Washington, D.C.
3 September 1942
By direction of the President of the United States, Brigadier General Fleming W. Pickering, USMCR, Headquarters, USMC, will proceed by military and/or civilian rail, road, sea and air transportation (Priority AAAAA-1) to such points as he deems necessary in carrying out the missions assigned to him.
United States Armed Forces commands are directed to provide him with such support as he may request. General Pickering is to be considered the personal representative of The President.
General Pickering has unrestricted TOP SECRET security clearance. Any questions regarding his mission will be directed to the undersigned.
W.D. Leahy, Admiral, USN
Chief of Staff To The President
=SECRET=
When he saw that the Admiral had read the document, Major Edward F. Banning, USMC, said, "Sir, may I ask the Admiral to turn that over and read the other side?"
Admiral Wagam did so.
=SECRET=
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT
Washington, D.C. 24 September 1942
1st Endorsement
1. Major Edward F. Banning, USMC, is attached to the personal staff of Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, USMCR for the performance of such duties as may be assigned.
2. While engaged in carrying out any mission assigned, Major Banning will be accorded the same level of travel priorities, logistical support and access to classified materiel authorized for Brigadier General Pickering in the basic Presidential order.
3. Any questions regarding Major Banning's mission(s) will be referred to the undersigned.
W.D. Leahy, Admiral, USN
Chief of Staff To The President
Admiral Wagam looked at Major Banning.
"You are, I gather, Major Banning?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Well, I can only hope, Major, that whatever it is you have to do in Pearl Harbor is more valuable to the war effort than what Captain McNish would have contributed."
"I wouldn't have bumped the Captain, Admiral," Banning said, "if I didn't think it was."
The Admiral nodded, turned, and went back up the aisle to tell Mac that he was sorry, there was nothing he could do about it, he was going to have to go ashore in the whaleboat.
[SIX]
USN Photographic Facility Laboratory
Headquarters, CINCPAC
Pearl Harbor, T.H.
0735 Hours 15 October 1942
"Ah-ten-HUT!" a plump, balding chief photographer's mate called, and all but one man, a Marine major, popped to attention.
"As you were," Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, USMCR, said. As he spoke, he walked past one of the junior aides to CINCPAC. The aide's orders were to take very good care of General Pickering; that meant that at the moment he was holding the door open for him. "I'm looking for Major Banning," Pickering continued.
"Over here, Sir," Banning called.
Pickering was the last person in the world Banning expected to see here. But then, he thought, Pickering could almost be counted on to do the unexpected.
Pickering walked over to him, his hand extended.
"Good to see you, Ed. I heard an hour ago you were here. I had a hell of a time finding you. What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you, General," he said. He held up a roll of developed 35mm film. "Having a look at this. One of Jake Dillon's photographers shot it just before we left Guadalcanal."
Pickering took it from him and held it up to the light.
"What am I looking at?"
"That roll is what Henderson Field looked like just before we left," Banning said. "If it came out, I thought I'd try to figure some way to get it to you in Washington in time for your briefing."
Two men walked up: the chief photographer's mate, and an officer in whites wearing lieutenant commander's shoulder boards.
"Lieutenant Commander Bachman, Sir. Is there some way we may help the General, Sir?"
"Two ways, Commander," Pickering said. "I want two copies, eight-by-tens, of each frame of this, and any other film Major Banning has. And I would kill for a cup of coffee."
"Sir, the coffee's no problem. But I'm sure the General will understand we have priorities. It may be some time before we can-"
"This is your first priority, Commander," Pickering interrupted. "You can either take my word for that, or the Lieutenant here will call Admiral Nimitz for me."
"Sir," Admiral Nimitz's aide said, "my orders are that General Pickering is to have whatever CINCPAC can give him."
"You heard that, Chief," Commander Bachman said.
"Aye, aye, Sir."
"Sir," Banning said. "I've also got eight rolls of 16mm motion picture film. There was a problem getting that developed...."
"Is there still a problem with that, Commander?"
"No, Sir," Commander Bachman said.
"How about making a copy of it?"
"That's rather time consuming, Sir, but we can do it, Sir."
"Get it developed first," Pickering said, looking at his watch. "We'll see about the time."
"Where will the General be, Sir?"
"I need a secure place to talk to Major Banning. Have you got one here? Or I can go-"
"My office is secure, Sir."
"Good, then what we need is your office, and that coffee," Pickering said. He turned to Admiral Nimitz's aide. "Son, I know your orders, but I'm afraid you're going to have to let me out of your sight; Major Banning here is a stickler for security."
"Aye, aye, Sir," the aide said, smiling. Pickering had obviously heard Admiral Nimitz's order: "Don't let him out of your sight, Gerry. And be prepared to tell me who he talked to, and what was said."
A photographer's mate third class came in with a tray holding a stainless-steel pitcher of coffee, two china mugs, and a plate of doughnuts. He laid the tray on Major Bachman's desk and then left, closing a steel door after him.
"I never thought I'd have to say this to you, Ed," Pickering said with a smile, "but you need a shave, Major."