CaptHaggard
Posts: 191
Joined: 3/8/2016 From: Sonoma, CA Status: offline
|
HAGGARD GROUP Official Communique July 20, 1943 Gentlemen, CINCPAC and Admiral Bravo have authorized the release of upcoming operations in the Pacific Theater. These operations are as follows: OPERATION STOCKPILE Build-up of Marianas to main Pacific Base for Allied Pacific Forces Countdown: 26 days Leave Pearl: August 15, 1943 (proximate date) Arrive Marianas: September 1, 1943. Operation Stockpile is designed to transform the Marianas as close to “Pearl Harbor status” as is possible at this time. Every available squadron of land-aircraft—as well as support vessels of every stripe—will transfer for permanent duty from that location. This will enable all subsequent operations to begin in the Marianas, fully fit and armed. CINCPAC is placing this start-date (as well as the others, below) as proximate because, according to Admiral Bravo, as soon as these forces are assembled and ready to sail, off they go. OPERATION BOTTLE Invasion of Takao, Formosa Countdown: 62 days Leave Marianas: September 20, 1943 (proximate date) Arrive Takao: October 1, 1943 See notes, below. OPERATION CORK Invasion of Pescadores Countdown: 62 days Leave Marianas: September 20, 1943 (proximate date) Arrive Pescadores: October 1, 1943. Operation Bottle and Operation Cork are simultaneous invasions intended to begin the process of sealing off and thus denying resources to the enemy war machine. As a historical note, one of Admiral Kincaid’s aides—in arguing for the invasion of Formosa in lieu of the Philippines—told the Admiral the impact of such an invasion would be like “putting a cork in the bottle”. Hence our operational names. As a personal note, I did consider trying to convince Admiral Bravo to name the invasion of Takao “Operation Winnie”. During my service, the ATF upon which I served concluded brown-water ops along the Viet coast and was granted R&R in Hong Kong, en route to Sasebo. A day out of Hong Kong the ship encountered the worst typhoon in the Taiwan Strait since 1944. In danger of sinking if we kept on course, or of capsizing if we veered toward sanctuary, we eventually nursed our sorry act into Kaohsiung (Takao). We had been paid out (and spent out) in HK; advance pay was not granted. It was in this destitute state that I happened (as sailors do) upon a young lady, whose name was Winnie. Winnie knew better than I that we were leaving the next day, and she soon found out I did not have a cent. Nevertheless, that evening with Winnie in Kaohsiung was perhaps the best evening I ever had in the service. Winnie was very generous. I had a steak dinner. I enjoyed an upscale room in a nice hotel. She even paid for the water taxi to the ship so that I could make the 2 AM curfew. OPERATION JOHN B. HOOD Invasion of Amoy, China Countdown: 103 days Leave Pescadores: November 1, 1943 (proximate dat) Arrive Amoy: November 1, 1943. The entire sequence of these operations is not only to starve Japan of vital resources, but to relieve pressure on our brave Chinese allies, particularly those armies located in Chungking, who have been waging war against the enemy without supplies for many months. This operation is named after a Confederate general who was renown for his impetuousness and his bravery. This courage and reckless nature may have made him on occasion foolish in strategy and tactics. Be that as it may; his spirit exemplifies this final step of these upcoming operations. As a personal note, Admiral Bravo and I once wrote a novel entitled “The Sojourn”. One of the characters we developed was one John B. Hood, who owned a ranch out San Antonio way with his wife Dorothy. Being a middle-aged man, John B.’s main desire was to bring back the original grasses and foliage to the prairie, which he cultivated on his property with prideful zeal. And yet, after meeting a certain drunk during a weekend getaway in Las Vegas, this Texan gentleman leaves Dorothy and his grasses behind, in order to battle terrorists in faraway locations rife with danger. By now, to Rio and myself, the character is almost part of the family, so to speak. *** We thank you for any and all advice and commentary regarding these operations, Captain Haggard, USN
|