“Ford, when Wu was at the Consulate, Chris and Vic took his final request. Believe it or not, his request was to accept a commission as an U.S. Air Force officer. Because he is now a U.S. citizen, and since he brings a special skill to the United States, we can offer a direct commission to him, right now. Immediately. As a Captain,” Mark said.
Ford’s eyes opened wide and he raised his eyebrows.
“What didn’t you think of, Wu?” Ford laughed warmly.
“Ford, I would like you to administer the oath… to me,” Wu said, coughing some more, and closing his eyes.
The flight surgeon placed his stethoscope to his ears, and the disk to Wu’s chest. From the look of his face, time was running out. Wu would pass soon. The slight beep on the monitor reinforced this opinion, as his breathing was getting weaker and weaker.
Wu raised his right hand, again with the help of Emily, and Ford administered the oath.
“… so help me God,” Wu finished, opening his eyes.
Ford, his Dad, Mark, Robert and Emily were around him now, on either side of his bed. Emily continued to hold his right hand and Ford and his father held the other. He kept his eyes closed.
Quietly, and barely audible, Wu spoke. “Thank you… Mr. Stevens… for… everything in my life.”
Mr. Stevens was deeply shaken, but didn’t say anything. Tears were streaming down his face, as they did for many in the room. The usually somewhat loud, 1,092 foot long ship, with a crew of 3,200 and additional aircrews of nearly 2,500, had become eerily quiet. Even peaceful. No airplanes were launching, no steam flowing, and no hums of motors heard.
“Ford,” Wu said, licking his lips, “you are the brother… I never had… I want you to know how much I love you,” gripping his hand. “I love… you.”
“I love you too, Wu,” Ford told him, “and you will always be a member of our family. You’re my brother.”
Ford had tears falling off his cheek, and was lost in emotion at the upcoming loss of his best friend. Ford leaned down to his hear, so he could talk quietly. “Wu, it’s okay to go. It’s okay to go. It’s okay…” Ford reassured him.
Wu no longer moved. He lay silently for a while and no one in the room said anything. They stood looking at Wu, and the Lincoln chaplain came in and said a prayer. Ford, his Dad, and Emily all said a prayer together.
Another few hours went by, and they looked closely at Wu. His face had a slight smile on it, and he then suddenly raised his hand out of Emily’s, very slightly, with his finger pointed. “Mom…Dad…I see…you. I’m… coming…”
After a quick moment, Wu slowly lowered his pointing hand, and it remained quiet on the ship. Again, no one said anything in the room. After a few short seconds, Wu’s hand slowly released from holding his family’s hands. The pulse oximeter and heart rate devices that were monitoring Wu went flat on the scope, and the monotone beep that was heard in the infirmary of the carrier no longer pulsed slowly. The flight surgeon placed his stethoscope on Wu for the last time.
At 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time, Captain Wu Lee, U.S. Air Force, died at sea while in the service of his country.
Epilogue
Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia was quiet this time of year, except for the passing airplane taking off or landing over at National Airport to the east. The beautiful Christmas wreathes were already laid down at most of the graves by volunteers, whether by college alumni, Wounded Warrior Project, or Team Rubicon, and were aligned perfectly out of great respect. The limestone headstones were all lined up in symmetry, and they, too, also looked tight and sharp.
The DIA arranged for a burial for Captain Wu Lee at Arlington, and the funeral service was held for him weeks after returning from the Pacific. He was escorted by the Stevens Family, in addition to Mark, Emily and Robert.
In Section 60, the newest part of the southeast section of the cemetery, was where Wu’s funeral ceremony was held. A caisson, pulled by four horses supplied by the U.S. Army’s elite 3rd Infantry Regiment, pulled U.S. Air Force Captain Wu Lee. Stopping curbside in Section 60 where Wu was going to be laid to rest was where the escorts parked their cars. Mark’s red Chevy held the DIA team, and Ford borrowed Emily’s BMW to drive his family, including Sam and Charlie.
As they were talking with the priest graveside, two black Chevy Suburbans pulled up curbside in front of their two cars with their blue and red police lights flashing in the front grills. A Personal Protective Detail in dark business suits, ear pieces, and sunglasses got out, and opened the rear doors of the second vehicle.
The Stevens family, along with the Emily, Robert, and Mark team, all turned their heads to see who was arriving.
“Were you expecting someone?” Mark asked Ford.
“No, no one. No one else even knows we’re here.”
From behind the open door and dark tinted windows, stood a man that could not be recognized from the angle they were at. Everyone exchanged glances at the special guest, until they realized it was Calvin Burns. The Deputy Director of DIA was out of his vehicle and began walking across the soft brown-green lawn towards them, suit buttoned, wear a crisp white shirt, and sunglasses.
“Good afternoon, Cal,” Chad Stevens said to his old friend, giving him a hug with both arms.
“Hi, Bud. I’m sorry to hear of Wu’s passing,” he said, then turned to hug Marion Stevens. “Hello, Marion.”
“Hello, Cal. Thank you for coming out this morning,” Marion said to him. “Always great to see you.”
Calvin Burns stood among the group that orchestrated one of the biggest grabs in United States history. He was also with a group of family and friends that lost someone they loved dearly, and it didn’t matter at this point in time what some piece of hardware hidden in a hangar deck meant. Being the leader that Burns was, he not only wanted to pay his last respects, but be the senior leader he was by demonstrating his loyalty to the team.
“Good morning, all. I know that you all knew Captain Wu Lee well, and thought of him as an extension of your loving family. We are all so sorry to see him go, and thankful he is no longer suffering. But we are also grateful as a nation for the extreme risk he took in delivering us his package. Today, we celebrate his life, and celebrate it by truly living every day,” Calvin said.
The sun was bright the air cool, a perfect day to celebrate one’s life at Arlington.
“I’m sorry to intrude on your service, but I did want to pay my respects to Wu, to each of you, and personally thank Ford in front of his family for risking his life on this operation,” as he shook Ford’s hand. “As a result of Wu Lee’s performance, I am honored this morning to posthumously award him the National Intelligence Medal for Valor. Second only to the National Intelligence Cross and the Intelligence Star, this medal for Wu this morning acknowledges the exceptional and secret accomplishment, along with a whole host of other members of the Intelligence Community,” the Deputy shared with everyone.
“Thank you, Cal. That is most generous of you,” said Mr. Stevens.
“In addition, Captain Ford Stevens, U.S. Air Force Reserve, I am honored to award you with the Distinguished Flying Cross, for your brave actions in the face of danger. Not sure how we’ll write it up on paper due to the sensitivity of the mission, but please know on behalf of the DIA, we appreciate your service. The Secretary of Defense has already talked to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve for you.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s was an honor and a privilege to work with you and your team. And thank you for recognizing Wu for his actions,” replied Ford.