Engebi was not paradise, as one would believe since it's situated in the South Pacific. It had a dirt runway that ran along the entire length of the island. Marine personnel worked and lived in Quonset huts and tents alongside one side of the flightline. But it was their home away from home to many Marines who were risking their lives to keep their loved ones free.
A Navy PBY plane landed on the runway of Engebi.
It taxied over near some other Corsairs and stopped, and turned its engines off. The door opened, and Trevor with his seabag in hand, walked. First Lieutenants Mike Booth, Larry Moore, and Greg Pitt, and Major Fred Harvey all walked out of the PBY behind Trevor.
Lance Corporal Tim Bronson, a pimply-faced nineteen-year-old who was the administrative assistant to Colonel Frank Weaver, the Commander of Engebi, walked up to the four officers. He immediately saluted the officers who all saluted back.
"If you'll follow me, Colonel Weaver would like to say a few words before you get settled into your units," Bronson told them.
Trevor and the other officers followed Bronson to the area of tents and huts.
They walked through the maze of tents.
They eventually got to a hut with a "Colonel Weaver" sign made of scrap wood with hand-painted letters that hug above the hut.
They went inside Colonel Weaver's hut.
Behind a desk sat Colonel Frank Weaver, forty-five-year-old Marine who had devoted the past twenty years of his life to the Marine Corps.
"Sir, our new replacements just arrived," Bronson said.
"Very good corporal," Weaver replied.
The corporal waited for further instructions.
"Which one of you is Lieutenant Walker?" Weaver asked with a serious tone.
"I am sir," Trevor replied with a little hesitation.
"I hope I'm not going to have the same problem like what El Toro had?" Weaver asked and gave Trevor a serious glare.
"No, sir. You won't have any problems with me. I promise," Trevor replied.
"Good. I would hate to shot you then later I'll have to write a letter to your momma telling her you died," Weaver replied.
"I understand, sir," Trevor replied.
"Let's see," Weaver said while he picked up a piece of paper. "Let's have Harvey, and Walker with the Raiders and Moore, Booth, and Pitt with the Fireballs," Weaver ordered.
"Yes, sir," Bronson replied.
Trevor looked curious. "Ah sir, if it can be possible, could you place me with Lieutenant Grayson? We knew each other in El Toro," Trevor asked and crossed his fingers behind his back.
"You want to be with Grayson?" Weaver asked.
"Yes, sir, very much. He's a good friend of mine from El Toro," Trevor replied.
Weaver thought for a few seconds. "Okay, stick Walker with the Fireballs and Booth can go with the Raiders," Weaver said.
"One more question, sir, would Lieutenant Eastman also be assigned to the Fireballs?" Trevor asked.
"He is," Weaver replied and started to get a little annoyed.
"Thank you, sir," Trevor replied.
"Get these men out of here," Weaver ordered.
"Yes, sir," Bronson snapped back.
Trevor and the other officers saluted Weaver who saluted back.
"Welcome to Engebi," Weaver added.
Bronson walked Trevor and the other officers out of Weaver's tent.
After Bronson walked Booth and Harvey off to the Raiders' tent, he walked Trevor, Pitt, and Moore over to another tent that had "Humble Abode" hand-painted on a piece of scrap wood that hung above the tent flap.
Bronson walked them inside the Humble Abode.
"You can pick any empty bunk. This squadron is called the Fireballs under the leadership of Major Jack Hall," Bronson told them.
"Can you tell me where I can find Lieutenant Ben Grayson?" Trevor asked the Bronson.
"He should be coming back from a mission within the hour," Bronson replied then walked out of the tent.
Trevor, Pitt, and Moore walked over and set their seabags on an empty bunk, which was now their new home.
After Trevor removed his uniforms and flight suit from his seabag, he hung them up in the locker by his bunk. Then he removed a calendar he bought while in Hawaii. He placed that calendar in his locker.
He tucked his seabag under he bunk then looked around. He wondered which bunks were Ben and Carl's.
I wonder if Carl will be friendly? Trevor thought to himself.
Trevor walked out of the tent.
He walked away from the Humble Abode and looked the base over.
Fifteen minutes later, Trevor walked to the dirt flightline and runway where he watched the activities. He looked in awe at the base knowing he was now seeing history in the making, and couldn't believe he saw World War II in action.
Trevor walked amongst the Corsairs and eyed the runway.
Then he watched while many bare-chested enlisted Marines worked on a couple of Corsairs.
The PBY Catalina Navy plane that brought Trevor to this island took off from the runway.
Trevor saw a B-25 on final approach to the dirt runway. He watched while it landed then taxied over an area and parked. The pilots shut off its engines.
He watched while another B-25 turned on final approach for the runway.
Trevor saw a Corsair that turned on final approach for the runway. Trevor's heart raced, thinking it could be Ben.
He watched while the Corsair landed and taxied over to another area and parked. The pilot shut off the Corsair's engine.
Trevor walked closer to the Corsair.
Inside that Corsair, Major Hall slid back the canopy and removed his flight helmet.
Then Trevor saw another Corsair that turned onto final approach for the runway. He watched while the Corsair landed then taxied over to another area and parked. The engine to the Corsair shut down, and Ben was the pilot, and he slid the canopy back.
Trevor's heart raced the second he saw it was Ben after he removed his flight helmet while inside the plane.
Trevor ran over to Ben's Corsair, which had six Japanese flags painted on his fuselage. Ben climbed down the fuselage of his plane.
"Ben!" Trevor yelled out while he ran over to the Corsair.
Another Corsair was on final approach for the runway.
Ben heard his name being called out and looked for the source. He saw Trevor and his eyes lit up. "Trevor! You got stationed here!" Ben yelled back.
He ran over to Trevor, and they immediately shook hands.
"It's good to see you, buddy," Ben said with a huge smile.
That Corsair on final landed then taxied over to the area and parked. The pilot was Carl, and he shut off the Corsair's engine. Carl slid the canopy back then he removed his flight helmet. He climbed down the plane where one Japanese flag was painted on the fuselage.
Carl stood by his plane and saw Ben chatting with Trevor. "What the hell is he doing here? That guy concerns me," he said while he rushed over to Ben and Trevor.
Another Corsair landed on the runway.
"Carl, look who just arrived, it's Trevor!" Ben said, all excited.
Carl gave Trevor a fake smile, and Ben noticed. "Yeah, how about that," Carl said under his breath.
The Corsair that landed taxied over to the other planes and parked. The pilot was Henry Foley, and he shut off the Corsair's engine. Henry slid his canopy back and removed his flight helmet. He climbed out of his plane and looked around the area.
"Well, Trevor, we're glad to have you. Which squadron did Weaver assign you?" Ben asked.
Another Corsair made its final approach to the runway, and it was all over the place.
"Fireballs," Trevor replied.
"Fireballs! That's our squadron," Ben replied, all excited.
The Corsair bounced hard on the runway and finally landed.
"I know. I asked Colonel Weaver if I could be stationed with my friends," Trevor said.
Carl didn't look thrilled with Trevor's response, and Ben noticed.
The Corsair did a poor job when it taxied to the other planes. Then it stopped, and the engine turned off in the middle of the flightline.
Henry ran up to Ben, Carl and Trevor.
He smiled the second he saw Trevor. "Well, well, look who arrived here," Henry called out all excited.
"Hey Henry," Trevor said when he saw him and shook his hand.
"What's his problem?" one of the mechanics said out loud near Ben.
Ben, Henry, Carl, and Trevor looked and saw Sam Davidson when he fell while climbing down his Corsair. He slammed to the ground and lay there motionless.
Everybody feared the worst had happened and they ran over to Sam.
Ben, Henry, and Carl ran over to Sam.
Then Trevor ran after them.
Ben ran over and knelt by Sam's side and saw bloody holes in Sam's chest. Carl and Henry watched while Sam lay in the dirt.
"I'm not going to make it, Ben," Sam quietly said in extreme pain.
Ben placed a hand on Sam's shoulder just as Trevor ran over to them.
The mechanic ran up and stood behind Ben.
"Of course you will, Sam," Ben replied with a comforting smile.
"I'm cold, Ben. Really cold," Sam said softly while his body shook. Then he exhaled and gave Ben a lifeless blank stare. His body went limp the second he died.
Ben felt his neck for a pulse then looked sad.
"What a brave man. He flew that mission all shot up," Ben said then closed Sam's eyes then he stood up.
Another Corsair landed on the runway.
"We better head to our debriefing," Ben told Carl and Henry.
"We'll see you later Trevor," Ben said then he walked away with Carl and Henry.
Trevor looked down at Sam's dead body while other Marines rushed over.
Trevor walked away and worried while he looked at Ben up ahead. He knew that if he didn't intervene, Ben would be dead just like Sam. He was now determined to make sure that doesn't happen.
He walked away toward the tents.
Trevor walked past the "Pilot Debriefing" tent and saw Ben, Henry, Carl and the other pilots inside.
Trevor walked away and headed toward the tents.
An hour later, Trevor relaxed on his bunk in the Humble Abode.
Then Ben, Carl, and some other pilots entered the Humble Abode.
"Trevor, we're going to get some chow. Want to join us?" Ben asked.
"Sure," Trevor jumped up.
"I'll join you," Henry said while he got up from his bunk.
"I'm going to get some sleep. I'll catch up with you later," Carl said.
Ben, Henry, and Trevor walked out of the tent.
An hour later, Ben and Henry walked Trevor over to a tent where a scrap piece of wood with "Stress Reliever" hand-painted on it hung above the tent flap.
"This place helps us cope with the war," Ben told Trevor while they went inside.
"We spend a lot of our free time in here," Henry added.
Inside the Stress Reliever, Trevor looked around and saw a small stage at one end with chairs, music stands, and a microphone. Tables and chairs were in the middle and a bar at the other end of the tent.
The place was full of officers and enlisted men.
A Staff Sergeant worked as the bartender every evening since it gave him something to kill time.
Ben and Trevor walked up to the bar.
"Three beers," Ben said.
"I'll pay for this round," Trevor said then reached in his pocket and removed some cash.
Ben grabbed Trevor's hand and shoved it back in his pocket.
"No, it's on be buddy," Ben insisted.
Trevor looked at Ben and thought how cool it was that this would be the first beer his grandfather bought him. He remembered when Carl bought him his first beer. He wondered if Carl would buy him a beer while he's here.
The bartender placed three beers on the bar, and Ben paid him.
They walked over and sat down at the only open table.
Major Hall walked up to their table with a beer in hand, and he saw Trevor. "Is this our new pilot?" he asked, then sipped his beer.
"Trevor Walker, sir," he replied.
"Welcome. I'm Jack Hall, squadron leader. Ben, I want you to show Trevor around. He's going on tomorrow's mission," Hall ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Trevor looked nervous about seeing action while he took a drink of his beer.
Hall sipped his beer then walked away.
Carl walked up to the table. He frowned when he saw Ben with Trevor.
"Hey sleepyhead," Ben said.
"That mission exhausted me," Carl said then sat down. "Then I wanted to get a letter off to Diana," he added.
"Can I have everybody's attention?" Captain Ted Robinson, the base doctor, called out from the microphone on the state.
Everybody in the tent got quiet and looked at the stage where Ted stood with five other Marines. One had a trombone, one had a clarinet, one had a saxophone, and one had an acoustic guitar. A stand-up bass was off to the side by a drum set. Ted walked up to a trumpet on a stand by the microphone.
"Peter Adams would play taps in honor of the pilots shot down. But it saddens me to say this won't happen," Ted said while he held up the trumpet. "As we lost Peter today to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. So is there anybody who can play this marvelous instrument?"
"Don't forget Sam Davidson," one of the Marines yelled out.
"Ah, yes. Poor Sam. So will anybody like to play taps for our two fallen friends?" Ted asked again.
There was silence in the tent as nobody responded.
Then Trevor looked like he wanted to belong to this group, so he stood up. "I can," he addressed Ted.
"Come up here," Ted called out.
All eyes were on Trevor while he walked up at the stage.
Ted handed Trevor Peter's trumpet then looked at Trevor. "I don't believe I've met you before," he said.
"I'm Trevor Walker," he said into the microphone.
"Well, thank you, Trevor," he said.
Then Trevor immediately played taps, and it sounded beautiful. All eyes are closed while some prayed. And a few Marines had tears in their eyes.
Trevor finished taps and handed Ted the trumpet. Ted looked impressed with Trevor's trumpet playing ability.
"I think Trevor should be our new trumpet player. What do you think?" he addressed everybody.
Everybody, including the Marines on stage, clapped their approval.
"Then it's settled," Ted said while he handed Trevor the trumpet. "Let's play Moonlight Serenade," Ted told the band members.
Trevor and the other band members sat down in the chairs. The band members got their sheet music ready on their stands. Ted got the position up bass ready. "One, two, three, four," Ted said to the band members. The band started playing Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade song to a sadden audience.
Ben looked impressed as he watched Trevor play. "You know Carl, there's something about Trevor. Something I can't place my finger on, but I have this strange feeling I've known him all my life," Ben told him.
Carl looked bothered. "I don't know. There's something about him all right. Something I don't like about him."
"What's not to like?" Ben replied.
"Yeah. I like him and have this feeling I've met him before," Henry added.
Carl looked at Trevor while he played. "It's like he doesn't belong here," Carl said while he watched the band play.
It was later that night on Engebi, and the waves were heard crashing on the shoreline. It was hard to believe that there was a war out there in the ocean.
Trevor played for an hour with the band in the Stress Reliever. After the band quit playing Ben offered to show Trevor around the base. Carl didn't want to tag along, as his excuse was that he wanted to hit the bunk and get some sleep. Henry was also exhausted, so he went to bed and got some sleep.
Ben and Trevor walked down the flightline by the Corsairs.
"You are great with the trumpet. Where did you learn to play?" Ben asked.
Trevor liked his compliment. "Grandpa Carl paid for lessons when I was ten years old. Then I played in the marching band in high school. Then in college, I played in a few jazz bands," Trevor replied.
"Grandpa Carl?" Ben chuckled. "What a coincidence you have a grandfather named Carl."
Trevor cringed thinking he shouldn't have mention Carl's name as his grandfather.
Ben looked at the Corsairs. "We use Fireball for our radio call signs. Major Hall is Fireball one. I'm Fireball ten. Carl's Fireball eleven, Henry's Fireball twelve and you're Fireball fourteen. You'll learn the rest of the pilots soon enough," Ben told him.
"Who is Fireball thirteen?" Trevor asked.
"We don't use that number. It's bad luck," Ben replied.
"Ah, understand," Trevor responded.
Ben walked Trevor up to another Corsair.
"Is this my bird?" Trevor asked.
"Yep."
Trevor walked up to it and checked it out.
"We better get some rest. We have a stressful day tomorrow," Ben told him.
They walked away and headed toward the tents.
A little while later, Ben and Trevor entered the Humble Abode.
Ben and Trevor walked down the aisle to their bunks.
"Hey Trevor, you were great with the trumpet tonight," Henry called out from his bunk while Trevor got to this bunk. "Wasn't he great with the trumpet guys?" Henry asked the other officers in the tent.
"Yeah," one officer called out from his bunk.
The other officers all agreed.
Carl watched from his cot. "You were great with the trumpet," Carl quietly mimicked Henry then rolled over and closed his eyes.
Trevor walked over to his locker. He used the pen he bought in Hawaii and marked through May 7th on a calendar then he counted down the days to May 11th.
He looked worried while he undressed down to his tee-shirt and boxer shorts. He eyed Ben while he stripped down to his tee shirt and boxers and got in his bunk.
Trevor tucked the time machine key under his pillow and climbed under the covers in his bunk.
It didn't take long until the whole tent was sound asleep.