Bjorn Hasseller, Editor-in-Chief: Eric Flint’s 1632 & Beyond magazine
Jose Clavell served in the US Army, was a nurse at Walter Reed, and served in the Puerto Rico Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. He passed away in March, 2023.
In the 1632 universe, Jose developed the USE Marine Corps and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. These are moving stories, and they’re influential on other authors.
We’d like to keep Jose in the series.
FROM: CPT. L. KLINGL, USEN
TO: CDRE E. CANTRELL, USEN
—MESSAGE BEGINS—
RE: RETURN VOYAGE
FOLLOWING OPERATION “ISLAND HOPPERS” AND HURRICANE, CAPTURED
PIRATE SHIPS LOW ON FRESH WATER. TWO VESSELS DIVERTED TO PUERTO RICO AND HOVE TO OFF LOCATION LABELED MAYAGUEZ ON UP-TIME MAP. REFILLED WATER. NO ENEMY CONTACT. STOP
COMMEND USEMC SGT. J. CLAVELL FOR INITIATIVE LOCATING FRESH WATER AND ESTABLISHING CACHES AND DEFENSIVE POSITIONS FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS. STOP
HOWEVER SGT. CLAVELL LEFT USE FLAG. CLAIMS WE OWN ISLAND. STOP
—MESSAGE ENDS—
“I dunno, Clavell.” Hans Ludolf squinted. His nose was scrunched up, and his lips pursed, all signs that the Marine was very skeptical about something. “I think the captain is pissed.”
“Hard to tell, from how he was trying not to laugh the whole time,” Clavell countered.
“What if the Spanish find that flag? They will search the area. They might find the caches and fighting positions.”
“Then they will think there are patrols on the island and waste a lot of time and many more resources than we left in the caches,” Clavell returned. “And if one of our ships passes between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola and needs food and water . . . It is what the up-timers call a win-win. And who knows? We could find ourselves back there someday.”
