Dumping the transfer of Taylor and Gavin to William, John finally set out on his way back to Louisiana. Ridgway flew back to Alexandria the day he received his appointment, and now that Bradley and Swain were gone, he, the new division commander, had to sit at the division headquarters. John used the excuse that the White House needed to be handed over, and he only stayed in Washington for two more days.

As when he arrived, John still had only one suitcase in his luggage. It was just an extra medal, a silver spoon that Churchill had given to Eric Jr., a photograph of the signing ceremony of the Atlantic Charter and a fountain pen. The latter two are souvenirs that John managed to get.

On the day the Atlantic Charter was signed, he volunteered to ask Hopkins for paperwork. So that when Roosevelt and Churchill signed, they could stand behind Roosevelt and play soy sauce in this historic photo. Afterwards, he shamelessly "walked" the pen that Roosevelt used to sign from James Jr. (the president of the United States has the habit of giving the pen as a gift to the people around him when he signs important documents. Historically, the fountain pen was given to his son James Jr. by Roosevelt).

John plans to treasure this picture and this pen when he returns home, and when he is old, he can take them out and brag about them in front of his children and grandchildren. Even if the process by which these two things came to be not so above board, they are still higher than the notes that Kennedy Sr. wrote to Roosevelt and framed them and hung them on the fireplace, isn't it?

"General, we are about to reach the sky over New Orleans, the wind is strong today, and there will be some bumps when landing, please be prepared." John was staring out the window of the plane at the clouds when an army air lieutenant came over and reported respectfully.

Don't look at the difference between brigadier general and colonel is only one rank, but in the army they are completely two classes, and the rights and treatment they have are very different. One of the hidden benefits John received after this promotion was the right to apply for the use of military commuter aircraft. Although it is not enough for the treatment of a special plane for the time being, it is at least much better than the previous messenger flight.

"Thank you, Second Lieutenant Raymond." When he first got on the plane, John chatted with the second lieutenant of the Army Air Force's 9th Airlift Group (later the 89th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force, which was responsible for providing air commuting and communications support services for White House dignitaries and senior military generals, and Air Force One was also part of the wing), and knew that he had joined the army and studied in the mathematics department of Columbia University, and was considered his direct brother.

Ten minutes later, John's plane landed at Morsante Military Airport outside New Orleans. Eisenhower's adjutant, Lieutenant Ernest Lee, was already waiting for him at the airport in advance.

"Hello, General Vanderbilt. Colonel Eisenhower asked me to pick you up. "Ernest Lee was an old man next to Eisenhower, and had met John a few times before. He was still a little confused, how could this young man in front of him, who was no more than two years older than him, become a general in a blink of an eye?

Not to mention him, it was Eisenhower, who was also shocked when he learned the news of John's promotion to brigadier general and deputy division commander. Although he knew that with John's background and ability, he would have a bright future in the army, and it was only a matter of time before he became a general.

But in just two years, John went from a civilian to a general, which still caused a lot of psychological shock to Eisenhower. Thinking that he had worked hard in the military for 30 years (starting with West Point in 1911), he was still only a colonel. No matter how open-minded Eisenhower was, he would inevitably feel pantothenic acid.

Of course, Eisenhower was not guilty of jealousy of John. Multiple friends and multiple roads, adding an enemy and adding a wall. John had a good relationship with him, and Ascension was only good for Eisenhower, not bad. And from the moment Lieutenant General Kruger invited him to the Third Army as chief of staff, Eisenhower's rank of general was already a certainty. As long as there are no major mistakes in this exercise, he will be promoted to brigadier general as soon as it is over.

It's just that John didn't come early or late, so he chose this time to visit, which made Eisenhower a little unhappy. With what he knew about John, how could he not see that this kid was deliberately taking advantage of him this time?

But John's reasons for choosing himself were very clear. The 82nd Division had to transfer so many officers at once, and it was in urgent need of manpower. At present, the first phase of the exercises of the Second and Third Armies has been completed and is in a state of repair for the time being. John, the deputy division commander, came over to observe the summary and analysis meeting of the first phase of the exercise, and by the way, brought back the officer corps sent by the 82nd Division to observe the exercise. Who else can say what.

Therefore, even though Eisenhower knew that John was not at ease this time and made it clear that he was here to take advantage of him, he still took the initiative to take over the job of receiving John. As the chief of staff of the Third Army, it is not that he can't give this job to others, but doing so seems to be separated from John, and it is not a way to get along with friends. Anyway, at most, John made a joke, and Eisenhower put up with it for the time being.

The temporary headquarters of the Third Army was set up in an abandoned middle school very close to the military airfield, and it was only a dozen minutes' drive away. Soon, John met Eisenhower in a library-turned-office.

"Colonel, don't you know how to salute when you see the chief?" John walked over to Eisenhower's desk and smiled as proudly as he could.

Eisenhower sighed, pushed away his chair and got up, and saluted John, "Hello, General." What can do for you. ”

"Good." John returned the salute to Eisenhower in a dashing manner, "Go and pour me a cup of coffee, hot, two pieces of sugar without milk......"

Just halfway through speaking, Eisenhower walked out of the desk with his sleeves puffed up, and John quickly changed his words, "Don't, don't get excited." The assault on the commander is punishable by a court-martial. ”

Who knew that Eisenhower was stunned, and he grossly took out a cup from the closet beside John, "Say it again!" What do you want? ”

"Water, white water will be fine." John immediately changed his words, and both of them burst out laughing.

"Congratulations, John. I really didn't expect you to become a general before me. Eisenhower poured John a cup of coffee he wanted.

"You'll have it next month, too." John pointed to the general star on his shoulder, "The chief of staff of the group army is much more valuable than me, the deputy division commander." ”

"In the blink of an eye, Omar, Mark, and you are all generals. If I don't hurry up, I'll be completely left behind by you. Eisenhower said self-deprecatingly.

"Come on, Ike. Don't count me in. You're the proper general, and I'm just a man. I'm confused about what to do next. In front of Eisenhower, who was also a teacher and friend, John had no need to pretend at all. In addition to satisfying his vanity and bad tastes, he came this time to learn from Eisenhower.

John has been in the army for more than two years and has been a staff officer. Now that he has suddenly become the commander of the army, he really can't figure out how to use the command power in his hands. Since Bradley was in a hurry and didn't leave him with any explanation, he had to ask Eisenhower for advice. Don't look at people, Eisenhower has never commanded a regiment until now, but he has never eaten pork and never seen a pig run? Without two brushes, how will he command the Allied army of millions in the future.