The Career of a Naval Officer

[Major Major]

St. Cecilia’s Musical Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7, 1904

The music director was nervous.

St. Cecilia’s had won a coup, hiring a composer and music instructor from Saxony. He had not entirely taken to the job when it was offered, but the Archbishop of Cincinnati had heard him play, and was able to offer a very good salary, thanks to a generous parishoner.

So Richard and his wife Elisabeth moved to the United States. He had hoped to build a conservatory in his hometown of Saale, but the archbishopric had made relocating worth his while.

And now his first child was in the process of being born. There were a lot of Jews in the city — he had turned down a woman named Goodman who wanted to do something with her reading — imagine, a woman getting a university education! He hoped that none of the physicians attending on Elisabeth was one.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted. “Sir, you have a son,” the nursing sister who had come into the waiting room unannounced said.

“Is he well?”

“Yes, and so is his mother.”

And on that, Richard Bruno Heydrich left to go about his business.

 

[Major Major]

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, June 15, 1926

He had had to change his name. His birth name was too German, they said. His father had been harassed no end for being a “kraut”.

Getting into the Naval Academy had taken some effort. Apologetic at having stood by and let the Germans be harassed, Archbishop Moeller had rounded up all the support he could get. Senator Pomerene had appointed him to the Academy.

He endured the hazing. He became a champion fencer for the Naval Academy team. He would play the violin at Superintendent Wilson’s receptions.

This made it possible for him to get in flight training. The Academy was beginning to offer flights, and he believed it was the way of the future.

Not at the head of his class, but very high up, he graduated, throwing his cap into the air.

And thus Ensign Richard Tristan Heydrich began the legal procedure to regain his birth name.

 

[Major Major]

USS Enterprise, December 7, 1941

“Prepare to launch.”

The news from Pearl was not good. Somehow, the Japs had managed to attack!

Lieutenant-Commander Heydrich of VF-6 sat in the seat of his Wildcat and waited for the order to launch. It had been a hard few years.

He had married Claire King rather abruptly. Her father was always of the same mood — angry. Having got his daughter pregnant would have meant doom for Heydrich’s career, but marrying her gave him a patron.

He admired Admiral Halsey, the commander of the Scouting Force, for his aggressiveness. The admiral had tolerated his attention to music.

Now, the Enterprise was ready to go to battle.

“Launch.”

Heydrich gunned the engine, rolled down the deck, and lifted off. He circled the Enterprise until all the fighters were in the air, then set course for Pearl Harbor.

 

[Major Major]

Ford Island Naval Air Base, December 7, 1941

The shattered Wildcat rolled to a stop. All around, buildings and airplanes blazed. The ground crews had been strafed, but some — enough — were still alive. They rushed out to the airplane. Some noted how shot up it was.

The pilot rolled back his cockpit. He said, harshly, “Get me another plane!”

But the ground crew had to pull him out of the cockpit. He had been hit in the left leg and how he got to the ground never quite seemed clear. They took him to the hospital, though he bellowed, “GET ME ANOTHER PLANE!!!” all the way.

On Monday, Admiral Halsey himself came to see the patient. Heydrich said, “Sir.”

“I understand you shot down six Jap planes yesterday,” Halsey said.

“Get me a plane.”

The doctor standing at Halsey’s side said, “His left leg took two bullets and he almost bled out.”

Halsey leaned over the pilot. “Listen to them,” he said. “When you’re patched up, they’ll send you to me. That’s a promise.”

 

[Major Major]

Washington, D.C., January 10, 1942

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bul. 43, 1918), a Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty was awarded by the Department of the Army in the name of Congress to the following-named officer:
Lieutenant-Commander Reinhard T. Heydrich, United States Navy, commanding Naval Air Squadron VF-6, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, USA. Leading his aerial squadron into battle, Lieutenant-Commander Heydrich shot down six Japanese airplanes although seriously wounded during the air battle. His outstanding gallantry and noble self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty reflect the highest honor on him and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Navy.
Entered the service from Cincinnati, Ohio.

He had been flown to Washington as soon as he could move. He hobbled into the Oval Office using a cane, but threw it to the floor as he stood before the President. Roosevelt read the citation, his voice trembling with pride, then permitted Commander Heydrich to lean over the Presidental desk to have the hanger of the Medal pinned on. (The neck ribbon was for formal occasions.)

Having been invested, he was the target of the Press. All he said, though, was, “It is my duty to fight and I want to go back and join my men in the Pacific.”

Instead, he was removed to Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he would finish recovering. Admiral King visited his son-in-law as soon as he could, and reassured Heydrich that he would have all the fighting he could do. That seemed to satisfy him. He kept on nagging the doctors to send him back. He seemed to suspect that some of them were plotting to keep him out of battle.

 

[Major Major]

USS Nicholas (DD-439), Bath Iron Works, Maine, June 4, 1942

She was the first ship of that class to be launched. Named for Major Samuel Nicholas, the first officer of the Continental Marines, she was a deadly weapon of war, with five 127-mm main guns and ten 530-mm torpedo tubes and a maximum speed of 67 kilometers per hour. (Her captain had been brought up by a father who used the metric system, and his son thought that way.)

Commander Heydrich, the new ship’s captain, had grudgingly accepted that a commander had to have had command of a surface ship. His career path would lead to command of a carrier air group, a cruiser, and an aircraft carrier, with higher commands to follow. His father-in-law admitted he would probably have retired by then, but he would dine with his successors and drop hints. He had been recruited for a war bond tour, but long and multiple letters to Admiral King had relieved him of that duty.

He read himself in. That done, he started interviewing the men; the officers first, then the petty officers, and finally the seamen. To each group he gave the same message: “We are a team. Every man has to know his assignment, and be able to take up another if necessary. Our fellow sailors are fighting in the Pacific, facing an implacable enemy, who is determined to destroy us.” Then they began working up.

In August, the Nicholas put in at Norfolk. COMINCH himself came down to inspect the ship. Admiral King left that day convinced that his daughter had made the right choice. The ship was training efficiently. Heydrich had commended several men, even though he realized that he was preparing to give up experienced men and take on new boots. They would be the experienced cadres of the many new destroyers that would follow.

He had things in common with his father-in-law. For example, they both were always right. King had not instituted convoys, even when the Germans got so brazen that they might as well have pulled into harbor in Atlantic City and confiscated all the beer (only to dump it over the side as being not much more than hop-flavored water). Commander Heydrich had crossed swords with some of his subordinates and the builders.

 

[Major Major]

“Cactus Striking Force”, Tulagi, January 26, 1943

Captain Heydrich and the Nicholas had a vigorous war, conducting bombardments on various occupied places of the Solomon Islands. Then the order came.

He handed over command to his X.O. and caught a Catalina for Honolulu. After a tour of the repairs of the damage from the Pearl Harbor attack, he met with Admiral Nimitz, who announced his promotion to Commander and his new assignment as Commander, Air Group of the air wing of the carrier Essex.

By the end of the month he was in command of Air Group 9. The workup was grueling, as CAG Heydrich set an example by flying every day, including Sundays, and insisted that his fighter, bomber, and torpedo pilots emulate him. Naval Aviators who disagreed were transferred to CVE’s.

The Essex began with an attack on the Marcus Islands in May. She then attacked Wake Island and conducted a raid on the Gilbert Islands. Heydrich had flown over Wake Island at very low height, and strafed the occupying troops.

This led to a correspondent calling him “Send Me More Japs!” Heydrich. He appreciated the thought but not the expression. His performance was impressive, and he was relieved and promoted to Captain.

After a week’s leave, followed by a month’s unhappy consumption of rubber chicken and unidentifiable vegeables, Captain Heydrich finally got a new command. He would command the USS Wasp.

The shakedown was excruciating. Captain Heydrich reviewed the repair and refit program and sent long memoranda to Washington detailing the inadequacies of the dockyard personnel. Admiral Ingersoll of Tenth Fleet had to explain to him the need for skilled people ashore.

January 10, the Wasp sailed for the Pacific. She joined Admiral Montgomery’s task group and as part of the campaign, conducted air raids on Wake. Heydrich fretted at not being able to fly a raid himself.

 

[Major Major]

USS Wasp, Task Group 38.1, October 23, 1944

“Sir, we should head for the Philippines. The submarine reports say that the Japanese battleship force is headed for Sibuyan Strait.”

Admiral McCain seemed dubious at first, but Captain Heydrich finally persuaded him, and the group headed back towards the Philippines. The next day, there was word of the attack on the Japanese Center Force. At sundown, the reconnaissance plane Heydrich had sent out reported the staggering news that the Japanese had reversed their withdrawal and were headed for the strait again. McCain put on speed and sent a message to Admiral Halsey with the news.

Halsey evidently decided to divide his forces. Task Group 38.3 headed north with the two faster battleships, while Task Groups 38.2 and 38.4 joined McCain.

The subsequent battles were a slaughterhouse. The carrier planes damaged the Yamato and sank the Haruna and two heavy cruisers. Admiral Lee with TF 34.2 was waiting at the opening of the strait and deluged the Japanese ships, finishing the sinking of the Yamato and sinking the other two surviving battleships, the Nagato and the Kongo.

Halsey destroyed the Japanese carrier force, such as it was, sinking the Zuikaku, last survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack force, and the remaining Japanese carriers.

Captain Heydrich ordered a final strike on the remnants of the Center Force, sinking all the large ships. The carrier attack of TG 38.1 was augmented by the escort carriers, which provided fighter cover.

TG 38.1 then withdrew for refueling. Two groups of TF 38 remained off Leyte to provide extra air support.

 

[Major Major]

Pentagon, Alexandria, Virginia, May 15, 1948

Captain Heydrich fretted. He was a man of action, not a staff clerk. He had sent in a proposal for the organization of the new Central Intelligence Agency. They had ignored him.

Now, he was furious. The Jews had established a country, and the United States had recognized it. This forfeited the good will of the Arab countries, and endangered the security and resources of the country. Captain Heydrich began looking for an assignment to Sixth Task Fleet, in the Mediterranean. After a review of his performance, he was assigned as Commander Destroyer Squadron 67.

DesRon 67 aggressively patrolled off the course of the Levant. The destroyers stopped Israeli-flagged ships and searched them for contraband. They also inspected other ships. One destroyer stopped a ship with parts for Messerschmidt fighters, and under interrogation a cargo officer admitted that they were for the Israelis. Captain Heydrich declared them contraband and had them jettisoned over the side.

Meeting with other officers, he repeated his assertion that the United States had damaged its relations with the Arab countries. “Egypt can control the Suez Canal. The countries of the Arabian Gulf can provide petroleum at a low price, and having it raised would damage the economy.”

His promotion to Rear Admiral (lower half) may have been to get him away from the Sixth Fleet. He was given command of Task Force 77 with USS Boxer. The force exercised off the California coast, with the admiral himself occasionally flying in practice raids. In 1950 Heydrich was promoted to Rear Admiral (upper half).

Then the Korean War broke out. Task Force 77 was sent to Korea, where the Boxer and the Valley Forge carried out airstrikes against the advancing North Korean troops. The carriers provided support for Operation CHROMITE, the landings at Inchon, and General MacArthur commended Admiral Heydrich for his performance.

 

[Major Major]

Fairfax, Virginia, December 24, 1954

Vice-Admiral Heydrich prepared to celebrate Weinachten with his family: Claire, and their children Reinhard II, Silke, and Marte. (The oldest son, Klaus, had been killed in a traffic accident. The driver of the car which had hit him had died not long thereafter in mysterious circumstances.)

Grandfather Ernest had been there, and after dinner had asked to speak to his son-in-law privately. When they were alone, he began:

“Reinhard, you’ve been a credit to the family and to the country. Have you considered what you will do after you retire?”

“Not particularly. I expected to die in battle.”

“That’s not likely anymore. The Reds have nukes, but their only plane is a copy of our B-29. The Air Force —” he scowled, “is building a detection system, like the Germans had during the war.

“We can prevent their maritime efforts with submarines. Our submarine force was successful in the Pacific, as I’m sure you’ll remember. And — keep this to yourself for now — West Germany will receive full sovereignty soon, and they have expertise.”

“As long as we don’t waste money and effort on nuclear propulsion,” Heydrich said. “I’ve tried to rein in that Rickover but it looks like he’ll get his first boat next year sometime. Conventional boats are cheaper so if one gets lost, it won’t matter so much.”

“But that’s because of politics,” King said. “You must know this. At the Naval War College I wrote a paper on government. I said:

“Historically ... it is traditional and habitual for us to be inadequately prepared. This is the combined result of a number factors, the character of which is only indicated: democracy, which tends to make everyone believe that he knows it all; the preponderance (inherent in democracy) of people whose real interest is in their own welfare as individuals; the glorification of our own victories in war and the corresponding ignorance of our defeats (and disgraces) and of their basic causes; the inability of the average individual (the man in the street) to understand the cause and effect not only in foreign but domestic affairs, as well as his lack of interest in such matters. Added to these elements is the manner in which our representative (republican) form of government has developed as to put a premium on mediocrity and to emphasise the defects of the electorate already mentioned.”

“And you think I can do something about this?”

“You have the reputation, you’re a younger man, full of energy.” King got up. “No need to do anything about this now, but think about it.”

 

[Major Major]

Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, January 1, 1960

The New Year’s Party was breaking up. Tomorrow, Admiral Heydrich would be relieved as CINCPAC.

He had lost the struggle in naval politics. In spite of presiding over the launching of six supercarriers, with two more on the way, he had lost out. The nuclear-power expert Rickover (a name he thought of with revulsion) had prevailed, and there would be two nuclear-powered carriers.

The admiral looked out over the base. Not all his efforts had been in vain. The Japanese had a naval militia which rejoiced in the name of “Japanese Naval Self-Defense Force”. That damned constitution of theirs. They had no fleet carriers but were building a number of destroyers and destroyer escorts.

And what of a political career? He had looked into some self-proclaimed “Patriotic organizations”. The John Birch Society had turned out to be its founder’s plaything. Too many other groups were tainted with the Klan. Their racial theories were ill-conceived and they were ignorant rural people.

He would need a better-educated, better-organized organization to achieve Admiral King’s theory. As the Admiral’s heir, he thought he could take the important steps.

 

[Major Major]

Musikhaus, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 25, 1963

“A Communist! I’m not surprised!”

His guest, Congressman Robert A. Taft, Jr., looked startled. “Admiral Heydrich —” he began.

Heydrich stood there, a glass of cognac in one hand. “He was finally, finally learning. In a year, I know, he would have provoked a quarrel with Cuba and Moscow would have been shown up. Castro would have been shot and that beast Guevara taken out and beaten to death.

“They must have guessed it was coming. So they sent this creepy little defector to blow him away. Then that whoremonger got him — bad luck for us and good luck for them.”


Congressman Taft did not know that Admiral Heydrich had had a telephone call the day before. The admiral had been called to the telephone. A familiar voice was on the end of the line. “Ah have got to get them boys organ-ized!”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Ah wants you to take charge at Langley an’ clean up them good-fer-nothings! Ah hav got to go bury Jack, so take the time to be a’thinkin’ ‘bout it! Give me an answer by the beginnin’ of Dee-cember.”

“Thank you Mr. President. I have to arrange my affairs.”

“Cayn’t get start’d soon-enuff!”

The now-President had been deeply impressed with Heydrich when he had visited the LBJ Ranch. Johnson had taken him for a ride, then abruptly turned the car and driven into a lake. Heydrich had said, “Handles nicely, doesn’t it?” He had noted that the car was amphibious.

 

[Major Major]

CIA Headquarters, 1000 Colonial Farm Rd, Langley, Va, January 2, 1964

The new Director of Central Intelligence was sworn in. He began to issue orders immediately.

The assassination attempts against Fidel Castro were terminated. The Mafia members who had worked on them were set up for betrayal to the FBI. Instead, the CIA would seek to destabilize the Cuban economy. Infiltrators would destroy fuel distribution or establish themselves in industrial plants to prepare to sabotage the operations.

Heydrich was annoyed that the CIA had been constrained not to spy on Britain. He did increase recruitment of European agents. Other recruitment was stepped up in the Far East. Vietnamesre agents, though, were often set up for denunciation to the Communists.

He extended efforts to recruit agents in Arab countries. Many were sent into the Zionist entity for observation or even infrastructure degradation. Relationships with the Zionists were completely severed.

As time passed, Heydrich became disappointed with one area of investigation. The man who apparently had shot Kennedy was shown to have been uncooperative and disorganized. He would have been found out if he had ever worked with any other organization.

The Vietnamese situation declined. There were more Communist agents in the government, and removing them would have left the government unable to function. The President did not want to hear that South Vietnam could not be saved.

Then, the Chinese began to tear apart their government. Heydrich ordered recruiting, but in vain, since an official would be recruited and then purged. The country might disintegrate, and he was working with the Nationalist government to prepare for a return to the mainland.

 

[Major Major]

CIA Headquarters, 1000 Colonial Farm Rd, Langley, Va, December 31, 1973

The Director of Central Intelligence had declined a going-away party.

He had severed all communications with the Mossad, and opened a liason with the Mukhbarat, having them provided with intelligence regarding Israel. The October War had initially been a grand triumph for the Egyptian Army, they penetrating as far as the Mitla Pass. But they had outrun the air defences along the Suez Canal, and the Israeli Air Force had wrecked the troops. Their army had re-occupied the canal and crossed it, and the Sadat government had collapsed, when President Sadat was murdered by an army junta.

The Egyptian National Security Council had managed to get the United Nations to order a cease-fire and armistice. Then it began to have internal struggles and collapsed. A Saudi delegation offered to subsidize a Government of National Reconciliation and Restoration. The Israelis withdrew to the Canal, strengthening their defenses.

And a reportere unearthed a report from EGNR&R which revealed that the U.S. Director of National Intelligence had ordered intelligence regarding Israel provided to the Egyptian Government.

So President Nixon found DNI Heydrich surplus to current needs. He returned to his family house in Ohio, and began searching for skilled violin students to finish training and send forth.