, and the kitchen was ready for captain’s inspection, Jake took Mark’s hand and gave him a peck on the lips.

“Is that the best you can do?” Mark asked.

“For the moment.  Now sit down on the sofa with me.  I have big news.”

“It’s good news, I hope,” Mark said.

“You’ll be the judge if it’s good or bad.”

“Should I put on judicial robes?”

“Shush,” Jake said. “We just met, we’ve fucked each other, and we don’t know anything about each other.  I’m going to fill you in and tell you all about me, and then you’ll do the same.  When we know at least a little something about each other, I’ll give you the news, and you can be the judge.”

Jake cleared his throat and began.  “I was born in Buffalo, New York.  If you know Buffalo, you know how treacherous the winter weather can be.  One snowy night when I was twelve years old, my folks were killed in a four-car pile-up.  I went to live with a spinster aunt.  She was really good to me, but she was very religious, a tyrant, and a bigot. I didn’t dare tell her I was gay.  She financed my education, and I didn’t have to spend any of the money my parents left me.  She died while I was in Korea.  I inherited her house and a good deal of money from her.  I sold the house, and added the proceeds to my bank account.

“I majored in Math and minored in Education.  I have a master’s degree in mathematics, and I hope to get a doctorate.  I figure I can attend Yale at night.  Before I joined the marine corps, I had just started teaching math at the high school level.  I only enlisted in the marine corps because I didn’t want to get drafted into the army.”

Jake seemed to be finished, so Mark picked up the gauntlet.  “Unlike you, I was drafted into the army,” Mark said, “and I was in and out of Korea before you and Tom got there.  I know it’s one big coincidence, but my folks were killed in a car crash also.  I had to take over the business, and the army gave me a compassionate discharge.  My parents died before I had to tell them I was gay.  Tom knew the truth about me, but we never discussed it.  I guess when Connie gets here, we’ll have to tell her together.  I doubt that Tom outed me to her.”

“We really are kindred souls,” Jake said.  “Tell me about Tom, please.”

“Tom was pre-med at Yale, but he didn’t want to be drafted into the army and live in tents, so he enlisted in the navy.  Isn’t it ironic?  Two years later, he got transferred to the fleet marines, and lived in a tent anyway.”

“Yes,” Jake agreed, life is full of ironies.  How did he meet Connie?”

“Tom went out to Ann Arbor with a buddy to see Michigan State in a football game.  His Buddy was a recent graduate of Michigan State.  Connie sat next to Tom in the stadium, and the rest is history.”

“You’ve delayed long enough,” Mark said.  “What’s your news?”

“Well, besides shopping for dinner, I found the high school, and asked to speak to the principal.  He was gracious enough to see me without an appointment.  He asked me what I wanted to talk to him about, and I told him I was looking for a position teaching math.

“He looked at me so strangely, I had to ask him what the matter was.  He used my very words, Mark.  He said that providence must have sent me here.  I asked him what he meant, and he told me that there were only two math teachers in the school.  It’s not a big school, as you know.  One of them moved to Seattle, suddenly.  Her husband got a good job out there.  It seems that Seattle is the hub of a new industry called electronics, whatever that is.  Anyway, the remaining math teacher is doing double duty, and she threatened to quit if the principal didn’t hire someone quickly.

“I’ll cut to the chase.  I start teaching math there the day after Veterans Day.  I’ll be teaching algebra, geometry and trigonometry, and a special pre-college class in calculus.  I’m really excited about it.  I can hardly wait.”

Mark broke out into tears, and embraced Jake.  “It was providence brought you here,” he declared loudly, agreeing with Jake.

The Friday Before Veterans Day:

Friday evening about six o’clock, Mark and Jake were at the airport in New Haven waiting for Connie’s plane to arrive.  Mark was excited.  Jake was frightened.  When she got off the plane with Tommy in her arms, Jake thought that she looked just like her picture, but he was way off base with little Tommy.  He pictured an infant, but Tommy was almost two years old with a mop of wild blond hair.  He was quite a handful for Connie, and when she reached the men, Mark took the toddler from her.  Connie and Mark gave each other a kiss on the cheek.

“We have to go to baggage claim,” she advised.  “Tommy was enough for me to carry.  I had to check everything, including my travel bag.”

“Connie,” Mark said, “I’d like you to meet my friend, Jake.  He teaches math at the high school.”

“Nice to meet you,” Connie said, and she shook Jake’s hand.

“Jake and I have lots to tell you,” Mark said, “but it will have to wait until we get home.  It’s complicated.”

Connie badgered her brother-in-law in the car driving back to Trumball, but he told her it would have to wait until they were home and settled.  She could see that there would be no arguing.

Finally, Tommy was put down for the night, and the adults were sitting around the kitchen table having a cup of coffee. 

“If you don’t tell me what’s going on,” Connie said, “I’ll rip both your eyes out.”

“I’ll go first,” Jake said.  Connie looked at him expectantly.  “Connie, your husband and I served together in Korea.  We were very good friends.” 

Connie gave out a little shriek. 

“I was wounded,” Jake continued.  “Tom saved my life on the battlefield.  I came here to thank you.”  Jake didn’t want to tell Connie that Tom was killed while tending to his wounds.  “I found out you had moved, and the woman now renting your old apartment advised me to speak to someone at Harrison’s Hardware.  She thought there might be a family member there, who could tell me where you were.”

Connie looked like she was in shock.  She didn’t quite know what to say.  Jake put his arms around her, and she didn’t mind.

“I’ll take over now,” Mark said.  Mark took Connie’s hand.  “You know that I’m gay,” he said.

“Oh Mark, the whole town knows.”

“Good.  Then you’ll understand when I tell you that when Jake walked into the store a couple of days ago, I fell head over heels in love with him.  It turns out he’s gay also, and the feeling was mutual.  We’re going to live together.”

“I don’t understand,” Connie said.  “You said that Jake teaches math at the high school.”

“I just got the job,” Jake explained.  “I don’t actually start until the day after Veterans Day.  I had to get a job in Trumball.  I couldn’t bear to leave Mark.”

“Wow,” Connie said, and she kissed Mark on the cheek.  “Well, I can only wish you both luck and happiness.  And you, Jake, you say you came to thank me, and I know just how.  I want you to be part of the ceremony, and I want to introduce you as one of the many lives Tom saved.  You’ll be living proof of what a hero he was.”

“Of course, I’ll do it.  It’ll be an honor.”

Veterans Day:

The ceremony was very emotional.  Connie and Jake kept clinging to one another and crying.  Mark held Tommy, who didn’t know what was going on.

That evening at dinner, Connie asked for attention.  “My dad’s a firefighter,” she said, “and he’s retiring as of December 31^st.  He and mom are moving to Miami Beach.  Mark, you’re my only family.  I want to move back to Trumball.  I’ll put Tommy in day care, get a job, and a place of my own as soon as possible.”

Mark grabbed Connie and hugged her.  Everything’s taken care of.  This house is large enough for all of us, and I have a job for you,” he said.  “My clerks are great at what they do, but they can’t work the register to save their souls.  I’m short almost every day.  I need a cashier, and I’m offering you the job.  Then the clerks can concentrate on what they do best, serve the customers.”

“Is it okay with you, Jake?” Connie asked.

“Are you kidding?  If Mark hadn’t offered, I would have.”

After Veterans Day:

The next afternoon, while Jake was at his first day of work at the high school, Mark drove Connie to the airport.  She told him that she thought she could make the move within two months, and he told her how happy he was.

When he got home, Jake was puttering in the kitchen preparing dinner.  Mark grabbed him, and they kissed for at least five minutes.  Finally, Mark asked, “So???”

“I loved every minute,” Jake said.  “The kids are great.  Somehow, they heard that I had a purple heart.  They wanted to hear all about it, and I got more respect than a new teacher deserves.  They don’t even know me.  Some of them told me that they saw me at the Veterans day ceremony.”

“I’m glad for you, sweetheart.  I really am,” Mark said.  “Connie will be with us in less than two months.  She told me that was her game plan.”

“That’s fantastic,” Jake said.

“Jake, honey,” Mark said, “hunky construction guys come into the store all the time for supplies.  You know how you said Tom had a feeling about us?  Well, there’s this one guy, Jimmy Riley, whose hotter than a pep rally bonfire.”

“Should I be jealous?”

“Never,” Mark said adamantly.  “Anyway, he’s double straight, and I have a feeling that he and Connie would make beautiful music together.  I can’t wait to introduce them.”

“You’re probably right, but promise me you won’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work out.”

“I promise.”

*****

Two years later, at Connie and Jimmy’s wedding, nearly four-year-old, Tommy, was ring bearer.  Jimmy’s brother was best man, and one of Connie’s co-workers was maid of honor.  Jake and Mark were groomsmen.

Mark whispered in Jake’s ear, “They look as happy as we are.  You know, love, indirectly you made all this possible.”

“I had nothing to do with it,” Jake replied.  “I told you.  It was providence, and now providence has given us back a home of our own to enjoy, with no other occupants, much as I love them.  Wait until I get you alone tonight.  The earth will quake, and fireworks will explode.”

“Is that a promise?” Mark asked.

“You can bet on it,” the math teacher said.  “It’s as factual as the axiom that the area of a circle equals pi times the radius squared.”

Posted: 08/21/2020