A Matter of Trust
May 2000
For denizens of the Persuaders~ here's a story for your m/f challenge. Xanthe has been after me for ages to write a discipline story, and a few months ago, this opening scene from a JAG ep effected me so deeply, I knew I had to write this story. I hope you like the result. Thanks to cdavis and Xanthe for their lovely beta comments. Any remaining errors and shortcomings are all mine. :--)
This is a story in the JAG universe. For those not familiar with the show--now renewed for its 6th year!-- here is a great resource site to familiarize yourself with the characters and the shows:
The JAGsite Head to the character bios page for detailed information on Mac and AJ, then use the Links pages to find other sites with show synopses.
Meanwhile, here's a snippet from Mac's bio so you might better understand the reason she is facing Admiral Chegwidden's wrath in an Admiral's Mast:
"In season four, Mac's personal life takes a turn for the worse. We find out that she was married when her husband, Chris Ragle (guest star Joe Lando) shows up. (Mr. Rabb Goes to Washington). Seems that Chris owes money to the mob, and he tries to get it out of her by threatening to reveal the fact that she lied about being married. Mac finds out that he has been following her for years and knows about an affair that she had with a superior officer, Commander Farrow, while technically still under his command (and married!). Chris was killed, and Mac was accused of lying on the stand at her trial (which took place in The People vs Mac). She was acquitted of any wrongdoing in the murder, but had to face an Article 32 hearing for lying under oath (Dungaree Justice), adultery and fraternization. The adultery and fraternization were dismissed due to statute of limitations involved, but she had to face Admiral's Mast for the perjury charge. Chegwidden took back his recommendation for accelerated promotion that he had filed for her."
2015 ZULU
OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL OF THE NAVY
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
Admiral A.J. Chegwidden couldn't remember when he'd been angrier or more disappointed. After two years of communicating his trust and respect to Major Mackenzie, after everything they'd been through, her actions felt like a knife in his gut.
"Admiral-" Major Sarah Mackenzie began.
AJ threw her a look; that's all it took. She read it correctly, read everything that was roiling around inside of him, and saw the flaring look of warning in his eyes. Don't say anything, don't speak. There's nothing more to say. Don't make it worse.
The Major closed her mouth and seemed to stand a little straighter at attention, eyes snapped front and forward. AJ moved forward into her personal space, at her side where she couldn't see his expression.
He leaned in far enough for her to feel him looming, his breath stirring her hair as he vented.
"After everything, you didn't trust me. You didn't trust me enough to come to me and explain what had happened that night. Hell, you didn't trust me earlier to explain about the blackmail your...husband was pressuring you with!" He walked around to the Major's other side. "How do you think that makes me feel, Major? That one of my own people, one of my own JAGs, can't come to me with the truth? Everyone now knows how one of my own lied on the stand."
He watched the flutter of her throat as she swallowed and saw a faint pulse beating fast and furious above the edge of her uniform blouse. Good, let her be scared! The Court Martial remanded her to me for Admiral's Mast, so I'm all the punishment she's going to get for lying on the stand.
Abruptly, AJ stepped back and walked a few paces away toward his desk and wheeled around. "Did you know I'd already written up your next OER with highest marks? I'd recommended you for accelerated promotion to Lt. Colonel." He stopped and eyed Mac. "And now this."
"I don't deserve it, sir," Mac's voice rang out, harsh and intent. "You should burn the recommendation. It would be more fitting now for the Admiral to recommend me losing a stripe. Demotion. I've let everyone down, sir. My behavior has been a detriment to the Corps and to JAG and you, and there's no way it can be corrected now or made up. My circumstances should reflect that."
"Don't think it didn't occur to me, Major, believe me," AJ glowered at her for a moment, then sighed and paced away from her. "However..." The Admiral sat down on the edge of his desk, watching her with narrowed eyes. "You're one of the best and brightest I've seen, Major. This is a turning point in your life, in your career. There's enough dirt on your service record now to make an impact for years to come, hell, for your entire career. There's only one thing that can save it now."
Mac swallowed noticeably, and AJ saw her hands clench and unclench from nerves she couldn't hide. He let the silence stretch on and on, waiting. Finally Mac broke, her nerves stretched more tightly than the silence.
"What, sir? What could possibly save the mess I've made of things? I-I deserve whatever I get, but..." It wasn't hard to hear in her voice the confusion of guilt, anger and hope all vying for supremacy.
AJ walked over and stood right in the Major's face. "Me, Major. I'm the only thing that can save you now."
Mac broke strict attention briefly, her surprised eyes focusing on the Admiral's. "Sir?" Her voice was less forceful, her confusion evident.
"I can make you or break you at this point, Major. It's all up to me." The Admiral let his edged words echo in the room, spin round and round until they settled to a tense stop. The Major didn't move, didn't even breathe.
"I should let you sink or swim on your own, Major. However..." he sighed, standing up again and walking back to Mackenzie's left flank, "I find I can't do that. I feel a strong responsibility to help you, Major."
Mac's throat bobbed as she swallowed convulsively. "Sir-"
"I'm not finished, Major," the Admiral barked at her. "I don't remember granting you permission to speak." He watched Mackenzie snap even tighter into attention, tension screaming through her stance.
Taking a deep breath, the Admiral paced a few steps across the room in front of Mac. "My trust in you has been shaken badly because of your own inability to trust in me. I need to know without a doubt that you do trust me, Major, and I want to trust in you completely once more. I want to give you the chance to pay for your crime, Major, to right all the wrongs that sit between us like impenetrable walls. How do you feel about that, Major?"
Mac didn't hesitate. "Sir, I want that more than anything. I-I violated the level of trust you had given to me, and, sir-out of everything, I regret that loss the most." Mac struggled to keep her voice free of the husky emotions that threatened to swamp her.
The Admiral took a step forward, getting right into Mac's line of sight. His voice was low and subdued as said, "I regret that loss heavily, too, Major." The Admiral crossed his arms over his chest, frowning, his tone business-like again. "Which is why I'm willing to do this, Major. But I need to know one thing. Think carefully, Major Mackenzie. Think very, very carefully before you answer this question." The Admiral caught her eye again. "Do you trust me? Implicitly?"
Mac answered without hesitation. "Yes, sir."
"Without limits, Major?"
"Yessir. I-yes, sir. You have my complete trust, despite my past actions."
"Well, then, Major...are you willing to do whatever I ask of you to make up this transgression?" The Admiral's voice lowered to a speculative pitch.
"Yes, sir. Anything, sir. I trust your judgement."
The Admiral looked at her strangely. "Very well, Major, you'll need that trust." He stared at her a moment longer, then seemed to come to a decision, turning suddenly back toward his desk. "Major, you will appear at my house tomorrow evening at eight o'clock, in uniform, ready to submit to whatever punishment I deem fitting. Is that understood?"
Mac was surprised about his order, but rushed to agree. "Yes, sir, understood."
"Then you are dismissed for now. Return to your work today for the rest of a normal workday, Major."
"Yes, sir." Mac snapped off a sharp salute and pivoted around toward the door.
"Oh, and Major..." The Admiral looked up from the paperwork he had already begun reviewing, "don't discuss our decision with anyone. Is that understood? No one."
A faint frown flickered across Mac's face, but she readily agreed. "Yes, sir, no one."
The Admiral nodded, eyeing her. "That's all."
Once again, Mac turned toward the door. Only this time, as she pulled the fancy oak door closed behind her, she wondered just what the Admiral had in mind.
0159 ZULU
HOME OF ADMIRAL A.J. CHEGWIDDEN
MACLEAN, VIRGINIA
"At ease, Major. Enter."
Major Mackenzie walked through the door the Admiral held open for her, tugging at her tunic. She was a little surprised to see Chegwidden decked out in his uniform-his service dress whites, too, not just his trops. The formal uniform, coupled with his military demeanor, had a frown forming on Mac's face as the tension in her belly notched up a bit higher. Uncertain, she held her cover under her arm and stood formally.
Her uncertainty grew when the Admiral didn't offer her a seat. Instead, he paced over and stood tall directly in front of her.
"Major Mackenzie, you have come here tonight of your own volition, is that correct?" The Admiral asked crisply.
"Yes, sir."
"And Major Mackenzie, you have agreed to extend an unlimited level of trust to me concerning your disciplinary action, is that true?"
Mac swallowed, wetting a suddenly dry mouth. "Yes, sir, that's correct. I willingly place myself in your hands, Admiral, for whatever punishment you see fit."
Mac was surprised to see a small smile lift the corners of the Admiral's mouth. "An apt statement, Major, more apt than you realize." The smile lingered, then disappeared abruptly. "Come this way."
Mac followed the Admiral's long stride through his house. She'd been here before a few times and was familiar with the layout of the place; she knew they were headed for his study, a home office outfitted with bookshelves and a huge desk not unlike his office at work. Maybe he was going to have her work after hours on things here-? Still, why the formal uniforms?
In the study, the drapes were drawn against the encroaching nighttime, and lamps lit the room with a golden glow. Once again, the Admiral did not indicate she should sit, so Mac stood formally at attention in the middle of the room.
"I've been in the Navy a long time, Major." Chegwidden moved to his desk and stood looking down at it. "I've had a lot of commands, had a lot of men under my authority." He looked up, his gaze penetrating and serious. "You're among the best of those men, Major. I've only gone this route with the best men. Remember that."
He picked something up from the desk, a longish, flat piece of polished wood with a hand grip at one end. With an odd reverence, he ran his hand up and over the smooth surface. "I've had this for nearly forty years, Major. Ever since the day my father had me make it out in his workshop. The longest day of my life, I think-working on this and the whole time knowing exactly what it was for."
Mac's stomach began clenching so hard, she worried it would make inappropriate noises from all the activity. Even as her body recognized what the piece of wood was, her mind rejected it. Surely it wasn't-he couldn't mean to-
The Admiral turned a narrowed gaze toward her. "Do you know what this is for, Major?"
Dear God, he did mean it. A sudden, almost blinding wave of fear and helplessness rolled over Mac. It took a few tries before any sound emerged from her mouth. "I-I believe so, Admiral."
"Are you still willing to extend that trust to me, Major, or are you going to call this proceeding to a halt immediately with a red light?" he asked bluntly.
Mac's head whirled. The Admiral wanted to administer corporal punishment! And was asking her if they were going to proceed or back out. Memories from her childhood that she'd long thought she'd come to terms with rose up out of the mire of her unconscious like monsters from a bog. "I..." Oh, God, no, she couldn't go through with this. She couldn't. For a split second, the Admiral's face was overlaid with an old image of her father. Through the haze of old fear surrounding her, she heard the Admiral's voice speaking.
"Either way, it's up to you, Major. But as we discussed this afternoon, if you want me to stick my neck out and save your a-career," his mouth quivered a bit at his near-gaff, "I need to have irrefutable proof that you are willing and capable of moving forward with as much trust in me as I had in you. And-I need to reestablish my own trust in you again, Major. We need to wipe the slate clean."
A numbness settled over Mac. How could she submit to allowing another man to raise his hand to her? After all that she'd been through, fighting to regain her self-dignity and self-respect after her drunken, abusive father had trampled on them for so long? But on the other hand-how could she lose Admiral Chegwidden's trust and respect? How could she be happy knowing she'd let him down to such an extent?
The Admiral stood quietly, watching Mac, waiting patiently for a man well known to have little of that commodity. Maybe he sensed her horrific fear, the monumental battle waging war inside of her. She looked at him standing there, tall and large compared to her smaller body. She remembered how large and strong her father had been, how full of rage he'd been in his drunken moments, enraged and full of anger and hate. Mac's face paled, remembering it all, seeing it again. An angry, hateful man, a sorry excuse for a human being, who'd taken it out on the helpless daughter who'd been left behind when her mother had ditched ship. She felt her head shaking side to side automatically in response.
There was a sigh, then, "Very well, Major. If it's all right with you, we'll just continue as if this never occurred-"
"Wait! Wait, please, Admiral. Please, wait. I, I-" Looking at the clear, open features of the man in front of her, Mac suddenly realized something. *This* man wasn't at all like the sad and unfit one who had caused her and her mother so much misery. *This* man was a man of honor, a man of integrity. A man she could trust-yes, trust. Completely. God, she needed to trust someone, sometime, or the anger that had filled her childhood would win, burying her forever in the darkness of distrust and loneliness. Even though her gut was full of fear, her mind and heart rebelled at her own prediction of her future. No! No. Trust, time to trust. To...move past the hurdle of her past.
Mac took a deep breath, using all her will to push back the darkness swirling around her, trying its best to pull her under. "Sir, a clean slate, sir. That's what I want, too, sir. I-I need it. I...I trust you. Completely, Admiral. I'm in your hands," she added deliberately, unaware of how much of her fears her wide eyes gave away.
Chegwidden saw it, though, and proceeded with as much calm authority as he could muster. "Then Major, let's get on with it. You will walk up to my desk and face it."
Mac did so, hardly able to see straight from nerves. It was ridiculous! She'd faced down men with guns, been in all sorts of dangerous situations, yet here, with her boss, she was suffering from the worst case of nerves she'd had since Paris Island. No, she realized, since she'd been a little girl and living with that drunken bastard of a father.
"I insist that all my men," the Admiral emphasized 'men', "remove their trousers, Major, to make the punishment more effective-"
Mac nearly panicked right there, jumping away and changing her mind, but the Admiral continued on in a level tone, and Mac grabbed a rigid hold on herself, determined not to lose it again.
"-and so you will please adhere to that order, Major, by removing your uniform items down to your ankles. You may leave your underpants in place."
Why, oh why hadn't she worn her pants this evening? she cried in her mind. Mac knew the actual punishment itself couldn't be any worse than the fear and humiliation of standing here under his regard and having to unbuckle her belt, unzip and pull down her skirt and slip, and even more humiliating, skim down her nylons. She'd undergone humiliating ceremonies before-any officer in the military had-but this was personal, and much, much worse. Her face burned red already from embarrassment, and her fear made it impossible for her to raise her head to look in the Admiral's direction as she stood up straight, facing the desk, her skirt and things bunched around her ankles.
"Lean forward, Major, and brace yourself on the edge of my desk. You'll need to present a handy target for the paddle to connect with. I should think thirty-two an appropriate amount, Major, since it was an Article 32 hearing that remanded you to me for Mast."
Oh, God-she was wrong, it could get worse. Eyes closed, Mac leaned forward and tried valiantly to not think about what she looked like with her ass stuck out in her plain Marine-issue white cotton underwear. She conjured up every bit of rigid willpower she had, creating a very real and tangible 'stiff upper lip' demeanor. She'd gotten through everything else in her life; she'd get through this without making a fool of herself if it killed her! Just as long as he kept talking to her. The sudden, brief silence felt threatening; she couldn't see his calm face. "Sir," Mac began, working to keep her voice calm, "sir, please keep talking to me. I need to hear your voice, sir. I, I need to know it's you. I need to know it's you I'm trusting, sir."
A hand settled with a warm weight in the middle of her back. "Understood, Major," Chegwidden replied lightly. "We'll get through this together, Major."
Mac conjured up a remnant of humor in defiance of the darkness. "Somehow, Admiral, I think I'm going to be doing most of the "getting" in this event." Her voice echoed hollowly against the desk where her face hovered.
Chegwidden chuckled shortly. "You're right about that, Major! Now, answer me this. Have you ever had formal corporal discipline applied before?"
Mac thought of the backhands and the other blows aimed her way, some connecting, some not over the years of her childhood and bit back a bitter laugh. The question and memory highlighted the light-years of difference between her memories and what she was experiencing now. "No, sir."
"Then in light of your inexperience and our situation, I'll forego your keeping count of the paddling by numbering each paddling, Major. I'll keep track of the amount." The hand settled on her back lifted, and he rucked up her tunic, exposing her butt completely. "But I do want you to recite for me, Major, just why we're going through this course of discipline and punishment. Start with why you were remanded to me for Admiral's Mast."
Before she could open her mouth, the paddle descended with a whoosh of air and a loud, stinging smack against her left butt, and Mac nearly jumped a foot into the air. "Ahhhh!"
"Talk to me, Major!" the Admiral barked. "And don't move!"
The paddle descended again, and Mac swore he swung harder. "Ahh! I omitted facts on the stand during my Court Martial, sir! Oh! I lied about Commander Farrow's presence in the room at the time of the shooting." After only three smacks, Mac's butt burned. She'd thought the humiliation would be the most painful thing, but rapidly, Mac realized her miscalculation.
"Yes you did, Major." The paddle came down a few more times, and Mac gasped out loud with each connection. The pain radiated out in hotter and deeper waves with each smack. "And tell me what the proper actions should have been in that case and why."
"I should have given the court all the complete facts-uhh!-and trusted in the officers-ahhh!-to weigh the facts and see the truth." Already, Mac could feel her gluts quivering as they tightened and clenched, trying in vain to lessen the effects of each impact of the paddle. It literally exploded in her butt with each connection, an explosion of hot, stinging pain that was rapidly spreading across her entire backside like a thousand angry bee stings.
"Yes, you should have." The Admiral punctuated his agreement with a few more painful whacks to her butt, and the spreading heat moved down to the tops of Mac's thighs and the far sides of each cheek.
Mac found herself flexing up onto her toes, fighting the urge to remove her butt from further pain. She'd had injuries, suffered pains while practicing hand to hand combat, but this-! She bit back part of a moan, burying her face against her arms on the desk's edge. She had to clamp down more tightly against the emotional storm that threatened because of her sense of vulnerability.
"Now tell me how you've let me down personally." With that, the Admiral let loose a series of good swats, connecting from her thighs up. The tender spot under the edge of her butt cheeks hurt like hell as the paddle hit.
"Ahhhnnn!...I didn't trust in you enough to confide about my husband...oohh...I made you and the whole JAG unit look bad by lying on the stand....ooww...and I let you down because you trusted me explicitly and I didn't return your trust. Ooohh!"
"Damn straight, Major! But we're correcting that here and now, aren't we?"
"Ahhh!!!-yes, yes, I trust you, sir, completely. Always. Unhhh! And I-I need you to trust in me again. " As she admitted that, Mac felt her rigid hold on herself break loose and a torrent of dammed-up tears burst free on a sob she couldn't hold back. Mortified and hurting, she spoke through her sobs. "S-sir, I'm so sorry, I'm s-such a wimp-"
"Don't hold those tears back, Major, or I'll be very angry! And don't apologize for them!" He gave her another three swats with the paddle to emphasize his words. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir! Uhh! No, sir, not really," Mac cried through her tears. She heard the sound of the wooden paddle being laid down on the desk and let out a huge gust of air she hadn't been aware of holding in.
"I think that's enough, Major. I think we've accomplished here what I was aiming for. Stand up."
Mac heard his order, but she was too upset and embarrassed by her loss of control to move.
"Major, stand up. Fix your uniform. I'll be right back."
Thankfully, the Admiral left her alone to pull up her nylons over her now aching, tender and hot skin. She was grateful that they weren't too tight; tight, itchy nylon hose scratching against her exposed thighs and butt would have been torturous. With shaky hands, she lifted her slip and skirt into place, fumbling with her belt and feeling like a fool as the tears kept falling.
The Admiral returned with a glass of water. "Drink this." She did without question, and automatically handed back the empty glass when he reached for it. "Now, come here." He lead her over to the large, brown leather couch against the wall, and she stood looking at the seat, unable to sit down.
"Here," Chegwidden pulled her gently to one side, indicating she should kneel. Gratefully, Mac did, enjoying much more than normally the feeling of the soft nap of the carpet against her knees and legs, in such high contrast with the scratchiness of her clothing against her aching, burning backside.
"Look at me, Major Mackenzie." A long-fingered hand turned her face up to his. "It's over, Major. The slate is wiped clean. It's all behind us now."
His easy words sparked a fresh spate of tears, and Mac tried to cover her face with her hands.
"Come here, Major." Before she realized it, the Admiral had pulled her toward him, pushing her head down to rest against his long legs. When she struggled, he muttered an order to "cease that this instant, Major," and held her down with a soothing hand on her shoulder and one rubbing in her disheveled, brunette hair.
"My behavior is unbecoming and inappropriate for an officer, Admiral," Mac protested.
"You let me determine what is or isn't inappropriate, Major. Right now, I say your behavior is very appropriate. Bigger and stronger men than you, Major, have balled their eyes out after I've acquainted them with the business end of the 'board of education'. Remember that."
"But sir, Marines don't-"
"Major, shut up." He tightened his hold on her, and no matter what the Marine in her said, she found herself settling against him more easily. "Listen to me. This isn't about grinning and bearing it. God knows, I know you can do that. You're one of the most determined, intelligent young officers I know. This is about surrender and letting go-something much harder for you to do, and one of your biggest weaknesses."
Mac made a sound of weak protest.
"Yes, it is. You've worked so hard to overcome your past trials, Major, but until you come to terms with their very real presence in your life, they're a major weakness. They've made you not trust: in me, in your fellow officers, and they had you lying on the stand." He shook her a bit. "You need to come to some kind of understanding with your own past, or you'll never be able to face the world with the calm you strive for. Understand me?"
He moved his hand to her chin and turned her face up. "I have every confidence in you, Major. You're the one who lacked confidence in herself-and therefore, couldn't trust in others."
Mac looked up at the Admiral. His had been the face of authority in her life for a few years now, a face she suddenly realized she trusted and respected more than anyone else she knew. After all the things she'd been through, all the horror, all the bad choices, *this* man represented everything she had worked hard to attain. And he had stood by her, been willing to go beyond his duty-been willing to risk his career-to try and help her. The realization swept over her, humbling and awing her.
"Admiral-" her throat choked up with the fullness of her feelings. "I-" How could she describe how she felt right now? How not only the weight of her perfidy, but the weight of her perpetual inability to trust in men had been lifted? He'd said she was special, and proved it to her by going out of the way to help her, even risking his career to do so.
How could she repay that gesture? How could she thank that person?
Mac sighed, her eyes closed as she unconsciously tightened her hold on the Admiral's legs, leaning into the comfort he represented. Start at the beginning, Mackenzie, she lectured herself. One step at a time, one day at a time. You know the steps by heart.
Awkwardly, she pushed away and stood up, straightening her uniform and coming to attention with a stiff salute. "Sir, I will never again make the mistakes I made this past week. You've shown me the truth of my actions. I will do everything in my power to live up to the trust and respect you've shown me."
Slowly, the Admiral stood up and returned her salute. "As you were, Major."
Mac eased from attention, but sought out the Admiral's eyes again. "Really, sir. I understand. I understand the trust you showed in me tonight. I'll never betray that trust again, sir."
Chegwidden smiled a faint smile. "Good, Major. I'll hold you to that promise." Mackenzie's eyes widened as she realized what he meant, and the Admiral laughed. "I keep track of all of the 'special' officers under my command. Been doing it for years."
Mac blinked. "That's...good to know, sir."
"Uh-huh, I'm sure you think so. Now, Major," the Admiral turned and lead the way out of the study, "why don't you go home and rest? Take it easy tomorrow, it's a Sunday. Monday I'll expect you in the office and ready for a new week. There's a case backlog since you've been out of the duty roster, and I plan on working your butt off."
Mac winced at that analogy, reminded of the deep-seated burning under her skirt. She wasn't at all sure her butt would be up to any rigorous routine by Monday, but she turned and flashed off a sharp salute at the front door. "Aye, sir. See you on Monday morning."
"Good night, Major."
AJ stood at the door and watched until Mac had slowly gotten into her car and begun backing out of the driveway. As soon as he shut the door, he began unbuttoning and pulling off his uniform. It would have to go to the cleaners-it was drenched in sweat. Mac hadn't been the only one nervous. He had been, also. Had been since last evening, when he'd made the decision to go this route as they'd stood in his office.
A woman, a subordinate female. And corporal discipline. He'd never had to resort to this before with any of the other females in his commands. But then again, he'd never had an officer quite like Sarah Mackenzie before. Bright as the summer sun and sharp as a tack, talented and self-confident. And beautiful. And headstrong.
Sometimes life sucked. He'd much rather her look at him as a man, rather than as an authority figure. But that's the role life and the Navy had handed him, and by God, he'd fulfill that role if it killed him. Which it nearly had tonight.
And there was nothing he could do about it. If he transferred her out of JAG, it would reflect badly on Mac's career, the very last thing he wanted for her. And as long as she was under his command, he was her superior officer; there could be nothing between them of *that* nature.
At least until he was promoted up and out of JAG, or he retired. And his transfer wasn't up for two more years. Of course, he had well over twenty-he could retire tomorrow if he chose.
Like he said, sometimes life, and the choices it offered, sucked.
Taking the uniform and folding it into a pile, AJ stepped into the shower, throwing the dial on a cool, nearly cold, temperature. He refused to let his libido rule him tonight-or for the next two years. He wasn't known for his stubborn determination without good reason.
But still.... He sighed. And wondered if they gave out Purple Hearts to those who sacrificed their own for the sake of the Navy.
=the end=
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