Chapter 30: Combat Training
"This place is heaven! The services at the community club are just like a high-class hotel, and there's even a movie theater! It's wonderful!" White exclaimed, throwing his entire body onto a bed in the new barracks. "And these comfortable beds and rooms! Is this a gift from Colonel Sink? It really feels like a dream."
"I bet this thing is stuffed with swan feathers. It's the first time I've ever had such a soft pillow," Cobb said with a smug grin, patting his pillow.
"Here, this is for you!" Tipper shouted, throwing his own pillow with all his might. It hit Cobb square in the head, and the room erupted in laughter. Then, More threw his pillow at him too.
"Alright, alright, just see how I deal with you," Cobb laughed, grabbing his pillow and jumping barefoot onto More's bed, repeatedly smacking him on the head. A full-blown pillow fight immediately broke out in the barracks.
"This is a new beginning for us, fellas. We've cleared another hurdle," Rhys said with a smile, watching them roughhouse. As the First Sergeant, he had the authority to make them stop, but he didn't. This was simple happiness, and the brothers needed this kind of optimism to cope with the increasingly complex training.
The result was that most of the men in Easy Company were completely exhausted that night. It wasn't until late that the barracks finally grew quiet, and the camp was once again enveloped in the silence of the night.
***
"Luz," Rhys said in a low voice, using hand signals. "You and Tipper will attack from the right. Move on my command. Once you've breached their first line of defense, immediately shift to the rear and feign an attack."
Luz nodded and, along with Tipper, crouched down and moved out to the right.
"Christenson, Cobb, you will draw their fire from the left. Move on my signal. Find your own cover and be ready to suppress their fire with the machine gun. Once the first line is breached, move up immediately and suppress the fire from their second line of defense from the front," Rhys instructed the two men. Christenson and Cobb quietly moved to the left.
Rhys then turned to White, More, and the others. "You're with me. Move on my hand signals."
In front of Rhys were two buildings. The first was a single-story structure, now just an empty shell. Aside from a few walls, there was no cover, and even the doors and windows had been removed. In the dark openings, figures could be seen moving.
Rhys raised his hand, signaling to Luz on the left and Christenson on the right. Christenson's machine gun immediately opened fire. The sound of gunfire erupted as the men in the building raised their own weapons and desperately fired back at Christenson's position.
"Go!" Seeing that Luz's team had circled to the right and was drawing the attention of the defenders on that side, Rhys gave the signal and led the remaining men in a charge toward the building.
The men inside were clearly in disarray. Pinned down by the machine gun and harassed by Luz, they had neglected their front line. Combined with Rhys's rapid advance, by the time they recovered from the confusion, Rhys was already at the main door. He pulled the pin on a smoke grenade and tossed it inside.
After clearing the first room, Rhys signaled to both sides. Luz began to move to the rear, starting the feint to continue drawing fire, while Christenson moved his machine gun closer to provide continuous support, suppressing the machine gun fire from the second line of defense.
"Don't move," Rhys said, bursting into the second room and raising his rifle. "You're captured, fellas."
"White, you stay here. More, you take the rest of the men, link up with Luz, and assault from the rear. They're drawn to our frontal attack now," Rhys ordered decisively, waving to Luz's team to turn their feint into a full-scale assault.
"This one's over. No question," Lieutenant Winters said from a distance, lowering his binoculars. He turned to Nixon, who was still observing. "Parks's team has won."
"You're right," Nixon nodded. "He is a true tactician."
This was a routine training exercise, designed to test the assault capabilities of the men of Easy Company. Rhys's squad had clearly demonstrated a high level of skill and ability.
"He's running circles around his opponents," Nixon couldn't help but laugh. "I really don't know what other surprises he has in store for us. I'm genuinely curious about him now. It's a shame he never went to military school, otherwise he would have been an outstanding leader."
"They're coming back. Let's go see them," Winters said, not directly answering Nixon's comment. He walked toward Rhys's group, who were marching their "prisoners" over.
"I'm really starting to admire you now, Parks." White said with a big laugh.
"Hey, hey, Cobb, you don't have to really treat us like prisoners," Guarnere, who had unfortunately been on the opposing team, grumbled, annoyed at Cobb's smug attitude.
"Oh, Mr. Gonorrhea, who are you talking to? Have you forgotten that you were killed in action during that last engagement?" Cobb said, completely unfazed, and continued to mock him.
"Damn it," Guarnere muttered, helpless. He then turned to Rhys. "You're a cunning one, running us ragged like that!"
Rhys laughed. "Quit complaining. You should be glad you're not a Kraut. This isn't trickery, it's art. The art of war. Maybe you should take a lesson."
"I'm just glad I'm on your side," Guarnere said, rolling his eyes.
Just then, they saw Winters and Nixon approaching. The group stopped and saluted.
"At ease," Winters said with a smile and a nod. "You all did very well. Dismissed."
The men let out a cheer and dispersed. Just as Rhys was about to leave, he heard Lieutenant Winters call out, "Parks, can you wait a minute?"
Rhys stopped and turned to face him. "Sir, do you have orders for me?"
"Your use of tactics was excellent. You successfully deceived your opponent," Winters said.
"Thank you, sir," Rhys replied. He knew Winters's meaning wasn't just to praise him, so he waited patiently for what would come next.
"I hope that in the future, you can use your wisdom to help the brothers get through difficult situations. And more importantly, not to make pointless sacrifices. Do you understand?" In truth, when Winters said this, he didn't expect Rhys to fully understand, but he couldn't help but say it.
But Rhys understood his thoughts perfectly. Winters was afraid that on the battlefield, if a situation arose where Sobel was giving incompetent commands, he wanted Rhys to do everything possible to ensure the brothers didn't suffer greater losses. But Rhys knew that Winters's worry was unnecessary. He knew the ultimate outcome of the conflict between them: Winters would win, and Sobel would be transferred.
"I understand, Lieutenant," Rhys said, giving him a solemn salute. This was why he so admired the man.
"Alright, that's all. Dismissed," Winters nodded.
Rhys turned to leave, but after only a couple of steps, Winters called him back again.
"Sir?" Rhys asked, waiting for his order.
"Those tactics just now, were they a flash of inspiration?" Winters asked.
Rhys nodded. "Yes, sir. As a commander, I must make my own judgments based on the situation and formulate an effective tactical plan. I will not let my brothers take foolish risks."
"Mm, very correct," Winters smiled. "Especially having Luz switch from a feint to a full assault. The transition was excellent and has great instructional value. You did a fantastic job."
Rhys smiled. "I read a military text once. It emphasized a point: 'Treat the real as illusory, and the illusory as real.' Illusion and reality are not constant states, but are interchangeable. If you use the real to strike the illusory, the enemy can be easily defeated."
Winters's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "A brilliant theory. The thinking of a genius. Can you tell me what military text this was?"
Rhys smiled. "It's called 'The Art of War', written by a very famous military strategist from ancient China named Sun Tzu."
"Then I must read it," Winters said.
"About that…" Rhys hesitated. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, sir. The book is not very common in the United States right now. You might have better luck in Europe, but you'd have to be fortunate."
Winters was clearly a little disappointed, but he remembered the name of the book. Later, on the European battlefield, he would specifically look for it, and would eventually find an early European translation. He would treasure it like a jewel, and it would become one of the most valued books on his desk.
The men of Easy Company had now begun their assault training. They used blank ammunition and smoke grenades, practicing over and over again the various situations they might encounter in an assault.
Although the training was more complex, the spirits of the brothers were high, and they even had time to go to town for a bit of fun.
*****
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