This is the way I heard it.

The transmission came over the shortwave radio at exactly 2100 hours.

It was a simple request buried in a sea of static delivered by a man accustomed to giving orders.

We've lost contact with McSorley, the voice said, can you get back out there?

Bernie Cooper looked at his radio and cocked his head.

Maybe he had misheard.

Maybe the captain was just indulging in a bit of gallows humor, as military men sometimes do,

when the danger is so clear and so present there's nothing to do but joke.

Bernie turned up the volume and asked the captain to repeat his request.

The captain did, and this time there was no mistaking the gravity of the situation.

McSorley and his men had gone dark.

They were surrounded by a merciless enemy who would take no prisoners, and Bernie,

was being asked to charge back into the fray to rescue 29 men who were probably already dead.

Bernie's initial reaction was not exactly enthusiastic.

Have you seen the conditions out there? He said, if you really want me to, I'll try,

but the situation is untenable. Do you understand that?

If you Google the actual conversation, you'll hear the dread in Bernie Cooper's voice.

Even through the static, you can hear a man hoping to be ordered to stand down.

But the voice in the static only set the hook deeper.

Your right, said the captain, I can't order you to risk the lives of your crew.

I can only tell you that 29 men are in grave danger and you are their only hope.

Bernie Cooper closed his eyes and considered the facts.

...