Kacey's Decision

[Matt Wiser]

Kara's Daughter makes her choice as to her AF career:


Kacey's Choice


23 June, 2013, Thrace Residence, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, 1720 Hours MDT:


Cadet Second Class Kacey Thrace came into the living room of her mother's house on the base. Kacey's mother was Lieutenant Colonel Kara Thrace, a decorated veteran of both the Third World War and the Baja War, and one of the wildest fighter pilots to serve in the Air Force. Colonel Thrace had commanded the 390th TFS, the Wild Boars, in the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing in Baja and during the fall of the rump USSR, and had moved over to Wing Operations at the request of the 366th Wing's CO, Colonel Lisa Eichhorn. Both of them had served together in the 335th TFS during the big war, and now Colonel Eichhorn was hoping that Kara would eventually succeed her as the CO of the 366th, better known as “The Gunfighters.”

Kacey had grown up an Air Force brat, which was all the more difficult having a single mom, who also had been a borderline alcoholic as well as a nymphomaniac, though Kacey had helped her mom change a lot, and had even helped Mom get on the wagon and stay there. Not to mention that Kacey was now pregnant, and thanks to Colonel Eichhorn and her husband, Colonel Matt Wiser, who commanded the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing in the Reserves at Hill AFB down in Utah, she was now on medical leave until after the baby was born. But she still had some AFROTC decisions to make, and the biggest one was still outstanding: not just whether or not to put in for flight training, but to put fighters at the top of her list.

When she had heard what Kacey was struggling with, Kara had told her, “Look, girl. The Thraces have done their bit for God and Country, in two wars, now, and the thought of my little girl doing it gives me ulcers. Go multiengine, and select either C-17s or the new KC-46s that are coming into the Air Force.”

“Mom, I've toured fighter bases, and some ANG guy who flies F-20s-what's his name?”

“Clancy-the same guy I have a losing streak at Red Flag to. He's good, and he's also the reason I hate F-20s and the people who drive them,” Kara said.

“I know, but....you fly fighters,” Kacey reminded her mother.

Kara took a drink of iced tea. “Yeah, and I wound up in fighters because we had no choice,” she reminded her daughter. “I know, you want to follow in your mother's footsteps, but listen. This family-your cousins, uncles, and so on, we all did our bit during the war, and having one Thrace be a fighter driver is enough.”

“Mom-”

“Kacey, I don't want to be sitting on my front porch with my grandchild on my knee, when the casualty officer comes with the chaplain,” Kara said. “I've lost wingmen in World War III, and I don't want you in that position.”

“I understand, Mom, but...I want to think about it. Chances are, I'll put in for multiengine, but...”'

“You want to finish exploring your options,” Kara finished for her daughter. “Tomorrow. Come with me to the base, and talk to Colonel Eichhorn, and maybe Colonel Wiser, too, if he's on base.”

“Why?”

“Because they'll tell you things I can't,” Kara said. “You're going, like it or not.”

“Okay, Mom.” Kacey said.

Kara nodded, then hugged her daughter. “Good. Now, let's get dinner going.”



24 June 2013, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing Headquarters, Mountain Home AFB, ID, 0800 Hours MDT:


Colonel Thrace pulled her Chevy Tahoe into “her” parking space near Wing HQ. One thing about being Wing Operations Officer, it meant you had your own space, like the CO and XO did. Kacey got out, and noticed a 1969 Mercury Cougar Convertible parked in the CO's slot. Either the CO had driven her husband's car, or he had driven her to work, and was still there. The two went in, and Kacey put on her VISITOR badge, though she was in her AFROTC dress blues. Her mom looked around, and found the two Colonels talking outside the Wing CO's office. “Well, Guru and Goalie, whups, 'scuse me, Colonel Wiser and Colonel Eichhorn,” Kara said, sketching a salute, while Kacey's was parade-ground perfect.

Another sign that daughter was so different from mom, the two bird colonels thought.

“Kara,” Colonel Wiser said. “Nice to see you haven't forgotten your old CO's call sign.”

“Like she'd forget?” Colonel Eichhorn asked her husband. “What's up with bringing Kacey to work?”

Mother and daughter looked at each other. “Kacey and I, well...we had a talk last night.”

“About what?”

Kacey said, “I have to submit my request for flight training soon, even though I'm on medical leave. I'm leaning to C-17s, but.....”

“But what?” Colonel Wiser asked.

“Colonel, I'm still looking at fighters. I've toured both bases, and had that ANG F-20 jock-”

“The Senator who plays with F-20s on weekends?” Colonel Eichhorn asked. Both husband and wife knew a lot about him, from an F-20 demonstration tour at Sheppard back in '87, then a Red Flag back in 1995, and they'd heard more about him since. Any veteran had a friend in the Senate, thanks to him, but all three Colonels shared a loathing for F-20s and those who drove them. The fact he had flown an F-20B to Mountain Home to give Kacey an F-20 ride only reinforced that loathing, feeling that it was a blatant recruiting attempt.

“The same,” Kacey said. “Now Mom's almost talked me into C-17s, but, I'd like to hear what you two think.”

“Kacey...” Goalie said.

“You two are the aunt and uncle I wish I had in the family,” Kacey replied. “Add to that Colonel Ray, Colonel Van Loan, and I can go on...”

“Okay, but be careful of what you wish for,” Guru said. “You'll be getting an earful from two bird Colonels.”

Kara smiled. “That's what I had in mind.”

The two wing commanders looked at each other. “Okay, then,” Goalie said. “Kara, close the door on your way out.”

“Will do, and I'll get ready to teach those Singapore AF guys another lesson,” Kara said. “They still don't like losing to girls.”

Colonel Eichhorn smiled. “Then remind 'em. You play in our league, against our varsity. Tough luck if you hear a female voice on the radio who's in the kill slot.”

A smile came over Kara's face. “Is that an order?”

“Why not?” Colonel Eichhorn said.

“Okay, then. Kacey, when you're finished, come to my office.”

“Sure, Mom,” Kacey said as Kara left the office, and closed the door on the way out.


After the door closed, the two Colonels nodded. “Okay, Kacey,” Goalie said. “What's up?”

“Ma'am-”

“Use our call signs, Cadet,” Goalie replied, looking at her husband, who nodded. “That's an order.”

“Yes, Goalie,” Kacey said. “I've thought about going multiengine, but something inside of me wants to fly fighters.” She looked at her surrogate aunt and uncle. “I've grown up around fighter pilots, and....”

“And you want to be like us, right?” Guru said.”It's only natural.”

Kacey nodded. “Ever since I was old enough to think about being a pilot.”

“Then you know it's not all glamor, like in Top Gun, or Pensacola: Wings of Gold. It's a deadly serious business, and people die. Even in peacetime.”

“I know, you said that when you came back from the Baja War,” Kacey replied.

“Did your mom tell you about losing wingmen?” Guru asked.

“She did, but didn't go into detail.”

“Okay, keep in mind we've lost wingmen. I was wing on my first CO when he bought an SA-6 two weeks into the war. He and his GIB are there one minute, and they're a fireball the next,” Guru said. “When I became a flight lead, I lost two wingmates before getting shot down myself.”

Kacey knew that story, that of Colonel Wiser's E&E. “You've told me how bad it was in the early days.”

“I know, but we went through planes and crews pretty fast those first few months. Losing a CO? We had two killed within a two-month span, before Colonel Rivers got the command. And he didn't make it, either.”

“I know, Guru. You got the squadron then.” Kacey said.

“Yeah. Anyway, has your Mom told you about wingmen she lost after becoming an element lead?”

“Not much, other than she lost people.”

“We all heard this one on the radio,” Goalie said. “Near Waco, as LONG RIFLE got going. Her wingman took an SA-11, and his GIB got out okay. But for some reason, his seat wouldn't fire. Your Mom listened to him screaming on the radio for his mother as the plane fell in flames. It didn't stop until the plane crashed.”

“And you two, and Mom, don't want me to be in that position, hearing that over the radio.” Kacey said. “You did talk to Eric and Sandy, right?”

“Yeah, and we told them if they didn't want to fly fighters, that'd be fine with us. Eric's now in the F-16 RTU down at Luke, and Sandy's in helicopter training with the Army at Fort Rucker.” Guru said. “Won't be long until she has her wings.” Though where did we go wrong, he wondered. My little girl a rotorhead? He shook his head, but knew he'd support her in whatever she wanted.

“And Melanie?”

“Melanie's graduation is in May, then she goes to UPT. She wants F-15Es, like Mom and Dad,” Guru said. “We all had the talk.”

“Okay, then, C-17s for you, but you've got this.....feeling,” Goalie added.

Kacey nodded. “My head tells me I'm making the right choice with C-17s, but part of me thinks if I don't fly fighters....”

Goalie gave a sympathetic nod. “If you don't, you've disappointed your Mom.”

“Sort of.”

The two colonels looked at each other, then Guru said, “Then there's one person you still need to talk to. She'll make sure you've set yourself on the right path.”

“Colonel Ray?” Kacey asked.

“You got it,” Goalie said. “I know, you know her story, read the book in ROTC, but a one-on-one will set you on the straight and narrow. Right into a C-17 slot.”

“When?”

Goalie looked at her husband. “She busy?”

“Today? I don't think so. She's burning up some unused vacation time from last year, so she should be home,” Guru said. He pulled out his cell phone, found her number, and hit SEND. It rang immediately, and two rings later, there was a pickup.

“Ray,” the voice on the other end said.

“Kelly, Guru. You working today or what?”

“No. The Sheriff told me to either use that vacation time or lose it. So I'm taking it. I'll be on a camping and fishing trip over the weekend, and Brad's coming,” Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Ann Ray said.

“Good, you're home then. I've got someone here who needs to talk to you, and I think you know who I'm talking about. Someone who is 90 percent sure of flying C-17s, but-”

“But is ten percent wanting to get into tacair,” Kelly finished for her CO. She was the Operations Officer for the 419th TFW when she wasn't a Sheriff's Deputy in civilian life. “I know full well who you're talking about. She free today?”

“Yeah,” Guru said. “Whether or not her Mom knows it.” He turned to Goalie. “Has Kara suited up yet?”

“I'll find out. You're thinking about something, I can smell it,” Goalie said. “She's having lunch with Kelly. Today.”

“You got it. Get Kara.” Guru said.

Goalie nodded and headed out the door. Two minutes later, she brought Kara back in. “Here she is.”

Guru nodded. “Kelly, where do you want to meet Kacey?”

“She knows where Bigfoot Pizza is?”

“Bigfoot Pizza in Pocatello. You know the place?”

“Been there a couple of times. Besides, I've got my latptop. Find a good Wi-Fi connection, and I can get directions.” Kacey said.

“She does,” Guru said. “I'll call you when she leaves.”

“Better than that,” Goalie said. She powered up her office PC, and not only got the directions, but printed them out. “Here you go. It's a three-hour drive, and it's 0830.”

“Drive safe,” Kara said. “And don't get a ticket in my SUV!”

Kacey rolled her eyes “Mom.... you know me.”

“Yes, I do. Now get going.”

Kacey smiled and headed out the door. After she left, Guru called Kelly again. “She's on her way. Be there in three hours or so.”

“We'll have a good lunch, and a frank and honest talk,” Kelly said. “And when we're done, she'll be set on the C-17 path. You can take that to the bank, Colonel.”

“Okay, Kelly. Talk to you later.”

“You too, Colonel.” she said. “Bye!”

Kara looked at her CO and her wartime CO. “So, Kelly Ray's going to give her a one-on-one about POW life?”

Guru nodded. “If that doesn't set her into C-17s, I don't know what will.” Colonel Ray was a former POW from the big war, who had endured four years of captivity in Castro's Cuba. “We did give her the 'wingman' talk.”

“I'm glad you did,” Kara said. “She'll be back probably by when, 1730 or so?”

“Probably,” Goalie said. “Enough time for you to teach those Singapore AF guys a few lessons.”

Kara smiled. “Bring 'em on, Colonel.”



Bigfoot Pizza, Pocatello, Idaho, 1150 Hours MDT:


Kacey pulled up to the pizza parlor in her Mom's Tahoe, and saw an Olds 442 convertible parked in front. She knew whose car that was, having been on Hill during Reserve weekends, or when Colonel Ray came to Mountain Home. She got out and went in, and found a familiar face in a flight suit waiting. “Colonel.”

“Kacey, you're not on base, and I'm not on active duty, so you can still call me 'Kelly', okay?” Ray said.

“Sure thing, though I've outgrown 'Aunt Kelly',” Kacey replied.

“So have Eric, Sandy, and Melanie,” Kelly quipped. “They still slip up once in a while. Let's order, then we'll talk. The Calzone is great, by the way.”

Both ordered Calzone and iced tea, then sat back down. “No guessing about this talk: it's the real downside to flying fighters.”

“You are smarter than they think you are,” Kelly said. “A peacetime training accident can get you just as dead as someone who took flak, or swallowed a SAM. There's only one thing worse than getting KIA.”

“And that's getting captured,” Kacey finished. “I've read your book, saw the movie, and I know what you're going to tell me.”

“Yeah,” Kelly nodded. “Listen, Kacey. You don't need to fly fighters to make your Mom proud. She'll be proud of you just having pilot's wings. I know, your head and your gut tell you to fly multiengine, but your heart wants to go fighters, right?” She saw Kacey nod. “Stick with multiengine: if it's C-17s, KC-46s, or even C-130s, it's a lot safer than flying fighters, you're still doing an important job, and if you're in the first two, it's the closest thing to flying for the airlines that you can do in the Air Force.”

“Even if, one week out of four in KC-46s, you're sitting alert,” said Kacey.

“SAC will be SAC, no matter what,” Kelly replied. “But still....you'll go through SERE, and not have to worry much about putting what you learned into practice. In fighters....I learned the hard way, and I had only been out of SERE and in the squadron for all of a month.”

“Kelly, I know all of that.”

“Well..your Mom can't tell you this, but I can, okay?” Kelly said. “We, that is, your Mom, me, Colonel Wiser, Colonel Eichhorn, and the rest of your surrogate family, don't want you in the same situation I was in. I sure as hell don't want you in the hands of some sicko like Fidel.”

Kacey nodded at that. She'd followed the trial, and knew from reading Kelly's book just what she'd endured at his hands. “So when does he swing?”

“Depends on when the Supreme Court hears the appeal. They've got until the end of the month, if they don't....not until October,” Kelly said. “He's been denied at every stage, and after that....”

“Forget about any kind of clemency from Hillary,” Kacey commented. “What else is there?”

“I sure don't want you in my place: sitting in a cell, and holding your cellmate in your arms as she slips away. I had Tracy die on me, and she just gave up. Said she couldn't handle it any longer. That made me decide to go on the escape,” Kelly said, shedding a tear at the memory.

“You say that in the book.”

“You got it,” Kelly replied. “There's something else. When we were released, the first people on the plane were the mothers and the ones who were pregnant. I had friends from Holguin-and I heard, Mariel, too, come back either pregnant, or with babies or toddlers.”

“That was your worst nightmare, right?”

“It was,” Kelly nodded in agreement. “I was scared shitless of what I'd do if I got pregnant in captivity. No way would I want to bring a kid into the world under those circumstances and those conditions. How any of them managed to bring up a kid in those hellholes....my hat's off to them.”

“Most of 'em live in that planned community near Colorado Springs, right? I saw it on CNN once: Freedom City they call it?”

“Right you are. Ninety percent of the residents are vets, and most of 'em are ex-POWs, some old-timers from WW II or Korea, a few from Vietnam, and the rest from WW III,” Kelly replied. “Governor Mason, when she was a State Senator, pushed that through, and it's a nice town. No crime, hardly, because everyone's a vet and knows how to handle a gun. It's the only town I know of where either the Secretary of Defense, an Assistant Secretary, or a Service Secretary, gives the commencement speech at the local high school. All of the ex-POWs I know of who came back with kids moved there, and the POW kids all went to school there. We don't want you winding up moving there.”

“Okay, Kelly. You've convinced me,” Kacey said. “I'm going multiengine. Whether it's C-17s, KC-46s, AWACS, or C-130s, even.”

Kelly smiled. “You'll make all of us proud. And there's something else.”

“What's that?”

“You're the first person I can think of who's going to be a trash-hauler, and I won't be contemptuous. I know, us fighter pilots look down on trash-hauler types, but when one of 'em is one someone I consider family, it's a whole different story. Your whole surrogate family's going to be looking out for you, and if anyone says a bad word about trash-haulers when you're home, the next thing that person sees is going to be stars and the ceiling, if I have anything to say and do about it.”

“Thanks, Kelly,” Kacey said. “You know, I think I really had to have this talk.”

“That's good,” Kelly replied. She then saw the server coming with their food order. “Enough shop talk. Time to eat.”



366th Tactical Fighter Wing Headquarters, Mountain Home AFB, ID: 1700 Hours:


Kacey pulled the Tahoe into her Mom's parking space in front of Wing HQ. It had been a pleasant drive back to Mountain Home, and she had even kept to the speed limit. As she got out, she noticed Colonel Wiser's car still in the CO's space, and she knew that the two Colonels were still there. She opened the door and went to the CO's office. Kacey hesitated, then knocked on the door. “Come in!”

She opened the door and found Colonels Wiser and Eichhorn, and her Mom, waiting. After she saluted, Kacey said, “You guys were waiting.”

“Colonel Ray called after you left Pocatello,” Colonel Wiser said. “I believe you have something to tell all of us.”

Kacey smiled, then looked at her Mom, and her surrogate aunt and uncle. “I do.”

“Okay, let it out!” Kara said. “The suspense is killing us.”

“Can't have that,” Colonel Eichhorn quipped. “So fill us in.”

Kacey looked at her Mom. “I'm going multiengine. For sure. One hundred and ten percent.”

Kara got up and gave her daughter a big hug, and the two bird colonels gave Kacey some applause. “Good call, Kacey,” Colonel Eichhorn said.

“I take it Colonel Ray gave you 'the talk'?” Colonel Wiser asked.

“She did,” Kacey replied. “And she set me straight. Whether it's C-17s, AWACS, KC-46s, or even C-130s, I'll be happy.”

Colonel Eichhorn nodded. Then she went to a mini-refrigerator she kept in her office, and picked out four drinks. “Diet Pepsi for me, full-strength for Guru, Lipton Tea with lemon for Kara, and bottled water for our mother-and MAC driver-to be.” They took their drinks and opened them. “Well...” Colonel Eichhorn said, “TAC's loss is MAC's gain.”

“Hear, hear,” Guru and Kara said, and Kacey smiled.

Then there was a knock on the door-which wasn't fully closed. “Come in!” Colonel Eichhorn said.

“Ma'am,” Major Bryan Cox said. He was the Wing Duty Officer. “Uh, I couldn't help but overhear, but did I just hear someone say something about TAC losing and MAC gaining?”

The two full Colonels looked at each other, then at Kara, who simply shrugged. “You could say that,” Colonel Eichhorn said. “Colonel Thrace's daughter is going for Flight, and the multiengine track specifically. Her preference is C-17s.”

“Oh...I see. Do you mind if word gets around?”

Goalie looked at Kara, who nodded. “Why not?”

“Yes, Ma'am,” Cox said, then he closed the door.

The three Colonels looked at each other. Then Kara said something. “You know, the whole Air Force will know before the night's out.”

“Yeah, but TAC will be celebrating, while MAC will be dreading the thought of a Thrace doing who knows what with a C-17 or a C-130,” Guru said.

“There's one other thing,” Goalie said.

“What?” Kara and Kacey asked, nearly simultaneously.

Goalie smiled. “When word spreads through TAC that Kara Thrace's daughter is not going to be a fighter driver, it'll find its way to TAC's Commander, then to the Chief of Staff himself. And two words are what everyone's going to be saying.”

“What, exactly, Colonel?” Kacey asked.

“Thank God!”