Chapter 179 Honor belongs to brothers

On October 5, 1944, E Company ushered in the happiest day.

The Allied commander-in-chief, Marshal Montgomery, arrived at Wigher in person. On this day, Company E ushered in a bumper harvest of their medals. They got the news the day before, and they arrived in the square in the town of Wigherer very early. A temporary platform was built here, and the officers and soldiers of the 506th Regiment gathered around the platform.

Marshal Montgomery, accompanied by General Taylor and Colonel Sink, stepped on the stage. He smiled and delivered a simple but enthusiastic speech. In his speech, he highly praised the achievements of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden, and bowed slightly to General Taylor in front of all the officers and soldiers of the 506th Regiment, which was very rare, but General Taylor naturally accepted it. Marshal Montgomery not only thanked him, but also apologized to him. After all, General Taylor once made reasonable suggestions but was not taken seriously. This was Marshal Montgomery's own mistake.

After a message of encouragement to boost morale, Marshal Montgomery invited Parks to the stage. He looked at Parks with a smile, straightened his chest, walked to the stage, and then saluted him and Taylor and Colonel Sink.

"Hello, Lieutenant!" Marshal Montgomery shook hands with Parks enthusiastically and even gave him a face-to-face hug before releasing him.

"It's an honor, marshal!" Parks was distracted and seemed polite.

"Well, I'm here to give you an honor, which belongs to the British Empire to award a medal to the friendly soldiers who helped him." Marshal Montgomery nodded to him and said, "I hope I can wear it for you myself!"

"My pleasure, marshal!" Parks straightened his waist again and glanced at the corners of his eyes. At this time, Marshal Montgomery motioned that a sergeant came up from under the stage, holding a gold-plated plate with a medal.

"The British are really a luxury. Look at their plate. I'm afraid it's more valuable than the medal!" Obviously, General Taylor was a little dissatisfied with Marshal Montgomery's behavior, because today he honored the brothers of the E Company on behalf of the U.S. military, but he did not bring out such a luxurious plate, which looked a little shabby. He whispered in Commander Sink's ear and complained.

Colonel Sink couldn't help smiling and whispered, "But our medal is real, General, who cares what will be on a plate!"

General Taylor couldn't help smiling, nodded, and then turned his eyes to the stage again. Marshal Montgomery picked up the medal on the plate and smiled, "Special Cross for Bravery. Lieutenant, you are fully worthy of it. It is the honor of an excellent soldier who is brave and has made outstanding contributions. Congratulations!" With that, he saluted Parks, and then after Parks returned, he stretched out his hand and squeezed Parks's hand tightly before letting go.

Parks nodded to Marshal Montgomery and then left the stage. He really deserves it. But some people under the stage were a little dissatisfied, especially Nixon, who shook his head at Winters and sneered, "I didn't expect the British to be a little stingy. With contributions like Parks, they can give a Victoria Cross. It seems that they still think they are a little taller than us Americans.

"The arrogant British!" Winters turned his head and smiled at Nixon. He knew that this time, the head of Sink personally declared the Congressional Medal of Honor for Parks. If there is no accident, Parks will receive this honor. Even well-informed soldiers know this. But they all think this is what Parks deserves.

Marshal Montgomery stepped back a few steps to General Taylor and whispered, "Okay, it's up to you, General Taylor. I have to rush back to England. You know, there are still a lot of things on hand." With that, he shrugged his shoulders.

"Please, marshal!" General Taylor nodded with a smile, and he maintained the minimum respect for Marshal Montgomery.

Now it's General Taylor's turn. He looked at Marshal Montgomery, who hurriedly stepped down, couldn't help shaking his head slightly, and then took a few steps forward and delivered a speech to the soldiers of the 506th Regiment.

"I hope it's not too long!" White made a cross on his chest and whispered, "Amen!"

"God can't hear it, White. He listened to General Taylor's speech and was dozing off!" Malachi smiled in a low voice, "But I may like his speech today. Do you know what we will get today?" He drew a medal with his hand and put it on his chest.

"Hey, have you heard about it? Parks may receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. White whispered to Maranqi, "God, if I can get such a medal, I can do whatever I want!"

"At least we still have silver stars!" Malachi shrugged his shoulders and said, "I didn't think so much. I came up with it. Even Captain Winters has little hope!"

"Shut up!" At this time, Sergeant Lip and Toy in the front row turned around and whispered to them almost at the same time.

It turned out that General Taylor began to read out the list of recipients of the medal. Many people of the 506 Regiment have won the medal, of which Company E is the biggest winner. Their medal and weight are incomparable to other companies.

Captain Winters was once again awarded the Cross of Excellent Service, and Lieutenant Wales and Westfordi also received this honor, while the other rows of brothers involved in the operation were awarded the Silver Star Medal, and the Silver Star Medal also included Nixon. Twenty-six people, including Lieutenant Hai Lige, Sergeant Lip and Sergeant Tebert, were awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Lieutenant Welsh was obviously a little excited to receive such a high-level medal for the first time. Although his face turned red, he was at least much better than Sifudi. Xifudi squeezed his mouth vigorously, and then his hands were trembling slightly. He squeezed his hand hard and tried to calm himself down, but it was obvious that he couldn't do it, and finally his lips trembled.

General Taylor shook hands with them one by one. To be honest, General Taylor was very happy. Especially E Company, he is very satisfied with the outstanding performance of E Company. Moreover, the number of people who won the medal this time is much higher than that of the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 82nd Airborne Division suffered much more losses than the 101st Division.

"I'm happy for you, brothers!" After General Taylor awarded them the play medal, he said a word from the bottom of his heart that he should really be happy for them.

But all the brothers of Company E are still looking at General Taylor standing on the stage. Obviously, they seem to be reminding General Taylor that there is another person who should not be forgotten. That should be the most important person - Lieutenant Parks. Because on the stage, General Taylor did not announce the medal received by Lieutenant Parks.

"I know what you're thinking." General Taylor joked, "Are you trying to remind me that I still forgot something? Do I still have a medal that hasn't been awarded?

General Taylor deliberately paused for a moment and smiled, "The medal I want to award has been awarded, brothers!"

"Wow--" There was an unbelievable exclamation under the stage.

"Hey, what the hell is he doing? Where's the leader's medal? White couldn't help shouting first.

"What the hell!" Landoman couldn't help muttering. His words received a response from many people, especially the expressions of the rows of brothers involved in the action, which was really rich. They muttered impatiently.

Seeing a little scratch below, General Taylor waved his hand and smiled, "Okay, guys, I know you are muttering secretly, but this is good news. Lieutenant Parks won the medal, but I am not qualified to award him. This medal must be awarded to him by our President, Mr. Roosevelt himself. Yes, Lieutenant Parks has won the highest honor for soldiers - the Congressional Medal of Honor.

As soon as his words fell, there were cheers under the stage.

"I knew this was the result, and it was really not wrong!" White suddenly shouted excitedly to Marak, "Look, it's true, Congressional Medal of Honor, God, why do I feel as excited as I got it!"

Malachi looked at him and couldn't help laughing and said, "That's because you are one step closer to the Congressional Medal of Honor, White."

"What?" White couldn't help looking at Malaqi in surprise, "Hey man, I've never thought about it that way!"

Malachi shook his head and smiled, "Don't think it's so beautiful. White, but we are indeed closer to the medal. God, Lieutenant Parks is next to us. He will wear that medal. And we will fight with him, and of course his medal. So--" he shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

"Damn it, you scared me!" White smiled at him. Hee hee.

"Okay, guys," General Taylor had to raise his voice to the excited cheers of these people. Of course, the military's discipline was still very strong. After a short cheer, General Taylor's mouth quickly calmed down.

General Taylor waved to Parks and motioned him to come on stage.

Looking at Parks's smiling face and calmness, he couldn't help nodding, then gave Parks a hug, turned around and laughed loudly under the stage, "To be honest, guys, I'm really jealous of him. You know, I fought for such a medal, but he got it in front of me!"

There was a slight kind smile under the stage.

"Lieutenant Parks, I'm glad to announce this news, but you will have to leave here for a few days. President Roosevelt is waiting for your arrival in Washington. You're really great, young man!" General Taylor said, patted him on the arm and said, "Do you have anything to say to your brothers?" Then make a gesture of invitation.

Parks walked to the stage. He looked at the brothers who had been born and died. Suddenly, he sighed in his heart and suddenly wanted to speak, but his throat seemed to be a little dry. He couldn't help coughing, and then said, "In fact, this honor does not belong to me. It belongs to me. For every brother who was born and died with me.

Yes, this belongs to every brother who was born and died in the German artillery. The cry of the charge in front, the blood splashing out of the chest, the help of the brother without hesitation, and the brotherly friendship in the test of life and death appeared in the eyes of Parks at this moment, and everything was so real and lingering.

"I suddenly have a feeling, Dick!" Nixon looked at Parks on the stage and suddenly turned his head to him.

"What?" Winters looked at Nixon and said, "What are you trying to say, Nick!"

"That sentence, the honor belongs to every brother who was born and died with me in the gunfire." Nixon squeezed his lips and said, "That's what I want to say."

(to be continued)