The Wall Crossers

How Many Fiancées does this Woman Have?

After three full days in confinement, and now beginning my fourth day, Sunday, sixteenth January, I begin preparing because today the PM will hear my case and disposition will be made. I am nervous.

After showering and completing my other morning routines, I have breakfast in the mess hall, and then return to my room to pack up my things, which doesn't take long.

I report to the clerk of the day at ten hundred hours (ten o'clock) leaving my things in my room. I am ushered into the proceedings room by a Sergeant of the Court. The room is light tile flooring and dark wood paneling walls with incandescent lighting in the ceiling. The JAG is there, seated. He looks up at me, smiles, then back down to his papers on his table near the front. A clerk-recorder is to the right at another table with many documents and forms and a typewriter.

The Sgt places me at a wooden table just to the right of front-and-center and asks me to be seated.

There are many seats in the room for spectators. Witnesses, or other attendees, but all are empty for my proceeding.

After a moment a Major enters and the Sgt announces, "Ah—ten—shun! All rise for the Provost Marshal." We do so. He comes in and sits at his raised bench, and then we are seated.

I see he is wearing a beige poplin Army shirt and thin black tie, like me. His removes his Army jacket and drapes it behind on the back of his plush cushioned chair. I saw medals, but could not see his right shoulder overseas insignia—only his left shoulder, current unit, Berlin Brigade patch, also like mine.

He is ruddy complexioned, no facial hair. Light hair trimmed into a flattop. Blue eyes, medium build and probably, judging from his entrance, five ten in height. Strong face. Eyes are sharp but with a hint of kindness. He wears Army regulation horn-rimmed black glasses.

He looks at me once, but gives no sign of his thoughts and then glances to the JAG and in a firm but pleasant voice says, "Let's proceed, Lieutenant."

The JAG looks up at him saying, "Yes Sir," then back down and reads from a page, "This next matter is the case of Corporal Bobby Reary of the Service Company, Berlin Brigade who did commit an absence without official leave (AWOL) as well as interfere with an official rescue operation, on twelve January nineteen seventy two and is up for Article 15 misdemeanor for these offenses.

The PM asks, surveying the room "Are there no witnesses to testify here today?"

The JAG answers, "No, sir. A key figure in this case could not be located. Hers would have been useful, but unfortunately, is not available."

The PM checks through some papers, pulling a small set from the pile and places it in front on his bench top surface. "Why does such an ordinary AWOL offense concern this jurisdiction, instead of being dealt with at the Company level? Please advise and continue."

The JAG answers, "Because, Sir, of the source of the complaint... it's political association." He continues, reading, "The defendant was turned in by the German Assistant Consul to East Germany on that day, having had warning of the pending offense. The Consul was to meet his fiancée, Anja Walena, whom he had just rescued, with great difficulty, from the Stasi in East Germany, but the defendant intervened and redirected the fiancée to Andrews barracks, and then apparently they met at the airport instead, thus attempting to prevent the reunion."

"This fiancée... is the defendant's, or the Consul's? You did not make that clear."

"My apologies, Sir. She is the Consul's fiancée."

"Hmmm, so is this then a... a case of kidnapping as well?"

"No Sir, it is not."

"Were the Asst Consul and the fiancée reunited?"