To Sail a Darkling Sea

“We’ve all been here a long time and because of the number of actions that have taken place, there is a stack, literally, of these to go through. So quiet down. Two additional notes. The NCCC, being a civilian, can give purely civilian awards. Several civilian are up for awards as well… ”

“Is there a bump in pay?” someone shouted.

“Ah, there is why some people stay civilians,” Isham said. “And no. Second item. The Congress of the United States has to approve new awards other than campaign ribbons. The DoD can on its own create new skills badges. The difference is a designated skill versus a particular action. One notable skill badge, so I am told, is the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. The Marines don’t generally have many skill badges. You’re a Marine, that’s your skill. Take it or leave it. In this case, there have been two new skill badges created by the current JCS with the approval of the NCCC which are available cross-service.

“The first is the Sea Savior Badge. That is primarily for small boats who do at sea rescues. The badge is in three levels of award, Basic, Senior and Master Savior. The levels are based upon how many people came across the transom of small boat crewed or captained by an individual from another boat. Persons picked up from land do not in most cases count. There is a silver civilian award and a gold military award. Prior civilian experience accrues so if you’re a member of the military who did at-sea rescue prior to joining the military, your ‘points’ accrue to your military badge. The badge design is a cross surrounded by a life-saving ring. Senior has a star on top. Master is a star and wreath.

“The second new skills badge-I keep wanting to say ‘merit badge’-is the Boarding and Clearance Badge… ”

“Ooorah!” the Marines shouted, more or less as one.

“And, yes, the Marines are going to tend to get these,” Isham said. “This skills badge is based upon deck area cleared in large vessels with significant belowdecks spaces including but not limited to, freighters, liners and military vessels. I’m reading this from the notes, people. That’s what it says. As with the Sea Savior Badge, the Clearance and Boarding Badge counts prior civilian experience. There was apparently some debate on the design but the JCS finalized on a gold crossed Halligan tool and grapnel with a fouled rope representing its connection to the United States Marine Corps.”

“Away boarders!” Gunny Sands boomed.

“Oorah!” the Marine contingent replied.

“Again, Senior has a star surmounting it, Master has a star and wreath. And, Gunnery Sergeant, here’s one for the books. You don’t get a Master Boarder badge. Badge is to be worn on daily undress uniforms.

“The Hole took all our records and ran them through a computer algorithm to come up with these badges. Before we begin, let me warn the Marines that most of you are not going to get even a senior level clearance badge. The ‘points’ on both are based on how many feet of deck were cleared or people pulled over a transom divided by how many people were involved and their time involved. We’re going to take this in the order I’ve worked out. Each individual is going to come up and get pinned with all their awards and badges at once. Persons getting the least in terms of level of award and number are going to go first.

“Last item before we begin. A general ‘I was there’ award has been struck for clearance operations in and around the Canary Islands as well as actions in the North Atlantic prior to the Canaries. The North Atlantic Campaign Medal has a civilian counterpart that civilian crews who have operated in the area can wear as their choice. We’re having a hard time producing all of them but we’ll get it done. Those are going to be handed out through the chain of command later.

“Captain Smith, if you could take the stage to give the awards.”

Sophia had recommended Olga for a Silver Star, the only award she knew. She’d been gently informed by the Flotilla Commander that that was over the top. They’d settled on a Navy Commendation Medal with V device for Valor. She’d been told that it had been approved but the award would be at a later date in the Flotilla. She wasn’t even sure what a NavCom was.

The first award that caught her attention was:

“Sergeant Joshua Hocieniec,” Isham said. “United States Marine Corps. Six awards, one badge. First Award: Silver Star Medal for clearance operations on the liner Voyage Under Stars. Within hours after being rescued subsequent to being stranded at sea for two months, then Lance Corporal Hocieniec volunteered to join a small team on clearance of the massive ocean liner, Voyage Under Stars, to affect rescue of remaining crew and passengers. For three weeks, with little rest and no breaks, the Lance Corporal drove on with the mission, clearing two million feet of deck area and terminating, with the rest of the team, an estimated two thousand infected personnel, participating in the expenditure of over twenty thousand rounds of ammunition when he was not engaging in hand to hand combat with infected. During the course of the operation, one hundred and forty-two persons were rescued.

“That’s the last time I’m going to read the full text,” Isham said. “We’ve just got too many to go through.

“Second award: Bronze Star Medal with Valor. For clearance operations on the USS Iwo Jima… ”

“New award: Wolf Squadron Formation Medal. For operations as part of Wolf Squadron prior to clearance operations on the USS Iwo Jima. Mostly civilians are going to get this award. Hell, I think I get one…

“New Award: North Atlantic Campaign Medal…

Sophia was glad to see that Hooch was getting the recognition he deserved. She remembered how bad the Voyage was. The whole team would come back to the boats every night just dead with a look of absolute horror in their eyes.

“Last award:” Isham said. “Skill badge. Senior Boarder Badge.”

“Oorah!” the Marines boomed. “Away Boarders!”

Listening to the litany was a time-capsule of the last few months and it was starting to wear on Sophia’s nerves. She really didn’t want to be reminded of the Voyage, the Iwo Jima, the thousands of empty lifeboats and yachts and freighters that she had found. She found herself shrinking into her chair, wishing it would just end.

“McGarity, Cody, Specialist, United States Army,” Isham said. “Bronze Star with V Device. Posthumous. For actions in clearance in the Canary Islands operating area. Accepting the award, Ensign Sophia Smith… ”

“Hold onto this, honey,” Steve said, when Sophia accepted the award. “It’s possible that some family survived. If not… Keep it.”

“I will, Da,” Sophia said, clutching the award to her chest. “Thank you. I didn’t even think about it… ”

“That’s what senior officers are for,” Steve said. “Grab your seat again. But don’t get comfortable.”

“Fontana, Thomas, J. Lieutenant, United States Army Reserve, six awards, one badge… ”

“Silver Star, for clearance operations before and on the liner Voyage Under Stars… ”

“Senior Boarder’s badge… ”

“Smith, Faith, Second Lieutenant, Six awards, one badge. Three civilian awards, five military… ”

“Six?” Sophia muttered. “Six? Seriously? For Faith?”

“From what I hear, she deserves them,” Back said.

“But six?” Sophia said.

“Navy Cross. Leading combat teams in close-quarters clearance of ships in the North Atlantic. This award reflects civilian experience in clearance of vessels prior to the Lieutenant being commissioned. Basically, she really got it for the Voyage and the Iwo… ”

“Bronze Star with V device. Leading clearance teams on littoral clearance missions in the Canary Islands operating area… ”

“Navy Commendation Medal… ”

“Bronze Star, Second Award… ”

“Wolf Formation Medal… ”

“North Atlantic Campaign Medal… ”

“Last Award: Skill Badge. Master Boarder Award. First one awarded. Over the