SOLDIER-GANGSTER-COWBOY-BANKER

SOLDIER-GANGSTER-COWBOY-BANKER

JAMES H. THOMPSON

This a fascinating four-sided tale loaded with unanticipated suspense and surprise. The author takes the reader on a literary roller-coaster while pursuing a kaleidoscope of unimaginable events in the life of a naive southern young lady. This wild ride begins in Georgia and winds its way through New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Europe and back. The reader will be entertained and delighted. A refreshing story.

About The Author

James H. Thompson is a prolific writer of original fiction. His clear and unambiguous writing style coupled with such a wonderful imagination illustrates a talent few writers possess. The author=s characters are strong and very believable. This is his second e-Book and from all indications there will be more.

e-BOOK

Maverick Publishing

HOUSTON, TEXAS

SOLDIER

GANGSTER

COWBOY

BANKER

JAMES H. THOMPSON

e-Book 2002

www.mittymax.com

SOLDIER-GANGSTER-COWBOY-BANKER

JAMES H. THOMPSON

e-Book

Maverick Publishing

HOUSTON, TEXAS

SOLDIER-GANGSTER-COWBOY-BANKER

JAMES H. THOMPSON

FICTION

Any resemblance of the characters in this book to persons living or dead is coincidental. Names, places and events in this novel are fictitious.

e-Book

THE SOLDIER

Geoffery Davis was the same as any other red-blooded American youth in the summer of 1941. He had a girlfriend, worked at the local insurance company, lived at home with his parents and was proud to be a resident of Georgia. Nothing would have changed much in his life if it hadn=t been for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in December of 1941. While most, or almost all, of the American men and boys ran to the nearest Army or Navy recruiting stations to sign up and fight the Nips; Geoffery Davis hurried with his high-school sweetheart to the local Justice of the Peace and got married. He wasn=t a coward at all. It was that in his way of thinking anyway, it was better to be a live coward than a dead hero!

Geoffery was promoted from an insurance clerk to assistant manager in record time. It was partly due to his expert skill as a typist and his unique ability to remember the different insurance forms. He had or developed this uncanny mental adroitness out of necessityChe was the only person left in the insurance office except the owner. All the former employees were in the military fighting for their country. The proprietor was an almost senile centurion who claimed to be, and was, a Civil War veteran. Anyway, he always led the military parade during the Fourth of July celebration in his gray Confederate uniform.

Geoffery could talk to a client needing insurance, and almost at the same time, give him an accurate quote on the type of insurance he was asking about. It didn=t matter what type of insuranceChealth, life, home, auto, or even crop insuranceCGeoffery would have the price of the policy ready for the client before he had even explained what the policy was about or for. In time, Geoffery would have all the papers ready for the client=s signature even before he had checked the insurance price charts. Geoffery even amazed himself at this uncanny skill that he possessed.

Because he was saving most of his paycheck each month to buy a house of his own and because it was just cheaper, Geoffery and his wife lived with his parents in their home. Of course, Geoffery and his wife slept in his bedroom and in his bed. His bed dated from the previous century, but was very comfortable. Besides, there was room for two people, which Geoffery thought was quite fitting as he was trying to impregnate his wife as fast as possible. A Selective Service Amarried@ classification was fine for the time being, but a Selective Service Amarried with dependents@ status was much better in Geoffery=s way of thinking.

Because the bed in Geoffery=s bedroom was old, actually it could be called ancient, it had a flaw in it. It made a Athumping@ noise whenever Geoffery and his wife were trying to propagate their lineage. Geoffery tried to silence the irritating noise, but it was to no avail. Nothing seemed to work and the thumping noise wouldn=t go away. So for weeks and months on end, there was an almost continuous thumping sound emanating from the upstairs bedroom. This strange and annoying sound would start early in the evening, and at times, wouldn=t stop till the early morning hours. On weekends, it was even worse. There was an almost constant thumping sound coming from Geoffery=s parents house, with the noise coming directly from Geoffery=s bedroom.

AYou have got to talk to Geoffery,@ his mother would suggest to Geoffery=s father. AThe neighbor=s are complaining about the noise and are threatening to call the police.@

AWhat can I say to Geoffery and his wife?@ Geoffery=s father asked. ABoth of them are of legal age, and besides, they=re married. There=s nothing illegal about what they are doing. We did it at one time. Remember?@

AYes, and what did we get for all of our trouble?@

AGeoffery!@

Shaking their heads, they put ear plugs in their respective ears, turned over and tried to go back to sleep.

Geoffery thought he had it Amade,@ but it was only a temporary condition. He had escaped the draft by marrying his high-school sweetheart and was doing his best to get her in a family way. But, he wasn=t successful up to now at that endeavor even with all the complaints coming from his neighbors.

Then one day, he received a letter. A letter from the Selective Service telling him that he had been Aselected@ to become a member of the United States Army. He hated to leave the safety of his home, but it was either the United States Army or the Army Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. So, Geoffery Davis chose the former.

Saying goodbye to his crying wife and his relieved parents, Geoffery reported for recruit training at nearby Fort Lee, where he would learn to become a soldier in the United States Army. After three months of soldiering, which was mainly learning to march with other soldiers and learning how to shoot and clean a rifle, Geoffery was recommended by the United States Army to go to Clerk-typist School. Of course, Private Geoffery was very happy to do that, it was better duty than going to Advanced Infantryman School. Successful graduates of that school were immediately assigned to combat units and shipped overseas and ultimately to the actual fighting front.

Geoffery excelled at the Clerk-Typist school and graduated first in his class. He had become a AMaster@ typist and could easily type faster and more accurate than his instructors at the school. He became so good at typing that he could type faster than most of his fellow clerk-typists by using his toes. At times, he would put on demonstrations of his typing dexterity by typing simultaneously with both his hands and feet for the officers and enlisted men at the school. Instantly, Geoffrey became the Clerk-Typist model for the rest of the clerk-typists in the United States Army.

As Geoffrey was first in his class, he was given his choice of his next duty station. Immediately and without hesitation, he chose Fort Dawson in Savannah, Georgia. The army supply depot was a scant eighty miles from his hometown and from his wife. Geoffrey=s luck was still holding out. He was stationed close to home, but best of all, he wasn=t assigned overseas or to a combat company!

In a short time after being assigned to the 185th Supply Company, Geoffrey became the Company Commander=s personal typist, not only because of his typing skills, but also, because of his organizational abilities. The Commander of the 185th Supply Company, who was really a Captain in the United States Army and a ninety-day wonder besides, wasn=t really interested in being in the Unites States Army. He preferred playing golf rather than playing a soldier. Geoff, as he was now called, made an excellent secretary for Captain Roberts and he left most, if not all of the 185th Supply Company=s daily routine and responsibility in Geoff=s hands.

Geoff loved his new duty station and with Captain Roberts on the golf course most of the time, Private Geoff Davis assumed command of the 185th Supply Company. He filled out and signed, with or without Captain Robert=s permission, all the various company reports, requisitions, and daily pass forms, along with Captain Robert=s weekly progress reports to the Company Commander. This gave Geoff a lot of leeway you might say, and soon, Private Geoff Davis was everybody=s favorite soldier on the base from the Base Commander to the lowest private. Whatever you wanted, Geoff could get it for youCfor a price of course!

With Geoff=s new position of authority, he decided to go into business and make some extra money. He supplied the camp soldiers with weekend passes, permission to use military jeeps off the base, and an endless list of illegal paper manipulations, including the sale of Army gasoline, Army cigarettes, Army whisky, and other Army material, and all at half price. Geoff took care of the paperwork and nobody knew the difference, except of course, for Geoff and his client. This extra money was taken home to his loving wife, whom he was still trying to make pregnant on his weekends off the base. She deposited it promptly every Monday morning in the local bank, and again, nobody knew the difference, including Captain Roberts and the United States Army.

Times were good for Geoff, he wasn=t assigned to a combat group and he was making a little money on the side. He had one worry and he didn=t know what exactly to do. But every weekend, he and his parents were getting complaints from their neighbors about the constant thumping noise coming from Geoff=s parent=s house and they wished, more then ever, that he would be transferred overseas.

During the week, Geoff would occasionally type out a pass for himself and some friends, and they would visit the local bars of Savannah. One night after several hours of carousing and drinking with his Army buddies, they stopped by the local USO canteen for some free coffee before returning to their barracks.

As they entered the canteen, a young hostess met them and said, AWelcome to the Savannah USO canteen. Make yourself at home.@

The slightly inebriated soldiers did just that and headed for the coffee bar. Standing behind the counter, a shapely yellow-haired young lady asked, AWhat would you like to drink? We have coffee, Coca-Cola, tea and . . . @

AJust coffee for me,@ Geoff replied.

ACream and sugar, soldier?@ the USO hostess asked.

ANo, make mine black,@ Geoff said as he looked at the young hostess. In that instant, their eyes met. Geoff=s heart went to his throat. The USO hostess=s did the same. They were both speechless for a moment. It was love at first sight for them.

Then she sighed and said, ACoffee, tea or me?@

Although Geoff loved his wife dearly and would always love her, and he didn=t want to hurt her in any way, he couldn=t help but fall in love with this beautiful blonde creature standing in front of himCand she with him!

Drinking his black coffee and still not able to talk, Geoff couldn=t take his eyes off of this new love of his life. He had to know more about her and to have herCif possible. When he finished drinking his coffee, his new love was still staring at him as if in a trance.

AI=ll have a refill, please,@ Geoff said in his best Southern drawl.

AI just love it when you talk that way@ the hostess cooed, as she filled Geoff=s cup with black coffee.

AWhat do you mean? In what way?@ Geoff said, trying to act coy.

AYou know, with that Southern accent of yours,@

AI didn=t know I had an accent,@ Geoff joked.

AWell, you do. I would love to be able to speak with your accent,@ the hostess replied. AIt sounds so different and cute.@

ADo you want me to teach you how to speak with a Southern accent?@ Geoff asked. Geoff saw he was beginning to make time with and maybe, just maybe, this was his chance.

AOh, would you?@ she asked. Then, she paused, a strange look coming over her face. AWe aren=t supposed to spend all our time with one soldier. That=s one of the rules here.@

Now it was Geoff=s turn to pause and to do some fast, rather lightning, thinking. AYou know . . . we can meet somewhere else, you know. Like if you have an evening free, we could . . . @

AWe could do that all right, I suppose,@ the hostess replied. AI would like that very much.@

AGood, that=s settled then. How about . . . ?@

AHow about going to a movie?@ the blonde, USO hostess suggested to him. AThere=s a new picture tomorrow night at the Alpha Theater. A Clark Gable movie with Rita Hayworth. A real love story. Want to meet me there?@

AThat=s for sure,@ Geoff replied. He was now bursting with desire for this young, beautiful creature speaking to him, with a little lust thrown in.

AHow about, say around seven-thirty?@ she asked. AIs that all right with you?@

AThat sounds just fine with me. Seven-thirty, it is then.@

AOh, wait a minute. I don=t even know your name,@ she said.

AJeff, Jeff Davis. What=s yours?@ an anxious Geoff asked.

AMary Ann Peppercorn,@ she replied. Looking at her newly found soldier friend, and soon-to-be lover, she asked, AIs that >Jeff= as in Jefferson Davis or . . . ?@

Not giving Mary Ann time to even finish her sentence, Geoff replied, AThat=s right, Just like the name of the first President of the ConfederacyCJefferson Davis. Jefferson with a capital >J.= But, everybody calls me >Jeff= for short.@

AAll right then, Mr. Jefferson Davis. I=ll see you tomorrow night at seven-thirty. OK?@

ARight and I=ll be there, and that=s for sure,@ Jeff answered, with a slight lump in his throat.

Now there were two of himCa married Geoff Davis and a Jeff Davis on the make!

After leaving the USO canteen, one of Geoff=s buddies asked, AAre you really serious about that USO hostess?@

AI think so,@ Geoff commented, as they walked along the street toward the Army Supply Depot.

AShe doesn=t have the breastwork like most of these Georgia girls have,@ the other soldier commented. AWhat=s the secret with these girls down here? Most of them are really stacked.@

AI think it has something to do with eating >peaches with cream.= If a girl eats enough peaches with cream, her boobs can grow to gigantic proportions in a really short time,@ Geoff explained to his two buddies.

AI guess that helps to explain part of it. Do you have to do anything else to get them to grow?@

AMassaging helps,@ Geoff answered, with a smile on his face.

AAre you going to tell the USO hostess about your >peaches with cream= theory?@ the third soldier asked. AFrom what I could tell, that hostess has just about a handful.@

AI haven=t decided yet,@ Geoff answered. AYou know, of course, that anything over a handful is waste anyway.@

AYa, I guess so,@ the other soldier replied.

The hostess from the USO and Private Jeff Davis met the next evening and started what would become a nightmare for both of them, but they didn=t realize it at the time. The relationship began for Mary Ann Peppercorn based on her love for the soldier and the need for companionship. The soldier was infatuated by the young girl=s looks and was looking for an extra-martial adventure, but his wife, his true love, waited for him on weekends.

Geoff, the name his wife knew him by, returned home to her on weekends as usual, and continued trying to propagate his family lineageCbut having no success. During the week, when not attending to his Army duties, Jeff Davis, the name Mary Ann knew him by, continued his affair with her as if he was a single man.

Jeff never told Mary Ann about his wife or his marital status, even if he was only with his wife on weekends. Everything else that he told Mary Ann Peppercorn was the truth. He never really lied. He just left out part of his life historyCthe fact that he was a married man.

These were wonderful times for Jeff and Mary Ann, and they were wonderful times for Geoff and his wife. Geoff=s or Jeff=s luck was still holding out and he was living Ahigh on the hog,@ as the saying goes. Everything was going his way. He had safe, stateside military duty for the present, and he was making some extra cash by selling leave passes and Army gasoline and oil products on the side, not to mention a few brand-new Army tires now and then. Also, and this was the best part, he had the best of two worldsChis loving and faithful wife, and his new lover, Mary Ann Peppercorn. Life was very good for Private Geoff Davis or Private Jeff Davis!

The waning months in the war year of 1943 passed rapidly for Geoff or Jeff and the war was far away from him. Geoff still had it Amade@ in the United States Army, and his normal routine was the same. Then things began to change, some for good and others for the bad. The good part was that he was promoted to corporal and given the added responsibility of integrating a newly organized Asister@ supply company, the 112th Supply Company, which was an Aall black@ company with his Aall white@ 185th Supply Company.

This order, which just appeared on Captain Roberts= desk one morning, suggested it be carried out as soon as possible. The Army=s idea of combining the two companies was to simplify the moving of equipment and supplies to the war front. Having no idea what the order meant, he placed the Acarrying out@ of this order in the reliable hands of Corporal Davis. Captain Roberts would rather be golfing and that=s exactly where he went after giving the new order to his new corporal.

Another significant act had taken place a scant month before when Geoff=s wife informed him that she was pregnant and that all their Athumping@ had finally paid off. This new event brought Geoff back to his senses and he started to think not only about the upcoming new arrival, but also about Miss Mary Ann Peppercorn. He was probably the happiest soldier in the whole United States Army, but what was he going to tell Mary Ann? How was he going to terminate their present relationship without breaking her heart?

While Geoff was contemplating his dilemma, the war continued and in June of 1944 the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in France. The very next week, also adding to Geoff=s problems, the combined 185th and 112th Supply Companies were placed on alert for transfer to the European War Theater. This new order came as a complete surprise to Geoff, as he thought that he had access to all confidential messages that came over Captain Robert=s desk. From then on, he was hounded, day and night, by the other soldiers in the combined supply companies about their date of departure from their safe Savannah haven. Geoff tried every possible way to find out, but it was to no avail, Captain Roberts was keeping it Atop secret,@ or else he didn=t knowCwhich turned out to be the case.

While Geoff was waiting to hear of their departure date, he was still puzzling over what to tell Mary Ann and how to tell her without completely shattering her heart. Should he break off their improper affair with just a few well-chosen words, or should he just let it be for now? Geoff did the latter!

One Monday morning, after having spent the whole weekend with his wife in his ancient bed still thumping away just to keep in practice, Geoff returned to Fort Dawson and discovered that their new orders had arrived. A note, pinned to the company barracks bulletin board, said they were shipping out within the week and that all noncommissioned personnel, which included him, were given forty-eight hours to clear up their personal business. Then they were to report to duty and be ready to depart to the war aboard a ship that was presently alongside a pier in the Savannah harbor.

After working frantically throughout the day and most of the night, Geoff had 48-hour passes typed and issued to all the members of his two supply companies. A tired, but relieved, Geoff Davis took the bus home the following day and told his wife and parents about the transfer of the 185th and 112th Supply Companies, along with him, to the war front. That night Geoff and his wife thumped as they had never thumped before.

The next morning, after hearing that Geoff was being transferred overseas, his father took his hand in his and said, ABe brave and remember the Alamo.@

AWrong war, Dad. We are fighting World War now,@ Geoff tried to explain.

ASorry, Geoff. But I was never good at history,@ his Father replied.

Looking at his distraught Mother, Geoff said, AI=ll come home safe and sound. Don=t worry about me.@

ATake your time and do a good job on the Nips,@ she replied. AAt least now we=ll be able to get a good night=s sleep.@

AI=m going to Europe, Mom. I=ll be fighting the Germans, not the Nips,@ Geoff said, becoming a little confused himself.

ASorry, I was never good at geography,@ his Mom said.

Looking at his slightly bloated, but obviously pregnant wife, Geoff smiled and held her close to him. Sensing her body close to his, Geoff wished it was possible for him to get in one more thumping before he reported to camp. ABe brave and take care of our new arrival. I=ll think of you every day,@ were Geoff=s parting words.

AAnd I=ll think of you every second,@ she replied through shrouded tears.

Hurrying as fast as he could, he reached the bus station just in time to catch the last bus going to Savannah. He planned to spend the rest of his time, his last afternoon and night in the United States, with Mary Ann Peppercorn in her feather bed. Doing as much squeaking as possible!

The following morning, a tired Geoff with his fellow clerk-typists from the 185th Supply Company and the stevedore soldiers from the 112th Supply Company boarded the naval vessel in Savannah Harbor.

Captain Roberts was watching the sad-faced soldiers board the ship and commented to the young Naval officer standing next to him, AI=m surprised the men aren=t protesting about having to go to sea on an ammunition ship.@

AI was too until I asked your chief clerk why things were going so smoothly,@ the Naval officer said, a sly smile crossing his face.

AWhat did Corporal Davis tell you?@ Captain Roberts asked. AI thought we would have a mutiny on our hands when they found out we were going into a combat zone on a fully loaded ammunition ship.@

AHe didn=t tell you?@ the Naval officer asked.

ANo, he didn=t. Sometimes I don=t want to know what=s going on, especially in a delicate situation like this, A Captain Roberts said. ACan you tell me what is going on?@

AIs that an order, sir?@

AExactly,@ Captain Roberts said in his best authoritative voice. He knew that he out ranked the Naval officer anyway.

AWell,@ the Naval officer began to explain, AIt seems that your Chief Clerk, or whatever his rank is, changed a few supply forms and nowCbelieve it or notCthe whole lower deck of the ammunition ship has been loaded with booze. Thousands of cases of beer, whiskey, and vodka have been loaded for the soldiers to drink while they were on the high seas. Pretty smart of him, wasn=t it? You should give him a promotion for his ingenuity.@

Thinking a moment, Captain Roberts replied, AI guess you=re right. Tomorrow, I=ll promote Corporal Davis to Sergeant Davis.@

AGood thinking,@ the Naval officer said. AYou could have had a nasty rebellion on your hands, or at least, a very obstinate group of soldiers.@

The United States Navy ammunition ship left the safe dock in Savannah, being towed by two harbor tugs. Nearing the harbor entrance, the tugs took in their lines and their crew looked to wave farewell to the crew and soldiers aboard the ammunition ship. They considered duty aboard an ammunition ship the worst sea duty in the whole United States Navy and they were probably right. There weren=t too many volunteers for ammunition