(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/American_soldier_in_Vietnam.jpg)<br/><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Randy James "R.J." Johnson<br/><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Enlisted Mess -<em>USS Tulare</em>- stocking up on breakfast leftovers<br/><br/><br/>*************<br/><br/>R.J. wanted to laugh when he saw the hats being passed out, but he refrained.<em>Seriously?  Cowboy hats?  I could use couple of pair of boots that fit my feet, and socks that don't have holes, but yeah, cowboy hat, thanks a lot.</em>This is about what he'd come to expect from pretty little female officers who -- well, this one was obviously pretty enough to be some general's aide -- so how did she get command of an infantry platoon?  By saying "pretty please" to the general no doubt.  And her ROTC training probably taught her that something like this would inspire the troops and make them feel elite.<br/><br/>He thought back to<em>A Bridge Too Far</em>(required viewing for Airborne troopers) and the scene where the British Para guy braves enemy fire to retrieve some supplies that were dropped outside their perimeter, only to be shot dead just before returning to safety.  And what did they find out was in the container?  Red berets.  Hats.  He hoped this wasn't some kind of omen.<br/><br/>Now, instead of suppressing a laugh, he was staring at his new hat with a look of concern.  That's when he heard his name.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=175864.msg8402956#msg8402956">Quote from: vin26m on 15-06-2013, 15:17:53</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"> Johnson, I'll take care of the tripod request.  Meet us up top so we can mount it on the boat.  Anyone have questions or comments, I'll be around.  Otherwise, get ready for the recon op.  <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><strong>"Ah, uh, <em>right Sergeant</em>."</strong>R.J. wasn't one for hero worship - he figured he'd seen combat as bad as any and had performed just as well -- but it was a relief to see a Ranger tab on Lee's uniform.  It meant the guy knew what he was doing.<strong>"<em>Airborne</em>"</strong>he added, getting up from the table and heading to .... where?  He didn't want to wear the stupid hat, and he didn't have room for it in the baggage he kept locked up in his berthing compartment.  To leave it out would invite theft.  To lose his hat on Day 1 would not endear him to anyone in his chain of command.  He figured Sgt Lee felt the same way about the hats, but his position would require him to deal harshly with the first trooper to lose it.<em>Yep, they were Stateside again</em>.<br/><br/>He donned the Cavalry hat and headed topside to try to figure out which whaleboat the .50 would be mounted on.<em>If you can't get out of it, you might as well get into it.</em>He'd keep his eyes out for some gold (yellow) cloth he could use to make a bandanna.