Post Twelve - Aggieland

General Schroeder recognized Mace's voice on the phone immediately. His deep southern baritone bark was not a sound you soon forgot. Like old friends catching up, they shared a laugh about their last weeks in Vietnam. Herman had taken Mace, an enlisted man, with him to the officer's club at the base in DaNang on several occasions. The bourbon wasn't that good, but they enjoyed their conversations about returning to their life stateside. Mace recalled how he appreciated the privilege of being among the officers he aspired to be someday. Those lasting experiences in 'Nam gave him a glimpse into his future as a Naval Officer.

On the phone they talked briefly about their wives and kids. Herman had two daughters. Mace had Tucker, Kate and Samantha. Their families got together one time at Disneyland a few years after they returned from the war. Herman remembered the athletic Tucker very well-  his youngest daughter Melinda was giddy around the hunk of a boy. Lola Marie, his other daughter, could care less.

Not knowing exactly what it took to get into college, Mace shared Tucker's dilemma about the draft and ignoring the scholarship offers. He figured the Commandant of Aggieland had to carry some weight on a campus full of corp cadets.

In an era before higher education went all politically correct, Herman, did in fact have some power to make things happen; academically. He had little sway over any of the coaches, but was on the Athletic Oversight Council and enjoyed his special seating at Kyle Field and Olsen Field during the football and baseball games. He, like  most other Texans at the time, didn't go to basketball games; much less an Aggie basketball game. They were awful. 

He knew the coaches and promised Mace he would talk to the baseball staff. He made no promises about Tucker's chances, but felt confident he could get him into school over in the agriculture college.  Mace didn't expect any more than that and was grateful to Herman for putting in a good word. The bonds of war ran deep between the two men.