Chapter 36 – Maybe not so easy – April 2025
The Valley group had the hope that they could become independent from outside food. However, when they did the math it wouldn’t work. They had come to the conclusion they would have fifty thousand people at the ‘Time’.
The studies estimated for a normal diet it would take twenty acres per person. This worked out to one million acres or forty square miles. The valley was long but narrow. They didn’t have that sort of land and weren’t in a position to start out in other valleys .
If they had to allow two years for things to settle down, and then get crops in where ever they could, they would have to have a lot of food in storage. That had always been the plan but the numbers were amazing.
All of sudden the Federal help they had been shying away from was very welcome. Of course, this increased the number of warehouses, and the people to staff them, so that upped the headcount and more food was needed.
How many mules did the army really need became the running joke, but it was also kidding on the square. If they didn’t get this right it could kill them.
Something else occurred that Rick hadn’t foreseen. He was asked by Rob King to apply for a reserve commission in the Army. His explanation was that it would help later when and if Rick had to take charge of any armed forces they had.
The short term rationale was that a major review was going to be held of the entire U. S. Army sergeants training program. Since Rick had helped establish the current one he would be a good historical resource and have valuable input in the new program.
Rick asked why he had to be in the service. He was told that they wouldn’t want to listen to an old civilian. He then inquired why he had to be an officer.
The response was that officers would be doing the review and they wouldn’t listen to an old has been Sergeant Major. This response really got the old has been Sergeant Major on his high horse.
He demanded as much rank as he could get so they would have to listen to him.
All of a sudden Rick was a reserve Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He was called to active duty. It was arranged for him to attend an abbreviated Officers Candidate School.
There was none of the early wake-up, uniform BS. It was to let him know how today's Army differed from his. He quickly found out the old ways weren’t acceptable.
No giving the Sergeant a hint that a man had to be taken out behind the barracks. If the officer had to give the hint then it was probably time for a new Sergeant.
He now had to be sensitive to genders and preferences. The upside was that no officers had been fragged recently.
He actually spent several weeks involved with the new training program. To his surprise his every word was hung on to like gospel.
This may have had something to do with the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with one Bronze Oakleaf, Bronze Star with one Silver Oak Leaf, Purple Heart with four Oak Leaves .
His tabs were the tower of power; Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces.  His parachute device was that of a Master Parachutist Badge with a gold combat device.
Finally, he wore a Combat Infantry Badge with a star on it. He had served in the Korean and Viet Nam eras.
One Major said it all when he heard that Rick finished his enlisted career as a Sergeant Major, “That is one bad assed dude!”
In setting up the new courses, Rick had to remind people time and time again that the Army's mission was to break things and kill people.
What Rick had to adjust to was that the new Sergeants had to be able to adapt to rapidly changing tactics based on new weapon systems, which were being provided at an ever-increasing pace.
They had a series of weapons and tactics trials. Rick was hated by the Political Correctness people because that was the first thing he threw out the window when he was in command of the exercise and he always won.
Why did they not get that upper body strength was enforced by the laws of physics not the laws of man! They thought that he wouldn’t allow any homosexuals in combat.
His question was, “Can and will they pull the trigger? If so I want them. ”
Rick was happy being a Colonel. He didn’t have to put up with the BS as he expressed it. He got a little bent with Rob when he was told that his name had been submitted to Congress and he had been awarded his first star.
“Rob, this is over the damn top,” was Rick’s expression!
“You need it for what we think is coming,” replied an unrepentant Rob.
Marsha was very helpful after pinning his stars on, she kept saluting him. After three days it got a little old!
He did receive some retraining, even a General had better remember, “Yes Dear.”
Now he had to attend a five-week course at the National Defense University in Washington D.C. The course was the ‘Capstone General and Flag Officer course.
It taught General officers that they had to behave themselves because they would be under more intense scrutiny than ever before in their life. The curriculum was heavy on interacting both professionally and personally with General officers of all services.
Vanity led Rick into a trip to Leavenworth, KS where he was measured by Marlow White for a full set of uniforms including a full mess dress, both blue and white.
Rick figured if he was going, it might as well be all the way. Rick had learned about this old-line military tailor when he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff School for Command Preparation when he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.
When Rick put on his regular uniform for the first time Marsha was amazed. Rick had his ninetieth birthday last February. Standing in his normal ramrod straight posture one would be hard-pressed to think he was sixty.
The frail old man she had fallen in love with was a mature hunk!
Rob King had disappeared into a hospital in March. They visited him several times and the wasted man they found almost had them in tears. On a visit in April Rob asked them not to come anymore.
“It is too hard on all of us and my time is close. Rick, I have had the paperwork submitted to the Society of Cincinnatus, you will be taking my place. There is no secret handshake to learn, nothing behind the scenes.
You will meet a lot of good people that will help you, think of it as networking. Think of it as a social club that works for the good of the service, like pensions and education. However, it is the most prestigious club in the military.”
“You can only wear your badge on formal Society occasions when in Uniform, but it will give you a social cachet for the next few years. ”
“Why will I need that,” inquired Rick?
“Oh, the combat group we are going stationing near here will give you plenty of need. That and another reason, which will be clear later, is why you had to have the star.”
“You will be contacted by David Paul. He is the Director of DHS, who will be taking over my duties.”
Both Rick and Marsha kept quiet when they heard that. Not that they knew anything about David, it was the fact that Rob just told them this was the end.
They made no false protests. They had both seen too many friends and family die to play the games of denial any more.
Two weeks later Lieutenant General Robert King, United States Army, Retired died in his sleep. Rick and Marsha attended his funeral and later interment at Arlington National Cemetery.
There were no close relatives in attendance but there were many former subordinates present. Rick in full dress uniform was singled out quickly by a four-star general.
The General introduced himself as Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army.
“I thought I knew all the general officers in the Army. Where are you stationed? ”
Rick explained that he was a reserve officer who had just been activated and was attached to DHS.
“Oh, I heard about you. I can’t tell you the conniptions that you have caused. A former Command Sergeant Major bumped to a one star! Eighty some years old! I can tell you the grapevine was going crazy. I hadn’t read your service jacket, but looking at your merit badges tells it all.
I would like to introduce you to several people. It will take some pressure off me.”
The General turned to Marsha, “You don’t mind if I borrow him for a few minutes?”
“He’s all yours General. Please return him in the condition you found him.”
From there Rick was given a whirlwind introduction to six different General officers who held between them eighteen stars. One of those was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
In each case, it was like two strange dogs meeting for the first time. Who would be dominating? They had the rank, he had the awards. One serious look at what he did have and while maintaining their reserve he was acknowledged the respect of a true warrior. A brief explanation was given about his call up, promotion and duties with the new Sergeants program, and how he needed the rank to get heard.
It was a specialized call-up and wouldn’t be upsetting the natural order of things in the Army. Rick would only be on active duty until the Sergeants program review was finished and his pension wouldn’t be greatly enhanced.
From the nods and body language Rick was soon comfortable. It turns out the objections were based on the thought that he was taking a permanent advancement slot. Since he wasn’t they could have cared less.
When the rounds had been made General Lee (descendent of) took him back to Marsha.
“Thank you, ma’am, this will take some pressure off my office. One last question Rick, were you related to Rob King?”
“Distantly, we were both descended from a Rufus King.”
“Will you be presenting your paperwork to the Society of Cincinnatus?”
“Rob had already helped me get my paperwork in order. It has been submitted.”
General Lee thanked Rick for his cooperation, shook his hand while handing him a business card.
“If you run into any difficulties give me a call, your case is so unusual it will get kicked up to me anyway.”  He took one last look at Rick, shook his head, made a comment about the wonders of ‘Live’ medicine, and left.
Rick and Marsha had both been running into curious attitudes from people about their apparent age. With the advent of ‘Live’, people were expected to live longer and healthier lives. They had the feeling that their health and appearance had more to it than the medication since they never had taken it.
When they returned to Tennessee they had another discussion on their general health and appearance.
Marsha kicked it off by saying, “Rick, is there going to come a time when people catch on that we aren’t normal?”
“I don’t see how it can be avoided.”
“Do you think we should change our identities?”
“Not really, we created and have maintained those false ones in Chattanooga for the Watkins deal, but they wouldn’t stand up to a real investigation. I don’t know how we would even go about doing it.”