In the Shadow of the Dragon - 10. Primetime

“Good evening this is Paul Larkin of ABC News.”

“I am Kelly Newman of CNN. Welcome to a rare joint venture of our two networks: A Family of Heroes: Three Generations of Service.”

The opening credits roll, serious sounding music play and images from past broadcasts run across the screen.

Once the beginning credits were done and a commercial or two was out of the way, Kelly Newman began her narrative, “This week we accompanied Representatives Sanchez and Hollister of Colorado on a fact-finding tour of that state to see how it was fairing with Denver being seriously affected by a smallpox outbreak and the imposition of martial law.”

Paul Larkin continued, “The Colorado National Guard was kind enough to provide us with a Blackhawk transport helicopter and Kelly and I were assigned from the press pool. We were flying East over the Colorado Rockies when we ran into a spring storm and our helicopter was hit by lightning and was forced to make a landing at an emergency site high in the mountains.”

Kelly Newman said, “It was there that we became acquainted with a remarkable family with a unique place in American history and the place that they built called Eagle Rock.”

The scene changes to a late thirties air show and barn storming pilots. Paul Larkin said, “Our story starts in Winslow, Arizona with a teen-aged pilot and mechanic named Thomas Eugene Ross. In 1938 at the age of 16, the elder Ross became the youngest person in the state to qualify and hold a pilot's license.”

Kelly Newman continued the narrative, “On December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, Thomas Eugene Ross joined the Army Air Corps and was with one of the very first Army Air Corps squadrons to be based at Guadalcanal’s Henderson Field in the fall of 1942.”

Paul Larkin said, “Lieutenant Ross turned out to be an exceptional pilot and quickly became an ace. By mid-1943 he was credited with 12 kills and the sinking of a Japanese destroyer, a small transport and damaging several others.”

Pictures of the P-40 Warhawk, Guadalcanal and air combat in the South Pacific illustrate the narrative.

“During Operation Cartwheel, the reduction of the Japanese fortress of Rabaul in the South Pacific, Ross was severely injured by flak. After a long convalescence at Pearl Harbor, Ross could no longer pass a flight physical, so he became a flight instructor training Army fighter pilots at Hickam Field.

Kelly Newman continued, “At Pearl Harbor, the now Captain Ross met General Curtis Le May. Le May was impressed by Ross and his knowledge of fighter tactics and requested that he join his staff. Ross’s health continued to improve, and he was returned to active flight status in mid-1944. He soon qualified on B-29s and began flying missions against Japan from Tinian.”

Paul Larkin said, “In 1945 Ross’s unit on Tinian was selected to deliver the atomic bombs which forced Japan to surrender. When the war ended, Ross and his crew were training to deliver the next bomb. After the war Ross spent some time in Japan and was deeply moved by the destruction caused by the war.”

“Captain Ross returned to the United States and pursued a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Caltech. In 1947, when the Air Force became an independent force, Ross was one of its first pilots.”

Kelly Newman continued, “Captain Ross stayed on in the Air Force and became a part of the Strategic Air Command. He stayed with this unit from its inception as an Air Force unit in 1947 until he retired at the rank of Brigadier General in December 1969. During that time, he served as a pilot, squadron and wing commander.”

“The career of Ross was only just beginning upon his retirement. Ross was also very active as a consultant for the Air Force contributing to the B-52 force modernization and B-1 bomber programs. Ross became a tireless advocate for Civil Defense and Emergency preparedness. He served in the Colorado state house and lobbied tirelessly for this cause. He appeared before the House and Senate as an expert on Civil Defense and planning eight times and was in the Senate Galley in 1979 when the legislation establishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency was signed.”

Paul Larkin said, “We have some file footage of Ross speaking in 1965 while he was working with SAC:”

‘Our motto is Peace is our Profession, and we mean it. There is an idea in some circles that those of us who work for SAC are raving maniacs that can’t wait to drop the bomb. I was in line to drop the third bomb on Japan and every day I wake up and thank the Almighty that I didn’t have to. I was in Japan soon after the end of the war, and saw what nuclear weapons can do. I would rather do anything but use one. I hope that is the opinion of every man under my command because only a maniac would ever want to use a nuclear weapon.’

“Here State Senator Ross is discussing Civil Defense in 1972 in the Colorado statehouse:”

‘We as elected representatives, have a responsibility to our constituents that this government stands ready for any conceivable emergency to protect the life and property of our people. I urge this body to pass these building requirements in all future construction.’

Kelly Newman said, “Ross was the sort of man who put his money where his mouth is. During the early seventies, he purchased a plot of land in the Colorado Rockies and built his own home to those specifications.”

The picture showed Eagle Rock: the house and grounds from the air.

“Ross built this house to the standards that he proposed that all building be built to. Its basement is blasted out of solid rock and consists of two levels. The foundation is four feet thick of reinforced concrete. The walls are three feet thick and all the windows are thick leaded glass. It has an air handling system that filters incoming air and maintains an internal over-pressure so that external air cannot rush in when a door is opened. The entire structure is a Faraday cage making it immune to Electromagnetic pulses. This structure is in operation today and is serving a vital function in the current emergency, but we will return to that point later in this broadcast.

“Thomas Eugene Ross died in 2004 of a stroke after a long and distinguished career.”

“We will be back after this message to introduce the next generation of the Ross family.”

*          *          *

Paul Larkin said, “In 1965 Thomas Eugene Ross had a son named Thomas Martin Ross. The younger Ross distinguished himself early in school. He moved around until the senior Ross settled in the Colorado Rockies. In 1983, he went to Stanford where he got a degree in Microbiology and then went on to Johns Hopkins where he did his residency and specialized in epidemiology. He then did a tour with the US Army as a doctor and worked with USAMRIID. He worked for CDC for a number of years and went back to USAMRIID briefly and for the last four years has been an instructor on biodefense at the Air Force Academy. Ross has recently worked on a number of projects with Homeland Security and has been working at the CDC since the start of the current bio-terrorist incident. Earlier today we talked to him at the CDC.

Kelly Newman: “Today we are talking with one of the top working epidemiologist in the country, Doctor Thomas Martin Ross. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today Doctor. Could you tell us, of all the specialties why did you choose epidemiology?”

Dr. Ross: “Infectious diseases are making a come back in a big way. We are seeing new diseases emerge at an alarming rate and old diseases are becoming resistant to the drugs that have kept them at bay since penicillin came on the scene in the 1940s.”

Kelly Newman: “I see that you joined the Army and served with them for some years.”

Dr. Ross: “The Army offers doctors an excellent opportunity to work in all sorts of specialties and conditions. Anytime our troops take the field, they are fighting more than one enemy: the enemy army and whatever diseases or parasites happen to be endemic there. Control of those diseases is key to military readiness and saves countless lives: military and civilian.”

Kelly Newman: “What is the career of an epidemiologist like?”

Dr. Ross: “Well I’ve traveled to five different continents chasing bugs: Lassa fever, Ebola and AIDS in Africa, Hantavirus and Malaria in South America, Malaria again in Asia and drug resistant gonorrhea in Australia. I’ve worked with drug companies to develop drugs and vaccines against infectious diseases.”

Kelly Newman: “So Doctor, given the current biological emergency in this country, what’s your prognosis?”

Dr. Ross: “The biggest thing in our favor has been that we figured it out early before the infections had spread too far. Second, President McMahan has taken the appropriate steps to limit the diseases ability to pass person to person. I think we have already seen the peak of infection and new cases are already declining.”

Kelly Newman: “What can you tell us about the two agents that were used?”

Dr. Ross: “Smallpox is by far the most problematic. Of the two it is the most infectious and once it is established, the disease must run its course. Plague may sound scary but luckily for us, it turned out to be a dud. Plague spreads person to person by coughing and by that stage of the disease most people are at home in bed or have sought medical attention. On that side of the attacks there has mostly been only one generation of infection, and it has stopped there.”

Kelly Newman: “Are there any problems that you are having with this outbreak?”

Dr. Ross: “In some cities we are having great difficulties getting undocumented persons to come in for treatment. They fear that once they have been identified that they will be deported. Our problem has been that they’ve stayed away from treatment spreading the diseases and by the time we see them they are too far along in the disease process to be helped much. We have talked to INS about this problem and assure those persons that no sick people will be deported and everyone will be treated.

Kelly Newman: “Did you recently work with Rockwell on the Air Quality Monitors that have been set up and networked all over the country?”

Dr. Ross: “Why yes. I worked with their software people on how to identify and classify dangerous biological microorganisms.”

Kelly Newman: “I’m not certain if you are aware of this, but your son Tom worked with the National Guard, and they have been able to deploy all the AQM systems on the West Coast. They put his presentation on YouTube and the Guard units have been able to set them up.”

Dr. Ross: “I knew that he was working with the Colorado Guard, but I was unaware that it had gone that far. I’m very proud of him.”

Kelly Newman: “That’s a very complex piece of equipment for a sixteen-year-old.

Dr. Ross: “Yes it is. Tom is gifted that way. Hand him a gadget, and he’ll have it out of the box and working in five minutes.

Kelly Newman: “The Colorado National Guard speaks very highly of him. General Braddock gave us an on camera statement and credited Tom with giving them the ability to establish safe zones and save untold numbers of lives. Their work with the Colorado Guard enabled other West Coast Guard units to quickly install and establish a network of AQM units.”

Dr. Ross: “Tom and Jimmy are great kids. If you’ve got a problem, they ask how can I help? What can I say? I’m more and more proud of them every day.”

Kelly Newman: “We’ll be back after this message and introduce you to the third generation of the Ross family.

*          *          *

Paul Larkin, “Earlier this week we were accompanying Congressmen Sanchez and Hollister of Colorado on a fact finding trip around Colorado to assess the impact of Denver’s smallpox infections and martial law. As we were crossing the mountains in a helicopter provided by the Guard, we ran into a spring storm. Our helicopter was struck by lightning and seriously damaged. We were going down and had only minutes to find a place for a controlled landing.”

“Our pilots were directed to an emergency landing strip high in the mountains called Eagle Rock. That is where we met the youngest generation of the Ross family and some exceptional young people.”

“When things got serious, Dr. Ross sent his two sons and three of their friends to Eagle Rock to get one of the Air Quality Monitors and work with the Guard to get the rest of the network up and running. Tom got the AQM at Eagle Rock working. The next day he gave a presentation to technicians of the Colorado Guard and by sunset that entire state was covered. A video of Tom’s presentation was put on YouTube and the entire West Coast AQM network was activated. Because of the quick action of Tom and the Guard, thousands, perhaps millions of lives have been saved. This is a story that we might have missed were it not for a chance bolt of lightning.”

Kelly Newman, “Since the war and quarantines we have talked to politicians, military men and doctors. It occurred to us that there has been one group that we haven’t heard from: young people. We talked to Tom and Jimmy Ross, Bobby and Ronny Farmer and Brian Lee— all teenagers. We were astonished and humbled by what we heard. We asked questions that you might ask any kid, but their answers… speak for themselves.”

Kelly Newman: “What do you think about the world situation?”

Ronny Farmer: “Yesterday we saw the pictures from Israel and Jordan. To tell you the truth it made me sick. We couldn’t look at it anymore. We had to turn off the TV.”

Bobby Farmer: “We saw the pictures from Denver too, and we’re not happy about that either.”

Kelly Newman: “Did it make you angry?”

Bobby Farmer: “Yes, there’s some anger, but we’re sadder more than anything. It’s so frustrating. You want to do something, anything you can to help. The images from the Middle East yesterday; that’s got to be what hell looks like.”

Paul Larkin: “Brian, how do you feel about what’s happened?”

Brian Lee: “To tell you the truth I’m mad as hell about it. Everybody I know and love is at risk and for what? Because some flea-bitten Mullah wanted to smite the Great Satan? They got exactly what they had coming when President McMahan nuked their bunker. I’m glad that it’s over, but I’m thinking where the Ayatollahs are going it’s a lot hotter than they expected and there’s not a virgin in sight.”

Kelly Newman: “Tom, what are your plans from here on?”

Tom Ross: “I thought I might apply to West Point next year but until this is over, we’ve all got a lot of work to do.”

Paul Larkin: “Jimmy How do you feel about the events of the last few days?

Jimmy Ross: “A much wiser man than me at another time of great national tragedy once said: With malice toward none, with charity for all, ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in, ...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

This is the great work that all of us must strive to accomplish because… because we know that we can fight. We’re good at it. History has shown us that it’s peace that we have a problem with. If I, if we are going to have a future, we have got to do all that we can to make the horror that we’ve seen in the last few days a thing of the past.”

Paul Larkin: “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

Ronny Farmer: “At this point I just want to grow up. Everything else is gravy.”

Bobby Farmer: “Medicine is a sort of tradition in our family.”

Larkin said, “Brian, what do you want to do?”

Brian said without hesitation, “Air Force all the way.”

Kelly Newman: “We were not the only ones who were impressed by the young men that we met at Eagle Rock and their attitudes.”

The scene changes to outside the house. Guard troops and trucks are milling around in the background.

Paul Larkin: “This is Colonel Henry Gaddis of the Colorado National Guard. Could you give us an assessment of what Tom’s help has meant to the Guard?”

Colonel Gaddis: “After Tom’s excellent presentation my men were able to deploy all the AQMs within our state by the close of business the next day. We sent copies of the presentations to Guard units in our surrounding states, and they had similar results. The whole West Coast is now covered. We can now establish safe zones for our troops and civilians. There is simply no way to tell how many lives Tom has saved. He’s got such a great attitude. I think the first thing he said to me is how can I help. I wish I had a whole division just like these kids: smart, willing, able… We would have this whole mess cleared up this afternoon latest.”

Kelly Newman: “We weren’t the only ones that were impressed.

Representative Hollister: “What Tom said really struck a cord with me. Until this is over, we’ve all got a lot of work to do. Those of us in Congress, we fall into patterns: Patterns of partisanship, trying to jockey for position and prestige. It took a 16-year-old to remind me that we have a job to do. Not for me, not for the party or ideology, but for the country.”

Representative Sanchez: “It took a 14-year-old quoting Lincoln to remind me that this isn’t a photo op, this isn’t a campaign stop. This is a grave crisis, and we’ve all got a lot of work to do. Not just the work of today but tomorrow as well. We must all work for that just and lasting peace because we owe it to the future. We owe it to kids like those that we met today.”

Representative Hollister: “For years I’ve played the game in congress: bring home the bacon, the petty bickering and partisanship. Well, I was wrong. That’s not what it’s about, and it took some outstanding young people to remind me what my job really is. When I go back to Washington, I’m going with a new attitude. I’m going back and ask what I can do and how can I help.”

Representative Sanchez: “My distinguished colleague and I have had many differences over the years but in this matter, we are in complete agreement. When we go back to Washington, we leave rivalry, bickering and one-upmanship at the door. We are going for the country.”

With that joint statement, two of the bitterest rivals in Congress shook hands and something new and very hopeful was born.

Paul Larkin: “Tonight we have met three generations of an exceptional American family. The Ross’s are notable for their intelligence, ability and devotion to the country.”

“In the midst of the crisis, we find in our country there is reason for great optimism. There are thousands of families, perhaps millions who share in service and devotion to the country.”

Kelly Newman: “We are reminded of the energy and vitality of our young people and humbled by their willingness to ask how can I help and what can I do.”

“There is no clearer indicator that this nation has the strength, courage and fortitude to move forward even now.”

“I’m Paul Larkin for ABC News.”

“I’m Kelly Newman for CNN. Good night.

The show ends with the Farmer twins singing Simon & Garfunkel’s America.

Eagle Rock

The boys watched in stunned silence as the credits rolled.

Jimmy said, “Was I dreaming or were we just on prime-time TV being called heroes?”

Bobby said, “You weren’t dreaming. I think we’re famous now.”

Tom said, “I hate to bring you guys down but famous is what we don’t want to be.”

Ronny said, “What do you mean?”

Tom growled, “That picture of our mountain with other mountains in the background?”

Jimmy said, “Yeah?”

“For people who know these mountains, they might as well have given our address and said nice phat house with only five kids at home. I’m afraid our lives just got a lot more complicated.”