Page 11 of A Hero Comes Home

Jake had conveniently forgotten about that. He would need to call Sally, now that she’d been informed. “You’re right, buddy. By the way, sorry for my outburst earlier. My only excuse is that I was caught off guard.”

“No problem, my friend.”

“So, what was Sally told?”

“Only the basics,” Major Durand interrupted. “She knows that you were rescued and are recuperating here at Landstuhl. She knows that you have continuing eye and leg injuries to deal with. She knows that you’ll be going home soon on a medical leave for continuing rehab and recovery.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s about it. Well, a few more things.” The major took sheets out of his folder and passed them to Jake. “This is the news release that will be going out tomorrow, and that’s pretty much what your wife has been told. The second page outlines the do’s and don’ts of what you will tell your family, friends, anyone in the public. Not the media. Do not speak to the press until you get prior approval from the DOD. That would be me.”

Jake took the sheets and scanned them. First, the news release, which was on heavy vellum with a Department of Defense letterhead.

“Army captain Jacob Dawson, who was declared dead three years ago after a failed mission to rescue two downed pilots in Afghanistan, is actually alive and will soon be on his way home to the United States.

Although Captain Dawson suffered serious injuries to one eye and a leg following a HALO jump into the mountains of Balakistan on May 19, 2016, he managed to survive for three years by living in a remote cave in the middle of hostile territory, with the aid of some rebel friendlies. Survival skills mastered during his military training helped the soldier to endure the brutal conditions.

During recent high-level negotiations between the US and the newly elected Qadir government, the president first learned of Captain Dawson’s amazing survival story and demanded his immediate return. The President thanks Balakistan Minister of Defense Nazim bin Jamil for his efforts in this operation.

Captain Dawson has been in Landstuhl Hospital in Germany, recovering from his injuries. Two other soldiers on Captain Dawson’s team, Sergeant Frank Bailey and Corporal David Guttierez, died on the mission, according to Captain Dawson. The pilots who were to be rescued, Lieutenant Anton “Ace” Sampsell and Lieutenant Gerald Frank, were rescued in another section of Afghanistan soon after Captain Dawson went MIA.

For more information, contact US Department of Defense, Press Information, Major Raymond Durand, at the above address.”

Jake’s eyes got wider and wider as he scanned the page. “So much for not lying!”

“There’s no lie in that document. A skirting of the truth, maybe, but no outright lies.”

Jake arched his one visible brow skeptically.

“You were kept in a cave. There were rebels, maybe not friendlies . . . I can delete that word. Nazim did inform the POTUS of your existence. Two of your team members did die on the mission.”

“Are you crazy? I wasn’t even a POW in your version of events.”

The major shrugged. “MIA, then.”

Jake shook his head at the major’s audacity in twisting the truth so boldly. “That news release isn’t the real story. Not even close.”

“It’s all anyone needs to know, for now.”

“Are you for real? Seriously, no one will ever believe this crap.”

“I’d bet my precious DC parking permit that the press will buy it and beg for more.”

Jake put his face in his hands, then looked up again. “This feels like some bizarre episode of that TV show Homeland where an Army sergeant was held prisoner by al-Qaeda for eight years.”

“And nobody said that was unbelievable,” the major pointed out.

“Oh, yeah! It was Delta Force that rescued the sergeant in that series. Ask any Delta Force guys what they thought of that scenario. We all had a good laugh over it.”

The major didn’t reply to Jake’s specific criticism, but he did look at him with some sympathy. “I do understand your concerns, Captain Dawson, but believe me, I’ve handled more complicated cases than yours.” He waved a hand toward the other sheet. “Read your instructions.”

CAPTAIN JACOB DAWSON: Do’s and Do Not’s

Do not accept any requests for interviews, whether local or national, whether in person, via telephone or email, without prior approval of the DOD.

Do not discuss the events of your time in Balakistan with family or close friends. Loose lips sink ships, and even those most-trusted individuals can inadvertently disclose details that must remain secret.

Do not, under any circumstances, mention the word torture.