Fallen Pride (Jesse McDermitt Series) by Wayne Stinnett

Corporal on duty my retired ID card . Deuce flashed his DHS ID and asked the young Marine if he had two visitors passes for Rusty and Williams. Once they showed their drivers licenses, the guard went into the building and came back out with their passes.
    We continued onto the base and I said to Deuce, “A little over three miles, bear left at a Y intersection. That’s Snead’s Ferry Road. From there, Courthouse Bay is about 15 miles.”
    “Fifteen miles?” Williams asked. “How big is this base?”
    “Altogether, it covers about 250 square miles,” Rusty said. “Some of the best fishing on the coast.”
    We got to the Coast Guard facility a little after 0800. The graduation ceremony was supposed to start at 0830. We found a place to park and within a few minutes Williams located his son. I asked a Coast Guardsman where the graduation was to take place and he pointed out the building. It appeared to be a small auditorium. There were only a handful of guests, as the class only had 20 people in it. Julie was one of only two women in the class.
    We found seats in the small section of bleachers set aside for guests and within minutes a Coast Guard Captain came to the podium and the ceremony began. After a few brief words, a Chief Petty Officer led a group of 14 people into the small auditorium. Julie was the only woman among them and she looked real sharp in her dress white uniform.
    The Captain described the training the 14 had undergone and praised them on their fortitude. At the end, he pointed out that one graduate stood out among the others and would receive the Honor Graduate recognition and be promoted, meritoriously.
    “ This Seaman,” the Captain said, “exemplifies the character traits and leadership qualities the Coast Guard is looking for in its non-commissioned officers. Not only did this Seaman qualify in the upper percentile of nearly all training assignments, but she was voted by her peers as an outstanding leader. Seaman Juliet Thurman, front and center!”
    Rusty couldn’t contain himself and let out a loud whoop. I turned to him and said, “Can you maintain?”
    Julie stood and marched smartly to the front of the podium and the Captain continued. “Seaman Thurman is the first female to graduate this school and has set an example for others to follow. Her knowledge of small craft and safe water practices has been exemplary, as was her performance on the shooting range.” Then he picked up a sheet of paper that I knew to be Julie’s promotion warrant, or whatever Coasties call it.
    He walked around the podium and stood in front of Julie and in a loud voice said the words that we who have served could recite without reading, “To all who shall see these presents, greetings. Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of this Seaman, I do hereby appoint Juliet Thurman a Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Coast Guard. To rank as such from this second day of June, 2006.” He continued, charging Julie to carry out the duties of her rank and charged others of lower rank to obey her orders. But, I didn’t hear all that. I was as proud of her, as I would be if she were my own daughter.
    The ceremony ended with the traditional tossing of head gear, then the graduates were dismissed. Julie came running toward us, as we stepped down off the bleachers. She went straight into Deuce’s arms and gave him a long kiss. Stepping back, she said, “I’ve missed you so much, Russell.” Julie wasn’t real big on calling him by his nickname.
    Then she gave Rusty a big hug and he was beaming as he said, “I’m so proud of you, baby.”
    The Captain walked up with one of Julie’s classmates, as we were congratulating her and said, “Petty Officer, all the others have received their orders already. I was told your orders were supposed to arrive by special courier today at graduation. But, they haven’t arrived yet. Is one of these gentlemen your