Tribute To a Patriot

By August Trottman

A novel about a group of military retirees reactivated to rescue hostages held in Iran. The story is set in 2013 and begins with the newly elected POTUS being notified that 27 Americans have been taken prisoner and are being held in Iran. Past rescue attempts by the US have proven unsuccessful and the administration is torn between risking another failed rescue attempt or negotiating for their release. Intelligence uncovers information that could provide a tactical advantage heretofore not available which launches Wes Stone and his team of retired Air Force Rangers on a mission to rescue the hostages. Relying on an unproven theory and encountering constant differences of opinion starting with his own team and reaching up to the President. Wes struggles not only with accomplishing the mission, but the awesome responsibility of keeping the members of his team safe. The story includes underwater adventure involving a nuclear submarine, high-tech gadgetry, and some political comments on today’s national and international issues

• Language: English
• Publisher: August Trottman
• Release date: May 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301263417

Book preview

TRIBUTE TO A PATRIOT

By

August J. Trottman

Published by August J. Trottman

Copyright © 2012 by August J. Trottman

All Rights Reserved.

Acknowledgements

This is a work of fiction and though many of the locations and organizations are factual, the events connected with them are entirely fictitious.

Though many of the characters have been inspired by people who have passed through my life, the characters in this book and their actions are entirely fictitious.

The political views expressed by the characters in this book are those of the author and in no way are to be attributed to any entity of the United States Federal, State or local governments.

And finally, to you submariners out there; I’m sure that there are flaws in parts of the narrative. As stated above, this is a novel meant to entertain and perhaps stimulate the thought process.

Credits

Cutaway view of the Virginia Photo & Text courtesy of defense industrydaily.com – graphic by Stephen Rountree, U.S. Navy Electronic Boat Corporation and Newport News Shipbuilding.

Cutaway view of the Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS) courtesy of defense industrydaily.com.

NOW HEAR THIS

This novel contains no literary violence, no promiscuous sex, and no excessive foul language. If that is your reading genre, give it to a friend.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a fun read with some thought provoking considerations, turn a page or two.

CHARACTORS

Original AFSAR Team:

SEALS

Mark Cono

Stu Martin

Bill Torintino

AFSAR

Bob Castillo

Tony Drake

Steve Levine

Gerald Skelton

Wes Stone

Army Rangers

Al Russo

Jack Segar

EOD

Doug Zahrn

Freddy Zelinski

New Members:

Jenny Castle (automation support)

Sheldon Diamond

Roger Freeberg (automation support)

Benny Sansota

Celina Sansota

Edgar Stone (Wes’s son)—equipment

Virginia Crew Members:

Ensign Arbuck, Navy diver

Herb Irwin, Commander—Executive Officer (XO)

Jake Jacobson, Captain

Samantha Monahan, Lieutenant Commander—Sonar Officer

Mark Thompson (Boomer), Master Chief—Master Diver

Other Characters:

Jason Bumgardner, Vice Admiral—Commander, 5th Naval Fleet, Bahrain

Bob Castillo, AF Brigadier General

Elmer Greenberg, Gunny Sergeant, USMC

Marshall Stanton, 45th POTUS

Roy Strogg, CEO—Tees and Markham

Char Stone, Wes’s wife

Hector Villa, Journalist—NY Times

PROLOGUE

November 4, 1979

American Embassy, Tehran, Iran

6:30 a.m.

Sixty-six American citizens are taken prisoner by Islamic militant students and later held hostage by the newly established Iranian Government under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Subsequently, fourteen are released.

April 24-25, 1980

Great Salt Desert near Tabas, Iran

Late afternoon.

A rescue attempt (Operation Eagle Claw/Operation Evening Light) fails, resulting in the deaths of eight American fighting men.

January 20, 1981

Wiesbaden Airport, West Germany

Late afternoon

After being released, the remaining fifty-two hostages held by Iran for the past fourteen months arrive in West Germany, the first stop on their way back to the United States. The U.S. freed $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets for their release.

July 31, 2009

Iraqi Kurdistan.

Three American hikers are taken into custody by Iran. After over a year in custody, one is released

September 21, 2011

Remaining two hostages released after over two years in custody. The U.S. paid $465,000 bail for their release.

March 28, 2013

White House, Washington D.C.

3:00 a.m.

Newly elected President, Marshall Rayburn’s bedroom.

A phone rings. Yes.

A subdued voice on the other end of the line states tersely, Mr. President, we have a situation.

CHAPTER ONE

Three, two, one, zero. The warm desert night muffled the swish of four simultaneously fired air guns that silently delivered their sleep inducing darts, causing four unsuspecting guards to crumple in unison. Three fell into the enclosed bottom of their guard stations; the fourth fell forward, slumping over the railing, a cigarette falling from his mouth.

****

Four and a half months earlier

July 7, 2013

Benton City, Washington

8:30 P.M.

After three years of full retirement, it had finally registered that this was the final chapter of his life, that what had been was no more, a hard pill to swallow.

Wesley L. Stone, Wes, to his friends, was seventy years old, married, with three grown sons, one grown daughter, and six grandchildren. Char, his wife, was asleep in their bedroom, recovering from knee replacement surgery. His three oldest children had progressed normally from high school to college, graduating into the working class of America with families, mortgages, and careers. Only his youngest son, Edgar, just turned thirty, still lived at home, not having been able to find a niche in society.

It seemed ironic to Wes that his son had not been able to blend into the world, while he had so easily done so, but now found himself feeling as if he didn’t belong.

Some of it was the technology, and even though he had adjusted to computers, cell phones, and multiple remotes, he recalled the simplicity of a more innocent time.

A time when adults as well as children were allowed to have heroes to look up to and emulate; a time when the media didn’t search out every dirty detail about every public figure and go out of its way to discredit them.

Sure, the sports figures, movie stars, and politicians back then were just as human as they are today, with just as many faults and hang-ups, but the press, radio, and TV protected their public images, which gave society positive role models.

The country was unified: schools were consistent in curriculum and discipline, the flag was respected, murder, no matter what you called it (abortion—euthanasia—assisted suicide), was a crime, and God was an integral part of the nation.

Yet, God had been good to him, and at 70, his green eyes still gave him 20/20 vision, and he retained most of his sandy hair, which he kept short and cut to military standards. His six-foot frame was muscular, and except for a slight limp, his body was in good shape.

Even that bothered him because he had to run and work out at the gym three times a week to maintain it, where in the past, his normal work day provided all the exercise he needed. The only age-related symptoms were some tinnitus in his ears, and the onset of cataracts, but both were bearable.

Mingled with these thoughts of not belonging was a feeling bordering on despair; he wondered if his usefulness or purpose in life had been fulfilled; if, at this point, he no longer had anything more to offer. You only go around once, he thought. Was the finish line just over the next hill? Or had he passed it and not even noticed?

Lost in his thoughts and feeling somewhat adrift, he was surprised to hear a vehicle pull into the driveway. Though it was only eight thirty in the evening, a visitor at this hour was unusual, for the Stones lived a very private life with few close friends. Seconds later, there was a gentle knock on the front door.

A quick glance at the security mirror, positioned to show the illuminated porch area, only added to the mystery. A casually dressed man in his late fifties or early sixties awaited a response to his knock, and though Wes didn’t immediately recognize him, he looked familiar.

Upon opening the door, the man said, Hello Wes, Bob Castillo. Do you remember me?

Wes’s was momentarily transported back to the 1980s, when he was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, assigned to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center’s Underwater Search and Recovery Team. Captain Castillo was the officer in charge of that team, and Wes was the team’s senior enlisted member. Captain Castillo?

Ah, it’s now General Castillo. How are you, Wes?

WOW! Well, surprised, to say the least. What brings someone over twenty years out of my past to see me, especially a general? Still Air Force, I presume?

To answer your second question first, yes, still Air Force. To answer your first question will take a little time. I hope that the hour isn’t too late for you to afford me that time.

Wes invited the General in, and ushered him into the study. Please have a seat. Can I offer you something to drink? I have scotch and scotch.

As the General settled into a large leather easy chair, he responded, Scotch on the rocks would be fine. How is your wife, Char, if I remember correctly?

She’s fine, a little over a month out, recovering from knee surgery. Pretty much back to normal, but overdid it a bit today and turned in early.

After fixing two scotches, Wes took a seat behind his desk and looked to the General for an explanation.

The General took a sip of his drink and began, Wes, I have a mission for you!

A mission, are you kidding? What kind of a mission can a 70 year old man perform for the Air Force?

The General looked intently at Wes and began, Are you aware of the twenty-seven Americans that were arrested and are being held captive in Iran?

Yes, I am. Who are those people, and what were they doing in Iran anyway?

Castillo went on, "Long story: Let’s just say, they’re a hodgepodge of hikers, tourists, students, and some American officials working out of the Swiss Embassy as the U.S. no longer maintains an embassy in Iran. Throw in a couple of military in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They were sought out and labeled ‘impediments to the Islamic culture’, and imprisoned. This is the typical way they operate; calling them prisoners, but actually they’re hostages. The main purpose of the charade is to embarrass the United States; other reasons will surface later in the form of negotiations, actually ransom requests.

Poor people, but I haven’t read anything about a rescue attempt. Have we given up because of our past record?

"Maybe, maybe not. As you probably remember, there were two previous situations that took place back in 1979 and 2009 that, even though the hostages were eventually freed, ended poorly for the United States with a botched rescue attempt and American lives being lost. The present administration wants desperately to rescue the hostages but doesn’t want to repeat previous mistakes.

What you and the general public don’t know is that there were two additional failed rescue attempts to free the captives. As they were covert black ops missions and we suffered no casualties, it was felt that going public with them would serve no purpose, so they were never reported. Now, they’re doing it again.

Wes pressed, So, what does any of this have to do with me?

The General took another sip of his drink and continued, My job is Director of Air Force Liaison with Homeland Security, Counterintelligence, Off-Shore Retaliation to al-Qaida Forces. I know big title. We operate under the radar, so to speak, invisible to the media and even a large part of Congress. Though I wasn’t involved with the rescue attempts to free the 1979 or the 2009 hostages, I was tasked by the President to do an analysis as to why they failed. That analysis provided two common factors that were present in all three missions. By the way, everything I’m telling you is classified Top Secret and…

Wes interrupted, If that’s the case, how can you be telling me any of this? My TS was removed back in 87?

Castillo smiled, one of those condescending, Man, you’re slow; you don’t get it, do you? smiles, Your clearance has been reinstated as of yesterday, when the results of your background investigation and national agency check came back clean. I had to wait on your clearance being granted before I could make this visit.

Wes was stunned. Bob, what’s going on?

Castillo, in a friendly but firm way went on, Calm down and hear me out.

Wes took a large swallow of his drink, leaned back in his chair, and gave the General a wary nod to continue.

"The two common trends that I uncovered were, first, that we grossly underestimated the al-Qaida’s intelligence capability. It was discovered that they have Intel cells outside of every tactical military base—SEAL, Ranger, and even some of our black ops’ facilities; have infiltrated our military, both active and reserve; and have data gathering capabilities beyond anything we thought possible.

"A major contributor to this problem is our country’s naivety in assuming that we’re dealing with a band of unorganized nomads running around the desert in disarray.

"During World War II, the Germans had a pretty sophisticated intelligence gathering network, but it pales when compared to the al-Qaida.

And let’s not forget how we have decimated our own counter-intelligence forces through funding cuts, agency infighting, and the courts taking away many of their most effective tools to protect our citizens’ civil rights. Now that the people’s rights are protected (as are those of enemy agents here in our country), we only have to worry about such things as another Twin Towers. He paused, Sorry, I’m off on a tangent.

The General’s eyes conveyed a solemn expression as he went on: "The second common denominator was leaks. The leaks came from staffers speaking on the terms of anonymity, data dug up and reported by investigative journalists, and even some of our congressmen dropping bits of information, both classified and unclassified, to enhance their power images.

All of this was collected by the al-Qaida who were able to use it to predict too much of our military strategy. So, our own petty infighting and vain desire for prestige plays right into their hands.

Wes interrupted, You keep saying al-Qaida, but the hostages are being held by the Iranian Government. So far, Iran hasn’t been publicly tied to the terrorist movement.

"Wes, whether it’s the al-Qaida’s Intel or the Iranian Intel makes little difference. They’re linked by their ideology. If the al-Qaida learns of anything that could be detrimental to the United States, don’t you think that they’d share it with Iran, or Saudi Arabia, or whatever Islamic nation that could use it to hurt us politically or cosmetically?

We suspect that there’s a pipeline between the al-Qaida and most of the Mideastern governments, and that includes the ones that our nation has troops in country fighting to liberate.

Bob, if you’re aware of the al-Qaida cells and infiltration into our military, why haven’t you shut them down?

Castillo continued, "The ones that we learn of, we have, but these people are fanatics; as quickly as we neutralize one cell, two others spring up to take their place. And, because of the civil rights laws that I just mentioned, it’s getting harder to find and eliminate them.

"As for the military, how do you identify an al-Qaida active-duty soldier, sailor, or airman from a patriotic one?

And there are many non-Mideastern races that are sympathetic to the al-Qaida cause, both in the military and at various levels of our own government.

As the General paused to finish his drink, Wes commented, Sounds like we’ve lost the battle, maybe the war. Are you ready for another one? I know I am.

The General held out his glass.

As he gave Castillo his drink, Wes said, All of this is very interesting, though I must say quite depressing, especially this late in the evening, but, same question, what does any of it have to do with me?

Castillo leaned forward in his chair, and went on, "The President wants these people rescued, but he’s not a fool. He knows that to keep repeating the same set of conditions and expect different results is insane.

I’ve devised a scheme to mount an attempt to bring our people home. I want to create a new team; a team that doesn’t exist and therefore isn’t being monitored by any al-Qaida cell. This team will go in and rescue the hostages.

Wes’s patience was tried, and he responded in a not so cordial manner, So, again, what does this have to do with me?

Castillo’s response was immediate and just as sharp, I want you to lead that team!

Wes was dumbfounded. He sat in silence, trying to comprehend what he had just heard. How could a senior citizen lead a team to do something that America’s finest Special Forces teams had repeatedly failed to accomplish? There was a tiny spark of vanity that an Air Force General, and perhaps even the President of the United States, would consider him for such a mission after all these years, but that passed quickly as he began forming how he would tactfully refuse this ludicrous idea.

Another thought came to mind; it could be some candid camera type thing—big joke. Well, either way, he would graciously decline and send the General on his way.

General, this is the stupidest thing that I’ve ever heard! That was tactful.

Castillo was unfazed, "Hear me out. I remember the precision that our, excuse me, even though I was the OIC, it was actually your underwater search and recovery team, possessed.

I also remember the backgrounds and personalities of the members of that team and, most important, how they looked up to you. You have that special gift of leadership that not only inspires, but gets results. Wh...

Wes cut in sharply, That was a long time ago. I don’t like where this is going. And if you’re suggesting that that team could perform this mission, think again. I have no idea where most of them are; many are probably dead and buried. I…

It was the General’s turn to interrupt. "Just listen. When I’m

Reviews for Tribute To a Patriot

[John Bivona · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

the clarity of the necessary constitutional reforms-balanced budgets, term limits, etc.