"Rickenbacker's Secret"

On a thread re. EVR on 11-30-99 Barrett commented concerning Eddie: "He went to some length to state that he was on a secret mission for Hap Arnold on that trip, the purpose of which he would take to the grave, which he apparently did."

As I said in an earlier thread: I have quite possibly, I believe, discovered the nature of the "secret" and rather than individually answer each of the e-mail queries I've received I thought I'd put it on line here: I'm quoting from "Rickenbacker", EVR's autobiography: "I spent the morning working with Secretary Stimson (Barrett said the message originated with "Hap Arnold": I think it was a completely understandable and most minor error on BT's part, unless there were two messages- and I see nothing in EVR's bio. indicating there were}...At the meeting I was entrusted with another message of such sensitivity that it could not be written down. It was for the ears of General Joseph W. "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell commanding the (CIB) theater."

EVR writing a bit later states: "Stillwell and I met for breakfast... I delivered my secret message."

At a point in time after this breakfast meeting between EVR and Stilwell, Gen. Frank Dorn (writing of his experiences as Stillwell's chief aide in "With Stillwell in Burma") recorded a dialogue between Stilwell and himself: Stillwell to Dorn: "Are you ready for a shocker?" "I think I can take it." I replied. "Whatever it is."

"Well here goes then. I have been directed to prepare a plan for the assassination of Chiang Kai-shek."

"Assassinate him?" I asked incredulously.
The order did not say to kill him," Stilwell stated flatly. "It said prepare a plan."

Who would be a better emissary than Eddie? As the toughest minded of all our heroes and a patriot of the highest order he would be a logical choice.

Well, there it is guys- for whatever it's worth!
I've used it as a sub-plot in my script treatment titled "Chennault". Over 30,000 scripts were registered with the Screen Writer's Guild last year alone so I'm not, in all reality, likely to have an opportunity to see the my historically based effort brought to the commercial screen especially when the vogue is to pander to the juvenile audience with another "coming of age" narrative. Always the exception though! I feel an audience such as the historically inclined "forum" troops here might appreciate the issues involved and so am accordingly taking a bit of of your time! Best wishes. Lee

[leo]

WOW! What a great story that would make. I hope you get a chance to film it. Madam Chaing has always interested mw. It was RUMORED during the war that she garnered her support for her husbands cause by sleeping wilth influential pols. Fit that in the story and you would have a winner for sure.

[Richard_Schrader]

I can only echo Leo. "WOW!"