The Czar’s Last Soldier

By Jacques Evans

In 1974 at a Nebraska post office, Sam Gibbons and Roscoe Barnes are removing the old post office boxes and replacing them with new ones. Both men are WW2 veterans who teamed up as general contractors. When the old post office boxes are removed, a letter hidden between warped boards falls to the floor.

The letter, dated 1942, is from a marine who died on Corregidor and gives the particulars of a jewel theft he committed at the Shanghai Officer's Club in 1941. Not wanting the Japanese to glom onto the jewels after Corregidor surrendered the marine buried them.

Sam and Roscoe find the jewels then place a 42.5 carat diamond broach up for auction. The broach is identified as the Star of Golconda, the property of a czarist officer, and the FBI is called in. Claims from half a dozen countries are received and Sam and Roscoe are thrust into an international legal battle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacques Evans
• Release date: Oct 5, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452307275

Jacques Evans

Jacques Evans retired from the U.S. Air Force and is a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has worked on numerous aerospace projects and spent years at Cape Kennedy as a member of the Apollo team. He is the author of action/adventure novels. His favorite novelists are Nevil Shute and Patrick O'Brian.

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The Czar's Last Soldier

by

Jacques Evans

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2009 Jacques Evans

All rights reserved.

Also by Jacques Evans

Scammed

Fraser's Run

Mizrahi's Prison

South of Cayenne

Kuchma's Dictum

Flight to Dungavel

The Betty G's Gold

The Mannerheim Line

The Czar's Last Soldier

Von Weizsacker's Diary

Last Bridge to Baghdad

Last Flight of the Blue Goose

This book is for personal use only. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior written consent of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a newspaper, magazine or journal article.

This is a work of fiction. All similarities between characters and persons living or dead are purely coincidental. While this is a work of fiction, some of the events described actually occurred.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 ~ Nebraska, 1974

Chapter 2 ~ Nebraska, 1975

Chapter 3 ~ Nebraska, 1975

Chapter 4 ~ Nebraska, 1976

Chapter 5 ~ Nebraska, California, 1976

Chapter 6 ~ Nebraska, 1976

Chapter 7 ~ Nebraska, 1976

Chapter 8 ~ Nebraska, 1976

Chapter 9 ~ Nebraska, 1976

Chapter 10 ~ Nebraska, 1976 - 1977

Chapter 11 ~ Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, 1977

Chapter 12 ~ California, Philippine Islands, 1977

Chapter 13 ~ Philippine Islands, 1977

Chapter 14 ~ Philippine Islands, California, 1977

Chapter 15 ~ California, 1977

Chapter 16 ~ California, Nebraska, 1977

Chapter 17 ~ Nebraska, 1991

Chapter 18 ~ Africa, Europe, Shanghai, 1838 - 1941

Chapter 19 ~ Asia, Europe, Los Angeles, 1941 - 1967

Chapter 20 ~ Nebraska, New York, 1991

Chapter 21 ~ New York, Washington, D.C., 1991

Chapter 22 ~ Washington, D.C., New York, Nebraska, 1991

Chapter 23 ~ New York, Nebraska, California, 1991

Chapter 24 ~ Nebraska, California, 1991

Epilogue

Prologue ~ Philippine Islands, January - May 1942

At an abandoned airstrip on the island of Mindanao, Sergeant Jeremy McCullough and a handful of marines search the hulks of burned and wrecked aircraft. They load the serviceable thirty and fifty-caliber machineguns and ammunition they find into a waiting army truck. Other marines siphon gasoline from wing tanks into Jerry cans, remove first aid kits, and anything else of value from the wrecks. Smoldering fires and an occasional explosion light up the night sky. Anti-aircraft fire is heard in the distance as a lone P-40 slides down the potholed runway on its belly. After the airplane comes to a stop, the pilot scrambles out. Across the runway the grizzled marine sergeant barks an order to his men, Board the truck—we're moving out!

After the marines board the truck heads toward the P-40. The marines jump out and start to remove the machineguns and ammunition from the airplane while McCullough walks toward the army pilot who is standing near the wreck smoking a cigarette. You OK, lieutenant? he asks.

Am I glad to see a marine, I'm OK. I'm Henry Byrne, 28th Material Squadron.

Sergeant McCullough, Fourth Marines. We're going to be pulling out as soon as we get your machineguns and ammo; the Japs will be here pretty soon.

Where to, sergeant?

Corregidor, that's where the rest of the regiment is, my orders are to recon and scrounge what gasoline and machineguns I can and get to the beach by 0430 hours. We've laid some mines at the edge of the airstrip so it'll take the Japs a while to break through. There are at least two companies heading this way. You better get in the truck, lieutenant.

Lieutenant Byrne climbs into the back of the truck and notices the lone occupant, a marine corporal, with a bandaged leg is stretched out on the floor. He sits next to the marine and asks, What happened to you?

I got shot in the leg, do you have a smoke? I ran out days ago.

Byrne pulls out a pack of Lucky Strikes. He lights a cigarette then places it in the marine's mouth then asks What's your name, soldier?

In case you haven't noticed. I'm a marine and the name's Razio.

After the P-40's machineguns are removed, the rest of the marines pile into the truck. McCullough counts his men then climbs in beside the driver and gives the order to move out. The truck with only its blackout lights on races down a dirt road. When they reach the beach, a PT boat is standing by offshore. Three sailors standing by inflatable life rafts are waiting for them on the beach. The marines unload the truck and ferry their wounded comrade and cargo to the waiting PT boat. Just before the last load, the sergeant removes the gas cap from the truck and tosses it away. He rolls a piece of paper into a wad, lights it with his Zippo lighter then shoves it into the gas tank. After McCullough boards the PT boat, the skipper walks toward him, You made the rendezvous right on time, sergeant. Are all your men accounted for?

One's wounded, he got shot in the leg; the others are OK. We picked up a pilot from a P-40 that crash landed at the strip.

I see you got the gas. Where did it come from?

We drained it out of wrecked airplanes.

I hope its 100 octane; we're damn near out of gas. Anything of value left behind?

Nothing that I could see, lieutenant.

A crewman attends to the wounded man while another issues rations to the marines who eat their first real meal in days. Other sailors fill the PT boat's fuel tanks from the Jerry cans the marines brought aboard. After the tanks are serviced, the PT boat heads out to sea. Flames from the burning truck can be seen from the PT boat when it is far at sea.

After they eat, Lieutenant Byrne offers McCullough a cigarette. Thanks, lieutenant.

Thanks for saving my ass, McCullough. How long have you been in the marines?

Fifteen years.

The Fourth Marines were in China weren't they?

"We sailed for China aboard the Chaumont in '27 and stayed there until we were ordered to the Philippines last month."

You guys got here just in time. Were you in China during the flap?

I was in Shanghai and Soochow Creek; we protected the international settlement.

Before I took off, I heard the Japs landed over 40,000 troops on the beaches north of Manila and they expect a landing south of Manila any day; so why are marines on Corregidor?

I'm not a general but the island is at the entrance to Manila Bay. Whoever controls Corregidor controls Manila Bay. Somebody must plan on holding Corregidor.

Do you think we can hold the Philippines?

If we're reinforced and resupplied we've got a shot at it.

The Japs only bombed Pearl once but they've been hammering the Philippines every day. When they hit Pearl, they cut off our supply line.

There's a chance we can be resupplied from the States.

The situation must be pretty grim to send marines on a scrounging mission.

You have a point, lieutenant.

Under the cover of darkness the PT boat deposits the marines, the pilot and their cargo on the island of Corregidor. The marines and the pilot head for Malinta Tunnel where they are debriefed by a marine lieutenant colonel.

You brought back a lot of machineguns; you did a great job, McCullough. What do you estimate the enemy's strength is?

We only spotted two companies and had a firefight with a platoon sized unit.

How'd that come out?

We had the element of surprise and got every one of the bastards. Corporal Razio got hit in the leg but he'll be OK.

What's left of the airfields?

They're deserted and the runways are potholed. You better ask the lieutenant, he knows more about them than I do.

What's your name and unit, lieutenant?

Henry Byrne, I'm an engineering officer assigned to the 28th Material Squadron.

How did you happen to land on a deserted airstrip?

Our mechanics were able to patch one P-40 together out of two wrecks. When we got word the Japs were landing in force, I was ordered to do what I could to stop them. The only thing I could do was strafe them. They shot the shit out of my bird and I lost all my coolant. I wasn't able to make it back to base so I put the machine down at the first airstrip I could find. Luckily, I ran into Sergeant McCullough and his men.

How many flyable airplanes are left?

I flew the last one out, colonel.

General MacArthur has declared Manila an open city and ordered a general retreat to Bataan but we've been ordered to hold Corregidor. You and your men can eat and bunk in the hospital tonight. Sleep in and report to me at 1300 hours. Lieutenant, we need every man we can get. I'm going to place you in charge of these marines and assign you a stretch of beach.

I'm not an infantry officer, colonel.

You are now, lieutenant.

Lieutenant Byrne, McCullough and his men head for the hospital mess. After they go through the line, Byrne sits next to McCullough. I want to thank you again for saving my ass, sergeant.

You were in the right place at the right time, lieutenant.

They're going to need tripods for the machineguns you scrounged.

Somebody already thought of that and they're building them out of Schedule 40 pipe.

Did you know the PT boat was low on gas?

I was told the boat might not make it back unless we found some gas.

Did your men know that?

They knew everything I did; they're marines, lieutenant.

We must be in worse shape than I thought.

You're right, it doesn't look good.

What do you think our chances are?

We can probably hold out for a while.

Long enough for the marines to come to the rescue, sergeant?

Marines rescued you, lieutenant.

That they did, I was only joking.

You'd better learn some new jokes; you're in the marines now.

Lieutenant Byrne smiled, I guess I won't need to wear my squadron scarf anymore.

I would advise against wearing anything white, the Japs have some pretty good sharpshooters.

You have a point. They don't teach infantry tactics at flight school and I left West Point years ago; I'll need a refresher.

It's really pretty simple; you kill the other guy before he kills you.

Is that all there is to it?

There are some basics you should know but that's it in a nutshell.

I'm going to have to count on you, sarge, I don't know anything about real soldiering.

If we should get separated and Corporal Razio doesn't return to duty, put Ed Wilson in charge he knows his stuff. He was a sergeant in China before he got busted last year.

What did he get busted for?

He was drunk and robbed the International Officer's Club safe.

I'll bet that really hit the fan.

They nailed him a couple of days later.

Did he get court martialed?

No, Wilson was lucky he got company punishment. They took his stripes and are taking ten bucks a month out of his pay until he pays back the money he stole. Wilson was lucky he didn't get sent to Leavenworth. The reason he didn't is that he's the best shot in the regiment.

How much money was in the safe?

The Russian civilian that runs the club withdrew the payroll that morning so there was less than a hundred bucks in the safe. Most of the club members run a tab so there wasn't that much money around.

Sounds like Wilson got lucky. I guess we ought to be glad he wasn't sent to Leavenworth.

As long as we keep him away from the broads and booze, he'll be OK.

The next afternoon, after checking with Razio's doctor, Byrne and McCullough report to the marine lieutenant colonel in the Malinta Tunnel. The colonel greets them then unrolls a map. Lieutenant, I need you and your men to relieve some rear echelon troops. They're defending a narrow inlet and have one squad of marines on each flank. We don't have any idea where the enemy will land so we're spread pretty thin. The beaches are mined so make damn sure all your men know the location of the mines, any questions?

Remember I'm a pilot, colonel.

How about you, sergeant?

We'll need to draw some gear from supply.

We don't have a hell of a lot; you can draw what you need if we have it.

What do we have in the way of reserves, colonel?

We've got a mobile reserve of rear echelon troops. Keep the enemy off the beach and you won't need them. We've been ordered to hold Corregidor until we get reinforced.

Where are the reinforcements coming from, colonel?

That's a good question, lieutenant. I don't think anybody knows. Good luck, men.

Byrne, McCullough, and his men draw their gear from supply. After Byrne is outfitted with a canteen, helmet, bayonet and rifle they head for the beach. Byrne and McCullough meet with the officer in charge of the troops guarding the inlet. After the officer points out the location of the mines and both machinegun emplacements, the rear echelon troops leave and Byrne turns to McCullough, What does it look like to you?

It could be worse. At least we've got marines on our flanks and good fields of fire. If we have enough ammo, we should be able to hold. I think we'd better dig these holes a lot deeper and get some more sandbags around the machinegun emplacements.

Do you think they'll land here, sergeant?

I don't know. This inlet is covered by three fields of fire so their losses will be high. I'd pick another spot unless I had plenty of artillery support.

I've done some sailing and it looks like a pretty sheltered inlet to me.

I hope you're wrong, lieutenant.

So do I, sergeant.

As the months go by, air raids and artillery bombardment are almost a daily occurrence and the soldiers and marines fight off several offshore probing attacks. No part of Corregidor is spared. What was once a beautiful tropical island is littered with craters and fallen trees; Byrne, McCullough, and his men are still dug in on the beach guarding the inlet. Two of their men are killed when an artillery shell scores a direct hit on their foxhole. After he is released from the hospital, Corporal Razio reports to McCullough and delivers a hand written message to the lieutenant. Byrne reads the note then says, There's a briefing at the Tunnel. I should be back in a couple of hours.

Inside the Tunnel, a group of officers are assembled and seated as a gray haired army colonel addresses them, "Gentlemen, our troops on Bataan are still holding out but Japanese reinforcements are landing on Luzon and there's no way we can stop them. The situation is critical—our troops are short of food and ammunition. Unless reinforcements arrive, Bataan will be lost. In the event that happens, troops that can make their way across the three miles of water that separate us will be arriving on Corregidor. They will be arriving in small groups so caution your men; things are bad enough without shooting our own troops.

As you know, General MacArthur has refused to leave us twice. This time President Roosevelt ordered him to leave for Australia. This may well be our last chance to get any mail out of Corregidor. The PT boats can only take three or four sacks of mail so make it crystal clear to your troops—this may be their last chance to get a letter out for a long time. Some of you that have radios may have heard the general's speech. For those that haven't, General MacArthur has promised to return. I want you to relay what I've told you to every man in your command. Our orders have not changed—we've been ordered to hold Corregidor. Are there any questions?

An army captain rises and the colonel recognizes him, What's the status of our reinforcements, colonel?

Our fleet at Pearl has been decimated; I'm not sure we can count on being reinforced. We've been ordered to hold as long as we can so the country can mobilize. Does that answer your question?

The captain nods then sits down. An army lieutenant rises and the colonel points to the lieutenant, I'm holding a long stretch of beach with ten half starved troops. What's the chance of getting some more men and increasing our rations?

The only way we can get more men is if some troops from Bataan make it to Corregidor. As far as rations are concerned, we may have to cut them again. I'm afraid there isn't any good news. Are there any other questions?

The colonel looks around the room but no one rises. All I can say gentlemen is that every day we hold the Philippines gives the country more time to mobilize. May God be with you—dismissed!

Byrne heads back to the beach and gives McCullough the news. The troops will be glad to hear they can get a letter out but there's a problem.

What's that, sergeant?

We don't have any stationary.

I picked up a pad and a stapler from the medics. The troops can write on one side of the paper, fold it in three then staple it. The outside of the paper can be used as an envelope.

"That'll work. I'll pass the pad and