Chapter 217 A New Day

The brothers of Company E boarded the truck, and they will return to France for a rest. The truck gradually moved away from the defense line. The brothers looked at the distant defense line with dull eyes, and no one spoke. To be honest, I have been here for a long time and suffered a lot. Once I want to leave, it really makes people feel indescribable.

The market garden action actually proved to be a failed high-risk action. The Allies' hopes of ending the war before Christmas were over. The 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division killed more than 130 people in this battle, more than 40 people less than expected in the previous life, 380 people were injured, and much less than in the previous life. However, more than 750 people were killed in the whole 101 Airborne Division, and more than 2,100 people were injured. The overall result has not changed. Moreover, the result of the killing of more than 8,000 people in the first airborne division of the British army has not changed. More importantly, although the Arname Bridge was once occupied, the Naymeg Bridge was accidentally blown up by the German army, resulting in the final explosion of the Arname Bridge, which made the Allied offensive fail. The overall result of the operation did not change, but this operation made the 101 Airborne Division a dazzling star, and Captain Parks of Company E of the 506th Regiment once again entered the eyes of the Allied generals in this operation. His name was greatly promoted in the Allies and became an American-style lonely hero. People admire and worship.

Company E went on the expedition on September 17, with a total of 156 officers and soldiers. There were 122 officers and soldiers at the time of withdrawal from the Netherlands. Lieutenant Brewer, Compton and 25 soldiers were injured. There were 7 officers and soldiers of Company E killed. In Normandy, Company E had suffered 45 casualties. Therefore, by the end of November, the two battles were counted together, with a total of 79 casualties, and none of them were captured.

E didn't stop at all. They hurried along the "Hell Highway" and returned to the rear. There was no gunfire, no continuous rain that could not be avoided, no bullets after tearing people's bodies, and screams after injury! Everything makes people feel in a trance. Although the brothers have also experienced a lot of battles, they will feel this way every time, and they are more and more in their eyes one after another, thus a kind of rejection of war.

The Dutch lined up to cheer their liberators on both sides of the road. The girls showed a more excited look than others. They let out bursts of screams, and from time to time, the soldiers in the truck poked their heads out and whistled loudly at them.

"My God, I have never thought that Dutch girls are so beautiful!" Luz said to Moore beside him, "Unfortunately, we can't stop here. Maybe we can stay in Endhofen at night, and the girls there are also quite good! Will you be with Malaqi? Why don't the three of us have some fun in that town!"

"You haven't seen a woman for too long! Luz!" Moore smiled and said, "If we spend the night in Eindhoven, I promise I will take you out."

E Company did stay in Aindelhofen for one night, but it was this night that angered the local Dutch. Private Hanknu forcibly annihiated a girl from the local Dutchman, and when the girl's husband came to stop her, he was shot three times by Hanknu with a pistol. That night, the Dutch underground resistance found Colonel Sink, who was also camped in Eindhoven.

In the regimental headquarters, Colonel Sink dropped a cup. Obviously, he was very angry about this. Captain Winters, Captain Nixon, Captain Parks and Lieutenant Wales were all in the regimental headquarters, accepting Colonel Sink's anger.

"You have disgraced the medal! Captain Parks!" Colonel Sink did not call Parks a close name, but used his official rank. "It's simply unforgivable. I can't believe that such a thing will happen in your company. I need your explanation!"

"No explanation, sir!" Parks straightened his chest. He decided not to implicate anyone and planned to take the responsibility for the incident on his own initiative. "I'm willing to accept the punishment!"

"Your officer!" Winters said at this time, "This matter is indeed a little too much, but the soldiers have been in the trench for so long, and their emotions are on the verge of collapse. They suddenly relax and will make one mistake or another. This problem is very serious. The American soldier must be dealt with strictly, but Captain Parks--"

Sink interrupted him and said dissatisfiedly, "Dick, don't defend him. He didn't manage his men well and should be responsible for this incident. Of course, it's not his responsibility alone, including the Welsh lieutenant!"

When Parks heard this, he quickly replied, "Sir, this matter has nothing to do with Lieutenant Yu Wales. He is carrying out my other orders, and I am willing to bear it alone!" He can't pull Wales into the water.

"I'm sorry, sir, I think I was on a patrol mission last night. It's my fault. I didn't find the situation of the soldiers. Parks completely handed it over to me, so it doesn't have much to do with Captain Parks!" Wales looked a little ugly, but he decided to take responsibility alone.

Was' words are exactly what Colonel Sink wants to hear. He doesn't want Parks to be responsible for this matter. He is the image of an American hero raised by the 101st Airborne Division or even President Roosevelt himself. If he is discredited because of this, the gains outweigh the losses, and General Taylor's attitude tends to be low-key, even if the final responsibility is still On Parks.

"Lieutenant Wales, I'm in charge of Company E, not you!" Parks insisted on his point of view and said to the Welsh lieutenant, "If you want to be responsible, wait until you become the company commander!" His words were tough, but Wales knew that he was exenmenting himself. He still wants to say something, but Parks doesn't give him any chance.

"S sir, I automatically request to be responsible for this incident. I don't need anyone else to take responsibility for me!" Parks said firmly to Sink.

Colonel Sink looked at Parks, then at the others, and wanted to say something else. At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Stryer came over and whispered a few words to Colonel Sink, and heard Colonel Sink say, "Well, it's better to have a detailed investigation into this matter and hand over the celebrity scum soldier to the gendarmerie. Disband!" With that, he seemed to wave his hand with a sigh.

When they all went out, Lieutenant Colonel Stry laughed and said, "The Dutchman was out of danger and had no life safety. The girl demanded compensation for a certain amount of money, which was a compensation, and General Taylor had agreed. The Dutch underground resistance did not intend to pursue further, and General Taylor asked for a low-key treatment. I think that's what he means!"

Sink nodded and said, "I know. This matter is not on Les's fault. After all, it's just a case, but his bad luck. After a pause, Sink suddenly smiled at Stryll and said, "However, I appreciate him very much. Company E needs such a company commander to take responsibility. If he promises me to deal with Wales, even if it is acquiescence, I will feel a little uncomfortable!"

"So the final result?" Stryll looked at Sink and added, "I mean Les!"

"Reduc him to lieutenant and continue to serve as the company commander of Company E." Colonel Sink looked at Stryll, "This will send the notice to the whole regiment. Although it is a case, we can't let it delay."

The notice was sent to the whole regiment in the morning. Of course, the 101st Airborne Division had to continue to move forward, and this matter did not come among the Dutch. The Dutch underground resistance group knew that they had to rely on the help of the U.S. military for many things, and it was not a tough time. Hanknu may be waiting for a military trial, but Parks has taken on the responsibility, and he became a lieutenant again.

"It's not fair!" The Welsh lieutenant complained to Parks in the jeep, "That damn guy has done something bad. Why should I let you bear it alone!"

"I'm his company commander! Harry." Parks doesn't care about the rank, as long as he can lead the E Company. He also needs to help the brothers of Company E get through the difficulties of Baston. Parks turned his head and looked at the Dutch on both sides of the road who were still enthusiastic about the U.S. officers and soldiers. They still cheered the U.S. military liberators and couldn't help sighing slightly.

The mentality of the soldiers is abnormal, and it is inevitable that there will be problems in a cruel environment. Parks can only make these things happen as little as possible or not to happen.

But after the Hanknu incident, everyone's emotions have been restrained a lot. Even Luz, who has more desire for women than ordinary people, no longer easily talks about Dutch women. In their opinion, this is already contraband. This contraband was unconsciously formed in their hearts.

"Damn it!" White sat in the truck and couldn't help scolding.

"What?" Li Pu looked at him differently next to him.

"That blind boy!" White said angrily. Obviously, everyone knows who the boy he is talking about! In fact, Parks's punishment seemed to be blocked with a handful of grass in the hearts of the brothers of Company E, which was a little uncomfortable. The people in the truck looked at White, and then kept silent. The joy and relaxation after leaving the trench seemed to be covered with a shadow.

"American Liberator!" In another truck, Grenari looked at the sign raised by the Dutchman outside and couldn't help sneering, "I'm afraid they don't know what happened last night!" The boss is really unlucky!"

Toy shook his head and said, "I never felt that I was not a liberator. We didn't liberate the Dutch. Hanknu's performance was worse than that of the German SS. Didn't you hear it in the trench? Anne of Arnaum, a German radio, said: You can enjoy our music, but you can't walk on our streets. She was right. We didn't really enter Arham. Even if we went in, we still retreated.

"We are not heroes, never!" Granary nodded, and then looked at the happy Dutchman outside. "I hope next time we come, we can walk on the streets of Anam!"

The car kept moving forward and swaying. On the road after that, although there were still people joking from time to time, it was obvious that most of the brothers seemed listless. Captain Winters once deliberately shared a car with Parks and wanted to talk to Parks, but he found that he was wrong. Parks' mentality was normal, and he even joked with himself from time to time.

"Dick, the German pouted his buttocks and was kicked by me. At that time, he kicked him in the mouth and gnawed the mud!" Parks laughed excitedly at Winters. He was describing the situation in a battle, and his hands kept rubbing, looking very energetic and loud. He even transmitted the voice to the truck in front of him in the jeep, causing the brothers to keep looking at them.

"You have been demoted, Les!" Winters looked at Parks and couldn't help reminding him again.

Parks's voice suddenly stopped. He sighed deeply and said to Winters, "Dick, it's not a big deal. I'm pretending to be calm, but I still feel guilty. The innocent Dutchman and the innocent girl. I don't even know how to help them, so I can only leave all my dollars to her. I hope it can be a little useful! Anyway, it's all my fault. Hanknu made an unforgivable mistake!"

"It's not your fault!" Winters patted Pax on the shoulder, and then the two said nothing more. Winters didn't know how to comfort him, but although Parks said he didn't care, he still cared in his heart. What he cared about was not his rank, but the Dutchman and the woman who were shot by Hanknu.

At 6 p.m. on November 26, when the sun was still elonging the shadow of everyone, E was connected to the Camp of Damomien in France, located outside the village of Great Momian (near the village of Little Momian), about 30 kilometers away from the so-called Cathedral City and the center of Champagne. Momian has a history of at least 1998 as a guberge.

The baffle of the truck was put down and made a "kap" sound. Everyone got out of the car. They looked at the place curiously. Although they were already very tired, they were always curious about a new place.

"54 BC, Julius? Caesar and his Roman legions once camped here. Nixon got out of the car, then looked around the place and couldn't help sighing, "The French have also built military camps here for hundreds of years!" For us American soldiers, it should be a re-land trip!"

"Have we ever been here?" Obviously, Parks didn't know the place. He also looked around, and the brothers of Company E began to go to their respective camps under the order of their squad leaders.

"Momian is the Marne River to the south and the Aina River to the north. It is located in the historical passage to Paris. This land has witnessed many wars for centuries. Recently, it was devastated by World War I. Our American infantry fought in nearby Tierburg and Bellowwood in 1918. Nixon talks like a commentator. He talks narly.

"Fortunately, we were still very young at that time!" Parks couldn't help laughing. Obviously, this joke has removed a lot of shadows in their previous hearts.

"Lace, we will serve as a grison here. On the first day, we can let our brothers arrange freely, but we can't leave the barracks. On the next day, we will practice. I hope I can do some training to restore my surname first, and then train for regular retreat and offensive formation under the cover of artillery fire. If you have any suggestions in this regard, please tell me as much as possible that I will support you!" Once Winters shifted the topic to the military, he showed his ability!

"I see!" Parks nodded, and he began to notice that there should have been no fighting in the E Company in recent days, but a cruel battle that followed came from Arden. The battle of Arden will be the most difficult and the deadliest battle for the E Company brothers. The brothers are not only physically tortured, but also mentally tortured. And these tortures are inevitable.

After Winters finished speaking, he said to Parks and Nixon, "Let's go too. What I want most these days is to have a good sleep. Now I have to get a hot food first, then take a hot shower, and lie comfortably in **." With that, he patted Nixon's arm and said to Parks, "Return to the company as soon as possible!"

Parks nodded and looked at Winters leaving. Suddenly, he stopped him and said, "Hey, Dick."

"What?" Winters turned around and looked at him.

Parks said: "Now I think the recent training should focus on how to defend against and attack in cold weather. After all, as the weather changes, we may fight with the Germans in the harsh winter. If we prepare first, we can be prepared. You know, we haven't done enough in Tacosia!"

Winters was suddenly stunned, and then smiled, "Do you think we will fall from the sky again in heavy snow and then go to war with the Germans? But your suggestion makes sense. I will tell Colonel Sink. With that, he waved to Parks and said goodbye with Nixon.

Obviously, even Captain Winters's advice to Parks was only recognized out of friendship. Maybe winter is really not suitable for airborne troops, but airborne troops can't just fight from the sky. Parks couldn't help but feel helpless.

Brothers haven't taken a shower for more than 60 days. The first thing to do when I came back was to rush into the bathroom, take off my strips, and let the hot water drip from head to toe. Then he let out a loud exclamation.

Miller was rubbing his balls with soap, and then he heard someone laughing loudly: "Hey, Miller, wash it well. That thing can't be moldy. Then make a fire. If you dry them, you may be able to treat them as potatoes and become our dinner!"

This is just a joke between them, and no one really cares about it. The shower process was so long that many monitor and platoon leaders shouted loudly outside the bathroom: "Damn it, do you all want to lose a layer of skin in it? Come on, come on, we still have a big dinner. We can get whatever we want!"

These words are more useful than anything else. The naked men in the bathroom suddenly came out one after another. They swaggered and wore clothes outside the bathroom, and they didn't worry about being seen at all, because there were no women here.

The dinner is really hearty. There are too many choices for roast beef, mashed potatoes, steak, vermicelli, pasta, beer, rum, etc. Compared with staying in the trench, there is no doubt that one is in heaven and the other is in hell. So much so that many brothers eat round and swollen stomachs. Then they will vent their energy after they are full of food on the fights in the barracks. Pillows and blankets are flying everywhere, which is a mess. Of course, this is a catharsis of long-standing emotions.

Parks had some insomnia that night. Although he felt tired physically and mentally after a long guard, he still lost sleep. After all, the time for the battle of Ardens was running out. His idea was not even fully convinced by Winters, so how to convince Colonel Sink and General Taylor?

And in this strong J incident, Parks clearly felt that Colonel Sink had a subtle change in his attitude towards him? Maybe not only Colonel Sink, but also General Taylor!

The Ardene area will be the weakest line of defense of the U.S. military, which makes Hitler miscalculation of the situation. And it is ready to fight back from Ardenn, and attempt to reoccupy Belgium's Liege and Antwerp, cut off the supply lines of the U.S. and British troops, and encircle and annihete their main forces, thus forcing Britain and the United States to make peace with Germany alone. At that time, the number of German troops participating in the war will reach 23 divisions and more than 200,000. The German army will attack in the wind and snow at dawn on December 16 under the command of Lundstedt, the chief of the Western Front. Unfortunately, the U.S. military has only four divisions in the Ardenes area and can't compete with the Germans at all. The final result of this battle was the loss of more than 80,000 to the Allies, of whom 77,000 would be the U.S. military, causing the U.S. military to suffer the biggest setbacks and casualties since the Normandy landing.

What should I do? This night is the question that Parks thinks about the most. But he is just a company commander, and it is not his turn to intervene in the transfer of the army. Although he has some impressions in front of many bigwigs, he doesn't feel the ability to convince them at all. Because no matter from which point of view, Hitler would not launch a counterattack from Ardenn - this is the view of the bigwigs. But it is this kind of unconventional counterattack that makes the whole battle extremely passive and long.

I don't know when Parks fell asleep. After all, he was too tired. Even if he had something in his heart, he couldn't stop his sleepy eyes. When I was in a daze, I heard the whistle outside the barracks, and then the whole barracks gradually began to be noisy. Parks opened his eyes and looked at the top of the barracks - a new day began!

(to be continued)