Abner Luxor regains consciousness in the Critical Care Unit at Naval Hospital Philadelphia. He had been wounded on the beach at Hungnam, North Korea during the withdrawal. His girl friend, LTjg Marjorie Hellen BSN of the Naval Hospital Yokosuka, was on temporary duty at Naval Hospital Sasebo when she became enamored with Abner. He had been shuttled from Sea Devil to a Carrier to the hospital where she discovered him on a gurney waiting for surgery. After recovery from surgery, she requested permission to accompany Abner back to the Naval Hospital Philadelphia, which was granted. Before he was recalled as a Boatswain's Mate Second class (amphibious specialist), Mister Abner Luxor owned a Studebaker auto new and used car agency. He was reasonably wealthy and had a great staff. His General Manager, Miss Angela Holtz had a thing for him --- not returned. Nurse Hellen enraged Angie by her presence, cutting her off from Abner in the hospital. Eventually, Abner who had been preparing for his PHD in Marketing, is granted his doctorate while recovering from his wounds. Navy Personnel learned of that and promoted him to LTjg and ordered him back to the MV Sea Dragon, which confused him. Meanwhile back on USS LST-666 --- The Sea Devil, the Captain is informed his LST is being disguised as a coastal merchant ship, that will ply small ports up and down the Asian mainland and islands to buy and sell goods. However, the main thrust is to hunt down and kill off the ferocious pirates killing passengers and crew and taking the ships. The crew of the renamed ship --- MV Sea Dragon registered under the Swiss flag --- will be dressed as merchant seamen with a barely usable engine to entice the pirates to take over the ship. Two battles with pirates occur with success and tragedy of one KIA, several WIA, and one MIA. Meanwhile, a UDT detachment attached to the Sea Dragon with secret missions is deployed along the communist shoreline. On their second mission, one man is wounded; he is transferred via USCG Naha (Okinawa) Rescue One helicopter to USAF Hospital Naha. Another group of pirates attack with the same lack of success; again, several sailors are wounded. This time, a heavy cruiser intercepts the LST, removes the wounded, transfers replacement crew members to the Sea Dragon. Com7thFleet visits the ship, awarding the crew several medals and promoting the captain, Ezekiel Carter to Lieutenant Commander. Zeke receives new orders to assist the Chinese Nationalist Army on Taiwan augmenting troops and material on Quemoy Island just off the Chinese Communist mainland. The story will continue in Part Three.
