Chapter 6: Infractions
It was obvious that Randleman's words had the approval of nearly everyone in the company. Luz was right beside him, winking and making faces.
Winters was also taken aback for a moment by the statement. He immediately understood that although Randleman was the one who said it, the sentiment represented the feelings of all the brothers in Easy Company. Whether he agreed or disagreed, the outcome would have a negative impact. If he agreed, it would bring him closer to the men, but it would also fuel their dissatisfaction with Lieutenant Sobel, which could lead to future problems for Sobel's command and Easy Company's leadership. But if he disagreed, some of the brothers might suspect he was on Sobel's side, and he could easily lose their support.
Second Lieutenant Dick Winters quickly found a solution. He paused for only a fraction of a second before replying in a deadpan, serious tone, "Lieutenant Sobel doesn't hate Easy Company, Private Randleman."
Winters then glanced at Randleman and added slowly, "He just hates you."
A ripple of laughter went through the ranks.
"Thank you, sir," Randleman said, his face a picture of embarrassment, though he was clearly not ready to back down.
It was a joke, and while it wouldn't get Lieutenant Sobel kicked out, it effectively dispelled the frustrated mood of the entire company.
"He hates you, too."
"He hates you as well, Muck!"
After that one joke, the men began teasing each other, their spirits lifted.
Rhys deeply admired Winters's ability to think on his feet. It was the mark of a high-quality commander's intelligence.
***
Lieutenant Sobel was waiting in the company area when the men of Easy Company returned, but they were two minutes late, which gave him all the justification he needed for a punishment. He walked coldly along the front of the formation and ordered Winters, "Lieutenant Winters, I want all canteens unclipped from their belts, with the caps open."
Winters stood ramrod straight, maintaining his military bearing at all times, even under Lieutenant Sobel's relentless provocations. "All of Easy Company, unclip your canteens and open the caps!"
"On my command, everyone will empty the contents of their canteens onto the ground," Lieutenant Sobel said.
"On the commander's order, you will turn your canteens upside down!" Winters relayed.
"Now, Lieutenant Winters," Lieutenant Sobel barked.
"Pour!"
Every man in Easy Company inverted his canteen, and water gushed onto the ground. Lieutenant Sobel was hoping to find one soldier who had made a mistake, which would give him a better reason to reprimand Winters. But he was disappointed. The men of Easy Company had all followed the rules perfectly. Every canteen had been full.
At that moment, Christenson, standing in the same rank as Rhys, quietly caught his eye and gave him a slight smile. It was clear that without Rhys's warning, Christenson would have been in for a world of pain tonight.
Sobel, who had been ready to explode, couldn't find an infraction. He frowned, pointed a finger at Winters, and gestured for him to step aside. Filled with dissatisfaction, he confronted the lieutenant, staring him down. "How are you leading my company? You were a full two minutes late."
Winters glanced at Sobel and said in a low voice, "Two minutes is within a reasonable margin for a cross-country march, Lieutenant."
Sobel suddenly stepped closer, his face contorted in anger. "Don't talk to me about 'reasonable,' Lieutenant Winters," he snarled. "My order was for you to march here and arrive on the dot. You were two minutes late. That is a fact. You violated my order." As he spoke, Sobel began to pace back and forth in front of Winters, his anger turning into humiliation.
"You make me look bad. We are not Dog Company, we are not Fox Company. This is Easy Company. Under my command, we will be number one, the best company in this regiment." Sobel had lost all restraint. He stopped in front of Winters again. "I want you to find six men. I want their names, their infractions, and your recommendation for disciplinary action on my desk by 0130 tonight. Is that clear?" The last sentence was laced with a threatening, commanding tone.
"What kind of infractions, Lieutenant Sobel?" Winters frowned but decided to comply. He was not a soldier accustomed to disobeying orders.
"You find them," Lieutenant Sobel said, then turned his back on him and stalked off into the camp.
It seemed the outcome was the same after all.
Rhys couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had thought that by warning Christenson, he would prevent Sobel from finding any faults. He never expected Sobel to be such a genius at inventing reasons to punish people.
"Thanks, Parks," Christenson said, running over and clapping Rhys on the shoulder after they were dismissed. "Sobel left me speechless. But thanks to you, he definitely wouldn't have let me off easy tonight."
"It's nothing. I just know Lieutenant Sobel better than you do," Rhys smiled.
"God knows how the 506th ended up with an officer like Sobel," Christenson said, shaking his head. "Goodnight, Parks. I don't think I'll be able to get up tomorrow morning. Damn morning PT, damn Sobel." He muttered a few more curses and headed into the barracks.
"Christenson, at least you'll be able to sleep well tonight!" Rhys called after him with a laugh, then gathered his gear and went inside.
"Lieutenant Sobel is furious. It's obvious some of us are in for it," White said, already lying on his bunk in his clothes.
Alton More, who was taking off his uniform, paused. "This is really tough on Lieutenant Winters. God knows which unlucky bastards he'll have to pick. I just hope I'm not one of them. Winters is a good man."
"A good man still has to obey Lieutenant Herbert Sobel's orders," Cobb said listlessly from the edge of his bunk. "I really don't want to be chosen by Winters to complete some impossible task."
"Alright, stop arguing. I'm sure Lieutenant Winters has a plan," Rhys said with a smile. "I remember an old saying: 'The higher-ups have their policies, but those below have their countermeasures.' Why don't we try to be a little more optimistic?"
"There's a saying like that?" White asked, looking at Rhys.
Of course, it wasn't exactly a proverb, but Rhys had no intention of explaining. He lay down on his own bunk and said with a smile, "Maybe it'll just be something like cleaning the latrines."
"Let's hope so."
Silence fell over the barracks. Everyone was too exhausted to talk. In any case, whenever the conversation turned to Sobel, the atmosphere always grew heavy.
***
In fact, things turned out just as Rhys had predicted. Lieutenant Sobel's challenge did not stump Winters. The next morning at breakfast, Lieutenant Lewis Nixon, Winters's friend, brought up the topic.
"So what did you do?" Nixon asked as he and Winters walked with their trays and sat down opposite each other at a table.
"I found six men and had them clean the latrines," Winters said, the corners of his mouth turning up in a slight smile.
Nixon grinned. "Which six unlucky bastards?"
"MacDonald, Toye, Perconte, Lipton, Muck, and Guarnere."
"Why them?" Nixon glanced at Winters.
"It was their turn to clean it anyway," Winters smiled.
Nixon burst out laughing. "Sobel's a genius," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I had a headmaster just like him at prep school. I know his type."
"Lewis, Michelangelo was a genius. Beethoven was a genius."
***
The resolution of the incident left the men of Easy Company deeply satisfied and impressed with Winters's creativity.
"Hey, I told you guys Winters would find a solution! I knew he was a good man and wouldn't have the heart to let his brothers suffer under Sobel's abuse," Cobb announced loudly as he walked into the barracks.
"Shut up, Cobb! That's a load of crap," White retorted without looking up from the boot he was polishing. "You didn't say that. Rhys did."
"What's the difference?" Cobb shrugged. He looked at White's brilliantly shined boots. "White, you got any plans today? It's Saturday. It'll be a hard day to get through without finding some fun in town. Let's go together."
"No, Cobb. I've already got plans. Sorry," White said without even looking at him.
"Hey, don't be like that. Brothers stick together! Don't leave me behind while you go chase girls!" Cobb said, holding his hands out.
"Still no, Cobb. I'm going with Rhys," White said with a whistle.
"Rhys!" Cobb turned to look at Rhys.
Rhys just shrugged. "Don't look at me, Cobb. If you're willing to cover all my expenses in town tonight, I see no reason why I wouldn't let you come with us."
"Bullshit," Cobb muttered sullenly. He watched Rhys and White leave, then turned his gaze to the only other person left in the barracks, Ed Tipper. "Hey, buddy…"
"Don't look at me, Cobb. I've got plans, too," Ed Tipper said with a blank expression, then turned and walked out.