Navy SEAL Lieutenant Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden headed out on the deck of the USS Hornet. Chegwidden just finished a tour in Vietnam, and was given the choice assignment of recovering the first men on the moon. As he entered the H-3 with his team, he couldn't help but think of his old team in DeNang. The Ensign that relieved him in Vietnam seemed awfully cocky, but he knew that Rick and TC would knock some sense in that Magnum kid. He mentally laughed at referring to Magnum as a 'Kid', as Thomas was only a couple years behind him at the academy.

The large Sikorsky helicopter took off on its mission to make sure that the area of the Pacific where the the capusle Columbia containing the three astronauts was supposed to splash down in was free of fishing boats, Russian subs, and other unauthorized personnel.

"Petty Officer Ventura, do you see what I see?" Chegwidden asked one of his SEALS.

The Petty Officer replied, "Yes sir, I do."

Down below the helicopter was a small life raft, with two men wearing Marine fatigues. One was tall and thin, the other short and stocky. Both were bailing water.

Chegwidden ordered, "Prepare to recover survivors. Rescue swimmers, in the water."

Two seals jumped from the helicopter, while Chegwidden lowered the basket. Both Marines were recovered. When Marines and SEALS were on board Chegwidden radioed the ship.

The SEAL Lieutenant reported, "Recovery Team to OPS. We have two Survivors on board. They are alert and coherent and identified themselves as Gunnery Sergeant Vincent Carter USMC and Private First Class Gomer Pyle USMC."

The Duty Officer Ordered, "Recovery Team please repeat the names." Chegwidden looked puzzled, but did as ordered.

The next voice was that of the Air Boss, "AJ, bring those boys in post haste. Sergeant Carter and Private Pyle are to report to sick bay as soon as you land"

Chegwidden responded with, "Aye, Sir"

When the chopper landed on the Hornet, Chegwidden found the large aircraft surrounded by Marines. When the door was opened, the men surrounding them cheered. Pyle and Carter were practically carried out of the helicopter as if they were game winning quarterbacks.

Chegwidden asked a nearby Aviation Boatswain's Mate, "Petty Officer, what is going on?"

The young sailor replied, "They didn't tell you sir? Those were the two Marines that fell off the Hancock over a week ago. They were written off to Davey Jones' locker, and I'm not talking about the guy who sang with the Monkees."

Chegwidden didn't have too much time to think about that… he had to get back up in the air to prepare for three spacemen.

The Marines left Carter and Pyle at sick-bay, as they also had to be at their recovery stations. The duty corpsman told the Sergeant and Private, "You two look in incredible shape for being at sea for over a week. You guys picked the right ship to be rescued on, as we are totally set up for recovery. Wait here for the doctor, the brass wanted you checked out by the best."

Soon a man in a white coat sporting eagles on his collar entered the room, "Good afternoon gentleman," He greeted the two Marines.

Carter replied, "Good afternoon, Captain," mistakenly believing the doctor was a Naval Officer.

The Doctor corrected him, "That's Colonel, or Doctor. I'm Air Force."

Sergeant Carter inwardly groaned. He just insulted a man who will be poking and prodding him. Carter quickly apologized, "My mistake, Colonel."

The Doctor replied, "Quite all right Seargeant, you have been through quite an ordeal. Ten days at Sea."

Gomer volunteered, "Oh but we weren't at sea the whole time. We washed ashore an island with Gilligan, the Skipper, Mr. Howell, Mrs. Howell, Ginger Grant, the Professor and Mary Ann. Me and Gilligan went to space camp there. We also met some nice island girls, but one really wasn't an island girl, she was an anthropology student. The Professor patched our raft, and here we are."

The Doctor's eyes got wide. He looked at Carter and asked, "Do you agree with the Private's report, Sergeant?"

Carter paused before he answered. He knew there was only one answer he could give, and he replied, "Yes, Colonel. Sir we encountered the survivors of the SS Minnow along with a runaway anthropology student."

The Colonel remained silent for several seconds. He then followed up with another question, this one quite unexpected, "Is Major Anthony Nelson involved in this in any way?"

Pyle said, "No, Sir"

Carter looked at the Colonel's nametag and echoed, "No, Sir," adding, "Dr. Bellows, we don't even know Major Nelson."

Colonel Alfred Bellows MD, USAF, then went topside to await his astronauts plummeting to Earth on the space capsule Columbia.

Gilligan commented, "Its been four days since Gomer and Sergeant Carter left the island."

Mrs. Howell said, "I hope those dreadful Rortoo didn't get them."

Ginger added, "Or the sharks."

Mary Ann said, "Hush, I'm sure they are doing fine."

The Skipper agreed, "They're Marines, they are survivors."

The Professor turned on the radio saying, "Maybe they will be saying something about them on the news."

Mr. Howell grumbled, "My dear man, you've been saying that three times a day since we left."

The radio newscast began:

Majors Tony Nelson, Roger Healey, and Steve Austin were given a hero's welcome today at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. The three flew in from the USS Hornet today after their triumphant trip to the moon. We will continue to bring reports of the astronauts mission and recovery. In the aircraft along with the astronauts were US Marines Gunnery Sergeant Vincent Carter and Private First Class Gomer Pyle.

Gilligan exclaimed, "They made it!"

The Skipper automatically said, "Hush, Gilligan"

The newscast continued:

The two Marines were reportedly spent 10 days adrift at sea in a life raft. Noted Military Psychiatrist Colonel Alfred Bellows, MD, reported the two men are in remarkable physical shape considering their ordeal, but had suffered predictable psychological trauma. Dr. Bellows reported the men suffered a common delusion of spending time in a tropical paradise with the passengers and crew of the SS Minnow. The respected physician stated that it is a common defense mechanism for the brain to create a pleasant environment while in survival mode. Sergeant Carter and Private Pyle will be sent to Naval Hospital San Diego for further evaluation, but are expected to make a quick full recovery.

The Skipper grumbled, "So now we are a delusion."

Gilligan said, "At least it's a nice dream."

The Professor agreed, "That it is, Gilligan, that it is."