The Cole Williams Story

Chapter 1 – Delaney-4

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Cole made his way down a passageway and into his stateroom. Wheeler would take his time on the bridge ensuring that every last detail was accounted for before coming down to their stateroom, so Cole was left alone with his thoughts. He took off his boots, blue pants and shirt, and gave himself a fresh coating of deodorant. After changing into his flip flops, faded cotton shorts, and a wrinkled button-down linen shirt, Cole felt much better than he had all morning. He went over to the sink and washed his hands under the cold water, rubbing them both over his face and through his disheveled hair. Taking his washcloth and soaking it as well, he wiped his face and scrubbed hard, as if to wash away the past few months.

He had not forgotten Potts’ order to see him before he headed out for liberty, so Cole walked back down the passageway again to Potts’ stateroom, where he was already back at his desk, firing off emails. Cole knocked and Potts called him in. Cole took a seat by the door and waited. Potts ignored him for a minute as he proofed the email, hit send, then spun around in his chair and stared at Cole.

“Cole, I told you that your little stunt off Colombia was going to cost you.”

Cole nodded and felt the butterflies forming in his stomach. Perhaps this time he’d be restricted to the ship. With Key West’s bars only a few hundred yards away, Cole dreaded the thought of being stuck on Delaney for the next few days.

“Headquarters, on my request and recommendation, has decided to separate you from the service.”

“Do what?” Cole said.

“You’re done Cole. I’ve frankly had enough of your s**t and now you’ve managed to piss of Colombia and the rest of the Coast Guard as well. So go pack your things. It’s time for you to move on.”

“That’s it? Just like that, you’re kicking me out?” Cole was floored.

“Cole, you got some real issues you need to work out. I really do hope you sort this s**t out and get your act together, but you are not a good officer and I can’t have someone like you in my Coast Guard.”

Cole thought for a moment and replied forcefully, “I think that sailor down below might say different about me.”

Potts just shook his head and ignored Cole as he dug through a stack of papers on his cluttered desk and pulled out a single sheet. He looked down at it and said, “The results of your suitability board came in a few days ago, but I didn’t want to drop this on you while we were at sea. Who knows what you might have done.”

Potts read from the letter, “Lieutenant Junior Grade Cole Williams, due to sustained poor performance, you are officially separated from active service on this date. Your severance pay amounts to six months basic pay and you hereby forfeit all rights and privileges of active duty service.” Potts paused for a second, handed the sheet to Cole, and put his hand out.

Cole thought for a moment that he wanted to shake hands, but that wasn’t the case.

“I need your identification card, Cole.”

Cole dug into his wallet and gave his ID card over to Potts.

“Good luck Cole. Now get off my boat.”

Cole said nothing.

Astonished that it was all over in a matter of seconds, Cole walked back to his stateroom. In his shorts, shirt, and flip flops, the air conditioned passageway was cold and Cole felt the shock overcome his body. Frustrated and angry, he grabbed his sea bag and stuffed a few random bits of clothing into it along with some personal effects, took one last look around his stateroom just to make sure he hadn’t left anything he needed, and noticed his piled-up uniform still on his rack. He paused for a second, then left it there and slammed the door. Down the passageway again, Cole made his way through two watertight doors, into the hangar, and finally out onto the flight deck. His feet felt numb from the air conditioning inside and the sun immediately went to work warming his core. Many of the crew were still tying up loose ends, but the brow was already over. Cole made his way over to the side with his sea bag slung over one shoulder. He could feel a single bead of sweat making its way down his chest.

Allison stopped him. Another classmate from the academy, she’d been on the ship for two years with Cole, but had worked for the engineering officer. Her choice in jobs was a calculated decision on her part to avoid Walters and she was smart for doing so. Allison was always nice to Cole and watched with compassion as Cole was repeatedly raked over the coals by the command. Most of the junior officers avoided him, but Allison was always kind and could joke around with him after his beatings were through to raise his spirits.

She asked, “Cole, where are you going?”

Cole smiled and looked over his shoulder in the direction of Duval Street. “Potts just fired me. Apparently he had a suitability board behind my back and the Coast Guard opted to let me go. I figure I’ll find a hotel for a few nights then sort things out from there. I’ve got a few months’ pay from the severance, so I’m good for a while.”

Allison gave a slight nod as she pieced together that Cole had just been kicked to the curb.

“Cole, I’m so sorry. Can I do anything?” She asked with a friendly voice and her tone asked much more than a simple question. Cole realized he would miss their friendship and in his last few minutes aboard the cutter, Allison was saying just as much.

“Nah, I think I’m better by myself.”

Allison hugged him and held both his shoulders with her hands, saying, “Come out tonight. You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t.”

Cole knew she was worried about him and agreed to meet later that night. Cole didn’t show it, but he was worried about himself as well. With that, he took one last look at Delaney and turned for the pier.