GI JOE Porn Story: The Return of Sgt Goodwin – Chapter 1

Summer 2004

Secret Training base

Woods of North Georgia

There is nothing quite like the sight of a summer sunrise in the wilderness. In his 46 years, Gunnery Sergeant Danny Goodwin, U-S Marine, GI Joe veteran had seen many all over the globe. He never grew tired of them. Goodwin made his way past the sign that erroneously proclaimed that the trail in the woods led to a shooting range. It didn’t of course. But it certainly would do well not to advise anyone that a GI Joe training base was located within the confines of such a tiny town. The real army base located only a few miles away was reason enough to explain the military presence to the locals.

Goodwin made his way to his office. He saluted the crew that had been guarding the base over night. There would be no training today, not for a few weeks until the next group of potential Joes showed up. While Goodwin certainly trusted the insight of General Clayton Abernathy, he still enjoyed meeting recruits himself. The class had been exceptionally brutal. Danny had to cut 10 of the 12 me n he had trained. It was hard to do. It always was, but in the end Goodwin was well aware that he was likely saving them from certain death. Only the best of the best would do for the missions that Joes went on.

Danny searched through the files on his desk, looking at possible recruits. Their ages, strengths, weaknesses and experience. It was a way to kill time, as he was awaiting a visitor. Danny looked over the file of a young marine, remembering the devastated look in the young man’s face as he informed him that he would not make the GI Joe team. Danny had remembered being a 21 year old marine himself back in 1979, feeling he could do anything. There was nothing Danny could do. The young Marine simply wasn’t fast enough. He had shown great reluctance to live off the land the way a Joe would have to. Danny understood. Eating wild game and disgusting plants was not for everyone. Danny himself had been grateful that very few times in the field had he ever found himself without rations.

The sentry stood in the doorway of Danny’s cabin, informing him of what he already knew. Corporal Rick Monday had arrived. Danny indicated that he was ready for him. The corporal was impeccably dressed in his army greens. Monday strolled through the door, not his first time in Danny’s office. He remembered it well. The medals, Goodwin’s purple hearts, his prisoner of war medals. Not once, but twice Cobra had taken him prisoner. Monday stared at the Congressional medal of honor. The photos of Danny with Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton. Pictures of Lonzo “Stalker” Wilkinson and a photo of Danny with a man in a strange black mask. Pictures of Danny’s family. His wife Beth and his kids. His daughter Rhiannon, his son Clayton. In spite of the fear Monday had for Goodwin, his respect and admiration was absolute.

“Sir, Corporal Monday, reporting.”

“Yes, Corporal”, Danny answered in his gravelly voice. He smiled at the young corporal standing in front of him.

“Rick, I have to say, this is highly unusual for a recruit that has been cut to want another chance at making the team.”

“Sir-I realize it is unusual but I believe there are special circumstances that would make me an excellent candidate for the team.”

“Speak Corporal, I’m listening.”

“Well, Sergeant Goodwin, I have been working out, I have been training on my own since I left active duty. I have survived two weeks in the woods on my own, living off the land with no annuities other than what I could find. I have been practicing for airborne assault by jumping out of planes at a private sky diving school. I have been firing my weapon all the time at a target range. As I told you earlier Sir, I downgraded myself to a reservist so that I would have the time to improve and polish my skills. I know I can be a tremendous asset to the team.”

Goodwin smiled and nodded his head. He rose.

Rick, I have seen enough in my life and career to realize that sometimes things dont work the first time you try them. In this business however, it has been my experience that often, the first time is your last time. I have had to inform families that their sons werent coming home. I have had to command firing squads at military funerals. I have seen more heartache than a urinal at a stadium has seen the male organ during the course of a season. Sometimes, you just have it or you dont. I admire your spirit son, but you understand my concern.

Sir I-

Monday cleared his throat. He heart was racing. What was he doing here anyway?

Sir, I am well aware of the risk of being in the military. I accept it. When those planes hit the towers I knew my destiny. I will not have something like that happen to my country without me doing everything in my power to fight back. This is not about me making the team to have a title by name. It is not about me at all. It is what is best for my country, and that is having someone like me on the team, that would never quit. I know the risks, sir. I accept the risk. I would rather die trying than knowing I wasnt where my heart wanted to be.

Goodwin nodded his head.

Alright, Rick. Here is the deal. You will be here in two weeks. You will start over again. It will be as if I never knew you. Do not tell anyone you were here before. We will see how much youve improved.

Monday beamed as he saluted Gunny Goodwin.
Thank you Sir!

Danny nodded.
Dismissed.

Monday turned as he left.
Sir, do many of those who come back a second time make the team?

Danny laughed loudly and harshly.
No Rick. To tell you the truth, you are the first to even ask!

4 Weeks Later

Atlanta International Airport

Atlanta,GA

9 am

Goodwin strolled onto the commercial airplane that would fly him to his hometown of Detroit. As he passed through the terminal and onto the plane he became aware of the stares of both the public and the flight attendants that had gathered around the hanger. Danny Goodwin, in his Marine Corps uniform, complete with Medals, was a site to behold. Even the most ardent civilian, could see that between the medals and the scars that adorned his face over his left eye and the right side of his neck, the old soldier had obviously seen his share of action in defense of his country. After a respectful nod from a young army private that was seated in the front of the plane, Danny took his seat. As the plane taxied on the run way, Danny noticed a young couple, apparently newly married, seated to his right. The young woman bore a striking resemblance to Sylvia, whom he had not thought of in the past couple of years. The past was gone, the future is not here and all there is, is the present, Danny had tried to teach himself. Most of the time it worked, but not today. Danny tried not to think of Sylvias warm smile or sparking blue eyes, her youthful glow or her compassion for others that Danny always loved about her. As was usually the case on long flights, sleep came fast once the plane became airborne. Like he had many times before, Danny would visit the past as he slept.

Bethesda Naval Hospital-July 1982

Danny lay in his hospital bed, unresponsive, but not unaware. The intravenous painkillers had started to do their job, not a minute too soon for the battered young G.I Joe. He tried to open his eyes as he heard the voices of his commanding officers, but found that he did not have the strength to do so. He had hoped that part of the nightmare that had been his second Cobra Captivity was simply imagined, but the conversation that Duke and Hawk had quickly doused that possibility. Danny heard Duke fill in the G.I Joe commander on the tragic details surrounding the young Marine in the hospital bed.

Yes,sir, thats right. We dont know how they knew about Sylvia let alone how they captured her, but evidently Zartan killed her right in front of Danny.

My God Duke! Are we sure?

Im afraid so, sir. Her body was found on the beach. There is no head, so well have to rely on fingerprints to know for sure, but it seems they dumped her off the ship off the coast of San Francisco.

Hawk sounded dazed. But why Duke, I just dont understand. This is a new low even for Cobra!

Duke agreed. Its bad sir. Zartan has had it in for Dan ever since he escaped from Cobra the first time. They somehow got wind of this mission and knew Dan was going to be on it. They grabbed Sylvia a week ago.

Hawk grunted. There had to be an ulterior motive

There was Colonel, agreed Duke. They wanted Danny to tell them where our base was. Sylvia was their way of trying to cajole it from him.

Bastards! Exclaimed Hawk. Of course, they would have killed her anyway. A defenseless Army Nurse! Damn them! I assume Danny didnt tell them anything?

Oh he told them a few things sir, but not what they wanted to hear! God, did he suffer for it!

Danny heard Hawk move closer toward him. How bad is it?

Duke spoke in a quit tone. Sir, Doc says he will eventually recover. It will take awhile though. The wounds to his arms are awful though. They wrapped his arms in thin metal twine and hung him by them while they beat him. The bandage on his eye covers where he was repeatedly kicked and punched and it looks like cut too. The burns are consistent with electrical burns. Like I said, they worked him over pretty hard.

Jesus. Hawk sounded sick. They didnt just find this out randomly, they had help knowing about the mission.

Maybe, agreed Duke. Although I am sure that they knew we were onto them in San Francisco. That was a pretty big weapons operation for them to be running in the U-S. They may have figured out that we would hit them and that it was likely that Dan would be on our team. How they knew the identity of his girlfriend is beyond me. One thing is for sure, Colonel, Storm Shadow cant help us anymore. They will know he told them where Danny was. He is here with us now, catching up on Old times with Snake Eyes and Stalker.

Damn those sick snakes, Duke. We will make them pay for this, I swear it, and when Dan gets better, he will be a big part of that payback.

Danny lay on the bed, stunned. He simply could not believe that Sylvia was gone, that her life could end in such a violent horrible manner. Never again would she help a soldier in pain, or walk hand in hand with him during the night time walks she loved so much. She would never, never hurt anyone and what was her reward for such love and compassion? A knife to the throat from Zartan, a man Danny was starting to believe had no soul. On the one hand, Danny could not envision life without her. No matter what happened to Cobra, he could never undo what had been done. On the other hand, his love for his country could not be broken. He would find a way to go on somehow, as his brother did during Vietnam, as his Dad did during World War 2 and as his uncle did during Korea, where they had lost friends and sustained injuries. He would somehow have his revenge. The pain in his arms had started to return. His eye throbbed. Thanks to the punches he had sustained to his throat he wasnt sure he could ever speak again, but he knew that Cobra would hear him, someday.

Danny awoke from his disturbed sleep as his plane touched down at Detroit Metropolitan airport. He remembered all too well the pain and horror of what he had experienced over 20 years ago. It had motivated him so many years ago to fight. The gutless cowards had struck a target that was not able to fight back, that was not able to defend itself. It still motivated him to this day. It was why he had become involved again so many years later. It was his slim hope that maybe his children and his nieces and nephews could avoid the fighting that he had been a part of.

Danny carried his lone bag outside the terminal and saw his wifes minivan pull up to the curb. Funny how airports worked. He had stopped at a payphone in the airport to tell Beth that he was on the way outside and she then drove to the airport from the place where she had been waiting. Danny hoped in and gave his wife a hug and kiss as she pulled away. He turned to his children and they mobbed him. Beth smiled. In spite of how difficult it was to be away from him, the children understood, as she did, that Danny served a greater cause. That he was needed by his country. Beth was proud of him.

Later that night, Danny sat outside on his porch, smoking a cigar and talking with his brother Kyle, as his kids played in the back yard. There had been a cook out and the whole family had been there. Danny greatly enjoyed the company of his parents, and his two older sisters, as well as his many nieces and nephews. Beths parents had been there too, still fascinated by their heroic son-in-law. Up until a few years earlier, they thought he was a marine corps veteran and not much else. As Danny and his brother caught up on old times, Beth appeared on the deck that was attached to the back of the Goodwins home. In her hand she held a cordless phone, she appeared curious.

You have a call Danny, it sounds like its important.

Danny grabbed the phone with weary resignation. He had an uneasy feeling about what he was soon to hear.

Yeah?

Hello Dan.

Danny immediately stood up, knocking over his lawn chair and startling his brother. Beth stared at him wide eyed.

General Hawk, Sir!

Have I caught you at a bad time Sergeant?

No sir, what can I do for you?

We have a problem Dan. I need your help.

Danny grinned. I have a feeling this maybe more than just needing my help programming your VCR, sir!

Hawk laughed. No Dan, its a bit more serious than that. I am afraid youll have to come to me to hear the rest. There will be a ticket waiting for you at the airport and then a limo will take you to the pentagon

I can leave as soon as you need me to General.

Tomorrow morning, Dan. Youre flight leaves at 8 am. Get a good nights sleep. Please tell your wife this is a training issue.

I will sir, see you tomorrow.

Danny hung up and looked at Beth, who was already dejected.

Please understand honey, this is so important.

Beth looked at him, tears in her eyes.

I do understand. How do I tell the kids youre leaving again already?

Danny looked at his wife, then seeing the pain etched on her face, looked quickly away.

Ill tell them. Ill be back as soon as I can.

Beth kissed Danny and went into the house, hoping to spare her husband the grief that would soon come out of her.

Danny felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Kyle. Danny turned to his brother. Even in his middle age, Danny could still see the young warrior that had braved the jungle hell of Vietnam so many years before.

Itll be alright Dan. Lynn and I will keep Beth and the kids busy. You go do what you have to do.

Thanks man. I appreciate it. I wouldnt do this if they didnt need me.

Kyle Goodwin nodded. I know Dan. Just like it was in 76, when you left for basic, you wanted to help your country. There arent enough like you Dan. I know Mom and Beth give you a hard time, but trust they are so proud of you. Just like I am. Just like Dad would be if he were here.

Danny gave his older brother a hug. Thanks I owe you. Let me talk to the kids and then I better get some sleep.

Kyle nodded. Good luck. Come home to us.

Danny winked at his brother. Of course I will. Of course, Danny had no way of knowing that were true just as he had no idea what Hawk had in store for him. As he headed out to the yard to talk to his son and daughter, he had no doubt in his mind he was in store for perhaps the greatest challenge of his life.