On the fifth floor of the Quartermaster Building in Washington, Miller left Jero's office, the deputy chief of the Battle Planning Division, with an excited expression. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 Info has been working in this building for almost four years since graduating from the Virginia Military Academy. Most of his classmates had already attained the rank of lieutenant, and some of them were even captains, and he had only been promoted for the first time in his life until today.

Four years in the Army Staff were a nightmare for young Miller. Colleagues in each position are not easy people, and he is not too competitive in terms of background and work ability. In the past four years, no matter how hard he worked, he was the first to be eliminated from the promotion committee every time.

Miller also knew that his personality was too introverted to work in the agency. Some of the commanders have been in the battle planning office for more than a year, but they still can't call him by name. He also doesn't want to be an obscure marginal person in the department forever, but it is not easy for him to get out of this predicament when no one appreciates him.

Sometimes, Miller wonders at night what he would be like now if he hadn't been recommended to the staff by his professor. Maybe he would have become a good engineer company commander a long time ago. But life could not be repeated, and he even despaired that his military career would end with the expiration of his term as a major and his forced retirement.

Fortunately, in the end, he still seized an opportunity. Colonel Vanderbilt, assistant to the commissioner, who had left the company, was the kindest officer he had ever met in the Operations Planning Division. Although he had not been under him for a long time, he did not ignore him like other commanders, but also took the initiative to invite himself to his farewell banquet.

Thinking back to what happened at the banquet that day, Miller is still in a trance. I only remember that there were many bigwigs in the staff at the scene, and I poured a few glasses of liquor in a row before I mustered up the courage to find Colonel Vanderbilt and put forward his desire to leave the staff.

This was the first time in Miller's life that he had asked someone to do something, and he was so nervous that his mind went blank when he said those words, and he didn't even hear how the other party replied in the end. He just nodded mechanically to the side, then turned away in a daze.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, Deputy Director Gero called him to his office and asked him if he would like to go to the 82nd Division to be the colonel's adjutant. From that moment on, Miller made up his mind that he must repay John's "kindness" with his actions.

"Miller, congratulations!" A young and beautiful figure appeared beside Miller.

"Thank you, Pakarina!" Pakarina, who has become a second lieutenant in the Army's Women's Auxiliaries, is one of the most fascinating sights in the Operations Planning Division. Many young officers in the department were interested in this lively, cheerful and understanding girl. Miller had also had a crush on her, but never dared to show it.

"I heard you're going to Louisiana to be Colonel Vanderbilt's adjutant?" Pakarina had a big smile on her face, and her crooked smiling eyes were especially charming.

"Yes, the order has come down, and I will report in two days." Miller's face turned red.

"I envy you. With Colonel Vanderbilt, there is always a big meal to eat. Pakarina said earnestly, "The Colonel is the best officer I have ever met. Please say hello to him on my behalf. ”

"Okay, I'll bring it." Miller was amused by Pakarina's innocence. He went to the 82nd Division to join Colonel Vanderbilt, not for a big meal. Although the colonel was indeed known for his boldness and generosity in the battle planning department before, he often paid out of his own pocket to invite his colleagues and subordinates to dinner. But I guess he would never have thought that someone would define him as the best officer because of this.

Seeing off Pakarina and the other colleagues who had come to congratulate him, Miller began to pack up his personal belongings alone. Soon, he realized that there was really nothing to collect. I've been working here for four years myself, and it doesn't seem like there's much to take with you, whether it's objects or memories.

After sitting in his seat and hesitating for a long time, he finally grabbed the phone on the table. "Hello, Colonel Vanderbilt. I'm Miller. ”

"Hello, Miller. Appointment down? I'm going to call Jairo in the morning. "John has just returned from Bradley's office. Tomorrow morning, the famous Sergeant York will appear at the Kolebo barracks to address the juniors of the 82nd Division. Bradley went to talk to him about the event.

"Thank you, sir, thank you." Miller wanted to say something thankful and faithful, but he stumbled for a long time with a stupid mouth, and couldn't say anything but thank you.

Fortunately, John didn't know Miller on the first day, and he could feel what he wanted to say from his excited tone. "Don't thank me, Miller. You deserve it. You're a doer, and a staff job isn't quite for you. I'm sure you'll do a great job when you get to the 82nd Division. ”

"Thank you, sir. I won't let you down. On the other end of the phone, Miller's eyes were red with John's flicker. After being despised by everyone in the staff for four years, he was suddenly recognized by a boss. Now, let alone let him be an adjutant for John, he is willing to block John's bullets.

"In the future, don't call me sir, just call me John in private. By the way, what time did you report on the appointment? John asked.

"Before the sixth, sir." Miller replied immediately and reflexively.

After speaking, he remembered John's previous instructions, and added a little embarrassedly: "That~ John, the work on my side has been handed over, and I can come over tomorrow morning." ”

"There's no need to rush, Miller. You'll be busy in the future, so spend more time with your girlfriend in the past two days. "Traditionally, officers are usually given three to five days of vacation to settle their families. Although Miller is not married, he is at this age, and he should always have a girlfriend. John wasn't a mean boss, and he couldn't have asked Miller to come to work without even giving him time to say goodbye to his girlfriend.

"I'm single now and don't have a girlfriend." Miller was a little short of breath when he said this. In these years, marriage is generally relatively early, and there are many people who start a family at the age of eighteen or nineteen. Miller, a 27-year-old young man, doesn't even have a girlfriend now, which is really not a glorious thing.

But he came from a poor family, his father was a dock worker, his mother was a laundry worker, and there were four underage brothers and sisters in the family. When I first went to military school, I went to college because I could go to college without paying tuition. After graduating, the second lieutenant's salary is not generous, and where can he find a girlfriend in a big city like Washington. Not every poor boy is like Bradley, who has a childhood girlfriend waiting for him in his hometown.

"Don't have a girlfriend?" John was a little surprised, Miller, this kid is not bad, why did he become a "leftover man"? But he didn't think much about it: "There must be a friend." Say goodbye to your friends and relax for a few days. ”

"Not really, John." Miller insisted: "Goodbye has been done." By the way, Pakarina asked me to say hello to you on his behalf. She misses the big meal you invited her to. ”

"You tell him for me that when I get back to Washington for a meeting, I'll invite her to a big dinner." Thinking of Pakarina, John also smiled. "Well, don't rush over and rest in Washington for a few days. I may have a personal matter on my side that I need your help with. Give me the phone number of your place and I'll call you in two days. ”