On the first day the band of brothers of Easy Company spent in Bastogne, Parks received two newspapers at the makeshift company headquarters. One was the British "The Times," and the other was the American "The Washington Post." The "The Times" featured an old photo of Churchill meeting Parks, and it was a mystery where the British had found it.
In the newspaper, Parks looked energetic and Churchill looked vibrant, which seemed to complement each other well. Moreover, the British used the headline: Bastogne—The Spirit of the Allied Forces.
"The Washington Post" featured a photo of Parks with President Roosevelt when he received the Medal of Honor. Their headline was: The 101st Airborne Division is an Unyielding Banner.
It was clear that very few British soldiers participated in the Ardennes Offensive; it was mainly the Allied forces fighting, but they didn't mind stealing the thunder from the American forces, especially since General Montgomery was ousted from his position as the Allied Commander-in-Chief.
The Americans, on the other hand, focused more on the honors their army had achieved. And Parks, leading a platoon of soldiers, infiltrated the German rear, seized German supplies, destroyed German artillery and ammunition, and killed two German platoons—this was a miraculous victory achieved by the besieged American forces.
At that time, the American forces were heavily besieged; they lacked clothing, food, and medical supplies, and despair and frustration filled the entire American army.
But Parks's victory was undoubtedly a ray of sunshine in the American army's most desperate moment, filling people with hope for the future, showing that the German encirclement was not unbreakable, that someone could break it, and even severely cripple them.
That person was Captain Parks, the company commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
Because of Parks's presence, all media attention was focused on the 101st Airborne Division, even though the 82nd Airborne Division fought just as bravely and suffered heavy casualties in the northern sector of the Bulge, a battle no less significant than the Battle of Bastogne.
But they were not surrounded, and more importantly, they did not produce a hero like Captain Parks, and thus did not receive the same media attention as the 101st Airborne Division.
The newspaper even showed a map of Bastogne defended by the 101st Airborne Division, pointing out that it was still holding out amidst the most severe collapse in American military history.
An editorial in "The Washington Post" read: "...A worried nation needs inspiration and hope, and these days, every morning, what greets people's eyes is the inspiring sight of them holding out in battle.
And Captain Parks is the most legendary and exciting key figure among them. He persevered in difficult conditions, and with his exquisite art of command, he repeatedly defeated the German forces and even penetrated deep into German territory.
His story made the American forces holding out in Bastogne seem even more miraculous; the 101st Airborne Division is the strong warrior of the Bastogne fortress.
Despite being enveloped in fear and defeat, the officers and soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division remained courageous and resilient; despite poor living conditions, freezing weather, and extreme scarcity of supplies, they displayed extraordinary courage and optimism; despite being heavily besieged by the German forces, they miraculously managed to break the German encirclement.
And General McAuliffe's 'Nuts!' reply to the German surrender demand further humiliated the German forces who, though surrounding them, were helpless; there was also the brotherhood displayed on the battlefield... We have too much to say, and all of this is about courage above all, and camaraderie forging an undefeatable force against the German army…
"But they highly praise General Patton! Everyone thinks General Patton saved us!" Welsh said with a disdainful smile, then haphazardly flipped through the newspaper, "Just like cavalry saving wagon train settlers!"
"Do you think we needed someone to save us?" Parks looked at Welsh and asked a very serious question.
Welsh thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, we don't need anyone to save us!"
Yes, the band of brothers of Easy Company believed they didn't need saving. They could save themselves.
And after the 4th Armored Division entered Bastogne, many people talked about how they had rescued the 101st Airborne Division.
They were the heroes and knights who rescued the distressed. Clearly, this atmosphere displeased all the band of brothers of the 101st Airborne Division.
"Bullshit!" Guarnere couldn't help but curse when he talked about it with Toy.
He asked Toy the same question as Captain Parks, "Did we need someone to save us?"
Toy shook his head and said, "Of course not, but General Patton thinks he's a savior. God, the German forces opposite us were beaten so badly they scurried away, and then Patton comes along, and they say to us, 'Hey, boys, we're here to save you, we defeated the German forces.' Do you think that's believable? We had already defeated them; did we need that old man to say it?"
At this moment, Liebgott, who was nearby, also shook his head and said, "Think about that infiltration mission the Boss led us on; we could completely get supplies from the German forces. Did we still need saving? If you really want to talk about saving, I'd like to go back to Momion Camp right now; honestly, I miss the hot showers there!"
"And I need to shave my beard!" Guarnere added.
Yes, no one in Easy Company believed they needed saving, not even the new recruits who had endured so much on the front lines; they had become more resilient after the defense of Bastogne.
As the commander of the 101st Airborne Division, General Taylor undoubtedly had little to boast about in this defensive operation; he was far away in London, living a vacation-like life.
He could not possibly comprehend the kind of life the band of brothers were enduring on the Bastogne front lines. These were also the most difficult days the American army had faced. The spotlight, however, was stolen by General McAuliffe.
General McAuliffe became the legendary commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne; a single remark he made during his acting command made him a hero in the hearts of Americans.
The word "Nuts!" was one of the most frequently appearing words in newspapers around the world; its frequency of appearance was almost equal to that of Parks's name.
General Taylor reacted somewhat sensitively to this situation. But he knew that he had nothing to boast about regarding Bastogne; if he had to be linked to the defense of Bastogne, it would be through Captain Parks.
He decided to apply for a medal for Captain Parks and emphasize his spiritual role in the 101st Airborne Division. This could divert people's discussion.
A jeep drove over the snow, which had been repeatedly run over many times and was now muddy. Splashing mud splattered onto the soldiers by the roadside, drawing a chorus of curses.
"Go to hell!" Cobb made a middle finger gesture at the jeep.
"That's Division HQ's jeep!" Lipton recognized the Division HQ emblem on it and warned Cobb, "Perhaps it's General Taylor's staff officer, look at his major's insignia."
"I don't care," Cobb snorted, "General Taylor abandoned us at a crucial moment!"
Not only did the soldiers have opinions about General Taylor, but officers like Captain Winters also harbored some resentment towards General Taylor.
However, they did not express it, adhering to their duties as officers.
"Captain Parks?" As the major jumped out of the jeep, he saw Parks walking out of the company headquarters, and he easily recognized Parks.
Clearly, his face had now spread across the world through newspapers, making it difficult not to recognize him.
"Yes, sir!" Parks said with a puzzled expression, "Is there a problem?"
"General Taylor wants to see you!" The major said very sincerely. In fact, everything Captain Parks had done in Bastogne filled him with admiration, which was a common feeling among many American officers.
They believed they could not have executed such a perfect infiltration.
"The General could have simply called the company headquarters; we have a phone!" Parks said as he walked with the major.
The major smiled and said, "The General wanted to show more importance, so he sent me to make the trip personally. Honestly, Captain Parks, as an officer of the 101st Airborne Division, I am proud of you!"
Parks smiled faintly, neither modest nor boastful. His deeds did not require him to belittle or exaggerate them.
Moreover, General Taylor meeting him was certainly a good thing; whether he was exploiting it or genuinely commending him, there would be nothing worth publicizing now.
Everything about him would now be set as a benchmark and an idol.
When Parks entered the Division HQ, General Taylor personally came out to greet him.
He actively extended his hand, tightly grasped Parks's hand as he was about to salute, and laughed loudly, "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Come on in, how about a drink?"
Parks walked in, then, at General Taylor's gesture, sat opposite General Taylor. The major who had led Parks in handed him a cup of coffee and placed it on the table in front of Parks.
"The Parks Bunker successfully preserved the lives of most of the 101st Airborne Division, and with the bunker, launched a brilliant counterattack against the German offensive.
Easy Company repelled a German regimental charge and destroyed several German tanks; during Easy Company's most difficult time, he led a platoon of band of brothers to actively sortie, killing two German platoons, penetrating deep into the German rear, seizing supplies, and destroying German artillery and ammunition, putting the German forces in a difficult situation while solving their own supply problems.
In the German attacks of the past two days, he again thwarted the attacks of two German companies and destroyed two German tanks; when the band of brothers were demoralized, he united every person in the company, making them not feel alone, afraid, or helpless."
General Taylor had no opening remarks; he immediately read out Parks's series of accomplishments in Bastogne, then nodded and said, "Captain Parks, you are one of the best American officers I have ever seen."
Winters had once said this, but coming from General Taylor's mouth today, its weight was clearly very significant.
"Everyone is having a difficult time. Without the band of brothers, I don't think any of this would have happened!" Parks pondered for a moment, then very solemnly said to General Taylor, "I am even prouder of my band of brothers!"
Taylor smiled and nodded, "That's what I admire about you. Your company is a band of brothers. They supported each other to achieve what they have today, and of course, your contribution is the most important part of that, Parks.
You don't need to be modest. I think if you were modest, it would be an emotional erasure of all the band of brothers in Easy Company. You should be proud; your achievements are the achievements of the band of brothers."
As Taylor spoke, his expression suddenly became very serious: "Captain, you must bear these honors and let the band of brothers also feel this honor. They are proud of you, just as you are proud of them!"
Parks was proud of his brothers, and the brothers of Easy Company were proud of him.
War correspondent Spike Labov was among the first American journalists to enter Bastogne after its liberation.
He was a veteran war correspondent for The Washington Post, having covered battlefields in North Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
He had also charged onto battlefields like the soldiers themselves, truthfully recording the brutal details of various battles.
He had seen many excellent warriors and weak cowards, muddle-headed commanders and wise officers.
The article Parks read was written by Labov, who, after hearing about the legendary experiences of the 101st Airborne Division soldiers, was inspired to come to the front lines for an interview.
Of course, what attracted him most was Captain Reese Parks, who achieved brilliant victories in adversity and provided the Parks Bunker to protect the vast majority of American soldiers; he was simply the most miraculous key figure in this legend.
Many officers and generals analyzed that without the Parks Bunker, the 101st Airborne Division's losses would have been much greater than they were, and the German forces might have already broken through their defenses.
Similarly, the 82nd Airborne Division used conventional foxhole-style bunkers, and although they faced much less defensive pressure than the 101st Airborne Division, they endured one bloody battle after another, suffering heavy casualties and immense losses.
This was the difference between the two, and once compared, this difference undoubtedly showed the tremendous effect of the Parks Bunker.
General Eisenhower had already ordered all defending units to use the Parks Bunker to reduce casualties among the already dwindling forces.
The most legendary feat was his leading a platoon of soldiers to infiltrate German lines, sweep through German defenses, destroy German artillery ammunition, and seize German supplies.
America was currently in an era that needed heroes, and Labov believed even more that heroes could re-energize the once-demoralized Americans.
Undoubtedly, Parks was the most suitable candidate for this; his deeds far surpassed those of the heroes who existed in his time, and although those heroes also achieved brilliant accomplishments, which one of them could achieve so many consecutive accomplishments like Parks?
A German major captured by the 101st Airborne Division once said during interrogation, "If you didn't have that kind of bunker, if your soldiers lacked courage, then we would have broken through your lines long ago."
The German major was right; the Parks Bunker played an indispensable and crucial role, and the source of courage was largely linked to Parks's heroic deeds.
Labov decided to personally interview this legendary officer.
However, he did not go directly to Captain Parks.
The first people he wanted to see were the 101st Airborne Division's commander, his superiors, and his subordinate officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men.
He wanted to understand Parks from various angles, gaining a comprehensive understanding.
General Taylor was merely a formality; Labov had to see him first, but General Taylor had not been on the front lines before the 101st Airborne Division was relieved, yet General Taylor's attitude towards Captain Parks was also crucial.
Things went smoothly; General Taylor warmly entertained Labov, and when discussing Parks, General Taylor's words were full of praise, detailing Parks's contributions to Labov.
Of course, his praise was, after all, only official.
Many of his words occasionally touched upon the overall contributions of the 101st Airborne Division, which Labov was not very interested in; how the 101st Airborne Division fared had already been evaluated by many, and this was not his focus.
Labov politely declined General Taylor's invitation to have lunch, but as soon as he turned around, he found General McAuliffe; he was very interested in this general, or perhaps his interest stemmed from the general's classic reply to the German forces.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, General!" Labov showed great respect to General McAuliffe, which was different from his politeness towards General Taylor.
He met him in General McAuliffe's private office.
"Please, Mr. Labov!" After an introduction, General McAuliffe seemed less enthusiastic than General Taylor; General Taylor was still in charge of the 101st Airborne Division.
However, McAuliffe had led the brothers of the 101st Airborne Division through difficult times, and now suddenly losing his decision-making power made him a bit uncomfortable.
"Thank you, General!" Labov sat opposite General McAuliffe, picked up the prepared cup of coffee in front of him, took a small sip, and then opened the conversation: "General, I greatly admire your achievements, and your reply to the German forces greatly humiliated them and boosted the morale of the officers and soldiers.
Now many people back home are full of praise for your leadership..."
Labov, with a look of impatience, said, "Mr. Labov, if you're here to write about my insignificant affairs, then I don't have time for you.
I'm still busy here!"
Labov had intended to use a roundabout approach, which would make General McAuliffe more comfortable, but he didn't expect General McAuliffe to be so direct, which made him a little awkward.
He curled his hand into a fist, placed it over his mouth, gave a dry cough, and smiled: "Yes, General, I have the utmost respect for you, it comes from the heart.
So I'll still explain my purpose: I want to hear how you evaluate your officers, um, I mean Captain Parks of the 506th Regiment's Easy Company!"
"Captain Parks?" When McAuliffe heard that name, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but smile slightly, nodding to Labov and saying, "It seems you've finally stated your true purpose, which makes me feel comfortable.
I hate those hypocritical social interactions; they won't lead to American victory."
It was clear that General McAuliffe had some resentment, and Labov was well aware of the reasons, so he didn't dwell on that and cut to the chase, saying, "I want to understand this legendary officer, so I'd like to hear your evaluation!"
"He is the best officer in the 101st Airborne Division, and will be the best officer in all of America.
His achievements will be no less than those of generals and field marshals; he inspires every officer and soldier in the Allied forces, and is a manifestation of courage and wisdom!"
General McAuliffe spoke these words without even thinking, clearly having always believed them.
Labov was still waiting for McAuliffe to continue, but the general's words abruptly stopped.
He was slightly taken aback, but his journalistic profession quickly helped him find another topic.
"Honestly, an officer like Parks completely meets the criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor, but we've long stipulated that the Medal of Honor cannot be awarded twice.
So what kind of honor will the army bestow upon Captain Parks to match the achievements he has made?
I think it's not just me; all of America wants to know this; they care about the fate of heroes!"
Labov did not ask General Taylor this question; he posed it to McAuliffe, clearly wanting to know that, in this general's words, whatever honor Parks received would not be a mere formality, but rather an acknowledgment from the highest commander on the front lines.
General McAuliffe did not answer immediately.
He pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly at Labov and said, "Don't try to trick me, Mr. Labov.
If I could, I would not hesitate to award Captain Parks a second Medal of Honor, and perhaps in the future, there will be a third or even more; he always amazes us!"
It was clear that General McAuliffe could not yet make a judgment about future matters, and even if he had, he would not say it.
After all, although he was somewhat dissatisfied, he hadn't reached the point of being foolish.
Labov didn't expect to get a direct answer from General McAuliffe, but he gathered a piece of information from the general's words: Parks's honor and contributions could no longer be described merely with medals.
Labov's third interview subject was Parks's direct superior, Captain Winters.
Captain Winters himself was a legendary officer; he was also the former company commander of Easy Company, Captain Parks's old superior, and he himself had performed outstandingly in battle, capturing an entire German battalion with an incomplete company.
"Would you like a drink, Mr. Labov?" After an introduction, only Captain Winters, Captain Nixon, and Mr. Labov remained in the Battalion HQ.
Captain Nixon poured Labov a drink.
"Thank you very much!" Labov nodded, then took it.
"If you're here to interview Captain Winters, then you should ask this Captain what his interests and hobbies are," Nixon said with a chuckle, winking at Winters.
"You can ignore everything he says, sir!" Winters shook his head and smiled, clearly dismissing Nixon's joke in such a setting.
Nixon shrugged, indicating he didn't care.
Then he leaned back on the desk and began to slowly savor the fine wine in his glass.
Labov's interview began with Winters's first great victory, starting from the Battle of Brecourt Manor, they talked about the Battle of Carrington, the standoff with the German forces outside Carrington, Operation Market Garden, the trench warfare on the island of Netherlands, and the current defense of Bastogne.
Winters, usually a man of few words, seemed to have much to say.
What he talked about most was not the battle experiences, but the soldiers' mentality and the camaraderie among brothers, and he even grumbled a few times about the command and orders from superiors.
Of course, officers like him didn't need to have as many scruples as generals; they often said whatever came to mind!
In Winters's words, the name Labov heard most often was not Winters himself, but Parks!
Mr. Labov's overall assessment of Captain Parks, gleaned from Captain Winters, was similar to that of the two generals, but he still noticed the friendship between Captain Winters and Captain Parks, which was involuntarily revealed during their conversation.
Furthermore, it seemed even more precious; from Captain Nixon's supplementary remarks, the relationship between these three was like that of old friends.
However, the soldiers' evaluation of Parks was the key. No matter how much an officer pleased his superiors, if the soldiers disliked him, then that officer was definitely not a good one.
Labov had encountered such officers before, but clearly, Captain Parks would absolutely not be among them.
Every soldier of Easy Company resting in Bastogne showed respect and closeness towards Captain Parks in their words and eyes.
Many soldiers even called Captain Parks "Boss" instead of using his military rank when addressing him.
This address surprised Mr. Labov, and he said to a Sergeant named Guarnere with great interest, "What did you just say? You called Captain Parks 'Boss'?"
"Yes, is there a problem?" Guarnere, conversely, looked at Mr. Labov with some confusion.
Labov smiled and said, "No, no, just very interested. You know, if we want to show respect to an officer, we usually address him by his rank or position."
"There's a reason for that, Mr. Labov!" A Sergeant named Liebgott next to him chuckled, "Do you know that after the Normandy landings, our First Platoon of Easy Company carried out a rescue mission?"
Labov had heard about this from General Taylor and Captain Winters, and before that, he had also seen related reports.
In that rescue mission, Parks led twelve men deep into the German rear stronghold, defeated a German platoon, and rescued all American prisoners of war (except for one who was eventually blown up).
This incident shocked the entire United States at the time, and Labov was still interviewing on the Pacific battlefield.
After seeing the relevant reports, he became interested in Parks.
"I know, that was a very successful rescue mission, absolutely brilliant!" Labov nodded.
"We participated in that," Liebgott chuckled, "We killed the German commanding officer Colonel Hight, and we also captured many luger. God, they were beautiful! Several of us got a luger!"
"Uh, Sergeant Liebgott, can you talk about why you call him Boss?" Clearly, Liebgott was getting a bit off-topic when he spoke happily; he seemed very excited when mentioning his accomplishments.
Liebgott stopped smiling, twisted the corner of his mouth and said, "At that time, there were only twelve of us, and no one knew what the outcome would be.
Many of us thought it was a suicide mission, completely impossible to complete.
So, we felt like a group of small boats on the Atlantic, sailing on rotten wood, led by a Boss, ready to find a huge merchant ship and try our luck.
Hehe, I thought of that word, 'Boss,' at the time, it's really good, he is our Boss, and we achieved victory, it feels like a gambler suddenly won tens of thousands of dollars with a few dollars, that feeling is really exciting!"
"That's it?" Labov had hoped for a legendary story or an emotional journey.
"Yes, and in the later Panther operation, we reinforced this concept.
We only had one platoon, but under the Boss's leadership, we severely damaged the German, made them fight among themselves, destroyed their arsenal, and rescued the British.
We all know that the British are incredibly arrogant, yet they listened to the Boss obediently; that feeling was really great.
But the brothers no longer thought of it as a gambler trying their luck, and the person leading us is the Boss, which is also why we are willing to call him 'Boss'." Liebgott became talkative when speaking of this.
Of course, what he said was a bit chaotic; although he didn't clearly explain why Parks was called Boss, Labov guessed the reason.
Parks was like a pirate, gathering a group of desperadoes under him, ready to obey his commands at any time, prepared for a desperate attack in the dangerous sea.
In other words, these men now didn't care what Parks would do.
They would only obey his orders without complaint, and even for missions clearly leading to death, they might still vie to undertake them.
"Liebgott is right!" A soldier named Malarkey also spoke up, "I participated in all the missions the Boss carried out.
Of course, my marksmanship isn't good enough; if it were, I might have participated in the mission to shoot Lieutenant General Bittrich, and then there wouldn't have been anything for Shifty.
I'm much calmer than him, right, Shifty!" Malarkey finished, then provocatively yelled at a soldier sitting further away, and then chuckled triumphantly.
"Alright, your marksmanship is better than mine, that mission should have been yours, then the one who received the Distinguished Service Cross should have been you, Malarkey!" Shifty shook his head and said, "I just had better luck than you!"
Labov smiled and nodded, he liked this brotherly camaraderie among the soldiers in the company; there were no barriers, they could talk freely, expressing whatever they wanted.
"Alright, now I have a rather high request, but I hope you won't refuse me!" Labov spoke to himself without waiting for the brothers of Easy Company around him to speak, "Hmm, I hope you can describe your Captain Parks, your Boss, in one sentence, say what you want to say the most!"
"Good idea!" Guarnere chuckled, then he raised his hand and said, "He's a man worthy of our respect!"
"An excellent commander!"
"A perfect soldier! Oh, I really can't think of a sentence to describe him. Well, he's a soldier, and he's perfect!" These were Landeman's words.
"The bane of the German!"
"Hitler's nightmare!"
"Brave, fearless, he is our role model, he always charges at the front, and always leads us to victory, and he can save our lives again and again on the battlefield, in times of crisis, he always steps forward, he guides us!"
"Lipton, that's not fair, you said many sentences, Mr. Labov only asked for one sentence to describe him!" At this moment, Cobb laughed from the side, "Look at our Sergeant, he has forgotten the rules.
Alright, it's my turn, I am the most qualified, you know, I used to sleep in the same barracks as the Boss, I can even distinguish him by the sound of his snoring!"
"Alright, you say it, I'll let you!" Lipton smiled and shook his head at Cobb.
"What I want to say is, the Boss is our brother!" Cobb's face was very serious when he said this sentence, he looked at Labov and said it word by word, very solemnly.
When this sentence was spoken, many of the brothers fell silent.
Yes, they had said so much, but the word they most wanted to say in their hearts was spoken by Cobb.
Cobb originally thought he was the least likely among them to say this word, but he had said it now.
Brother, Captain Parks was indeed their brother, whether in a hail of bullets, or in a foxhole under constant shelling, or enduring hardship in a trench, or patrolling with his brothers in the freezing snow.
He was always among his brothers, he always gave his brothers courage in despair and confidence in victory.
"Yes, he is our brother!" Lipton repeated Cobb's words, with the same solemn expression as Cobb.
Labov nodded, truthfully, his heart had just been shaken.
It was incredible for an officer to receive such admiration and trust from his soldiers.
Even on a brutal battlefield like the Pacific, very few officers received such praise from their soldiers.
They maintained the distinction between officer and soldier, yet they were also like partners fused into one.
The last person Labov interviewed was Parks himself; he met Captain Parks in Easy Company's headquarters.
At the time, he was with Lieutenant Welsh, the executive officer, looking at newspapers and drinking coffee, appearing very relaxed.
"Mr. Labov, welcome!" Captain Parks walked over and extended his hand to him.
He did not give Labov the impression of being shrewd or tough, but rather had an approachable quality; of course, he had not participated in combat with Parks and could not experience the strong sense of calm, decisiveness, and courage emanating from him.
"Looks like you're going to be in the newspapers again, honestly, I'm really jealous of you!" Welsh joked, then moved a chair aside for Labov to sit down.
Before Labov could speak, Captain Parks spoke first, smiling at Labov: "Mr. Labov, I deeply respect you war correspondents; the dangers you face are even greater than those of soldiers charging on the front lines, and you leave precious records for people all over the world!"
"Thank you!" Hearing such praise from Parks, Labov felt a surge of pride from the bottom of his heart.
He was about to speak, but Parks again preempted him, saying: "But Mr. Labov, if this war only had commanders and no soldiers, no matter how brilliant the commanders, it would absolutely be impossible to win the war, we all understand that!"
"Yes!" Labov suddenly had a feeling that he was being led by Captain Parks in the conversation.
Captain Parks still smiled and nodded: "So, I think you should write more about our soldiers; they endure the most difficult environments in the world, brave the fiercest artillery fire in the world, and defend the most dangerous front lines in the world.
This is not the officers' credit, but the soldiers' credit, so as for myself, I have nothing to say.
I, like every soldier, am doing my duty.
Every soldier fighting bravely is the most lovable person among Americans!"
Labov's hand trembled slightly.
He had intended to write something in his notebook, but he hesitated, as if there were no more questions, and only one sentence came to mind: Soldiers fighting bravely are the most lovable people among Americans.
He tried hard to steady his hand, then wrote heavily in his notebook: The most lovable people!
Labov's article began with Captain Parks's words.
The massive headline 'The Most Adorable People' suddenly appeared on the front page of The Washington Post.
In his article, Labov meticulously listed the bloody battles and harsh living conditions of ordinary soldiers, describing how they survived in such an environment, how they resisted German attacks, and repelled them again and again.
He also wrote about their wishes, especially when some American readers read that the most luxurious wish of these soldiers in the icy cold was merely a bowl of hot soup.
Many people shed tears.
A bowl of hot soup, which can be enjoyed at any time in domestic life, became the most luxurious wish of the soldiers at the front line.
What kind of sentiment is it when they call out to their mothers as they die, when they fall, they instruct their brothers, and when they despair, they tell their brothers not to despair?
To Easy Company and the entire 101st Airborne Division, these were normal occurrences on the front line, yet they moved every American living peacefully at home.
Few media outlets had ever focused so much on ordinary groups; they usually reported on major battles, the generals who made decisions, and officers or soldiers who displayed individual heroism, but rarely on these individual, common soldiers.
Labov's article presented a new form of reporting on the anti-fascist battlefield to America and newspapers worldwide.
Through the lives and battles of ordinary soldiers, he touched everyone's heart and aroused the strong determination and fighting spirit of people worldwide against fascism.
It also sparked a wave of enlistment in America, with every passionate young person wanting to become 'the most adorable person' of this era.
And the 'most adorable person' Labov mentioned most frequently and reported on in most detail was Captain Parks, and Captain Parks and the Easy Company he led almost became synonymous with 'the most adorable people'.
The US government saw an opportunity here and bestowed the title 'the most adorable people' upon every anti-fascist soldier.
Labov's article was reprinted by major newspapers around the world, and Captain Parks, as these newspapers circulated globally, became a celebrity in anti-fascist countries worldwide.
Of course, he also became a celebrity on Hitler's desk.
In fact, every country has a group of such 'most adorable people'; they fight valiantly for a just cause, dedicating everything they have, including their lives.
Although they are not pure saints, they stand firm on the front lines of the anti-fascist battlefield, bringing hope for the peace of all humanity; they are 'the most adorable people'.
The term Captain Parks casually uttered was clearly also greatly influenced by his previous life.
The spirit of the volunteer soldiers in his previous life, advancing wave after wave, shedding blood, and the scenes of the American imperialist army fighting to the death a few years later, left a deep imprint on Captain Parks's soul.
The volunteer soldiers were truly worthy of being called 'the most adorable people'.
But now, are the soldiers fighting on the anti-fascist front not the same?
Although they sometimes grumble, complain, and may even tremble, fear, or dread under the enemy's fierce artillery fire, they still hold their ground on the front line.
Captain Parks had no political disputes in his heart; he only knew that anyone who fought for a just cause could have this title.
If the US military invaded Korean a few years later, would the US military then still be 'the most adorable people'?
The answer is clearly no; they would simply be invaders.
They would have lost the just cause they fought for, and thus could no longer be considered 'the most adorable people', even if politicians manipulated the media to cheer them on, it would not change their essence as invaders, far from 'the most adorable people'.
This point indeed emerged during the Korean War a few years later.
Politicians in America, in order to whitewash the invasion of Korean and the provocation against New China, called the US troops participating in the Korean War 'the most adorable people', which was met with a fierce counterattack from Captain Parks.
And Mr. Labov, who by then was the associate editor of The Washington Post, still acted as Captain Parks's mouthpiece, disregarding the overwhelming wave of whitewashing, standing with Captain Parks, and publishing many articles exposing the error of this war, and clearly pointing out that only soldiers who fought for justice could receive the honor of 'the most adorable people', while soldiers fighting for injustice could not.
And Speirs, under the influence of Captain Parks, gave up the opportunity he had earned to fight in Korean.
Captain Parks did not yet know the huge impact Labov's interview with him would bring; he merely suggested that Labov interview his brothers more to learn their stories.
Labov took Captain Parks's advice and consequently heard many deeply moving stories.
These stories lingered in his mind day and night, giving him a strong urge to tell them to everyone in America.
After the interview, he sorted through the materials overnight, wrote furiously, and produced one highly impactful report after another, and the term 'the most adorable people' became the most popular term in America.
However, after Captain Parks accepted Labov's interview, he did not dwell on it.
He knew he would encounter many more journalists like Labov in the future.
But he would not say anything more; he did not want to boast.
He just wanted to take advantage of the current quiet to rest for a few days.
However, his plan did not come to fruition, because Eisenhower was facing immense pressure.
Bastogne was, after all, only a successful defensive battle; to achieve victory, an offensive was necessary, and the German army had already left the fixed positions of the Atlantic Wall and become quite vulnerable.
Eisenhower wanted to seize this opportunity.
But he faced a dilemma: the US military faced a cruel reality that, up to that point, the number of US troops on the Western Front was far less than the number of German troops.
The US military had not conscripted enough infantry divisions to fight on two fronts—the reason being that before the war, the government decided to greatly defer the conscription of agricultural and industrial laborers, and also avoided conscripting middle-aged and elderly men.
Moreover, artillery shells were also in short supply because in September, it seemed that the war in Europe was expected to end within a few weeks, and the government decided not to prioritize ammunition production.
And if Eisenhower decided to launch a full-scale offensive, the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Division would have to go to the battlefield.
Captain Parks received the order on December 29th, and the order was quickly relayed to every soldier.
This dealt a heavy blow to many brothers who still held onto hopes of returning to Momyon or even having a chance to go to Paris.
'Shit, shit!' Cobb yelled loudly in a civilian house converted into a barracks, waving a bottle in his hand.
He was drunk, but he couldn't help but curse loudly, 'Why are they sending us back to that damned place?
I hate hiding in bunkers like a rat; I've had enough of the earthy smell; I hate the endless patrols, I hate the sound of stepping on thick snow, it's like rats gnawing at me, it's unbearable.'
'Cobb, shut up, what's the point of saying that!' Guarnere impatiently interrupted his grumbling.
The sergeants were all gathered here; they were just grumbling together.
Cobb shook his head and said, 'Mr. Gonorrhea, what do you want to say?
I know, a reporter interviewed you, right, and promised to write you into a story and have it published in a big newspaper, I don't care, I just don't want to stay in that damned place anymore!'
Guarnere decided to ignore him, but he was also in a very bad mood.
Yesterday, they were still heroes in the mouths of the people; they were very proud of their time on the front line previously.
Now their mood had changed because they had to return to the front line, perhaps even advance.
But no one could change the outcome.
'What's wrong, brothers!' Just then, Captain Parks appeared in the barracks.
Sergeant Martin stood at attention and called out the command; everyone stood up and stood at attention.
Captain Parks nodded to them and said, 'At ease!' Then he walked to the table where his brothers were sitting, took off his helmet, looked at them, and smiled, 'I know what you're thinking.'
Guarnere, don't worry, what couldn't defeat us before won't defeat us now that we have ample supplies and the Germans have lost their sharpness.
'Yes, Boss!' Guarnere nodded and smiled, 'Even before, we still made them run like scared rats.'
Guarnere's words caused a burst of laughter among his brothers.
'Well, I heard you guys were having a gathering here, so I came.' Captain Parks nodded to everyone and said, 'You are the sergeants of the company; honestly, every soldier looks up to you.
If you lose courage, they will flee without a fight.
If you strengthen your conviction, they will follow you into the charge.
We must be prepared; from now on, once we return to the front line, it won't be a simple defensive battle; we must prepare for an offense.'
'Yes, we know what to do!' Guarnere nodded, and the other sergeants all nodded, clearly, in front of Captain Parks, they had no reason to refuse his request, and Captain Parks was absolutely correct.
If the sergeants could not maintain the morale of the soldiers, then in an attack, the only ones who would suffer losses would be themselves.
'Very good!' Captain Parks nodded, then said to his brothers, 'We're not the worst; cheer up; we are the unbreakable Easy Company.'
Saying that, he nodded to everyone, and as he left, he patted Sergeant Martin's shoulder.
Captain Parks's departure made all the brothers present burst into laughter.
They repeated Captain Parks's words, 'We are the unbreakable Easy Company.'
Guarnere even excitedly shook his fist in the air and shouted loudly, 'No one can defeat us, Germans, come on!'
Cobb, at the side, added an untimely remark: 'God, my New Year is going to be as miserable as Christmas!'
Easy Company's rest quickly ended.
On December 30th, Easy Company was ordered to re-enter the defensive positions in Bastogne.
This time, unlike last time, they came with ample supplies and could even eat hot meals every day.
Of course, the German army was still confronting the 101st Airborne Division, but they no longer had the capability to launch large-scale attacks.
On December 30th, Easy Company, along with the 506th Regiment, once again advanced towards the old defensive line in Bastogne.
Everyone was in low spirits.
Although Parks had done some work, this depressed mood was the prevailing trend; they had thought they would become heroes and could return to Momyon or go to Paris, but now it was clear that even greater difficulties lay ahead of them.
Easy Company departed from Bastogne Town at five in the afternoon.
The morning weather had been gloomy, and even sitting indoors, one could feel the biting cold wind.
The fireplace in the house was burning brightly.
Dr. Luo and Renee lay on the rug by the fireplace, he was naked, wrapped in a thick military blanket.
Renee, like a docile lamb, gently pressed her face against Dr. Luo's chest; her back was covered by the blanket, but her exposed, fair shoulders and arms encircled Dr. Luo's neck.
She closed her eyes slightly, as if a sweetly sleeping angel.
"Renee!" Dr. Luo's voice seemed to come from underwater, muffled and deep; he gently caressed Renee's delicate skin with his hand, as if stroking a precious work of art.
"Mmm!" Renee's voice was clearly nasal, slowly overflowing from her heart, carrying a hint of childish innocence, sleepy confusion, and the lingering afterglow of passion.
Her snow-white, smooth thighs emerged from the blanket, then comfortably curled up, forming a graceful, rounded curve with her calves.
"This afternoon, I have to go back to the old defensive line in the woods!" Dr. Luo's hand suddenly stopped on her rounded shoulder, his eyes fixed on her slightly opened eyes.
"Don't talk about that, Eugene!" Renee hooked Dr. Luo's neck with both hands, her entire body like a slippery fish, gliding over his naked form.
Her two soft, firm mounds rubbed against Dr. Luo's chest, hard, bright points sliding past, causing a shiver on his skin, making Dr. Luo let out a soft groan.
Renee's eyes seemed to have a thin mist, making her emerald green eyes appear like flowers in the fog.
She gently kissed Dr. Luo's eyes with her lips, then lay down beside him on her side.
She relaxed, letting her limbs stretch out as much as possible.
Dr. Luo said nothing more.
The two quietly embraced.
Perhaps they would meet again; this farewell was not a permanent one, Dr. Luo would still send wounded soldiers to the aid station, and they no longer worried about the German Air Force returning to bomb, as the weather improved, the German forces had lost a large portion of their planes on Christmas, and they no longer had the industrial capacity to replace them.
But the time they could spend together like this would only be this morning.
Renee suddenly kissed Dr. Luo, who was staring at her and gently stroking her hair; her movement was so sudden that when their lips met, they both bled from hitting their teeth, but Renee did not stop.
She looked somewhat wild, completely unlike the gentle woman Dr. Luo had seen these past few days.
"Give it to me, Eugene, I want it one more time!" Renee flipped over and straddled Dr. Luo.
She leaned down, cupped Dr. Luo's face, and kissed him deeply; this time, it was not as forceful, and very tender.
They took from each other, licking the faint traces of blood on each other's lips, savoring the faint, salty taste.
The two soft, hanging mounds slid on Dr. Luo's body, and two hard, tender red 'grape seeds' gently brushed past, causing Dr. Luo to emit a muffled groan from his throat.
Their tongues intertwined, like endless sucking and taking, their lips pressed together, causing the tender red lips to constantly change into various shapes, like water.
"Give it to me, Eugene, give it to me!" Renee panted, the sound coming out urgently from their pressed lips, like the trembling strings of a zither blown by the wind.
Eugene supported her raised, snow-white hips, then gently thrust his body upwards; that slowly seeping feeling expanded them both to the extreme, as if holding their breath for a long time, slowly releasing it from their chests.
"Oh--" Renee felt completely enveloped and full.
Her sigh came from the bottom of her heart, with a winding curve, and then her body seemed to be wound up, after a moment of stagnation, it began to move frantically and rhythmically quickly.
Her snow-white hips were like rapidly moving motors, and at this moment, she was completely wild.
Several times, Dr. Luo almost couldn't hold her slender waist, and slid past the side of her snow-white hips, leaving that warm, moist place.
"Eugene, Eugene…" Renee's voice suddenly became high-pitched, a crying tone in her throat, low then high, suddenly tensing her body.
"Eugene--" Renee was like a puddle of melted snow, softly collapsing onto Eugene and then spreading out.
Dr. Luo silently watched this woman throughout the entire process, this angelic woman; he didn't find her to be promiscuous, what was revealed from her heart, and expressed wildly in her actions, was simply the fragile heart of this woman and the hysteria that erupted from being unable to grasp losing the most precious thing.
Dr. Luo's hand gently stroked Renee's hair; her snow-white body was completely exposed on the open blanket, her body was wet, carrying a sweet fragrance…
When Easy Company departed, the gloomy morning weather suddenly seemed to emit light from the thick clouds; sunlight pierced through the gray sky, bringing a glimmering feeling to the brothers of Easy Company.
Renee stood at the entrance of the aid station.
She gently adjusted Dr. Luo's lapel, then slowly lowered her hand.
She stood gracefully in a long black coat, her blue headscarf a vibrant color, completely unstained by dust as if it were wartime.
Her face was fair and somewhat cold, but she merely pursed her lips, not uttering a single word.
"If I don't fall in battle, I'll come back for you!" Dr. Luo looked at her for a long time, then repeated these words.
Was this a promise?
Throughout the war, some American soldiers sought excitement anytime, anywhere, including with local women in occupied territories, but they never left any promises, only their seeds.
After their fleeting pleasures, they would just leave without saying anything or uttering sweet nothings.
They lived day to day, uncertain of tomorrow; today they might sleep with a woman, tomorrow they might become a cold corpse.
They couldn't possibly make promises to any woman.
But Dr. Luo said it to Renee; this was his promise.
A descendant of Native Americans, he valued his promises greatly, like an oath sworn before the gods, which could not be broken.
This promise meant his responsibility.
Renee's heart suddenly trembled.
She softly said to Dr. Luo, "Eugene, hold me, hold me, Eugene!"
Eugene could not refuse this request.
He suddenly embraced Renee tightly, then leaned down and covered her delicate lips with his own; they kissed passionately.
Renee tightly wrapped her arms around Dr. Luo's waist, as if he might suddenly disappear, holding him tightly until her arms were sore and weak.
"Wow oh--" The passing brothers whistled, clearly envious of the couple; some even shouted loudly, "Hey, Eugene, when this battle is over, marry her!"
"Now is the time for the groom to kiss the bride!" Luz mimicked a pastor's tone, shouting with a loud laugh.
Immediately, his voice caused a burst of laughter among the brothers.
They always managed to find joy amidst their low spirits, which might also be why the brothers of Easy Company were not easily defeated.
"Alright, Renee, I have to go!"
"Don't worry, I'll still come to see you, can't we meet often?" Dr. Luo stopped, then cupped her face, trying to appear relaxed, "I won't die, I still have my oath, Renee, my grandmother was a Native American, and I believe in our oaths just like my grandmother, just like we believe in God!"
"I know, I know!" Renee lowered her head, letting Dr. Luo cup her face.
"I'm leaving!" Dr. Luo released his hands, nodded to Renee, turned around, and quickly joined Easy Company's marching column.
He didn't look back, hurrying forward.
Renee finally couldn't hold back, and two lines of tears slid down her cheeks.
She understood, this was war.
It was war that brought them together, and then war separated them.
Two people understood each other amidst hesitation, melancholy, grief, and hardship, then united amidst the gunfire, and then was all of this as fleeting as a flare, shining briefly before sinking into darkness?
Parks quietly watched Renee and Dr. Luo embrace and kiss on the marching road.
He did not step forward to interfere, and there was no need to interfere.
He admired such battlefield love; they found their connection in hardship, then united in mutual support.
He simply stood by, appreciating it.
Dr. Luo finally left; he released Renee and blended in with his brothers.
For him, whether the camaraderie of Easy Company was more important, or his feelings for Renee, he didn't need to distinguish so clearly.
There was no comparison between the two; both were things Dr. Luo would protect with his life.
Both were part of his oath.
The sun finally struggled, giving the sky a touch of brightness, but by then, the sky was slowly dimming again; the struggling sunlight was just a faint afterglow.
The afterglow quietly shone on Renee; her blue headscarf seemed to be edged with gold.
Her quiet black coat was lifted by the wind at one corner, as were strands of her hair, and by her side, lines of Easy Company soldiers passed by her, giving her a salute.
The sky remained gloomy, and though it wasn't snowing, snow still covered the entire forest area.
December 31st was the day Eisenhower had set for the attack, but due to Montgomery's feigned reluctance and timidity in commanding the northern end of the salient, the offensive couldn't proceed. Easy Company had no choice but to remain in the forest, and they had advanced a considerable distance from their original positions. The Second Platoon stayed on the original defensive line to assist F Company with defense, while the other two platoons had pushed to the front, now able to see the German-held village in the distance.
"Clip-clop, clip-clop" – the sound of horse hooves echoed monotonously through the forest. Captain Parks and Sergeant Talbert were inspecting the defensive line and urging their comrades to dig bunkers when they heard the sound from the forest.
Parks gestured for Talbert to hide behind a large tree. A German officer on horseback was approaching Parks and Talbert head-on. Then Talbert emerged, raising his rifle. Parks shouted in German, "Don't move, or I'll shoot you!"
The German officer was clearly startled by the two American soldiers who suddenly appeared. He reined in his horse, turned, and was about to flee. Parks immediately signaled Talbert to shoot, but Talbert had already fired.
"Bang, bang!" Two shots rang out, and the German officer fell from his horse like a wooden stake, but his foot remained caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged by the running horse, about to disappear deep into the forest. Talbert was a bit anxious, firing several more shots, all missing. He couldn't help but curse, "Damn it!" "Bang!" Another shot rang out, and the horse neighed, then collapsed to the ground, throwing the German officer's body heavily. It snorted twice loudly before falling silent.
"Are you nervous?" Parks asked, smiling at Talbert. "Don't act like a recruit."
"Yes, sir, I apologize!" Talbert quickly said, walking towards the German officer. Parks searched the German officer's belongings, finding nothing of value. However, Talbert found a luger on the German officer's body. This made him overjoyed, and he couldn't help but pat the German officer's face, laughing, "Thank you so much, this is what I've always dreamed of." He then raised the luger, leveled it, and fired a shot into the woods.
Parks was stunned, then immediately remembered that this was originally Hubler's scene, but he had encountered it early. He couldn't help but smile wryly. However, if Hubler hadn't captured this luger, then his suicide wouldn't have happened. Besides, Hubler had already obtained a luger during the Normandy rescue mission, so the story had already deviated.
Although Parks trusted Talbert, who was also a steady fellow, he still needed to remind him not to suffer the same tragedy as Hubler in his previous life. This was Parks's responsibility.
"Hey, Talbert!" Parks patted his arm.
"What?" Talbert was fiddling with the luger. Hearing Parks call him, he turned his head and said, "Yes, sir, is there anything?"
"If you're going to put that pistol in your pants pocket or anywhere else on your body, remember to unload the bullets. That's not a good idea!" Parks said this to Talbert with some seriousness.
"Alright, Boss!" Talbert was clearly a bit nonchalant. He even muttered to himself, "Oh, what does he take me for? A recruit? I'm a veteran from Taccoa, a Sergeant of Easy Company. How could I make such a mistake?"
"That's an order!" Captain Parks saw Talbert's expression and knew what he was muttering. He then added this phrase, clearly needing to use his authority as company commander to make him take it seriously.
"Yes, sir!" Talbert, seeing Parks's renewed solemnity, had to take his words to heart. Of course, this couldn't stop him from showing off in front of Hubler and Malarkey.
While patrolling with Captain Parks, he didn't put the luger in his pocket or anywhere else. He held the luger in his hand, fiddling with it the whole way, attracting many envious glances. This gave Talbert a sense of satisfaction. He had wanted a luger since D-Day, and that rescue mission was a perfect opportunity, but he was assigned guard duty and didn't participate in the actual attack on the headquarters. Instead, Hubler got a luger, and Hubler often used it to show off in front of him, which made his desire for a luger grow stronger and stronger. Today, he finally got his wish.
"Hey, Malarkey, look at my luger! Want to try it?" Talbert raised the luger high and called out to Malarkey, who was digging a bunker.
"No, I don't have time. You should ask Hubler, he's interested in that thing!" Malarkey scooped up dirt with his shovel and then heavily threw it onto the top of the large pit. To be honest, the Parks Bunker was very effective for defense! However, it was more strenuous than a regular bunker. He wiped sweat from his forehead and said to Talbert without lifting his head.
Talbert clearly didn't get the desired effect and looked a bit embarrassed. This made Captain Parks very amused. He nodded to Malarkey, then squatted down, looking at Malarkey digging in the large pit, saying, "It's best to have the bunker set up before tonight. We need to prevent German shelling."
"Got it, Boss!" Malarkey nodded.
"Alright, Talbert, let's go look at other places. By the way, after tonight, it'll be New Year's. I don't think either the Germans or us want the other to have a pleasant New Year's Eve. Let's see who's tougher. We have supplies now, but the Germans aren't bad either. Send out patrols tonight to prevent German infiltration."
"Yes, sir!" Talbert replied, looking around. Some of the comrades' bunkers were already complete, only needing the final wooden cover for the top. Luz, Muck, and Pankala were chatting together. They saw Parks and Talbert walking over.
"Hey, Talbert, you captured a luger?" Luz's eyes were sharp. He saw the luger in Talbert's hand and couldn't help but exclaim, then extended his hand, "Let me see!"
Talbert finally found balance with Luz, and Muck and Pankala had never captured a luger. The three of them passed it around, while Talbert bragged about how bravely he had killed the German officer today. Then Muck said enviously, "I really envy you! That German officer came specifically to give you the luger!"
"Then I really should thank him!" Talbert's smile was somewhat triumphant.
Watching Talbert and Captain Parks leave, Muck couldn't help but smack his lips: "If I could patrol there, I could also capture a luger."
"Do you have Talbert's marksmanship?" Luz chuckled. "Although he's not as good as Captain Parks and Shifty, he's still a good shot. I saw him bet with Dukeman and win. Do you know Dukeman? That unlucky guy, he was seriously wounded and went home, but his marksmanship in Easy Company should be among the top five. Talbert beat him, you know."
"Alright, pretend I didn't say anything!" Muck shrugged, a little dejectedly.
The comrades had finished digging their bunkers on the defensive line and were basically ready by nightfall. And every comrade felt that time had never passed so slowly. In the early hours, an excited Talbert replaced Staff Sergeant Li Pu and went to patrol the defensive line again. Everywhere he went, he showed off his luger and even offered a blessing to his comrades: "Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" This phrase made the comrades suddenly realize that it was now 1945. They all found it incredible, as if they had lived through several long years.
The German artillery fire was like New Year's fireworks. At two in the morning, they launched a fierce bombardment on Easy Company's positions. Tree branches flew, shells whistled sharply, and the explosions' flashes lit up the sky.
"Fireworks for us from the Germans!" Lieutenant Welsh muttered, peering through the observation post, watching the constantly flashing lights in the sky. "Happy New Year, Germans!"
"Don't worry, Harry, we'll have gifts for them too!" Parks chuckled. He had sent out patrols earlier and confirmed the German defensive line, reporting the coordinates to the artillery regiment.
Sure enough, before the German shelling even stopped, the American artillery opened fire. 105mm and 150mm heavy artillery, along with various types of mortars, began to roar, unleashing a barrage that covered the Germans, with continuous explosions far more intense than the German shelling.
"New Year's gift, Germans!" Lieutenant Welsh started shouting again at this point.
Parks smiled slightly. He approached the observation post, looking at the sky ablaze with fire over the German defensive line. He was a little lost in thought, then patted Welsh's shoulder, saying, "Harry, we're preparing for a counterattack. Foy is in front of us, and I think that's our objective. We've already surrounded it on three sides, but if my guess is correct, we'll be leading the main assault!"
"Shit, why are we always either placed at the very front or assigned to charge?" Welsh couldn't help but curse.
"I'm not going to complain. Let's think about how to attack Foy. We need to plan carefully. Tomorrow, I want to lead a patrol to scout the area. Maybe we'll find some solutions." Parks narrowed his eyes, staring at the German defensive line ahead. Behind the line was Foy, their target. And before that, they had to clear the German defenses around Foy.
Tomorrow, January 1, 1945, the first day of the New Year, two armies face off, facing the final stage of the contest. Some will die, and some will live, and then continue to fight!