Chapter 5: Night March
The most reassuring presence in Easy Company was Second Lieutenant Dick Winters. Although the entire company was still adapting to the rigors of basic training, Lieutenant Winters always strove to carry out Lieutenant Sobel's orders to the best of his ability. The men were exhausted after every training session, but they never had a word of complaint against Lieutenant Winters. That was the source of his charisma.
But when it came to Lieutenant Sobel, the entire company felt the same thing: the descent of the Black Swan.
"Lieutenant Sobel, who is that man leading the drill?" Colonel Sink had come to inspect Easy Company's training. He was watching the formation as they moved through their exercises.
"That is Second Lieutenant Dick Winters, sir!" Sobel was delighted that Colonel Sink had come; it was his chance to impress.
"He's a fine soldier," Sink said with a smile, his eyes on the drilling men. His affection for this regiment came from the heart, born from the pride of his 506th being the first airborne unit in the United States. With that mindset, he wanted every one of his soldiers to love the 506th as much as he did.
Sobel said nothing, but his expression grew tense. He had expected Colonel Sink to praise him, but instead, Lieutenant Dick Winters had stolen the spotlight.
"Do you have a Sergeant named Rhys Parks in your company? I heard his performance in training has been outstanding," Colonel Sink asked, seemingly at random, without taking his eyes off the training field or noticing Sobel's discomfort.
"Yes, sir." Sobel's face was a mask of embarrassment. Colonel Sink was here to inspect Easy Company, yet he hadn't asked a single question about Sobel himself, only about two other men. "But I demoted him a few days ago. He is now a Private in Second Platoon."
"Demoted? Why?" Sink looked surprised. A company commander had a certain autonomy when it came to NCO promotions and demotions, but they were generally required to file a report with regimental headquarters. It seemed the matter of Rhys Parks's demotion had been handled entirely within Easy Company; it had not been reported up the chain, and Sink knew nothing about it.
Seeing the displeasure on Sink's face, Herbert Sobel quickly explained, "It was like this, sir. Parks was involved in a conflict with some townspeople during his weekend pass. He assaulted a man, so he had to be punished. It's just…"
Sink cut him off. "Alright. Promotions and demotions won't affect my opinion of Easy Company. You are leading a fine company, and I am proud of it." Sink walked toward his jeep. "Lead your company well. I am confident it will become the best in the 506th, Lieutenant Sobel."
Sobel quickly saluted. "I will do my best, Colonel!"
Sink's jeep kicked up a cloud of dust as it drove away from the training field. Watching Sink depart, Sobel turned and walked toward the training formation.
"Lieutenant!" Second Lieutenant Winters saw Herbert Sobel give the halt signal, stopped the drill, and saluted him.
Sobel glanced at him with a complex expression, then said sternly, "Second Lieutenant Winters, there has been a change in the training schedule. Tonight, we will conduct a 12-mile cross-country march."
Dick Winters looked puzzled. He pursed his lips and asked, "Lieutenant, isn't the night march conducted every Friday? Today is Tuesday. There are still three days until Friday."
"The training schedule has been changed, Dick!" Sobel practically yelled. "From now on, we will run 12 miles every Tuesday and Friday night! We are going to be paratroopers, the best troops in America. For our company to be the best of the best, we MUST march 12 miles twice a week at night. If anyone can't handle it, they can leave. We are not raising mama's boys here!"
Winters looked at Sobel for a moment, then finally nodded. "As you wish, sir."
"Continue the drill!" Sobel turned and stalked off the training field.
"Asshole," Bill Guarnere muttered under his breath.
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The faces of every man in the formation showed a mixture of helplessness and frustration.
"Alright, brothers, don't look so down. Let's keep going," Winters said, clapping his hands together. "Remember, we're not the Army, we're not the Navy, and we're not clerks sitting behind a desk banging on a typewriter. We are paratroopers, one of a kind. Is there anything that can stop us? Alright, let's continue!"
***
After the day's training concluded, the barracks were filled with the groans of exhausted soldiers.
"Sobel is a piece of shit. The training schedule depends entirely on his mood," White couldn't help but complain again. "Then what's the point of the training manual? Is it for us to wipe our asses with?"
"I bet Sobel does use the hard paper of the training manual to wipe his ass. He's completely thrown out its contents. Maybe he thinks he is that piece of ass-wiping paper," Ed Tipper joked.
"We are going to be paratroopers, the best troops in America! For our company to be the best of the best, we MUST march 12 miles twice a week at night! If anyone can't handle it, they can leave! We are not raising mama's boys here!" George Luz bellowed at White, perfectly mimicking Herbert Sobel's voice.
"You're the mama's boy!" White shouted back at Luz.
"Alright, it's not that big of a deal, fellas."
Rhys stood up. He felt it was necessary to intervene. In his past life, he had watched Band of Brothers many times and knew Sobel's ultimate fate. But if Sobel wasn't transferred as expected in the storyline, it would be a tragedy for the men of Easy Company when they finally went into battle.
"Of course we're unhappy with Sobel, but we can't get him transferred and have Lieutenant Winters made our CO just by complaining," Rhys said. "What we need to do is cause as little trouble as possible so we don't make things harder for Lieutenant Winters, understand?"
"Lieutenant Winters is a good man," Cobb said suddenly.
Yes, everyone knew Lieutenant Winters was a good man, but nobody could change his or Sobel's positions, or their destinies. They were, after all, just grunts.
Rhys knew that the soldiers' accumulated resentment toward Sobel would eventually erupt, but that time was not now. Right now, Easy Company had not even officially become paratroopers; they still needed more training. Training would increase a soldier's chances of survival on the battlefield. Therefore, Rhys was not opposed to the night march.
"Brothers, Easy Company doesn't belong to Lieutenant Sobel alone. It belongs to all of us," Rhys said solemnly. "For Lieutenant Winters! For Easy Company!" He held out his hand.
The soldiers came over, one by one, and placed their hands on top of his. In unison, they said, "For Easy Company!"
Yes, for Easy Company. It was the wish in the heart of every soldier here. These days of training had already made the men feel that the company was a single entity, and every man was their brother.
***
Sobel did not join the cross-country march that night. He waited back at the company area.
The full-gear night march left the soldiers of Easy Company drained and listless.
"I can't take it anymore!" Christenson stopped, bending over and gasping for air. As a machine gunner, the gun he carried was much heavier than a standard rifle. "I need a drink of water!"
"No, no, Christenson. Don't you know you can't drink water during a full-gear night march?" Rhys knew that if Christenson drank, the result would be the same as in the TV series: the entire company would have to run the whole thing over again.
"This damn M1919 is too heavy," Christenson grumbled.
Rhys shook his head with a smile. "If you're willing to carry that thing for another round trip, then I guess there's no reason for me to stop you. Quit complaining, Christenson."
Perhaps it was the shadow of Sobel spreading in Christenson's mind, but he managed to restrain himself and gave up on the idea of his canteen.
The 12-mile journey nearly exhausted the men's spirits. Under the night sky, only the column of soldiers moved, breathing heavily but maintaining a neat formation, their progress marked by the 'swish-swish' of their boots against the wild grass.
"I have something to say," Denver Randleman suddenly muttered.
Luz, beside him, gave him a confused look. "Who do you want to say it to?"
Randleman suddenly called out toward the front of the column. "Lieutenant Winters!"
"What is it?" Lieutenant Winters asked, turning his head to look at him as he marched.
"Permission to speak, sir."
"Permission granted," Winters said.
"Sir, we've got nine companies in this regiment."
"That's right."
"So why is Easy Company the only one marching 12 miles in the dark, in full pack, every Tuesday and Friday night?"
Winters paused for a second, then asked back, "Why do you think, Private Randleman?"
Randleman raised his voice and said, "Because Lieutenant Sobel hates us, sir!"