Read Online Corps Justice Boxed Set: Books 1-3: Back to War, Council of Patriots, Prime Asset by C. G. Cooper - Free Book Online
Authors: C. G. Cooper
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covering his tracks.
He no longer committed outright mischief; instead he skirted the
rules and bent them to his will.
Even at a young age, Cal excelled in
academics. He’d enjoyed a challenge and far outpaced his
classmates. He now used his mind to mold the rules as he saw fit.
He was never again caught for any overt acts of fighting or
stealing, but he would return home with smoke and beer on his
breath. His mother could never prove it.
His behavior remained poor until Cal’s
father returned from war. The homecoming was more of a relief to
Mrs. Stokes than to Cal. He waited with a mixture of fear and anger
as his parents discussed his fate.
Looking back, Cal knew his disruptive
attitude was a kid’s way of coping with an absent father, but even
in the midst of the turmoil, deep down he knew he’d crossed the
line. That did not, however, mean he would beg for forgiveness. It
wasn’t HIS fault that his father had gone off to war.
Col. Stokes received the news with a strange
calm. He’d already been tipped off by a friend on the Commanding
General’s staff so he knew the majority of Cal’s infractions.
Coming home from his second war, Cal Sr. understood the actions of
young men. When given the chance, they could excel beyond anyone’s
imagination. Left alone without proper guidance, young boys could
just as easily fall on the wrong side of the tracks.
Col. Stokes understood why Cal had
misbehaved. It didn’t make it right, but it was what it was. So
although his star shined bright within the Marine Corps, Col.
Stokes personally delivered his retirement papers to the commander
of Second Marine Division the next day. The general did his best to
set Cal Sr. against his chosen path, but the Marine and more
importantly, the father would not be dissuaded.
Col. Stokes knew it was time to spend more
time with his family.
+ + +
The Stokes family packed up and relocated
back to Nashville, Tennessee, a few weeks later. Through teary
goodbyes with lifelong friends and an emotional change of command
ceremony where Col. Stokes was awarded the Legion of Merit and a
Bronze Star, the Stokes clan moved on, uncertain of the future.
Cal Sr. used his considerable accrued leave
time to reach out to his numerous contacts in the civilian world.
Throughout his time in the Corps, he’d come in contact with various
influential individuals both on the national and local scene.
Although his skills from the Marine Corps didn’t equate to one
particular job in the civilian world (not many regiments to command
on Main Street U.S.A.), his Marine determination knew he would find
something.
He spent his days making phone calls and his
nights and weekends with the family. Most time devoted to the
family found Cal and his father bonding and figuring out each
other. There were camping and fishing trips. All the while, Cal’s
father treated his son like a man and started to relay life’s
lessons.
Cal’s spirits and attitude improved. He’d
needed his father and once again things felt right in the
world.
Not long after settling in the Nashville
suburb of Franklin, TN, Cal Sr. was hired by a local government
facility as a consultant to evaluate the facility’s security and
operations. The contact had been arranged by an old friend now
serving at the Pentagon who had sung Cal Sr.’s praises to regional
director in charge of all of Tennessee state’s federal
facilities.
Although he’d never done anything like what
he’d been hired for, the money was right and like a true Marine,
he’d figure it out as he went.
Long story short, after evaluating the
facility, interviewing employees, cataloging procedures, and simply
observing for six weeks, Col. Stokes delivered his thirty page
summary to the regional director. The director was very pleased
with the recommendations and asked Cal Sr. to stay on-board to help
implement his suggestions.
Cal’s father didn’t want to be employed by
the government, so instead he asked if a new consulting
He no longer committed outright mischief; instead he skirted the
rules and bent them to his will.
Even at a young age, Cal excelled in
academics. He’d enjoyed a challenge and far outpaced his
classmates. He now used his mind to mold the rules as he saw fit.
He was never again caught for any overt acts of fighting or
stealing, but he would return home with smoke and beer on his
breath. His mother could never prove it.
His behavior remained poor until Cal’s
father returned from war. The homecoming was more of a relief to
Mrs. Stokes than to Cal. He waited with a mixture of fear and anger
as his parents discussed his fate.
Looking back, Cal knew his disruptive
attitude was a kid’s way of coping with an absent father, but even
in the midst of the turmoil, deep down he knew he’d crossed the
line. That did not, however, mean he would beg for forgiveness. It
wasn’t HIS fault that his father had gone off to war.
Col. Stokes received the news with a strange
calm. He’d already been tipped off by a friend on the Commanding
General’s staff so he knew the majority of Cal’s infractions.
Coming home from his second war, Cal Sr. understood the actions of
young men. When given the chance, they could excel beyond anyone’s
imagination. Left alone without proper guidance, young boys could
just as easily fall on the wrong side of the tracks.
Col. Stokes understood why Cal had
misbehaved. It didn’t make it right, but it was what it was. So
although his star shined bright within the Marine Corps, Col.
Stokes personally delivered his retirement papers to the commander
of Second Marine Division the next day. The general did his best to
set Cal Sr. against his chosen path, but the Marine and more
importantly, the father would not be dissuaded.
Col. Stokes knew it was time to spend more
time with his family.
+ + +
The Stokes family packed up and relocated
back to Nashville, Tennessee, a few weeks later. Through teary
goodbyes with lifelong friends and an emotional change of command
ceremony where Col. Stokes was awarded the Legion of Merit and a
Bronze Star, the Stokes clan moved on, uncertain of the future.
Cal Sr. used his considerable accrued leave
time to reach out to his numerous contacts in the civilian world.
Throughout his time in the Corps, he’d come in contact with various
influential individuals both on the national and local scene.
Although his skills from the Marine Corps didn’t equate to one
particular job in the civilian world (not many regiments to command
on Main Street U.S.A.), his Marine determination knew he would find
something.
He spent his days making phone calls and his
nights and weekends with the family. Most time devoted to the
family found Cal and his father bonding and figuring out each
other. There were camping and fishing trips. All the while, Cal’s
father treated his son like a man and started to relay life’s
lessons.
Cal’s spirits and attitude improved. He’d
needed his father and once again things felt right in the
world.
Not long after settling in the Nashville
suburb of Franklin, TN, Cal Sr. was hired by a local government
facility as a consultant to evaluate the facility’s security and
operations. The contact had been arranged by an old friend now
serving at the Pentagon who had sung Cal Sr.’s praises to regional
director in charge of all of Tennessee state’s federal
facilities.
Although he’d never done anything like what
he’d been hired for, the money was right and like a true Marine,
he’d figure it out as he went.
Long story short, after evaluating the
facility, interviewing employees, cataloging procedures, and simply
observing for six weeks, Col. Stokes delivered his thirty page
summary to the regional director. The director was very pleased
with the recommendations and asked Cal Sr. to stay on-board to help
implement his suggestions.
Cal’s father didn’t want to be employed by
the government, so instead he asked if a new consulting
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