Chapter 223 The Problem of the First Day

The brothers of Company E moved forward silently, and more and more fierce gunfire could be heard in front of them. Every step they take is closer to the battlefield, but they have a firm heart. It is this kind of heart that brings them one victory after another. Although most of them are now shrank their necks and tightly wrapped in military coats, although snowflakes are floating outside, they feel that the road ahead may be getting colder and colder.

Some people looked up at the front from time to time, and there was even a faint firelight from the explosion of shells. The closer the battlefield, the quieter the team. The whole march only heard the sound of creaking feet stepping on the land that was about to freeze. The gas they exhaled soon turned into a white fog, and someone kept rubbing their hands.

Winters wrapped in a scarf and tried to wrap his neck around his neck to prevent cold air from pouring in. Nixon and Compton were behind him, and then Parks followed him.

Winters looked at the faint fire in front of him, took out a map from his arms, turned his head to Parks and pointed to the map and said, "One battalion has entered the Norville area, and they have exchanged fire with the German army. Colonel Sink decided to advance the 3rd Battalion of the Reserve to Foy Town. We will protect the right wing of the regiment, Les, Company E, will enter the east of the Baston-Foy-Noville highway, and the road is on the left. Company F is on the right side of the zone, and Company D is on standby as a battalion reserve.

Parks nodded. Like the previous life, Company E will enter a place where forested and open areas are combined, and in the south of Baststone, the German army will cut off the road to complete what to Bastogne do. Despite sufficient supplies, the whole 506th Regiment lacked artillery fire, and the whole 101st Airborne Division only had an artillery battalion, which was very weak. And because of the weather, there will be a lack of air support. They only have grenades and rifle bullets, and of course, 60mm mortar shells.

In front of the woods is a pasture, and the slope extends to Foy Town, one kilometer away. The woods were rows of large pine trees. Parks stopped the brothers and began to build a bunker - what Colonel Sink called the Parks bunker.

"Guys, what we saw along the way were the fleeing U.S. troops. What we heard was how fierce the Germans attacked, but we had no choice. We can't retreat, and we don't think about these things. All I have to do is dig a bunker!" Parks shuttled among the brothers while digging a pit. He had to cheer for them. "The brothers of the first battalion and the German army have already exchanged fire. We must dig a bunker during the time of their exchange of fire with the Germans.

"Those Germans who have only been defeated by us have never lost. They are our losers, so don't worry, this time, we will continue to defeat them. Look at the brothers around you. They are all trustworthy. Look, just like Lieutenant Hailig, he is calm and witty. Look at Mr. Gonorrhea. He is full of confidence and keen eyes. Even a fly flying from Germany can't fly in front of him.

Suddenly, there was a burst of laughter in the forest. Obviously, the brothers liked such words very much to help adjust the atmosphere. Then I heard Toy's voice: "Oh, Mr. Gonorrhea, if it was a German girl, he might lose the courage to fight."

"You are the annoying German fly!" Granari then counterattacked.

"There is nothing great about the Germans. I hope I can find a Luger!" The speaker was Tebert, who was ridiculed by Hubler for not getting a Ruger pistol in the rescue operation in Normandy. Obviously, he kept this matter in mind.

The emotions of the brothers are just as they say. On the one hand, they are in a bad mood because they step into the battlefield again, but on the other hand, they have to have to face the reality and summon up their courage again. After all, the German army on the opposite side was not very strong in their opinion. The first battalion had blocked them and made it difficult for them to move. Obviously, the brothers of Company E were arrogant, and they felt that they were much better than the people of the first battalion.

Parks decided to establish a main defense line dominated by Parks' bunker during the period when a battalion resisted the German army, and rely on such a bunker to establish a sentry on the edge of the woods. Winters set up a starry camp on the southern edge of the woods, close behind Company E. In this way, Parks' company can establish the fastest contact with the battalion at any time.

Although the weather is very cold, the soil is not completely frozen at this time, and digging bunkers is a light job. Despite this, the brothers still dig very hard, because digging these bunkers means that they can increase their chances of life. Parks kept urging them. He knew that any fluke could cause immeasurable losses.

The brothers of Company E began to dig the bunker at four o'clock in the morning, and they were all doing it for a whole day. It was not until that night that their bunker was qualified under the acceptance of Parks. And such a bunker made the brothers feel a little comfort. After all, it is much better than the individual soldier pit.

"Guys, we're having dinner!" Weiszt was surrounded by a big pot, which was a hodgepodge of all kinds of canned meat, with hot gas. After a whole day of intense digging, everyone looked very tired. They prepared dinner one by one with the jars one, and then leaned against the tree trunk or simply sat in the snow. Some even ran into their newly dug bunkers. This is the first hot meal the brothers have had in Bastogne, and it looks good. Brothers have a big appetite.

The sound of fire exchange from about four kilometers away can be heard in the distance. At that time, a battalion fought with the German army in Norville? They had been fighting with the German army for a whole day, but the battle was not over.

"I can't imagine what kind of blow the first battalion will suffer!" While stirring the food in the jar with a spoon, Malaki looked at the direction of the crossfire. In fact, every brother wants to know how the battle of the first battalion is going. Is the German attack very fierce? Are there many casualties in the first battalion?

With these questions, the night came quietly. At eight or nine o'clock in the evening, a heavy snow fell one after another. The temperature dropped suddenly. Even if the brothers wear thick military coats and wrap any part of the head except the eyes with thick scarves, and everyone is basically wearing two pairs of socks and thick combat boots. But I still felt the bone-to-bone cold.

Gernelly stayed in the bunker, his hands tightly shranking in his sleeves, and his body trembled slightly, so that his helmet shook a little. He didn't want to talk, because as soon as he spoke, the heat seemed to run out of his body, and he felt cold all over.

"How's the situation?" Parks appeared in their sight. Parks' body was already covered with a thick layer of snow. He half knelt at the observation mouth next to the bunker of Gernelly and Toe and patted the snow on his body.

"There is nothing, except a piece of white everywhere. And the weather that freezes to death!" Granary's voice trembled a little, and Parks even heard his teeth giggling.

"Keep an eye on it!" Parks patted his helmet, and then stood up to prepare for the next bunker inquiry. On the first night, he had to cheer everyone up and then make them get used to it. Otherwise, in the long days to come, they will feel depressed, uneasy, and even desperate.

"Head!" Granari suddenly stopped him, "Don't you feel cold? I also have a scarf. If you need it, I can lend it to you. God, it's much colder than hell here!"

Parks smiled at him and said, " Keep it for yourself!" With that, he stepped on the thick snow and continued to walk towards the next bunker. In fact, as long as not both of them are asleep in such a bunker, the German army will never escape the reconnaissance of the brothers. But on the first night, Parks insisted on checking the situation in person.

"I bet that the head's skin must be a little thicker than ours, just like a polar bear!" Gernelly was rejected by Parks and couldn't help smiling at Toy, "It's so windy outside. Fortunately, there are these things covering our heads."

"He may have a little more chest hair than yours." Toy smiled at Granary, "That's why the boss is more resistant to cold than us!" Then his eyes looked forward alertly. In fact, his position with Gernelly was a triangular slope, and the angle of observation was very wide.

Parks knew that he had explored every bunker and the sentry on the edge of the forest, so he returned to his bunker at ease. He stayed with Wales, which was not a rule, but at Wales's insistence, he agreed. After all, even if they are really unlucky and hang up both of them with one shot, then the other officers of Company E will take over the command well. After all, officers and non-commissioned officers have conducted such training.

"What's the situation?" Wales watched Parks get into the bunker and smiled at him, "I think the Germans will be considerate of us. On the first day, we will let us refresh ourselves and then attack us. But in fact, they are now held back by the first battalion and can't use their hands and feet. God bless the brothers of the first battalion!"

"We will never let them down. We dug the bunker and set up the sentry, and now we are waiting for the Germans to attack us! I hope that God will bless us at that time!" Parks looked at Wales and said, "I hope you still remember bringing out the rum and walking around outside. Now I really feel what the cold is like!"

"Here you are!" Wales took out a kettle from his waist and handed it to Parks and said, "I always remember these things. Don't worry, Dick is behind us. I still hide the wine in his box. Of course, Nick's good wine is put together.

Parks took it over, and then put it on his nose and smelled it. A smell of wine suddenly came to his nose. Pax smiled, then looked up and poured a few mouthfuls. He clicked his mouth and rubed it with his hand. A stream of heat immediately rose from the bottom of his heart, making the internal organs, which was about to become rigid, lazy and indescribably comfortable.

"This is the best enjoyment!" Parks returned the kettle to Wales, showed his head, looked ahead and said, "I hope we can survive this battle smoothly. Then I will never forget this experience in my life. Of course, if I can live until the end of the war, the first thing I do is to get drunk and then let myself go back to another world. Enjoy a peaceful life. Live a good life for myself!"

"Another world?" Wales looked at Parks strangely and grinned, "Are you sure it's heaven or hell? Or is it a place far away from the battlefield?

Parks shook his head and smiled. He knew that Wales couldn't understand. Of course, he didn't expect Wales to understand. He just sighed for himself. At the beginning, all kinds of freshness in the world and the feelings of fighting with his brothers were slowly fermenting. Although the cruel surname of war made him realize the value of brotherhood, he would rather not have come to this world. He looked at a brother who was shot, injured or even killed in front of him, which made people feel suffocated.

Parks took out a blanket from his backpack. After talking, he wrapped the blanket around him, leaned his back against the soil in the cold tunnel, closed his eyes slightly, and said to Wales, "Okay, I'm going to rest for a while. If there's nothing important, don't wake me up. Also, Harry, you'd better send someone to check the sentinel every two hours and then find someone to change the guard!"

Parks took out a piece of chocolate from his backpack and shook it towards Wales and said, "Do you want it?"

Wales shook his head and smiled, "You need it more than I do. To be honest, if I were you, I would be exhausted!" Wales took off the kettle, then shook it at Parks, took a sip, and put the kettle on his waist. Then he looked at Parks stuffing chocolate into his mouth little by little, smiled, turned around and lay on the bunker, looking outside. Except for the faint white light of the snow, he didn't see anything to move. The Germans may not come, tonight. Wales thought so, but he knew that it was just his wishful thinking. Thinking of this, he couldn't help turning his head and looking aside and couldn't help laughing. Parks was wrapped in a blanket and shouted a piece of chocolate in his mouth. With a piece in his hand, he was still asleep. Obviously, he has been busy urging his brothers to dig bunkers and check bunkers and sentries, so that Parks, who had been sitting in the car for a long time, couldn't help but feel tired and fell asleep.

The sound of fire at night gradually weakened after midnight, and the explosion of the shells seemed intermittent. There is also the intermittent sound of light weapon design, which is very clear in the night. Even if it is faint, it is very clear to the ears. Sometimes some ** brothers sleep uneasily.

At two o'clock in the morning, Wales decided to go to the sentry. He looked at Parks, who was sleeping, and then climbed out of the bunker. There is still some distance from the bunker sentry. Because the defense line was too long, he walked cautiously, fearing that the German army would infiltrate. Although he knew that the Parks bunker was a very good anti-infiltration individual bunker, he had not experienced the test of actual combat.

The soft sound of "squeaking" made his hair stand up all over his body. He held the submachine gun flat and approached the sentry step by step, and there seemed to be a sound from the other side of the sentry. He was stunned, then lowered his posture and quietly touched it. He saw two guys inside near the nearest sentry. They were drinking and didn't pay attention to observation at all. And after drinking, he is singing loudly.

"Damn asshole!" He cursed in a low voice, still gently climbed behind them and shouted at them, "You two idiots, do you want to call the Germans here? Who let you sing?

One of the two guys was a new recruit Winnie who was added to Momian, and a new recruit Sebbons who was added after Operation Dutch Market Garden. The two guys drank too much, and then they became bold and began to sing unscrupulously. They heard a voice from behind and were shocked. They quickly picked up the rifle and were about to turn around.

"Damn it, where are your guns pointing? In your observation, it is the direction that the Germans are going to penetrate!" Wales stepped forward, squatted down, looked at the two guys and said, "Do you know what you're doing? You will kill the whole company's brothers. If the Germans infiltrate, even if you can escape, I will not let you go!"

Winnie quickly stood up and said to Lieutenant Wales in a panic, "I'm sorry, lieutenant, I promise I'll watch here."

"Me too!" Sebins also quickly stood upright and said to Wales, "We just feel too cold, lieutenant. We feel cold, so we drank a little wine, but it's like an addiction. Once we drink it, we can't stop!" Sebbins looked very red, but when he spoke, there was a smell of wine in his mouth.

"You'd better do this!" Wales felt unforgivable. He wrote down the post and considered asking Tebert to send someone to replace the two guys when he went back. Staying in this place on the first day, it would be too bad if the Germans were allowed to infiltrate.

This patrol really made Wales investigate and deal with some problems. The brothers on the sentry have been exhausted for a long time because of the long march and digging bunkers all day. Some sentries, two of them fell asleep, and some two of them were squinting. This made Wales furious and rudely scolded the two sleeping brothers for a while.

After a lot of toss, there has finally been some good. Wales decided to rotate one shift in two hours. He informed Sergeant Tebert and asked him to urge the platoonsergeants to do it. After all, this matter is very important. General Tebert summoned up and then said the arrangement again. Nevertheless, there are still some problems.

The next morning. The woods look clearer after the snow. Parks woke up again, and Wales beside him had fallen asleep. Parks covered him with a blanket, and then picked up a rifle to patrol around. At this time, a few gunshots were heard, and the sound was the sound of a German 98k rifle. Parks originally hid his body behind a big tree to cover himself. After a while, two people ran towards him desperately. He subconsciously raised his rifle and shouted, "Who is it? Raise your hand!"

The two stopped immediately, and one of them shouted, "It's me, Hefron! There are Germans!" He shouted loudly and pointed behind him. Obviously, Parks also recognized him immediately. He was accompanied by the hygienist Spina. Parks waved to them, and they quickly came to their side.

Watching the two people run over breathlessly, they hid behind the tree. Parks frowned and said to them, "Germans? What's going on?" He looked in the direction they came and found nothing.

"The company commander, we got lost and entered the German position!" Spina looked at Parks, took a breath, and suddenly laughed. Obviously, he regarded this experience as a thrilling adventure with a comedy ending.

It turned out that Spina took Hefron to the field ambulance station in Bastion Foy early in the morning to get some medicine. They want to go in the bright light and come back quickly. Obviously, they succeeded. They successfully arrived at the ambulance station, and Spina got some medicine and enjoyed hot food.

"We have to go back soon!" Despite his reluctance, Hefran proposed to return to the position. At this time, the sky has begun to light up. If it is dawn, they may be found by the infiltrated Germans on the road, although so far they have not found the infiltration of the Germans.

"Let's take a shortcut!" Spina suggested that it would be much faster if there was a shortcut. Hefran immediately agreed, and they didn't feel that the Germans were nearby at all.

"Squeak, squeak" The two stepped on the snow and quickly walked towards the defense line of Company E, but Hefron suddenly screamed. He fell into a pit covered by heavy snow, and then heard a faint scream from inside.

"Haha. We're here!" Hefran laughed and then taught loudly, "Hinker, Hinkel, is that you?"

But what he heard was not Hinkel's answer, but a burst of language that he couldn't understand, and only the Germans could speak this language. He couldn't help shouting: "Damn it, Spina, let's run, go to Hinkel of TM, Germans at that time!" With that, he jumped out of the scattering pit quickly and ran in the opposite direction.

The branches covered on the scattered soldiers' pit were lifted, and a German soldier came out. He shouted and fired at the two people with a gun in a row, but the German was so panicked that he didn't hit either of them several times in a row. The German was also very scared. He even thought he was captured by the Americans at the beginning!

Parks quickly figured out the cause and effect from Hevron's mouth. He couldn't help laughing, patted Hefron on the shoulder and said, "It seems that your luck is really not bad." He turned his head to Spina again and said, "What? Do we have enough medicine now? Aren't our supplies paid in full?

Spina hurriedly said, "Sar, it's like this. Captain Winters asked us to transfer with other battalions, so now our medicine is a little tight. If the Germans don't attack us on a large scale, I think it should be enough. I got some more from the ambulance station. It's always good to be well prepared!"

Parks nodded and then looked at the vast snow, feeling a little helpless. The elongation of the defense line, even if there is the convenience of shelter to cover each other, the German army will always find some gaps. It seems that the nerves of the brothers will be tense all the time!

(to be continued)