It was clear that General Taylor's words had left Parks somewhat confused.
Another mission like this?
What kind of mission was this?
Like last time, penetrating deep into German territory and then carrying out a rescue?
But the key was, who else was there to rescue now?
The war hadn't even started.
Even so, venturing deep behind enemy lines, surrounded by German forces, it would be impossible to bring anyone back.
"General, if there's another similar mission, I think the best company is Easy Company of the 506th Regiment!" Parks wasn't lying.
Comparatively, the officers and soldiers of Easy Company received stricter training, and it was also the only company that had undergone adjusted training based on his suggestions, showing considerable physical differences from other companies.
Upon hearing this, Taylor nodded and smiled, "I appreciate your directness, but I also agree."
"Thank you, General!" Parks smiled.
He had a good impression of General Taylor; at the very least, he wasn't so bureaucratic.
Calling him here and discussing matters with him was a very enlightened display.
"Do you know General Lee?" Taylor still didn't discuss Parks' plan, but instead changed the subject and smiled at Parks.
Parks nodded and said, "Yes.
I've had a few exchanges with General Lee."
"He admires you!" General Taylor smiled, "He said you are the 101st Airborne Division's most outstanding soldier, the pride of the 101st Division, and I wholeheartedly agree.
I believe Colonel Sink would have no objection!" As he spoke, he spread his right hand towards Colonel Sink and smiled.
"Yes, I've always thought so!" Colonel Sink nodded and smiled.
General Taylor's admiration for Parks was, in fact, an affirmation of the 506th Regiment, which made him feel very comfortable.
"Thank you, General!" Parks was still unclear, but he maintained excellent politeness and humility.
Taylor nodded, seemingly appreciative of his attitude.
He paused, as if pondering something, and didn't continue the conversation, which caused the Division HQ to fall silent immediately.
No one spoke, fearing they might disturb the General's thoughts, for they could see that General Taylor was deep in thought.
After a long while, General Taylor finally spoke.
He at last addressed the plan: "The issues you raised in your plan are indeed excellent.
As a junior officer, to be able to consider such comprehensive problems, it surprises me.
A very good plan!"
Parks nodded, remaining silent.
He knew the General had more to say, but at least they were finally getting to the main topic, which made him a little excited and expectant.
"But…" General Taylor's hesitation made Parks' heart tighten.
Although he knew the probability of his plan convincing the higher-ups to change their minds or make significant adjustments was almost zero, he still held some hope.
However, Taylor's tone made him feel that this was nothing more than a show—a show to win over junior officers and establish a good image for the senior commanders.
"We cannot spend countless money and adjust troop deployments for your speculation; it's not realistic!" General Taylor shook his head, looking at the somewhat disappointed Parks, and said, "We are already spending countless energy and money on this, and you can't provide evidence, which makes it very difficult for me to convince those guys!"
Parks knew who he was referring to by "those guys." They were General Montgomery, the proponent of this operation, and General Lewis Blielitun, the commander of the Allied First Airborne Corps.
"Yes, General, I understand!" Parks was a bit dejected.
He nodded, then urgently wanted to leave this place.
Anyway, the outcome was the same; he had already tried his best, what more could he do?
He finally understood now that even if he had transmigrated and understood the course and consequences of the war, a small individual ultimately could not change the outcome.
The flapping of a butterfly's wings in the Amazon did not necessarily cause a tornado in Texas.
"Then—thank you for coming, Parks!" General Taylor once again shook Parks' hand, then nodded to him.
This was a signal of farewell!
Parks grasped General Taylor's hand, then released it, shrugging at him and saying, "Thank you for seeing me.
It means a lot to me, although—" He didn't say anything further; he knew General Taylor would understand the rest without him saying it.
So he saluted, then opened the door and walked out.
Colonel Sink did not come out; he was kept by General Taylor.
"Do you think what we're doing is meaningful?" General Taylor watched Colonel Sink sit down, then nodded and smiled at him, "I know Parks is a good officer, but we don't have much time left!"
Sink smiled wryly, "It's better than doing nothing, General.
We're only deploying one platoon, which is insignificant to the overall situation.
If we can obtain intelligence, then it will make those arrogant British well consider it."
"Alright! Let's try it!" General Taylor nodded.
Parks didn't know what General Taylor would do, but he was already disappointed.
He thought Taylor was an enlightened General, but now it seemed he was merely grandstanding, no different in essence from other high-ranking individuals.
Parks walked out of the Division HQ, then looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath.
Not far away, Winters was leaning against the jeep's headlights, and upon seeing Parks emerge, he couldn't help but smile.
"How was it?" Winters noticed Parks' troubled expression and asked, "Not smooth?"
Parks nodded, then got into the car.
Winters told the driver, "I'll drive!" and took the driver's seat.
Parks sat beside him, and the car returned the way it came.
The air in the night sky seemed to grow heavy in the oppressive silence.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine.
We'll be ready." Winters didn't know how to comfort Parks, but he still tried his best to help Parks relax; it was the only thing he could do.
"I know, Dick!" Parks took a deep breath, "I just feel that an individual's power is truly too insignificant."
Winters smiled faintly and said nothing, as the car weaved through the camp.
By this time, the soldiers had all gone to sleep, and the sentries were wandering around, looking somewhat listless.
Parks declined Winters' invitation.
He left the company headquarters and wandered alone in the night, quietly.
He wanted to make good use of this quiet time to think about things.
"Who's there?" At this moment, a voice came from beside Parks, "Password!"
"Lightning!" Parks said loudly, then looked at the cautious soldier walking towards him, "Is that soldier Miller?" Parks asked him, "I'm Platoon Leader Parks!"
"Is… is that Platoon Leader Parks?" The one who walked over was soldier Miller.
Tonight, he had just replaced Staff Sergeant Landman's shift.
He saw Parks and suddenly felt very nervous, "I, I didn't know it was you, Lieutenant Parks!" he stammered.
"Relax!" Parks smiled as he saw his nervous expression.
"Yes, Sir!" Miller puffed out his chest, trying to stand a little straighter.
His respect for Parks came entirely from within, a respect rooted in the stories of Parks' achievements circulating within the 101st Airborne Division, and the respect and affection shown by veterans when they spoke of him.
Parks smiled, then said to him with a smile, "Are you scared?"
"What?" Clearly, Miller's attention was a bit scattered.
His mood was still in a state of excitement; talking to Parks at such close proximity was a first for him.
"If you want to survive the war, you must be ready to fight before jumping.
War is cruel, but you must believe in every brother beside you, trust them, and rely on them!"
"Understood, Sir!" Miller nodded.
"Alright, carry on with your work!" Parks nodded, then smiled at Miller, "Maintain your condition!"
Miller nodded, and as he was about to leave, his expression suddenly became a bit hesitant.
He looked at Parks, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Parks lightly furrowed his brow and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Well, you know how lucky I am to be able to fight alongside you.
I just want to tell you, Sir.
No matter the outcome, I am proud to be in your platoon and fight with you!" Miller's face looked somewhat serious.
Parks knew these were his heartfelt words.
He nodded, then smiled, "Me too."
Watching Miller leave, Parks' somewhat gloomy mood suddenly brightened again.
Yes, no matter the outcome, serving and fighting alongside these heroes was one of life's most precious experiences.
What more was he striving for?
Let everything take its natural course.
Parks suddenly smiled slightly at the night sky, then walked towards the barracks.
He needed to get a good night's sleep.
However, Parks' wish for a good night's sleep did not come true, because just as he arrived at the barracks, Captain Winters also came over, his face grim, as if something was on his mind!
"Dick?" Clearly, Parks was surprised by Winters' sudden visit, as they had just parted ways.
"The latest combat briefing!" Winters looked at Parks with a serious expression, taking out a command order from his hand and handing it to him.
Parks took the briefing, then looked at the order on it, and a slight smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth, saying, "It seems General Taylor still wants to try his luck.
He surprised me."
Winters frowned deeply and said, "Reese, can't you see how difficult this mission is?
God, this is truly insane; it feels like a one-way trip."
"More insane than my last raid on the German command post?" Parks smiled slightly.
Winters looked at him, then said very solemnly, "Reese, you know you will be leading a platoon of men.
They will all make sacrifices for this."
Parks nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will ask for their opinions.
I need volunteers."
"Alright, go prepare!" Winters nodded, then saluted Parks very solemnly.
"Coming back alive is the ultimate goal!" Winters lowered his hand, then patted Parks' arm, "The brothers only care about that! Do you understand?"
The soldiers of First Platoon were all gathered in the company HQ.
This was specially permitted by Winters, who also wanted to say a few words to these brothers, just like last time.
He knew this would only delay him a little, but it was very important for morale.
"For this mission, I need volunteers," Parks stood in the middle of the circle of brothers, "But the mission is very dangerous, I need veteran volunteers! We will go deep behind enemy lines again, just like last time, to complete the mission."
Guarnere raised his hand, his expression calm, without the slightest fluctuation, but his hand was held high, appearing very prominent in the crowd: "I'll go!"
"Me too!" Landeman followed Guarnere and raised his hand, a slight smile on his face, then he calmly bit his cigar.
"Me!" Lanny raised his hand, and with him, Malarkey, Toy, Christenson, Cobb, and White also raised their hands.
They didn't think much, just acted out of trust, which was very important to them.
Webster hesitated for a moment, then also raised his hand.
Piper also raised his hand with him.
Parks looked around, none of the veterans were left out, they all raised their hands.
And when the new recruits saw the veterans' resolute expressions, they no longer hesitated and raised their hands as well.
"Everyone?" Nixon whistled from the side, then chuckled, "Reese, it seems your management of First Platoon is deeply popular."
Parks calculated that there were thirty-one veterans, so there was no need for new recruits.
To be honest, Parks was unsure about the new recruits, as this mission was riskier, and those new recruits who hadn't seen a real battlefield might become a burden.
"All veterans stay, new recruits dismissed!" Parks nodded, then gave the order.
The new recruits were somewhat taken aback by this order, some with surprise on their faces, some unwilling, and some subtly showing a hint of joy, but this was already decided.
No matter what, they could not participate in this operation.
Watching the new recruits walk out, Parks handed out the mission brief to everyone, then cleared his throat and said, "I hope you read the brief carefully before getting on the plane.
This mission carries extremely high risks, but once accomplished, it will affect the course of the battle.
This is a direct order from General Taylor."
Guarnere raised his hand: "Lieutenant, how much time do we have to complete this mission?"
"One day!"
"I have no more questions!" Guarnere nodded.
Having had a previous mission with Parks, he was better mentally prepared for such tasks, so he didn't ask further.
"What about our retreat route?" Lanny raised his hand, "The brief doesn't specify our retreat route."
Parks looked at him, his lips moving slightly, then he said, "We don't have a specific retreat route.
Until the mission is completed, we will act according to circumstances, there is no fixed route."
"None?" Lanny shrugged, his tone full of confusion.
In fact, a retreat route was almost nonexistent.
General Taylor's plan was for Parks to complete the mission, then remain there awaiting the British 1st Airborne Division to capture Arnhem Bridge and defeat the German forces, before reuniting with the British.
However, Parks absolutely could not guarantee that even after his intelligence was sent, the British would achieve a decisive victory, so retreat could only depend on luck.
Of course, Parks already had an idea in mind, but he just didn't want to say it yet.
"Anyone else have questions?" Parks looked around again, and no one else raised their hand.
The faces of the remaining veterans showed no joy, as this mission was very dangerous.
But despite this, they still chose to go, though they were still a bit uneasy, unsure of what lay ahead.
Parks hoped these veterans would have a good outcome, but he hoped even more that through this mission, the Allied forces would thoroughly take the German seriously and make reasonable adjustments.
Although he didn't expect to win the entire operation, saving some brothers in his company was what Parks truly wished for.
"Listen!" Winters stood up then, facing the veterans of First Platoon, his expression solemn as he said, "Guys, I know this is a tough operation.
Parks is one of the best officers I've ever met.
Some of you here have followed him on rescue missions, and you should know that what he cares about most is whether his brothers can live well."
At this point, Winters paused, then continued, "If I could participate in this operation, I would unconditionally trust him.
So—" He looked at the brothers around him, "I also hope that all brothers can, like me, give him unconditional trust and obedience.
This is the guarantee to complete the mission and come back alive!"
"Understood!" The brothers responded in scattered voices.
Since they had already joined the operation, this was their basic guarantee, and Guarnere and others firmly believed in it.
"Alright, dismissed!" Parks saw that Winters had nothing more to say, then announced the dismissal, "Everyone go back to camp and pack your gear.
We will gather in front of the First Platoon camp in two hours, at 11 PM, and then head to the airport."
"Yes, sir!" The brothers responded, then dispersed.
Tonight, they would fly over the English Channel, then be air-dropped ten miles south of Arnhem Bridge by the Rhine River.
Then they would have to quickly march to approach the bridge, monitor nearby German troops, and report to Division HQ.
"Lieutenant Halliger!" Parks suddenly called out to him, "You don't have to go.
There are other brothers in the platoon who need your care."
Halliger was stunned and about to say something when Winters spoke: "I know what you want to say, but someone has to stay behind to do these things.
I believe you will ensure that the remaining new recruits get excellent training!"
"Alright!" Halliger nodded helplessly, then left.
"They are all good brothers!" Winters said to Parks, who was about to walk out.
"Yes, Dick, I know what you're going to say." Parks nodded at him and said, "I promise you, I will do my best to bring them all back alive.
Those are your words, I remember them!"
Winters smiled and said nothing more.
Parks looked at him, then also smiled slightly and said, "In short, I won't regret this operation.
Doing something is always more reassuring than not doing it, even if it sometimes means nothing to those big figures.
But for people like us, it means a lot more.
Alright, I have to go too!" With that, he pulled open the door of the HQ.
"Reese!" Suddenly, a voice from behind called out to him.
Parks turned around and saw Nixon and Welsh, both smiling and looking at him.
"What?" Parks looked at them.
"I told Dick that if you just air-dropped into Germany like that, you'd get lost unless you took me parachuting with you," Welsh said to Parks with a smile, "How about it?
Oh, don't look at me like that, Dick has already agreed.
If I can persuade you, then I can fly with you!"
Nixon shrugged at him, then spread his hands and said, "Harry has been grumbling to Dick ever since he got the mission brief.
None of us can persuade him.
So, unless you persuade him, or you agree to him, choose yourself!"
Parks couldn't help but smile, then nodded and said, "Alright, Harry, I'm really looking forward to commanding this operation with you.
This fresh feeling should be quite good!"
"No, no, Parks, I'm not trying to take over your command, don't treat me like a Lieutenant," Welsh said with a laugh, "During the operation, you should treat me more like a Sergeant!
It's settled then, don't even think about backing out!"
"It's settled!" Parks made a gesture of raising a gun and shooting, winked at Welsh, then turned and left the company HQ; he still had to prepare.
Parks had only walked a few steps when he heard a voice from nearby: "Lieutenant, please wait!"
Parks stopped and looked to the side; three people emerged there.
They were all new recruits from First Platoon: James Miller, Reese Huxley, and Derek Logan.
"What is it?" Parks frowned slightly.
The three were somewhat flustered, and finally, after Miller touched his hand, Huxley gathered his courage and said, "Lieutenant, it's like this, we want to participate in this operation, and we hope to get your permission!"
"You three?"
"Yes, Lieutenant!" they all replied together.
Parks looked at them somewhat annoyed and said, "You have no experience, you cannot participate in this operation.
Stay in the platoon."
With that, he continued to walk towards the platoon.
"Lieutenant," seeing Parks about to leave, Miller became anxious.
He quickly shouted, "Sir, please believe us, we already consider ourselves dead, so we are not afraid of death.
We can all fight bravely!"
"Who told you that?" Parks suddenly stopped and looked at them strangely.
Miller saw Parks stop and couldn't help but say happily, "It was Bloy, one of the veterans in the platoon!
I believe we can do it!"
Parks couldn't help but smile, but he still continued to walk forward.
Miller and the others watched Parks walk further and further away, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, and exchanged glances.
Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly heard Parks' voice.
"Go pack your gear, gather in front of the platoon camp in two hours!"
The three were immediately overjoyed and loudly said to Parks' retreating back, "Yes, sir!" Then they dashed off to the barracks.
Parks couldn't help but shake his head; perhaps it was Miller's words that moved him, and he just agreed to them.
He was walking when he heard a voice from nearby: "Lieutenant, please wait a moment!"
Parks turned around and saw Hubler.
He was smiling and walking towards Parks.
"Lieutenant, I heard your platoon has a mission and is recruiting people.
So I thought, I could join you!" Hubler looked expectant.
Hubler wasn't the only one with this idea; in fact, as early as Normandy, when Parks led the assault team in rescue operations, he wanted to find an opportunity to do such a mission, especially following Parks.
A more important reason was the luger pistol that Patrick Christenson showed off in front of him, which had made him drool for a long time.
Parks knew Hubler was a brave and skilled fighter, but he wasn't part of First Platoon, and that was the most important thing.
He smiled and said, "Of course, unless you convince your Platoon Leader Compton and Company Commander Winters, don't even think about it."
"Alright, no problem, that's what I should do!" Hubler chuckled, then saluted Parks and ran back to his platoon, which gave him great hope.
At eleven o'clock that night, Parks appeared on time in the open space in front of the barracks; a total of thirty-six men, neatly lined up, were waiting for his arrival.
Welsh stood on the far left of the formation; he looked serious, a stark contrast to his usual smiling demeanor.
Parks nodded at him, then simply said, "Follow me!" and walked towards the nearest airfield, where two C-47 transport planes and two gliders were waiting on the runway.
They would reach the designated location by glider.
At the airfield, Parks divided the team into two groups, boarding two gliders.
"Harry, you lead one group and board the second glider."
Welsh nodded and said, "Alright, I'll follow your command.
I'm in charge of the second glider.
Well then, good luck to us!"
"Good luck!" Parks shook his hand, then led a team of men to board the plane.
He was the first to board, then at the cabin door, he reached out his hand, just like the first time before the airborne jump in Normandy, pulling the team members onto the glider one by one.
The brothers silently followed the line, one after another, no one complained; they were silent and determined.
"Good luck!" Parks would say this to each person he pulled up.
"Good luck!" And each team member would respond with the same words.
Every operation, in addition to meticulous planning, also relied on a little bit of luck.
Luck, for them, was equally important.
"Alright, soldiers, are you all ready?"
The glider pilot, a Lieutenant named Van Peel, shouted from the cockpit, "We're about to start flying.
This is truly a good gig!
It's simply fantastic!"
His tone was a bit abrupt, clearly he wasn't satisfied with this mission, as it meant he would be stuck with these crazy guys.
Heaven knows what would happen.
"Indeed, it's a good gig!" Parks walked to the front, sat behind the cockpit, and smiled at Lieutenant Peel, "Reese Parks, it's a pleasure to be with you!"
Peel shook his head helplessly and said, "I'm happy too, crazy Parks!"
As Parks organized his equipment and got ready, a huge roar came from his ears; the C-47 had started and was slowly taxiing towards the runway.
The glider fuselage suddenly jolted, then began to taxi along with the C-47.
"Get ready, guys, we're about to embark on a great journey!" Lieutenant Peel shouted, and then the glider, amidst vibrations, began to lift its nose, following the C-47, and slid into the inky black night sky.
Ahead was vast darkness, but Parks still stared outside.
From this moment, he embarked on an unknown path, and he did not predict the outcome.
"Are you nervous?" Sitting next to Parks was the new recruit Miller.
He felt Miller's body was taut, like a fully drawn bow, constantly in danger of snapping or rebounding with harm.
"Yes—" Miller looked at Parks as if rebounding, then immediately replied, "No, Lieutenant, it's excitement!"
"Then take a deep breath!" Parks patted his shoulder, "That will make you feel better!"
Miller nodded, took a few deep breaths, and smiled at Parks, "I feel much better, Lieutenant, thank you!"
Parks nodded, saying nothing.
Many people in the cabin were silent; they were just lost in thought, or simply not thinking or doing anything.
At this moment, going with the flow was perhaps the best way to relax.
In the dark sky, the monotonous sound of the plane echoed; they flew above thick clouds, which was the most cautious approach.
They tried their best to avoid being discovered by the German.
Even if discovered, they tried to avoid being hit by the German artillery fire.
Cobb looked out the window, he couldn't see anything, then he turned to Malarkey next to him and said, "Our luck might not be very good this time; it's impossible for the Germans to not notice our arrival at all."
Malarkey glanced at him and sneered, "You regret it?
Too bad you can't go back on it now, you can't go back, now!"
"Nonsense, I won't regret it!" Cobb immediately retorted, "I'm just a little worried.
It's normal, isn't it?
We're not immortal, and... and it's easy to become targets for the Germans or be surrounded by them!"
"Come on, Cobb, what day on the battlefield aren't we easily targets for the Germans?" Malarkey grew a little impatient, "We're paratroopers; we're born to be surrounded."
Cobb pouted and said nothing more.
He had nothing to say; although he had spoken a few words, not only did it not relax his somewhat nervous state, but it made him even more agitated.
"Forty more minutes until we reach the designated location!
We have entered the German air defense zone." Second Lieutenant Rod Lisbon, the pilot of the second glider, began to remind everyone.
The brothers in the cabin began to check their equipment.
They didn't need to parachute; they would land with the glider, then enter the designated area and rendezvous with the team members of the first glider.
"What an exciting trip!" Hubler suddenly said from the side.
"Oh, God, what did you say?" Piper, across from him, looked at him and shook his head, laughing, "This is an adventure, buddy; we're flying in the sky with our lives on the line, who knows if we'll ever make it home!"
"You're too pessimistic!" Landers, next to Piper, shook his head and said, "You have to have confidence in yourself.
Of course, more importantly, you have to have confidence in our Platoon Leader, Lieutenant Parks.
But you can't experience this feeling.
You're truly unlucky!"
"Unlucky?" Piper looked at Landers with curiosity, then shifted his gaze to Toy.
Toy shrugged at him and smiled, "Yes, you're unlucky, I agree, especially in front of such a great operation, yet you seem puzzled and hesitant.
You're acting like a complete rookie.
And we've all participated in similar operations.
It's truly unforgettable."
Piper naturally shut up.
He said nothing more, because it made it difficult for him to understand where these guys' confidence came from.
In fact, the main reason he raised his hand was because everyone else did.
It was that simple; he had no experience fighting with Parks, he didn't know Parks's capabilities, so he seemed to lack confidence.
"Alright, don't worry, look, we're still flying in the sky.
At least for this mission, General Taylor didn't make us walk there, how lucky is that?
Guys, we'll carry this luck all the way until the mission is completed and we return home safely."
Welsh pulled out a small flask, took a swig of liquor, "And we'll enjoy such fine wine!"
"Why don't you quit?" Guarnere chuckled, sitting diagonally across from Welsh.
Welsh paused, then raised the flask and said, "You mean this?
No, no, it contains rich vitamins, and I'm relying on it now to make myself more vibrant.
This is why the Germans are afraid of me, you know?"
"Oh, that's great, I like it!" Guarnere chuckled, "Maybe when I'm dead drunk, the Germans will surrender without a fight, and then I'll have rendered great service!"
The people next to them all laughed.
Welsh took a swig of liquor and grinned too.
The plane broke through the thick clouds, and they could now look down at the scenery below.
In the dim night, the few lights scattered on the ground were like stars.
The Germans clearly hadn't noticed these two planes yet.
"Are we in German airspace?" Parks asked Peel.
"I'm afraid so, Lieutenant!" Peel nodded, "But luckily, the Germans clearly haven't discovered us, otherwise their anti-aircraft artillery would have started firing at us already."
"Perhaps they still think it's their own planes!" Parks laughed.
"Their thinking is truly encouraging."
Peel nodded and smiled, "I hope so!"
The Germans didn't use anti-aircraft fire, but that didn't mean they hadn't discovered the two planes; they had been aware of them for a while.
And they knew these weren't their own planes, but they didn't open fire.
The Germans believed that two planes posed no threat to them, and they hadn't dropped any bombs.
"How lucky!" Parks smiled, then sat back.
It seemed like a good sign; if there was sufficient preparation combined with good luck, then this mission wouldn't be as difficult as imagined.
"Lieutenant, the C-47 ahead has sent a signal; they're about to unhook." Peel said to Parks, "We've entered the drop zone, tell the brothers to get ready!"
"Alright!" Parks nodded, then shouted loudly to the cabin, "Alright, brothers, secure yourselves in your seats and manage your equipment.
We're entering the drop zone, say goodbye to the sky!
We'll be landing in German territory!"
As soon as Parks finished speaking, the plane suddenly dropped.
The glider and the C-47 transport plane had separated.
The nose of the glider plunged headfirst into the darkness where a few lights still twinkled.
Near Arnhem Bridge not far away, two German sentries were leisurely strolling on the bridge deck.
They heard the roar of the planes and instinctively looked up.
One of them wondered, "Is that our plane?"
The other German soldier listened and shook his head, "No, the sound of our planes isn't like that.
It must be those damn Americans."
"What are they doing?" The German soldier wondered, "Is it reconnaissance?
So late, can they take pictures?
Maybe they're just passing by!"
"I hope so," the other German soldier nodded and said, "Who cares, at least they haven't dropped any bombs yet, that's our luck!"
As the two German soldiers speculated, the gliders, like two fish in the night sky, glided towards a clearing in a forest ten miles away from them.
"Brothers, hold on tight, we are about to land!" Peel shouted loudly from the cockpit.
With a "boom," the glider slid on the ground, then crashed into the woods, the violent impact causing the fuselage to shake violently. Then the wings were blocked by tree trunks, knocking over several trees as thick as bowls, and finally stopped. As soon as it stopped, another "boom" was heard, coming from not far away.
"God!" Lanny whispered, then crossed himself on his chest, "We finally landed, thank God!" Then he was dizzy from the impact and turbulence of the landing.
As soon as the glider stopped, Parks was the first to step out. He smiled at the brothers in the cabin and said, "Guys, welcome to Earth." Then he quickly stood guard nearby and sent a signal to the place where the crashing sound came from—a metal sound imitator similar to a frog croak.
Soon, Parks received a response from that side. It was clear that Welsh and his men had also landed safely.
"Oh, heavens, I'm injured!" At this moment, someone coming out of the cabin gasped softly. Parks looked in the direction of the sound; it was Huxley. In the faint night, it could be seen that he was covering his neck with a panicked expression, constantly shouting, "God, am I going to die? Oh God, I don't want to die like this!"
Parks walked over, took away his hand covering his neck, and felt it. There was only a cut, nothing serious. He said in a low, stern voice, "Alright, soldier Huxley, you just scraped your skin. You haven't lost an arm or a leg. You'd better shut up now and remember what you said when you asked for the mission. Don't be like a coward!"
Parks' words gradually calmed Huxley's heart. He felt it again with his hand. Although he could still feel blood on his hand, he could also feel that it was just a cut and not a serious injury. He apologized repeatedly, "Sorry, Sir, sorry, I'm just nervous. I don't want to mess up."
Parks looked around and saw that all the brothers had already exited the cabin, so he no longer paid attention to him, only instructing, "Martin, take a few brothers to guard the surroundings. Hopefully, we haven't alerted the German."
Just as he was speaking, Welsh arrived with his men. He whispered, "Parks, we need to cover up the glider. It's best to have the brothers get some branches!"
Parks nodded and said, "Good idea!" Then he turned back and said, "Lanny, go with the brothers and find some branches. We can't let the German easily discover us."
"Alright, Lieutenant!" Lanny said, calling a few brothers, and started to work.
After Parks finished all this, he asked Welsh, "Harry, is anyone injured?"
"Cobb hit his head and bled a little. He's an unlucky fellow. Everyone else is fine," Welsh nodded and said, "I've already told someone to look for some branches to cover the glider. What do we do now?"
Parks took out his pocket watch and compass, looked at them with the faint light of a small flashlight, then extinguished it, and looked into the woods, saying, "We have now landed on the south bank of the Arnhem River. This is a forested area, and the trees are very dense, which is very advantageous for us, so we must use this point."
"Alright, tell me your plan!" Welsh said to Parks.
"Harry, you must be wondering why so many people were brought out for a reconnaissance mission. In fact, this was not General Taylor's miscalculation, but my suggestion to him. We are now thirty-seven people, equivalent to a platoon's strength, so when Operation Market Garden begins, we may become a surprise force to capture the south bank of Arnhem."
Welsh, however, blinked at Parks and said, "Actually, I had guessed some of this. I knew that what you were doing wouldn't just be as simple as finding out whether the German had tanks or not!"
"Of course," Parks smiled at Welsh, "Alright, Harry, I need you to lead the brothers forward and hide five miles from the Arnhem Bridge. And I will lead a squad to infiltrate near the bridge for reconnaissance. Once we discover the German tank units, we will radio the situation to General Taylor, and then we will wait here until Operation Market Garden begins."
"Good idea!" Welsh nodded and said, "This is very challenging, and I like it."
While the two were talking, Martin and the brothers had already hidden the glider, then gathered the brothers with Landers and Guarnere, waiting for Parks' orders.
"Liebgott, Webster." Parks walked to the front of the team and called out, "You two follow me. The rest of you obey Lieutenant Welsh's orders. Now, let's set off!" Saying that, he waved to Liebgott and Webster, who had stepped forward, and then led the way, walking deeper into the forest.
"Guys, no loud talking, no fire now," Welsh said in a low voice beside him, "Luz, don't grab that guy's butt in front. Let's keep up. Don't let your Platoon Leader fight alone, hurry up!"
The group quickly filed deeper into the forest. They moved cautiously forward. Parks had dispatched soldiers responsible for guarding the path along the way, but it was clear that the German had not expected a platoon of American soldiers to penetrate deep into their rear. They simply could not arrange personnel to sweep this area. This completely exceeded their expectations. No one was willing to come here to die.
The team stopped about five miles from Arnhem. Parks nodded to Welsh and said, "Take care of the brothers, Harry! Don't take risks easily. Don't worry, we'll be fine."
"If you dare not come back, you know we still have some brandy left, and I'll drink it all by myself!" Welsh patted Parks' hand, smiled, and said, "I'll take care of things here!"
Parks nodded, then waved to Liebgott and Webster: "Alright, let's go! Time to say goodbye to the other brothers. We don't have much time, only one day." Saying that, he walked forward, not looking back. Behind him followed Liebgott and Webster, and they plunged into the woods.
"Rustle…" Footsteps on the forest floor made a very faint sound, a sound that would only make one alert in the dead of night like this.
"Webster, are you nervous?" Parks heard Webster's breathing next to him was a bit heavy, and couldn't help but lower his voice.
Webster nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes, Sir, my heart is just beating a little fast."
"You're a veteran, you participated in Normandy, you shouldn't be reacting like this!" Parks continued talking to Webster, "Take a deep breath, it might help you. We're not just going to observe nearby, we're also going to go deep into the town on the south bank of Arnhem. That way, we can get accurate information!"
As soon as Webster heard this, he stammered, "Sir, how can we get into the town? You know it's all German there, and we… we are only three people!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a slight chuckle from Liebgott beside him.
"What are you laughing at?" Webster said somewhat displeased, "What I said is the truth!"
Liebgott grinned at Parks and said, "Boss, this guy doesn't believe you. Tell him, how did we used to infiltrate the German command post, kill them all, and then swagger back to our lines? Clearly, this guy still has doubts about what we've done."
"I don't want to talk about those old stories. If you want to tell him, go ahead. I don't mind you making the story even more complete," Parks smiled, his eyes constantly scanning around, taking each step forward very cautiously.
"No problem!" Liebgott chuckled, then said to Webster, "Want to hear it? Country bumpkin!"
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin?" Webster was a bit annoyed. He snorted heavily at Liebgott, then spread his hands and said, "Alright, please, just tell it, don't keep me in suspense!"
Parks did not stop the two from bickering. Their voices were not loud and would not carry far in the forest. Moreover, this area was the most vulnerable part of the German side and might have already been overlooked by them. This was also why Parks chose to land here. After all, according to the history he knew, the German forces in Arnhem were just remnants, and they were resting here, and they were still far from the Allied front lines.
Liebgott was still enthusiastically boasting to Webster about his achievements. It was clearly his most glorious and proud battle before this, becoming a lifelong bragging right.
"You mean putting on German uniforms and then infiltrating the city?" Webster was startled. It was clear that Liebgott's idea, combined with their situation as three people, made him a bit dumbfounded. Liebgott, himself, and Parks could all speak fluent German. So, it was clear that the Lieutenant intended to repeat the old trick.
"Yes, you're right!" Parks turned around, smiled at Webster, and said, "But not now. We need to observe the German in the woods first, and then go into the city. We definitely won't stay for a long time. I've already suggested in the plan to establish contact with the Dutch underground resistance. They will take us where we want to go."
"You mean, we'll just swagger into the city and openly ask them for information?" Webster looked at Parks, then at Liebgott.
Liebgott grinned at him and even winked, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.
Clearly, Webster was provoked by his gaze. He said fiercely, "Alright, Sir, I believe you. If I really have to wear that uniform, I'll consider myself a German."
"That's best, otherwise you'll give yourself away!" Parks responded, continuing to walk forward. The five-mile journey felt like a very long time because Parks walked very cautiously. Then, as dawn approached, they reached the end of the forest.
The thin mist of dawn gradually dissipated under the newly risen sunlight.
The Arnhem Bridge gradually revealed its silhouette. On the south bank of the bridge, German-built fortresses and sturdy fortifications could be seen. On the fortifications, MG42 heavy machine guns gleamed with a cold, piercing light under the sunlight, stabbing into one's eyes.
Arnhem Bridge gradually came to life, as if awakened from slumber by the morning light.
Although the sun only appeared briefly, it had already swept away the fog.
A few German soldiers casually strolled on the bridge, appearing quite relaxed; two of them were smoking by the bridge's edge, occasionally turning their heads to chat.
Occasionally, armored vehicles rumbled across the bridge, spewing thick exhaust fumes.
Then, soldiers would loudly complain about the exhaust fumes emanating from the armored vehicles.
Everything seemed calm and harmonious; even water birds startled by the armored vehicles' noise only flew in a circle above the river before landing on the bridge's iron frame, not flying away.
"One Jagdpanther tank destroyer, one King tiger, and two tigers and two Panthers." A very faint sound emerged from the edge of the woods on the high slope near the bridge, and the green grass suddenly moved slightly, like blades of grass swaying gently in the wind.
Parks, Liebgott, and Webster had camouflaged themselves with weeds.
They had been lying there for two hours.
Parks observed the bridge deck through binoculars, softly muttering, while Webster, lying to his left, used a pencil to record every type of armored vehicle and its quantity that Parks mentioned on a piece of paper.
Parks stayed for a while longer, spitting out a blade of grass: "It seems this is all their armored strength here.
They must have other armored vehicles hidden, or they are within the city."
"When do we go in?" Liebgott looked at the bridge; from his vantage point, all the sights on the bridge were visible, and visibility was quite good.
They had been lying motionless for two hours, and Webster felt his stomach aching a bit from the hard ground, but he knew he couldn't move, as they were too close to the Germans.
He truly wished this reconnaissance mission would end soon; it was pure torture.
"No rush, let's wait a bit longer," Parks said softly, "Now the Germans are gathering their remnants, and some soldiers retreating from the front lines will pass through here and enter the city.
We can use this opportunity." Parks knew that the German 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division and 10th Frundsberg Panzer Division, retreating from the front lines, would be stationed here.
Time flowed by, minute by minute, and Webster felt it was incredibly long; even though only another hour had passed, he was still somewhat impatient.
Just as he was about to lift his head to breathe some fresh air, his hand was held down.
Then, through the grass, he saw a pair of German soldiers pass by less than a hundred meters ahead; although they were walking below, Webster's heart immediately began to pound.
Through his binoculars, Parks could clearly see the eagle emblem on the side of the soldiers' helmets, the embroidered eagle icon on the right side of their uniforms, and the swastika symbol below the eagle.
That group of Germans, about forty strong, came from the north side of the bridge and walked towards the southern outskirts of Arnhem.
They were dressed neatly and marched in formation; no one smoked, and no one talked, like a silently moving, snake-like machine.
Webster felt the hand holding him gradually loosen; the Germans passed through the area without searching their surroundings, perhaps thinking it was impossible for any enemies to be there.
Or perhaps they simply weren't in the mood.
The Germans marched in neat steps, left the area, and then disappeared from the trio's sight.
"They're German paratroopers!" Parks couldn't help but whisper, "They're from France; they retreated from Normandy.
But this is our chance."
The German paratroopers were indeed old adversaries of the 101st Airborne.
The two sides had fought fiercely in Normandy since D-Day, and Parks had even killed their commander, Colonel Hight.
"What?" Webster clearly didn't understand and asked again.
Parks looked at Liebgott, then at Webster, and said, "From now on, we are German paratroopers, the German First Parachute Regiment!" Then he smiled slightly at the two of them.
Arnhem Bridge had been quite busy recently, with battle-damaged vehicles constantly passing over it from the front lines, or soldiers retreating from the front.
Their origins were varied: some were from the Waffen-SS, some from Panzer Divisions, and some were paratroopers.
Despite their retreat, their military appearance was neat, and there was no dejected or defeated look on their faces.
They were mostly calm, like walking machines moving step by step.
Two German soldiers standing in makeshift bunkers at the bridgehead were smoking, blowing smoke rings and chatting with smiles.
Soldiers far from the battlefield were very relaxed.
They would also seize every opportunity to relax and alleviate the nervous tension and fear brought by the war.
"Hey, Toeys, look at those three idiots!" At that moment, one of the two German soldiers laughed at the other, "Are they the paratroopers who just passed by here?"
The soldier named Toeys looked at the three men walking towards them, and couldn't help but nod, saying, "They are paratroopers.
I heard they had a tough time in France against the Americans!
Yujinko, they're quite pitiable." He saw the eagle emblems on the three men's caps and chests.
"Hey, fellows, can anyone tell me how to find our Panzer Division?" The leader of the three was a Captain; he shouted loudly at one of the German soldiers, "I can't find their commander, damn it!
The Americans and British are almost here, and they're still nowhere to be seen!
What a bunch of goods!" The Captain seemed very angry.
The two German soldiers were a bit surprised, as it was rare in the German army for a subordinate to complain and lose his temper so openly about a superior behind their back.
But considering everything they had endured in Normandy, there seemed to be nothing to doubt.
"Sir, you can go north, then west; there's a Hartenstein Hotel there, which is Field Marshal Model's headquarters.
Perhaps they can help you; in fact, everything here is under his command!" Yujinko chuckled.
"Alright, Sergeant!
Keep a good watch on your bridge, don't get distracted, and watch out for American spies!" The Captain nodded at him, then walked towards the north side of the bridge.
Watching the three walk away, the fellow named Yujinko called out to the other, "Hey, Toeys, did you hear that?
He said American spies?
That's hilarious.
What would Americans come here for?
Is there anything to scout here?
Are they coming to peek at us showering?" Then he shook his head at the backs of the three, "They've been scared silly by the Americans!"
"That's not funny!" Toeys said sternly, "Don't make such jokes; only frivolous Americans are so flippant.
Yujinko, give me another cigarette!"
On the bridge, the three quickly crossed it and headed towards the west side of the city.
"That idiot, telling us their headquarters, that's truly laughable!" Liebgott chuckled, "Boss, should we just rush in and take out Field Marshal Model?
Just thinking about it is exciting enough."
"Don't be silly, we're not going in.
That's a Field Marshal's headquarters; they won't let someone who looks like a killer in, you'd be eliminated before you even got close!" Webster finally found an excuse to retort to Liebgott and couldn't help but start putting him down.
He had had enough of Liebgott's sarcasm all this way.
Parks gave them both a stern look and said, "From now on, you two had better shut your mouths and not treat all Germans as fools.
They often exceed our imagination!"
"Yes, Boss!" Liebgott nodded, then glared at Webster.
"No problem, Sir!" Webster also glared back at Liebgott, unwilling to be outdone.
But he wasn't used to calling him "Boss"; he preferred to address Parks as "Sir."
They hadn't walked far when they saw a beautiful hotel, a magnificent building, but it was guarded by German soldiers all around.
Two armored vehicles were also patrolling nearby.
"Hartenstein Hotel, German headquarters!" Parks whistled; clearly, the security here was very tight, and no one could easily get in.
Obviously, Liebgott's idea was terrible.
This wasn't Normandy, where you could easily enter a regimental headquarters.
"The German tanks must be nearby; they are likely using the woods for cover.
We can go look for them," Parks whispered to the two.
"Perhaps that fellow can help us out!" Saying this, Parks walked towards the German closest to him, a Lieutenant who was smoking on a motorcycle.
Several empty motorcycles were parked beside him.
"Hello, Lieutenant!" Parks walked towards him.
Seeing him, the Lieutenant quickly extinguished his cigarette and saluted Parks, saying, "Hello, Captain!"
Parks returned the salute, then nodded and said, "Lieutenant, it's like this.
I'm from the First Parachute Regiment.
Now we have about a battalion of troops who have retreated to Arnhem.
The Americans and British are closing in, and we've been ordered to rendezvous with the armored units, but we can't find them; we're lost!"
"You've certainly found the right person!" The Lieutenant suddenly laughed, "What a coincidence, I'm from the 10th Frundsberg Panzer Division.
We're deployed north of the bridge, to the west.
Come on, I'll take you to meet our commander!" He waved to the three of them, then said to Liebgott behind Parks, "Can you ride a motorcycle?"
"Yes, Sir!" Liebgott quickly replied.
"Captain, if you don't mind, we two can ride one, and they can follow us!" The Lieutenant said enthusiastically.
"No problem, thank you very much!" Parks smiled, then waved to Liebgott and Webster.
"Isn't there also the 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division?" Parks sat in the sidecar of the three-wheeled motorcycle, then asked the Lieutenant, who was starting the engine.
"They're south of the bridge, under the command of General Bittrich!" The Lieutenant laughed, "But we've finally retreated from the front lines and can get some good rest.
I heard you fought very bravely in Normandy!"
Parks nodded and smiled, "Yes, we fought a bloody battle with the Americans and suffered heavy losses!"
The Lieutenant had already started the motorcycle and began to drive forward; he nodded and said, "We heard about it long ago, and we greatly admire you!"
The motorcycle traveled about five miles west before they spotted armored vehicles hidden among a cluster of trees in the distance. There were various types: Panther and tiger tanks, self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers like the King tiger and Jagdpanther, numbering around seventy or eighty.
The Lieutenant stopped the vehicle, but there was no one around.
Parks got out and looked around, then asked curiously, "Lieutenant, aren't there any sentries here?"
The Lieutenant looked at Parks in surprise, then smiled with an air of relief, "Captain, this is our rear area. Who would come here? The British or the Americans? Or the Dutch? None of them! The British and Americans are too far away, and the Dutch are just civilians—women, children, and timid men; they certainly wouldn't!"
"So, these are the only armored vehicles here?" Parks frowned.
The Lieutenant evidently thought Parks was complaining about too few armored vehicles, so he smiled and said, "These armored vehicles are all from the front lines, undergoing repairs and maintenance. Our division has over thirty, which is quite good. The 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division to the south has roughly the same, but more armored vehicles will continue to arrive from the front lines in the coming days. We will receive them."
Parks nodded, then smiled, "Very good!"
"Captain, let's go. Our command post is just ahead. I will introduce you to our Division Commander, Heinz Harmel," the Lieutenant said, then began to lead the way. Parks followed behind him, with Liebgott and Webster beside him, the three walking abreast.
"38 Panther tanks, 34 Panzer IVs, 14 self-propelled artillery pieces, 10 tank destroyers," the Lieutenant explained to Parks without looking back as they walked, "King tigers and Jagdpanthers, and so on." As he spoke, a manor could be seen in the distance ahead, with sentries moving around it.
"Lieutenant!" Parks suddenly winked at Liebgott and Webster, then made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand and shouted, "Lieutenant, please wait a moment, I need your help!" As he spoke, Parks squatted down, looking pained.
The German Lieutenant stopped, looked at Parks, and, without any suspicion, walked over, calling out, "Captain, what's wrong with you?"
"I don't know, could you come and take a look?" Liebgott said anxiously to the Lieutenant. Cooperating with Liebgott, Parks suddenly fell to the ground, motionless.
"Damn it!" The Lieutenant quickly rushed over, then knelt down, trying to examine Parks. Liebgott drew a paratrooper knife from his waist, then covered the Lieutenant's mouth with one hand and plunged the knife in with the other. It was a fatal blow, passing through the Lieutenant's ribs and piercing his heart.
Parks immediately rolled over and got up, taking the Lieutenant's body and dragging it deep into the nearby woods, then began to cover the body with leaves and branches.
"Scared stiff?" Liebgott scoffed, looking at the dumbfounded Webster, "Hurry, help us cover the body, or we'll be exposed, damn it, hurry!"
"Yes... yes, immediately!" Webster quickly walked over, then searched for branches and leaves to help cover the Lieutenant's body. The Lieutenant never understood why he was killed, right up until his death.
"Poor fellow!" Liebgott muttered sullenly after searching all the German Lieutenant's pockets, spitting on the ground, "This guy has nothing, what a wretch!" He added.
"luger?" Parks asked casually, wiping the blood from his hands with a leaf.
"Nothing!" Liebgott was clearly a bit annoyed.
"Webster," Parks called out, "Do you remember the figures that Lieutenant just mentioned?"
"What?" Webster was momentarily stunned, then realized and said awkwardly, "Sorry, sir, I overlooked it just now. I was too nervous and didn't write it down."
Parks was clearly not very pleased with Webster's performance, and he gave him a stern look, saying, "I said, write it down again. 38 Panther tanks, 34 Panzer IVs, 14 self-propelled artillery pieces, 10 King tiger or Jagdpanther tank destroyers. This is the armored strength of the 10th Frundsberg Panzer Division. Although they are remnants, they are clearly quite well-equipped. Remember this next time, don't make me remind you of these things. You need to be clear about your mission here."
"Understood, sir!" Webster nodded, still feeling a bit embarrassed about his mistake.
"We're going to the south side of the bridge. We need to figure out General Bittrich's command post, the 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division's command post, and their tanks," Parks said to the two. "Hurry, we don't have much time." He then walked towards the motorcycle.
"Now we've lost a good guide," Liebgott chuckled. "Who can lead us to the south and tell us where the command post is now? It's a real headache, and we don't have much time!"
"Of course there is still someone!" Parks suddenly turned to Liebgott and smiled, "There's still someone to lead the way for us." Then he said to Webster, "Do you speak Dutch?"
"A little!" Webster shrugged, "Not very fluent."
"Then that's great, we're not writing in Dutch!" Parks said, then drove one motorcycle by himself, speeding back along the original road, followed closely by the motorcycle driven by Liebgott and Webster.
The motorcycles rode through the city. Although there were some German soldiers patrolling the streets, no one came out to stop or inspect the three of them. Soon, Parks's motorcycle stopped in front of a civilian house.
Parks looked at the door, then said to Liebgott, "Stay here, don't let anyone get in." Then he pulled some ropes outside the door, which were connected to the doorbell inside the house.
The Scott Frank family were members of the Polish underground resistance. They lived on the side of a road in the urban area in northern Arnhem, a road that German forces had to pass through to enter Arnhem. For the past few days, their family had been closely monitoring German movements, including their troop deployments, because they had received instructions from the Dutch underground resistance leaders to provide intelligence to the Allied forces. They were told that the Allied forces would soon enter the Netherlands and liberate it, which made them very happy and excited. The moment they had been anticipating for years was finally approaching, which made them work harder and without fear of danger. Sometimes, they would make judgments based on the number of German vehicles and personnel entering Arnhem; other times, for specific deployment locations, they would risk entering the southern part of Arnhem city.
The Germans hadn't noticed them, which was Frank's greatest comfort. If they were discovered, he, his wife, and his son would all be shot by the German forces, who were ruthless and cruel in their treatment of Poles.
"Papa, there are three Germans!" Frank's son, Dieter Frank, who was sitting by the window observing the street, suddenly turned his head and called out to the room, "They stopped in front of our house!"
His wife, Mrs. Frank, immediately became nervous, looking at Frank with some panic. Frank gently patted his wife's shoulder to comfort her, "It will be fine, they definitely won't know what we're doing. They have no proof!" As he spoke, he quickly walked to the window and indeed saw three Germans. Their motorcycles were parked at the door, and one of the officers was ringing the doorbell.
"What should we do?" Mrs. Frank looked nervously at her husband. Her son also quickly jumped down and closed the window! Then he looked at his father, his face tense.
"Don't worry, Dieter, hide our notebooks, and you two stay up here in the attic, don't come out. I'll go talk to them." Frank also felt some apprehension. For a moment, he thought of many possibilities: perhaps he had been exposed, or someone had betrayed him? But he quickly dismissed these thoughts; there were no signs to indicate either of those two situations would occur!
He forced himself to calm down, then walked down from the attic and opened the front door. Standing before him was a German Captain. He immediately noticed the badge on his cap and the eagle emblem on his chest. He felt somewhat relieved; at least it wasn't the Gestapo or the SS. This indicated that he hadn't been exposed, and these Germans had probably just come to the wrong place.
"Can I help you?" Frank tried to sound as welcoming and calm as possible.
"Scott Frank?" The Lieutenant stared at him for a moment, then smiled slightly at him.
Frank's heart sank. Clearly, this German knew him and was here specifically for him. He didn't invite the German Captain in, only asking with a puzzled expression, "Sir, you know me?"
Parks shrugged, then whispered something to a soldier beside him, and the soldier said to him, "Why don't you invite us in to talk?"
Frank couldn't refuse such a request. He stepped aside, allowing Parks and the soldier to enter, but the other soldier did not come in; he stood at the doorway, looking around.
"Frank, come here, close the door. There are some questions I'd like to ask you!" The Captain walked into the living room and chose a chair to sit down. Then the soldier said to him.
Frank quickly closed the door and walked into the living room. Then he saw the Captain holding an edelweiss flower, spinning it between his fingertips. He was immediately startled; this was the organization's contact token, an edelweiss embroidered with yarn.
"It's really not easy to pick an edelweiss now!" Frank said, forcing himself to remain calm.
The Captain gave him a slight smile, then turned his head and whispered something to the soldier, but Frank could hear it now—it was definitely not Dutch, nor was it German. It was English! The soldier said to him, "This is just embroidered with yarn, not a real edelweiss!"
Frank suddenly took a step forward, then looked at them with some surprise and said in English, "Who are you?"
The Captain also stood up and smiled, "I knew you spoke English, I wouldn't have used a translator, it's really tiring. Mr. Frank, hello, I am Lieutenant Parks of the 101st Airborne Division."
Frank excitedly scrutinized them for a few moments, then finally confirmed his assessment, nodding repeatedly and smiling, "Lieutenant Parks, hello. I've long heard that the Allied forces would have a major operation. Now you've finally contacted us, so it seems it's true."
"Yes, we do have a major operation!" Parks nodded, "But we need your help. We need intelligence, intelligence on the German armored forces, and their General Bittrich's command post located south of the Arnhem Bridge. Please tell us!"
Frank's map was very detailed, marking many important traffic arteries and crucial strongholds.
It also showed the deployment locations of the 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division and their armored vehicles south of the bridge.
The reason Frank was so clear about the German troop deployment was mainly because the German forces retreating to the Arnhem area were mostly remnants.
The 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division actually only had a little over 2,500 men, which was about 10% of its full strength.
Clearly, the German did not think the Allied would launch an attack on the Arnhem area, as it was a rear area, so their vigilance was not high, which made it convenient for Frank's family to act.
"Boss, what should we do?" Liebgott asked after coming out of Frank's house, "Should we rendezvous with Lieutenant Welsh?"
Parks shook his head and said, "No, we need to confirm these locations first, and then go meet them."
General Bittrich's command post was easy to find; it was a tall villa nestled among green trees, with a very beautiful environment, but also heavily guarded on all sides.
Even Captain Parks, dressed in a German military uniform, could not approach easily, because as soon as they got close, the vigilant soldiers around them showed wary expressions.
And the 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division's tank group was about three miles from General Bittrich's villa, where the remnants of the 9th Hohenstaufen Panzer Division were also stationed.
They had just received orders to return to Germany for rest and reinforcement!
Welsh was leaning against a tree trunk in the woods, dozing off, bored.
His comrades were on guard around him.
"The Boss should be back!" Patrick Christenson looked at his watch, his expression a little impatient.
Clearly, hiding behind the German, even without launching an attack, could make one uneasy.
Patrick Christenson's watch was seized from a German and was one of his prized trophies he always showed off.
"Don't worry!" Welsh suddenly interjected, his eyes still closed, but he wasn't asleep, "Don't you know him yet? Reconnaissance is just a small matter for him, nothing to worry about.
Patrick Christenson, your performance doesn't look like a veteran!"
"Understood, sir!" Patrick Christenson replied sullenly.
At this moment, a low cheer came from the guards ahead, and then a voice faintly drifted over: "The Lieutenant is back!"
Clearly, Parks and his team had completed their mission.
"Boss!" Patrick Christenson was the first to rush forward, followed by the comrades who gathered around.
They all looked at Parks expectantly, hoping to hear good news from him.
Welsh also got up from the ground, then walked over and smiled, "I knew you were coming soon, these guys are worrying themselves sick.
How is it? Is everything clear?"
Parks nodded, then motioned for everyone to continue to hide, and whispered, "Our mission is basically complete, faster than expected, in less than 24 hours.
Luz, find Webster and send the intelligence back to Division HQ."
"Yes, Boss, no problem!" Luz was in charge of the radio, "Webster, come over, we have work to do!"
He found Webster, and then the two checked the intelligence and began to send a telegram to Division HQ.
"The German situation is much stronger than those guys at Allied Command think.
I estimate that if the plan is not adjusted, our Airborne Division attacking Arnhem Bridge will face a tough battle." Parks said to Welsh, "Do you have any alcohol?"
Welsh nodded, then handed over the bottle next to him, and said with some concern, "What should we do?"
Parks smiled slightly at him and said, "Our plan is to report to Division HQ and then wait for the right moment.
We still have a platoon of men, and they will always come in handy then.
Harry, don't worry about not having an opportunity, if we're going to do something, let's do something big."
"A big deal?" Welsh grinned at Parks and said, "Good idea, I like a big deal!"
Parks nodded and said, "Yes, we are a surprise force here, and this is what I envisioned, why I brought a platoon of men, because there will always be a time when they are needed."
Parks said as he leaned against the tree trunk next to Welsh, "I need to rest for a while, I haven't slept well all night and day!"
"Alright, I need to tell the comrades about this so they can be prepared!" Welsh muttered, then suddenly asked, "Reese, when you wake up, you must tell me your thoughts.
I like being a surprise force!"
"No problem!" Parks had already pulled his cap down to cover his face.
The sky gradually darkened, and the soldiers in the woods began to rest one after another.
Some began to change shifts, and some were talking softly, making very faint sounds.
Everything was so peaceful, as if they were a group of tired lumberjacks preparing to rest, if not for their military uniforms and weapons.
Night fell gently and unconsciously, completely enveloping the surroundings.
September 16, 1944, Monbéliard Airport, 101st Airborne Division, Easy Company bivouac area.
The company command post lights came on.
Captain Winters was sitting in a chair at his desk, staring blankly, and next to him sat Captain Nixon, who was swirling a glass cup, the wine in the cup creating ripples, and then he would take a sip.
He glanced at Winters, then said, "Dick, Division HQ has already submitted the intelligence to the higher-ups, hoping it will get the attention of those big shots.
Don't worry about Reese and Harry, they are veterans!"
Winters finally came back to his senses, he grinned and glanced at Nixon and said, "Nick, do you think those big shots will take this intelligence seriously?"
Nixon was stunned, then shook his head and smiled, "I don't have much hope for that!
In fact, before Reese, the Dutch underground resistance organization had submitted the same intelligence, just not as detailed as Parks's.
But the proud British chose to selectively ignore the intelligence.
I think even if Parks submitted the intelligence, it certainly wouldn't get their attention.
They are too proud, so proud that they believe as long as they descend from the sky like divine soldiers, those demoralized German will surrender to them with their hands raised."
"Proud British!" Winters nodded, "I think you are right."
Then he suddenly looked at Nixon and said, "You clearly know that such intelligence will not make the big shots at Allied Command change their minds, so why didn't you stop Reese and his team?
You should know that this mission is not simple, they will be put in danger."
"Because I guessed that Reese must have considered this point too.
He is much smarter than we think, that guy!" Nixon smiled, "But he insisted on taking on this mission, clearly he had a plan in mind long ago!"
"Perhaps!" Winters nodded and then fell silent.
Hopefully, Parks won't disappoint him this time either; he took a platoon from Easy Company, and the most important thing is for them to come back alive; this is his hope for him.
Nixon's guess about the ultimate use of the intelligence was correct.
Those arrogant high-level decision-makers would not accept such intelligence.
Although this intelligence was personally arranged and collected by General Taylor.
"General Taylor, I hope this action is only your personal behavior." General Blielitun said in the Allied Command headquarters, flipping through the intelligence, then looking at Taylor, who was smoking a cigar nearby, "You will jeopardize the entire operation.
Hopefully, those guys didn't fall into the hands of the German.
Too risky!"
"Lieutenant Reese Parks is the 101st Airborne Division's most outstanding officer, General!" Taylor's eyes bulged, then he stared at Blielitun and said, "But the intelligence he reported is absolutely crucial to our success or failure!"
"General Taylor!" At this moment, General Browning, who was drinking tea nearby, suddenly interrupted, "We all know that Lieutenant Parks is a very promising young officer, but we cannot postpone or make major adjustments to the entire operation just because of a Lieutenant's suggestion.
You should know that we are bound to proceed!"
He is now one of the commanders of Allied Command, assisting General Blielitun, responsible for coordinating tactical directives.
Taylor suddenly became angry, he looked at General Browning with some displeasure and said, "General Browning, that is not a suggestion, it is intelligence, and accurate intelligence."
General Browning frowned, then glanced at Taylor and said, "Perhaps your Lieutenant has already been captured by the German, he confessed everything, and then fabricated false intelligence to deceive us.
You should know that the German will absolutely not organize effective resistance, their morale is low, they have no desire to fight, and this is a godsend opportunity for us!"
Taylor suddenly stood up, then sneered at General Browning, "Rich imagination, this makes me have to admire, it turns out that warfare can also be like an artist, creating with wild imagination."
General Browning looked nonchalant, shrugging his shoulders at Taylor, spreading his hands full of sarcasm and saying, "War is an art, isn't it?"
"You will regret it!" General Taylor shook his head and said, "The British First Airborne Division will be paradropped into Arnhem, they are responsible for capturing Arnhem Bridge, but that place is now heavily guarded, and there are a large number of armored forces, which for Airborne Division with only light weapons and insufficient supplies, is undoubtedly a huge disaster, it will be a unilateral massacre.
May God bless your British First Airborne Division."
With that, he was about to walk out of the command post.
"General Taylor!" Blielitun called out to him, "We will still study it, if the intelligence is true.
I hope today's conversation has not affected the relationship between the two armies!"
"Absolutely not, General!" General Browning was the first to speak, he smiled, "This is just a small matter!"
Taylor stopped, then looked at General Browning and said solemnly, "General Browning, this is not a small matter.
If the German strength is ignored because of this, not only the British Airborne Division will suffer, but also the American Airborne Division.
They are valuable resources for the military, and ignoring their lives is a shameful act!"
With that, he walked out of the command post without looking back.
Clearly, this conversation made him very angry, and at the same time, very helpless.
The British were almost mad with their desire for victory, ignoring all factors that could lead to their failure and stop them.
"Damn gambler!" General Taylor stood at the door for a moment, looked back at the command post door, then whispered a low curse, and then strode away from the place.
Clearly, the command post would not change this operation plan.
They might not even think about the intelligence Parks provided, because if that intelligence were made public, it would only invite more opposition.
And they would absolutely not allow anyone to hinder this operation.
They would rather think of everything in a positive light.
"What's wrong with him?" General Browning complained as he watched Taylor leave, "Because of a Lieutenant, we have to terminate this operation?"
Blielitun shook his head and said, "Don't worry about him, he will understand.
The Allied will definitely defeat the Germans with this operation!"
General Taylor failed to convince General Browning, nor did he convince General Blielitun. He returned to the division headquarters in a huff and then smashed a cup. This was a rare initiative from him, as if only the crisp "pop" sound of the cup shattering on the floor could cool down his agitated mind.
He quickly informed Colonel Sink about this matter.
"I apologize for this operation!" General Taylor said to Sink. "I know that this has put dozens of brothers in danger, and it's my fault. I should have known that those sons of bitches wouldn't back down. They only care about their own achievements and earning medals for their own benefit!"
"You've done your best, General!" Colonel Sink didn't know what to say either. He still had to face Captain Winters and discuss the meaning of this operation with him. Was it meaningful? Apparently, it seemed meaningless now.
Colonel Sink personally went down to Winters' company headquarters, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Strayer.
"Dick! We made a mistake on this one!" Colonel Sink frankly admitted his error, believing there was no need to conceal it. "Our decision was hasty. Although Lieutenant Parks had a strong request, we underestimated Allied Command's determination for this operation. General Taylor was dealt a blow at the headquarters!"
"I know General Taylor has done his best!" Winters' brows furrowed. He said to Colonel Sink, "What we should do now is inform them to come back safely no matter what."
Sink nodded and said, "That's exactly what I'm worried about. If our operation goes smoothly this time, then they can link up with the British 1st Airborne Division and then withdraw. But—"
Winters knew what Colonel Sink hadn't said. If this operation was truly as Parks had stated, that the German had heavily fortified Arnhem with armored vehicles, then this operation was in jeopardy. Although the British 1st Airborne Division was brave and skilled in combat, they were absolutely no match for the German armed with armored vehicles and tanks. In that case, Arnhem Bridge could only remain under German control. Once the time dragged on, German reinforcements would arrive, forming an encirclement around the British. Then, Parks' hope of a safe withdrawal would be very slim.
"They're all crazy!" Winters' gloomy eyes looked out the window, as if talking to himself.
Colonel Sink didn't know what to say. He just patted Winters' shoulder and said, "Our only hope is for a miracle to happen. God bless that our operation can succeed."
"God bless!" Winters gave a bitter smile. "God bless Parks!"
But on the battlefield, this was just a comforting remark. When Winters saw Colonel Sink off, he didn't extinguish all hope. He knew Parks' capabilities. Since he could return safely from the German headquarters last time, why couldn't he return safely this time? Also, Parks' intelligence was clearly accurate. But if this operation were to proceed as planned, then what Easy Company had to do was minimize casualties among the brothers, so that Parks' intelligence would have some value, which was what he had always hoped for.
The dark clouds outside the window gradually dispersed, and stars rarely appeared in the night sky. Looking from afar, it was like a fathomless sea, with a few lighthouse beams swaying in the waves.
"Look, Guarnere, stars!" Joe Toy leaned against a tree trunk right next to Guarnere. Through the branches and leaves, dappled moonlight shone down, and through the gaps, one or two shining stars could be seen in the sky.
"Tomorrow will be a clear day. It seems the brothers at Monbéliard Airport will still have to jump tomorrow. They can't avoid it this time!" Guarnere nodded. They had been huddled there for over a day. Tomorrow would be September 17th, the first day of Operation Market Garden. On this day, three Airborne Divisions would jump from the sky to execute this largest airborne operation to date.
"What about us?" Toy looked at the sky. "We can't jump. I hope the British can take this place and pick us up. Honestly, how much of a role do you think we're playing here?"
"I don't know, only the Boss knows best about this kind of thing!" Guarnere chuckled. "You'd best ask the Boss. He has his own ideas, and it certainly won't be easier than last time!"
Toy said nothing more. He leaned against the tree trunk and closed his eyes.
Not far from them, several vigilant brothers were moving around. They walked cautiously and carefully, their eyes wide, looking around. Miller's gun-holding hand felt a bit cold. Perhaps the temperature in the forest was a bit low, and he couldn't help but shiver.
"Are you cold? Or nervous?" Malarkey, who was on patrol, walked over. He sensed Miller's abnormality and asked in a low voice.
"I'm a little nervous!" Miller replied somewhat awkwardly!
Malarkey nodded and said, "The first time is always like this. You guys are lucky to get a mission like this for your first combat."
"We asked for it ourselves!" Miller quickly said. "I just... I just really wanted to fight alongside Lieutenant Parks. We had heard about him even when we were training back home! Every new recruit thinks that way!"
Malarkey smiled slightly and said, "Yes, we all want to carry out missions with the Lieutenant, but no matter what kind of mission it is, you always have to shoot, and then people always have to die!"
"If you consider yourself already dead, then you won't be afraid!"
Malarkey was startled and said, "Who told you that?"
"The Lieutenant's words, Cobb told me!" Miller was a bit proud. It was because of this sentence that Lieutenant Parks changed his mind and allowed himself, Huxley, and Logan to participate in this mission.
"Good advice. You'll have to remember that!" Malarkey chuckled, then patted Miller's shoulder and said, "Watch out, we're still in Germany's embrace!" With that, he walked straight away. He still had to check the other sentry posts.
Miller looked at Malarkey's retreating figure and suddenly chuckled to himself. He felt that these veterans who had previously carried out missions with Lieutenant Parks always showed a relatively calm attitude towards this mission. This should be a kind of trust, a mentality formed from immense trust in their brothers and their superior.
Mist gradually enveloped the forest, and the air grew hazy. The forest was shrouded, and even with a close look, only blurry images could be seen. The temperature was also a bit low; through their uniforms, they could feel the chill of dawn.
"It's almost dawn!" Parks tightened the blanket around him, shrinking his head, and said to Welsh, who was next to him, wrapped in a blanket with his head also tucked in, "The operation is about to begin. Have you changed your mind?"
Welsh stretched, then poked his head out of the blanket and looked around: "Oh, Parks, it's still early. You've disturbed my sweet dreams."
"Have you changed your mind?" Parks asked again. "Not being able to participate in this great operation and parachute with Dick."
Welsh shook his head, then smiled, "If I missed this operation, then I would regret it!" As he spoke, he fumbled for a small flask beside him, took a swig, and handed it to Parks, "Save some, we still have a few days to get through."
Parks took a swig and passed it back, wiping his mouth: "I'm just worried now. Winters' reply made it clear to us that those guys at Allied Command won't take our intelligence seriously. What if the German are prepared, what will happen to our brothers?"
Welsh nodded, muttering softly, "Those sons of bitches, they're going to use our brothers' lives to achieve their great feats. This is the politics of the big shots. Damn it!"
"God bless them!" Parks nodded.
Welsh also nodded: "God bless Winters!"
The morning light gradually dispersed the thick fog, and the scenery in the forest became clearer. Parks said to Welsh, "Alright, Harry, we should get ready too. Once the attack begins, we should always pay attention to the progress of the battle. Perhaps we can still play an unexpected role. Also, we must bring our brothers back intact."
"I know, I'll go gather the brothers!" Welsh nodded.
All the brothers quickly assembled. They all stared at Parks, wanting new instructions from him. After all, the reconnaissance mission was complete, and now their entire platoon was in the German den, making them very susceptible to crisis.
"General Taylor has asked us to withdraw by any means necessary," Parks said to all the brothers. "Our reconnaissance mission is complete."
There was no commotion in the team; everyone had guessed what this meant. They waited for Parks' next words, knowing that Parks would definitely not just go back like this.
Welsh also knew that if it were merely a reconnaissance mission, Parks would never have brought out an entire platoon. This was something Parks had strongly insisted on before the mission. This was also a major reason why Welsh wanted to participate in this mission.
"But I absolutely don't want to go back like this, even though there's a path laid out before us now." Parks looked at them calmly, then said very slowly, "To the west from here, there's a place called Deriel with a ferry we can use. There are almost no German guarding it. We can completely seize that place and then go back."
When Parks said this, Welsh was startled. He had been worrying about the withdrawal route, and he hadn't expected Parks to have already arranged everything. But how did he know such a place so clearly?
"Right now, we are in Germany's embrace, but—" Parks paused, "Paratroopers are born to be surrounded. We are like a thorn close to Germany's heart, and we must play our role, striking Germany hard at the critical moment. That is our purpose this time!"
Welsh suddenly understood why Parks had insisted on an entire platoon being air-dropped. This was the reason; he wanted to strike the German in their most crucial spot. And Parks had long anticipated that Allied Command would not change their plan, even with accurate intelligence. He had a premeditated plan. As Welsh thought of this, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up into a slight smile.
By this time, it was already bright. They began to advance towards Arnhem Bridge. They would ambush around the bridge, then wait for an opportunity like lions, and then deliver a fatal blow to the Germans.