Just a few days into May, Germany announced its surrender. The brothers held celebrations, almost non-stop drinking and finding women day and night. Meanwhile, Corporal Mike Lilley was transferred again because of a woman. Such complicated and chaotic matters even gave Major Winters a headache. Despite orders being issued, they were mostly not well-executed because even some officers began violating their own military discipline.
"Still racking your brain?" Major Parks saw Winters frowning in the Battalion HQ again and couldn't help but step forward with a smile, asking, "Worried about those scoundrels? That's really not worth it. But honestly, this time I really can't help you." Major Parks said, walking over and sitting down across from Winters.
"I was just about to ask you for ideas. I think if it comes down to it, I'll consider letting the military police manage these guys. We need to make an example of one or two to deter them." Major Winters looked at Parks with a wry smile, "This is a last resort. To be honest, I originally thought the war was over and the brothers could celebrate properly, but look, those guys are almost lawless."
"That's certainly the case—" Parks said, about to explain his purpose, when the door suddenly opened again. Nixon walked in quickly and said to Major Winters, "I don't know if this news is good or bad. Division HQ has started considering the veterans and will begin sending those guys home based on a points system."
"Points?" Winters and Parks both turned to look at Nixon simultaneously.
"Yes, points. The U.S. Army's points system." Nixon chuckled, "You get points for serving one month of active duty, participating in a combat operation, earning a medal, and getting married. Now, if you can accumulate 85 points or more, then you can retire. I believe this will be good news. Of course, if you can't accumulate 85 points, you might have to participate in battles in the Pacific Theater, either in China or a large airborne operation in Japan."
"Good news!" Parks couldn't help but nod. And Winters also showed a slight smile, saying, "This is a good thing, at least those battle-hardened guys will have a chance to go home."
But Parks didn't elaborate that accumulating 85 points like this was a very difficult task. He looked at Winters, whose expression had relaxed somewhat, then smiled and took a piece of paper from his pocket, saying, "I hope this doesn't make you frown. This is my transfer order, Dick, sent directly from Division HQ early this morning. Colonel Sink specifically told me to talk to him after this. I guess what we're saying is, buddy, we have to part ways now!"
Winters was stunned, then instinctively reached out and took the paper to look at it. The transfer order clearly stated that the 101st Airborne Division had decided to form a special operations team to adapt to combat in the Pacific Theater. This team would be about company size, and its personnel would come from Easy Company, which Parks had directly commanded, and other units throughout the division.
Winters' expression fell into Nixon's eyes. He leaned over, and Winters handed him the transfer order. Then he couldn't help but shake his head and exclaim, "Oh, no, Reese, are you saying you're leaving us?" He looked at Parks incredulously. Then he muttered, "God, I really don't know what these people want to form this company for?" Then he shouted again, "Reese, are you going to the Pacific Theater? Are you going to China? To Japan? And you're going to parachute?" He asked very quickly, his face full of shock.
Parks gave a wry smile and said, "I'm afraid so. This is a report I submitted in January, a report on forming a special operations company. I submitted it to Colonel Sink, remember? That time I came back from the medical station in Bastogne and happened to encounter German forces escorting U.S. Army prisoners, so after that, I had this idea. I'm sorry, Nick! Dick!" As he spoke, Parks looked at the two with some apology.
"No, no, you're right! Reese!" Winters' reaction was beyond Parks' expectation. He nodded at Parks and smiled, "Perhaps you don't know yet, but I also have such a plan. In fact, I don't want the brothers of the 2nd Battalion to go to the Pacific again, but I do hope I can go to the Pacific myself, and now might be a good time."
"God, I really don't understand you two. You've already accumulated enough points, especially Reese, why are you still getting involved in this mess? Everyone just wants to go home now, guys, don't you understand?" Nixon looked at the two and couldn't help shaking his head. He was about to say something when the door opened again. Captain Welsh walked in, then seeing the three together, he was stunned and said, "I thought you were outside. Now the guys in the Battalion HQ are going crazy."
"What's going on?" Winters looked at Welsh and asked, "What are those guys doing?"
"The method for calculating points and medals is very problematic. The brothers are a bit dissatisfied." Welsh walked over on his own, then went to another table, poured a glass of wine, and said, "I finally managed to calm those guys down. A Bronze Purple Heart medal gives you 5 points. But the hierarchy and bureaucratic system inevitably have an unfair impact on the points. The brothers exposed that a certain adjutant in the battalion headquarters got a Bronze Purple Heart medal just for choosing the Zell Hotel as Sink's battalion headquarters. But the brothers fought desperately and didn't get more chances for medals, for example, McClung. His brothers in the 3rd Platoon swore to me that this old guy killed more Germans than anyone else in the battalion. He can smell the Germans, track them down, and annihilate them. He hunted them down in dawn attacks and night patrols, he went to great lengths to kill Germans, and he took more risks and volunteered for more dangerous missions than any other brother in Easy Company. And he participated in the battles of Normandy, Netherlands, and Bastogne without missing a single day. What commendation did he get? Only a European Theater ribbon and 4 battle stars. And he still has to stay here."
"It's a wonder they're not making a fuss!" Nixon also walked over, poured himself a glass of wine, then shook his head and mumbled something, tilting his head back to down the drink.
"Alright, I think I have enough points too. I'm going to apply for my discharge to Colonel Sink. Guys, will you accompany me to my wedding? I even saved a parachute to make a wedding dress for my Betty. No, no, I have money now, I don't need that, I have to use the best wedding dress in the world." Welsh took a sip of wine, "I won't bother with those bureaucratic point systems, this is a piece of shit system."
"I'm afraid they can't attend your wedding for now!" Nixon couldn't help but say from the side.
"Huh?" Captain Welsh heard that, then turned his head to look at Parks and Winters, saying, "Are you two still going to stay in this godforsaken place? Guys, the war is over, we need to enjoy life, we have immense wealth."
Nixon couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Don't you know yet? Yes, I just found out too. Our good soldier Major Parks has already received a transfer order. He's being transferred from the 506th regiment to form a special operations company directly commanded by Division HQ. God, I think this is the most dangerous job. I can already imagine what kind of missions this company will carry out in the future."
"Oh, God!" Welsh suddenly opened his mouth wide, then looked at Parks and said, "I understand, I understand. You said it back in Bastogne, my goodness, how could I not have thought of it? You said it. If that's the case, I think—I think my wedding will have to be postponed. Buddy, you promised me, if something like this happened, you'd definitely take me with you!"
This time it was Nixon's turn to open his mouth wide. He looked at Welsh and couldn't help but exclaim, "Buddy, have you forgotten Betty? She's still waiting for you to marry her. God, you're really crazy. Reese is being foolish, and you're going to be foolish too?"
"Yes, Harry. You don't need to be involved in this matter." Parks decisively rejected Welsh's request. He knew that Welsh's current thoughts were different from his previous ones. The current Welsh was just a person eager to go home, what reason was there to ask him to take risks with him?
"Please, Reese!" Captain Welsh looked at Major Parks.
"Alright, we won't bother with this, Harry, I won't agree to it." Parks looked at Major Winters and said, "Dick, the days fighting alongside you were truly unforgettable."
Winters couldn't help but smile slightly and say, "Is that your farewell speech, Reese? Don't worry, if the 101st Airborne Division moves to the Pacific, we'll still be together. I think I still don't want to go home yet. The end of the entire war is my goal, and that's why I joined the 101st Airborne Division as a soldier."
Nixon looked at Winters and couldn't help but shake his head and smile, "I didn't expect you to still remember your goal back in Taccoa. Alright, if you insist on going, I'll have to go with you, otherwise you won't find your way home."
"Oh, you two are really scoundrels!" Captain Welsh shook his head. He was speechless.
"Reese, whoever you need, it's best if you find them yourself. Those who have accumulated enough points, it's best if they volunteer to participate. They are eligible to go home." Winters nodded at Parks and said, "Including officers, find whoever you want."
Parks couldn't help but smile slightly and said, "That will give you more trouble. You'll get more replacements and even officers." With that, Parks stood up, saluted Winters, and said, "Alright, I won't be leaving for now. I'll talk about it once I've gathered enough people. If that day truly comes, I look forward to fighting alongside you again."
Winters did not return the salute; he simply extended his hand, and the two clasped hands tightly. At this moment, Nixon and Welsh both walked over and embraced Parks one by one.
"I think I'll wait for you to come back to hold the wedding, you bastard, don't even think about leaving me behind!" Welsh gritted his teeth, whispering into Parks' ear.
On May 10, 1945, Parks was ordered to begin forming a special operations company. He started selecting personnel from Easy Company; brothers with or without enough points could join freely, with no mandatory orders. This was because Parks didn't want to force them. If the 101st Airborne Division truly moved to the Pacific, then there was nothing to say. If they didn't go to the Pacific, he also didn't want them to be forced by him to participate in combat.
However, this announcement still caused the brothers of Easy Company to become restless.
"Major Parks wants to form a special operations company?" A group of men from First Platoon, Easy Company, gathered on the green lawn in front of the barracks.
They were lying or sitting haphazardly, and Cobb voiced his question, "Is this to prepare for the Pacific? What a time to pick.
White, are you going? Aren't you and he best friends? I don't think you'd miss this chance, would you?"
"Why not go?" White looked at Cobb, then pulled a few blades of grass and twirled them around his fingers.
"I've decided, I'm going to the Pacific with Reese. This is a rare opportunity for an experience.
Maybe it'll even get me a few more medals." White didn't hesitate at all; it was clear that even given his relationship with Parks, he would choose without hesitation.
"Hey, Guarnere, what about you? What do you think?" White threw the blades of grass in his hand towards Guarnere, who turned his head and caught them.
"I think it's like the special operations teams we had for the rescue mission in Normandy, Operation Panther in Operation Market Garden, and the patrol assault in Bastogne."
"I'm going!" Before Guarnere could speak, Hubler, who was beside him, couldn't help but say, "To be honest, the few operations I've been involved in have been very exciting for me.
They give a great sense of accomplishment. And there are medals to be had, so I'll always have something to show off when I go home.
Working with the Boss feels very special, doesn't it?"
"Alright, I still need to think about this! My points are almost full, maybe I can go home." Guarnere shook his head, then lay silently on the grass.
"I'll go too!" Shifty raised his hand; this was no longer the Shifty from his previous life who was somewhat reluctant to stand out.
Ever since he and Parks carried out that sniper mission, hitting a German general, his self-confidence began to swell.
And that mission also brought him a different experience. This was enough to tempt him to participate.
"I think this is a great experience, why would I miss it?" At this moment, Liebgott also spoke.
The Jewish concentration camp incident had a huge impact on him, and he almost didn't want to miss any opportunity to kill Nazis or their Fascist allies.
He didn't hesitate either, "I want to personally cut the throats of those Japanese, and then wash my bayonet with their blood."
It was clear that the men of First Platoon now had their own ideas.
They were no longer the group of people who used to follow Parks into battle without complaint, and who unhesitatingly asked to join Parks's team.
Because the European battlefield was now over. And First Platoon had earned the most medals; many of them had reached over 85 points, meaning a large portion could freely choose to retire, rather than go to the Pacific to fight against Japan.
The men of First Platoon were the longest-fighting platoon with Parks, and this platoon had achieved the most brilliant results under Parks's leadership.
If this platoon didn't have many people joining, then the situation for the other platoons would be imaginable.
But wasn't this also a test for the band of brothers? Because most of them faced a major choice: to say goodbye to the battlefield or to choose the battlefield again.
And all of this was decided by themselves, regardless of points, only concerning their true intentions.
The gathering on the lawn quickly dispersed.
Twelve people declared their intention to join on the spot: White, Liebgott, Hubler, Shifty, Malarkey, Christenson, Gordon, Patrick Christenson, Luz, Bloy, Cobb, and the medical officer Eugene Roe.
It was less that their joining was for battle, and more that it was due to their complete trust in Parks, even a trust that transcended friendship, a trust that could protect them from harm on the battlefield.
Guarnere walked back somewhat dejectedly. He wanted to be quiet in the barracks. Some of his comrades had chosen to join, others to withdraw.
He was now somewhat unable to make a decision. On one hand, he longed to go home, but on the other hand, he still wanted to be with these old band of brothers.
Many of those who joined here were the old veterans from Taccoa.
Going home meant no more fighting, no more bloodshed, but the band of brothers would be scattered; staying meant continued bloodshed and fighting, constantly overcoming one difficulty after another in places riddled with gunfire, and even possibly losing one's life.
The only comfort was having these old band of brothers by his side.
Toy had just returned from outside the camp. He walked in, then saw Guarnere lying on the bed, and couldn't help but laugh: "I have something to tell you, Guarnere.
I guarantee you'll be shocked, something you wouldn't expect!"
"Go on, unless you found a beautiful Austrian girl, don't bother me!" Guarnere replied lazily from the bed, "I know you too well, what good news could you possibly have?"
"Hmm, I don't know if this counts as good news." Toy chuckled, then sat on the edge of Guarnere's bed, patted his leg and said, "Hey, can you listen to me, Guarnere?
What I want to tell you is, I've already joined Major Parks's company. How about that? Isn't it cool?" He said, raising his eyebrows, looking very pleased with himself.
"What?" Guarnere scrambled up, then sat on the bed, looking at Toy in surprise and saying, "How come I've never heard you mention it?
Damn it, what is this? We're best friends. You can't treat me like this, Joe!"
"Alright, alright, I admit I didn't tell you, that's my problem. But Guarnere, I know your points are almost full, and you also want to go home, you told me that, so—you know, I just want you to be able to go home, that's your wish.
Don't look at me like that, I've already decided. I decided a long time ago that as long as Major Parks still needs to fight, I'll be with him."
Guarnere was somewhat dazed, then he just nodded and said, "Alright, you're right. But if we really have to separate, I still feel a bit uneasy. I don't know what this feeling is."
As the two were talking, Cobb pushed the door open, saw them, was startled, then laughed: "Mr. Gonorrhea, how many more points do you need to fill up?
To be honest, my points are also almost there. But who knew something like this would happen, I had no choice but to go find Major Parks.
Do you know what he said? He said to me: Cobb, we are all from the same barracks in Taccoa. I am very happy about your decision to join; you will be an important member of the company!
Listen, an important member. I like that assessment!" Cobb chuckled as he spoke, then adjusted his tie and hairstyle in the mirror in the barracks, whistling casually.
"Oh, bullshit, Cobb, you joined the Boss's company? When? Right after we broke up?" Guarnere couldn't help but curse, then shouted at Cobb in dissatisfaction, "Damn it, you're all planning to keep it from me?
Then let me pack my bags alone and roll out of the company? God, I don't want to leave like this!" Saying that, he grabbed a jacket and walked out of the barracks.
"What are you doing, buddy!" Toy shouted after Guarnere, "You have your own decision, don't listen to Cobb's nonsense, don't be foolish for a few words!"
"Hey, Mr. Gonorrhea, what are you going to do? Are you going to find Parks? Alright, alright, I don't know if he's already full of recruits, if you want your wish to come true, hurry up!" Cobb laughed heartily behind Guarnere.
"Damn it, you know, Guarnere's biggest wish is to go home, now look at the good you've done, you've angered my brother away, maybe he'll join, but it won't be willingly, you bastard!" Toy glared fiercely at Cobb, then quickly chased after Guarnere.
"Did I do something?" Cobb looked at Toy's back with a wronged expression, "Damn it, you're all right.
Who said it first? You told Mr. Gonorrhea before me, why does it all end up being blamed on me.
God, just thinking about having to work with you guys again gives me a headache, God, I wonder if my decision is correct. Damn it!" He cursed one last time.
Major Parks set up the recruitment office in a building next to Battalion HQ.
If you were a veteran of Easy Company, 506th Regiment, you could go directly to his office; otherwise, you would wait in the hall to sign up, and someone would handle these matters specifically.
To be honest, there have been so many people signing up these past few days.
The entire 101st Airborne Division had already issued orders. Many soldiers whose points were insufficient or far from full intended to try their luck here.
Frankly, Parks was too famous in the 101st Airborne Division; following him meant getting medals and fewer injuries.
They could exchange these medals for points, which would get them home faster. Most people had this idea.
Of course, there were also some who genuinely wanted to fight with Parks. They yearned for battle and to achieve great deeds and accomplishments on the battlefield.
Before Guarnere entered, he saw the long line of people in the hall, and couldn't help but gasp, then he quickly walked into Parks's office under guidance.
Parks was writing something at the desk opposite the door. Then he saw Guarnere: "Sergeant Guarnere, please sit down!" Saying that, he pointed to a chair in front of him, stopped writing, and looked at Guarnere.
"Um, Boss, I came to tell you that I want to join your company." Guarnere pursed his lips; he rarely felt nervous in front of Parks, but today he seemed a bit out of sorts.
Parks nodded, then flipped through some papers and forms on the table, then shook his head at Guarnere and said, "To be honest, Guarnere, your points will be full next month, meaning you can go home in June.
This is a rare opportunity. To be honest, I also want experienced veterans like you to join, especially veterans who have followed me on all special operations; this is very important to me.
But my first guarantee is to preserve the life of every soldier. You are almost at your points, so you might not be considered. And I've also heard that your biggest wish is to go home!"
This wasn't Parks being sentimental; it was that he genuinely didn't want soldiers who could go home to risk themselves in the Pacific again; it wasn't worth it.
"No, no, Boss, I've already decided. I'm not acting on impulse!" Guarnere said quickly, "I know my biggest wish was once to go home, but I want to stay with the band of brothers more, even if it's tough and dangerous.
You know, if I really left now, I might regret it. Boss, I don't want to regret it later, so I want to join. And I insist on doing this!"
Guarnere had thought it through very clearly on his way here. Going home versus the band of brothers, he chose the latter.
Now, those veterans who joined Parks's company, weren't they thinking the same way he was?
The bond of brotherhood was a greater temptation than going home; this was already an undeniable fact in Easy Company! Because this company was a band of brothers!
This was a voluntary choice; Parks did not use any coercive measures, and he did not easily agree to those who were about to accumulate enough points. Many people held the idea of accumulating enough points in the company and then returning home, and Parks did not stop them. However, the conditions were strictly limited; he welcomed veterans to join, because only in this way could he ensure that training would not take too long in the future; he only needed to instill the concept of special operations in these experienced veterans.
Nevertheless, out of the remaining forty-seven men in First Platoon, twenty-one chose to join the company Parks was forming, and when counting the men from Second Platoon and Third Platoon, a total of fifty-three men from the entire Easy Company chose to join. Other personnel came from other combat units of the 101st Airborne Division, and this structure would form a brand-new company, and the brothers would need to re-familiarize themselves with each other.
At the same time, the officer problem was also raised. There had to be experienced soldiers to manage these veterans. Winters had suggested that he ask Colonel Sink for help, but Colonel Sink was also helpless, because many officers were unwilling to go to the Pacific. Although they had been informed that they might go to the China theater or the Pacific islands, they still held a glimmer of hope. Some officers, especially junior officers, disliked the battlefield even more than the soldiers.
Just as Parks was feeling a bit worried, Captain Speirs found him in his office. He looked energetic. Parks knew why he was there. To be honest, Speirs was indeed a very good choice. However, he still hoped that he would voluntarily ask to join. Now that he had come, it meant that he had made his decision.
"Major Parks!" Speirs nodded to him, and at Parks's signal, he sat down and said, "I think I should explain my intention to you. I have a great interest in the special operations company. You know, this is a very good opportunity, and I don't want to miss it. I don't want to leave the U.S. Army if we can't go to the Pacific."
"If the 101st Airborne Division moves to the Pacific, will you still insist on coming to this company?" Parks looked at him, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and said, "You will still get a chance to fight!"
Speirs quickly shook his head and said, "I don't think you understand what I mean. I came to Easy Company because I liked this company, and you know, I prefer to fight with you. That's the reason. Of course, if the 101st Airborne Division moves to the Pacific, I don't want to go there fruitlessly. The opportunities here are greater."
Speirs was right. The opportunities here were greater. He had long seen the Division HQ's intention in forming the special operations company. Companies that carried out special operations missions could always achieve unexpected results. This was what Speirs pursued; he wanted to advance further in the U.S. Army and gain more combat achievements to help him secure higher positions.
Undoubtedly, no matter what his starting point was, he was considered a relatively good officer. This was beyond doubt, but considering the special nature of special operations and the difference from Speirs's daredevil charges, Parks had to carefully consider Speirs's request. After listening to Speirs's statement, he just nodded and said, "Very good, Captain, I like your honesty. Of course, if possible, I will consider you first." With that, he stood up and extended his hand to Captain Speirs, wanting to shake his hand goodbye.
Speirs was stunned. He thought his visit this time was a sure thing, because he was an experienced veteran officer from Taccoa, and he had participated in almost all battles in Normandy, France, Poland, Belgium, and Germany, almost without exception. Of course, excluding the assault operations commanded by Parks.
Speirs was stunned for a moment, then stood up somewhat blankly and shook hands with Parks. Clearly, Parks was refusing him. He felt that way. After shaking hands, as he turned to leave, he couldn't help but turn back and ask, "Sir, is this a refusal?" He really couldn't accept this result. So such a question also represented his unwillingness.
"No, it's not a refusal, but I still have my own considerations. If you can understand the concept of special operations, I will consider your joining. Perhaps during our training, you can come and observe. This will be good for you, whether you join or not." Parks nodded to him politely. To be honest, the only officer who participated in special operations with him was Captain Welsh, during the assault on Arnhem Bridge, and Captain Welsh performed very well in that operation. The two had a rare tacit understanding.
Captain Welsh had already talked to Parks once. He hoped to go to the Pacific with Parks, and he hoped to postpone his wedding until he returned from the Pacific. He also told this idea to Winters, Parks, and Nixon. This was when the four were together again, and Welsh brought it up.
"I don't want you to do that, Harry!" Parks frowned. His original intention was not to drag his brothers back into the quagmire of war. Captain Welsh could already go home. He could marry Betty, and their wealth was enough for them to travel all over the world after the war and live a prosperous life. You know, war is always cruel, and he might lose his life in the Pacific.
"No, don't try to persuade me, I've already decided." Captain Welsh raised his glass and drank it in one gulp, then looked at Winters and Nixon and smiled, "Dick has Nick with him, and even if they go to the Pacific, obviously, there's no need to worry about not finding their way. But Reese, how can you go alone? As Nick said, if you can't find your way home, wouldn't we lose a very good friend? That won't do, I have to look after you!"
Major Winters looked at Parks, shaking his head and smiling. Nixon also nodded and smiled. Seeing that Parks still seemed to want to say something, he said, "Alright, Reese, I know this is a bit difficult, but if you and Harry look after each other, I don't think the problem will be too big. And maybe the four of us can even get together on an island in the Pacific."
"I hope so!" Parks couldn't help but nod with a bitter smile, and said to Captain Welsh, "Alright, alright, Harry, you'll still be my executive officer, even though it's not an easy job!"
Captain Welsh couldn't help but raise his glass to Parks and smiled, "Excellent decision! It's settled then!"
Welsh eventually joined Parks's special operations company and served as the executive officer. This was unexpected for Parks, because Welsh's request was very strong. He had always thought that Harry would withdraw from this war and go home to marry his beautiful bride. Now it seemed that this opportunity would only be postponed. And Welsh's joining was a huge good piece of news for Parks's company. And Welsh was precisely based on this point; he knew that Parks lacked experienced officers, and he himself was a very good choice. He didn't want to abandon his brothers and enjoy himself alone, even if life was beautiful, it would inevitably leave him with a huge regret. He didn't want to have regrets in his future life.
However, this was still absolutely not enough; the officer problem was still a big issue. And these two days, officers would also propose to Parks to join the company, but considering many comprehensive factors, very few people met the standards.
"I can't help you; you need to discover it yourself!" Major Winters had clearly told Parks that Parks's requirements for officers were too strict. And if he weren't the commander of Second Battalion, he would even want to join this company. Because this would be a brand-new way of fighting, although there were already some special operations teams now, from the perspective of the several special operations battles commanded by Parks, Parks's command had greater feasibility and operability, and often achieved huge results.
"Alright, now I have to rely on myself!" Parks also looked helpless. But no matter what, the company was finally established. Fifty-three soldiers from Easy Company joined, and one hundred and seven joined from other units, bringing the total number of soldiers in the entire unit to one hundred and sixty. The officer composition was Major Parks below, with Captain Welsh serving as executive officer, Captain Heiliger as First Platoon leader, Captain Hall Lenihan from the 502nd Regiment as Second Platoon leader, and Lieutenant Danny Thomas from the 501st Regiment as Third Platoon leader. This constituted the basic structure of the company.
And the soldiers from Easy Company's First Platoon, especially the veterans who had carried out assault missions with Parks, were dispersed to various platoons to serve as non-commissioned officers, and Staff Sergeant Li Pu served as the company's second-class sergeant major.
Staff Sergeant Li Pu's joining the special company was specially permitted by Winters, and now in Easy Company, because Captain Heiliger had joined the company, Captain Speirs had temporarily replaced him as company commander.
The company had been formed, and their training was about to begin. According to the Division HQ's suggestion, the company would train in place for one month, and then move to the Pacific battlefield. And the 101st Airborne Division would also remain on standby in place during this short period, awaiting the final orders.
After this busy period, Parks finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his camp was still about 10 miles away from the Second Battalion, which was inconvenient for his contact with Winters and Nixon. When the formation mission was finally completed, Parks still went to the Battalion HQ to bid farewell to Major Winters and Captain Nixon. With him was Captain Welsh.
"Take care, Harry!" Nixon patted Welsh's arm and nodded.
"Of course, I still have Betty waiting for me. It seems I still need to send her a letter first. I really don't know what to say about going to the Pacific, but no matter what, this is very important to me!" Welsh nodded and smiled.
"Take care!" Major Winters shook hands with Parks, a slight smile and concern in his eyes.
"You two take care!" Parks released Winters's hand, then hugged Nixon, and turned to leave with Welsh. They did not look back as they walked. It wasn't that there was nothing to miss, but now was not the time for nostalgia!
The next day, Parks led the company to the camp ten miles away. It was a former German barracks, with relatively good conditions. On the same day, the Division HQ approved Parks's request, and the special operations company was officially named the Black Panther Commando Company.
Special operations are combat actions carried out in special ways and by special means. Their actions are characterized by special objectives, meticulous planning, unique methods, diverse means, covert surprise, and quick decisive battles. These special means include: secret infiltration, sudden attack; elite long-range strike, vertical flash; direct attack on key points, joint encirclement; disguise and infiltration, internal and external pincer attack; 'eye' destruction to paralyze, special sabotage; feigned compliance with enemy intent, instantaneous counterattack; rear positioning, guided attack, and other special attack methods. This will be a completely different attack method from conventional warfare… Major Parks instilled different combat philosophies in these veterans on the first day. He used the combat methods of modern special forces as the basis for training these soldiers and planned to combine this with the actual personnel and equipment of the company for training.
The main purpose of the first day was to change the soldiers' mindset. It was clear that his theories and the objectives of previous training were very different. But he did not require everyone to fully understand these concepts; he only required everyone to be able to execute them.
Those who were not from First Platoon of Easy Company were very surprised, as they had never experienced such combat methods before; everything sounded like a fantasy. But no matter what, they had a very comfortable first day. Although they had to remember Major Parks's brand-new concepts, they were not profound, just surprising because they were so new.
"This is truly a fresh concept! It's the first time I've heard of it!" a soldier said as he walked into his barracks. The first day was relatively relaxed, making everyone who came here feel good. "What if we get surrounded?"
"Corporal, what's your name?" White suddenly poked his head out from the bed, looked at the soldier, and asked, "Which regiment are you from? When did you arrive in Europe? Do you have any special skills?"
"Kaufmann, Charles Kaufmann. Sergeant, I'm from the 502nd Regiment. I arrived in February 1945 and spent a few days in Bastogne," the soldier answered somewhat seriously. "I volunteered to join this company. My best skill is shooting; I was once first in team shooting during a competition!"
"First in the team? How many people were in the competition? Or was it just you?" White chuckled, then pointed at Kaufmann and said, "Buddy, no matter what you say, you won't keep your first place in this company. Do you know Shifty from our company? He shot and killed a German general at Arnhem Bridge. And there's Major Parks; he's the most formidable person here, so you need to be a bit more humble. It's best not to say things like 'this concept is truly fresh,' or people will laugh at you."
"Yes, Squad Leader!" Kaufmann's expression remained serious, but there was still some dissatisfaction in his demeanor. He was very confident in his shooting. After all, being able to achieve first place in the team was an undeniable fact, and in reality, this fact had made his confidence extremely inflated. So this was also the meaning of his coming to this company; he wanted to use his marksmanship to create a brilliant combat record, preferably to win a Medal of Honor. Therefore, he didn't quite believe White's words.
After a while, he suddenly relaxed his tense body, then sat on the bed, looked at White, and said, "Squad Leader, I said these concepts are fresh because it's the first time I've heard them. But what we face in the future is actual combat, and there's always a gap between the two."
"Stop talking nonsense, buddy. These are all things we've already verified. Kid, let me tell you, why am I here, and why am I your squad leader?" White stood up from the bed, then walked over to Corporal Kaufmann, poked his chest with his finger, and said, "During the Normandy rescue, we hid in the wilderness for several days, motionless, then rescued all the prisoners in one swoop; near Arnhem Bridge, we used air insertion, then concealed ourselves in the woods, reconnoitered the enemy situation, then destroyed the German oil and ammunition depots in one fell swoop, and guided both sides to kill each other, finally breaking through. If it weren't for those damned infantry divisions being too slow, I think the war would have ended months ago; also, in the trench warfare in Netherlands, we raided the German, blew up their cannons; and in Bastogne, our one platoon raided the German lines and annihilated two platoons of German, seizing a large amount of supplies; in Bastogne, Major Parks led two men to rescue American prisoners of war escorted by the German, and captured all the German guards. Buddy, have you heard all of this? I personally participated in almost all of these missions, except for the last one, of course!"
"Yes, I know, I've heard of it!" Kaufmann mumbled a bit. Now he finally had a little reverence for the squad leader in front of him. "But, I always feel—"
"Stop saying 'I always feel' that nonsense. For Major Parks's words, I'll give you a piece of advice, buddy!" White shook his head, looked at him, and said somewhat arrogantly.
"What?" Kaufmann couldn't help but look up at him.
"Whatever Major Parks says, just do it, he's always right. Don't doubt him; doubt can only get you killed, especially in combat! Just remember that!" White said, then returned to his bed and ignored the guy. Clearly, these words would make Kaufmann ponder for a while.
In fact, there were many people who thought like Kaufmann. They were able to enter this company from other regiments because they had their own exceptional qualities: shooting, combat, mastery of multiple languages, and so on. Especially some soldiers who were not veterans joined, and they had their own special skills.
But no matter how much they complained, the second day of training had already arrived. And what Major Parks was going to train them in were the training methods of special forces in later generations. The first day was physical training that far exceeded the load of ordinary companies. Although these soldiers had undergone rigorous paratrooper training, the first day's training was too much for many people.
"Hurry, hurry, you still have five minutes to reach the destination!" Major Parks himself was also carrying wood, running and holding a stopwatch, shouting loudly at the soldiers carrying heavy wood, "Don't let the Japanese kick your ass, hurry, are you a snail? Are you qualified to join the Special Operations Company like this? Damn it, this is the Black Panther Commando Company, not the Snail Company!" Major Parks ran to the front again, shouting loudly. All of this was heart-stopping.
"Alright, one more round trip, hurry, pick up your wood, and go one more round trip! Quick, quick!" Major Parks once again carried the wood and ran forward. Captain Welsh, at the checkpoint, picked up his cane and constantly shouted at the soldiers, "Hurry up, you guys, if you anger the Major, you'll be in for it. This piece of wood is much lighter than the equipment you'll carry in the future. Are you already giving up? I'm telling you, Black Panther is the most elite unit of the 101st Airborne Division, and the 101st Airborne Division is the most elite unit in the American army. We are the elite of the elite. If you're not qualified, you'll be kicked out. Hurry, stop sleepwalking!"
"God, I can't breathe!" Kaufmann finally stopped just before reaching the finish line. White, who had run past him, suddenly backed up from the front and yelled at him, "Aren't you supposed to be so tough? Why did you stop? I knew it, you're all talk. Put down the wood and go back to your own company!" With that, he carried the wood and once again surpassed Kaufmann.
"Damn it!" Kaufmann yelled, then picked up the wood and ran forward with great difficulty. Around him was a group of panting soldiers, just as exhausted as Kaufmann.
"Rest for half an hour, then we'll proceed with the second training exercise." Captain Welsh's voice came again. Instantly, a group of people slumped down as if paralyzed. They lay sprawled on the ground, panting continuously.
"Damn it, is this what that Major wants? This is torture, more shameful than the concentration camps' torture of the Jewish!" a soldier lay down and said to Kaufmann, who was lying next to him, "What about you? What do you think?"
"I don't know, Hells, but I feel like I'm undergoing the most brutal torture," Kaufmann replied distractedly. He felt that his shoulders were already chafed, and every word he spoke, the movement of his muscles made him gasp for air.
"I regret it now, Kaufmann!" The soldier named Hells turned his head, looked at Kaufmann, and whispered, "I won't do this tomorrow. If they dismiss me, so be it, I don't care. If it's like this every day, I'd rather die here!"
Kaufmann looked up at the sky, then suddenly shook his head gently and said, "No, Hells, I won't leave. I have to prove myself. Isn't this company known as the best in the entire division? Isn't it said to be the elite of the elite among Captain America's forces? I have to stay here; I won't go anywhere unless I'm truly not cut out for it and get kicked out."
"Alright, alright, Kaufmann, we're friends, aren't we? I'll stay with you. To hell with that damned Major. If we go, we go together, or we stay in this hell!" Hells nodded. The two said nothing more, because talking required energy, and they needed to use this time to fully recover some of their physical strength.
Of course, even the veterans of Easy Company found this training intensity very strenuous, but their situation was much better. They had the training methods Major Parks taught them in Taccoa, knowing how to adjust their breathing and distribute their physical strength during exercise. But even so, the intensity felt much greater than during training in Taccoa.
"I finally understand why the Boss is so strong!" Guarnere sat down and said to White, "It seems he's always trained himself like this."
"I like this kind of training," White also sat down. "To be honest, if I could become as strong as him, I'd rather do this every day. Of course, today is just the beginning; those who persevere are the best. I just heard Major Parks say that when we finish training, a big shot will come to visit us."
"General Eisenhower? Or the British Prime Minister?" Malarkey, who was walking towards them at this moment, couldn't help but chuckle, "We've seen these figures when we were in Britain; there's nothing new. Unless it's the new American President Truman, that might make people feel a bit excited."
As a few people were talking there, they heard a sharp whistle. Then Captain Welsh's loud shouting came from that direction: "Hurry up, assemble! We're starting the second round of training! Hurry, hurry! If you can't take it, crawl back to your own company and let people laugh at you, you cowards!"
Such rigorous training lasted for ten days, and during this time, a group of people had already been eliminated.
Out of a company of 140, 131 remained.
This was already quite good, as the elimination rate wasn't very high, given that most of these soldiers were seasoned veterans who had already undergone training.
However, this training method made many want to curse.
But no matter what, everyone who remained wanted to stay in this company.
Now they increasingly felt how different this company was, and that it would become the most elite company in the US Army.
Who wouldn't want to be in such a company?
Since they came voluntarily, being eliminated would only lead to ridicule.
In fact, physical training was merely to cultivate a firm will; it couldn't elevate everyone's physical condition to a new height.
However, after the damned physical training ended, new training subjects followed one after another, so some didn't even have time to complain before diving into the next training subject.
Every night, this training camp would be brightly lit, but tonight it was quiet, with no one around; the entire camp was empty.
It was as if they had vanished overnight.
The Alps stretched endlessly, lush with green trees, and there were small ponds in the mountains; these were absolutely beautiful sights during the day, but now they tormented everyone.
"We must remain absolutely still.
Whoever is discovered first will be out of luck!" Landeman whispered, reminding the team members around him.
Everyone wore camouflage suits woven from green vines and grass in the mountains, tightly sewn with ropes.
Everyone's face was painted with black oil paint.
Only their eyes were uncovered.
Wearing such a camouflage suit, along with the heavy weapons and equipment on their backs, everyone was drenched in sweat, but the sweat could only flow down their skin into their clothes.
Major Parks had used this kind of camouflage in previous raids.
The soldiers of the original First Platoon of Easy Company knew about it, but this time it was clearly different from before.
These camouflage suits were tighter and more realistic, so much so that even if one got close and stood in front of them, it would be hard to tell whether it was a person or part of the mountain.
"How long do we have to stay here, Sergeant Landers!" A soldier covered in grass, lying next to Landers, whispered.
If he hadn't spoken, one wouldn't have known that this pile of what looked like grass was a person's camouflage.
"I don't know, soldier Shikoff," Landeman responded in a low voice, without turning his head.
"The Chief said whoever is discovered last wins, there's no time limit, buddy.
I think we need to move.
In a moment, the Chief's search party will come this way.
I hear the hounds barking, I think!" "Big" Bill Guarnere said, slowly turning and gesturing to his brothers lying behind him, signaling them to slowly retreat.
They had to escape the hounds' pursuit.
"We can't outrun the hounds; they can smell us!" Shikoff whispered again, growing a bit anxious as the sound of the hounds grew closer.
"There's a pond over there, Sergeant!" At this moment, another grass-covered figure crawled over.
The voice sounded familiar.
"Big" Bill Guarnere turned his head and saw it was Sergeant Shifty.
He said to "Big" Bill Guarnere, "There's water here.
Water can cover our scent.
The Chief and I used this trick when we sniped the German general in Arnhem, successfully fooling their hounds' search."
"Good idea!" "Big" Bill Guarnere grinned, then waved to everyone.
A group of people gathered around, looking at "Big" Bill Guarnere, hoping he would come up with an idea.
"Guys, we have a good plan now.
Each of you take a hollow stick, or even your gun barrel; this is for you to breathe.
I have a way to avoid the hounds' pursuit.
Look, that pond, that's the best way to hide from the search."
Everyone looked towards the pond and nodded.
There was nothing more to think about; this was the best method.
Only this could evade the hounds' pursuit and mask their scent.
The hounds barked as they ran over, followed by a team of soldiers.
These were from another group; Major Parks had tasked them with finding the hiding places of those in concealment.
The hounds followed the scent all the way, and they had already found the first group of people, but when they tracked them to this point, the hounds suddenly lost their target.
"Damn it! I know this is Landeman's group.
Why did they suddenly disappear?" It was Malarkey who spoke.
He looked up blankly, gazing around, but there was nothing here except a pond.
Trees surrounded them, and there was no obvious place for a grass-covered person to hide.
If there were, he would definitely find a way to discover it.
"Sergeant Malarkey, if I'm not mistaken, they must have used this pond to escape," a soldier loudly said to Malarkey at this moment.
"They waded through the pond, and the pond water would wash away their scent, causing the hounds to lose their target.
It must be like this.
If we go around this pond, perhaps we'll find them, but the direction will be hard to determine!
Which way would they escape?"
"You're absolutely right, Sergeant Reese." Malarkey nodded; it was possible.
However, going around this pond would involve a long detour, and even if they did, they would have fallen behind "Big" Bill Guarnere and his group.
"Let's go, maybe we can still catch up to them!" Malarkey shouted, then directed his men to start detouring.
The hounds' barking gradually faded into the forest, and the group of people left in disarray, their shouts at the hounds still faintly audible in the distance.
"Damn it, I almost held my breath too long!" A fabric military cap with a grass ring slowly emerged from the water, followed by a face covered in oil paint.
He poked his head out, looked around, and seeing no movement, he quietly muttered.
Immediately behind him, more and more heads surfaced.
They cautiously surveyed their surroundings, then slowly swam towards the shore.
"This method really works!" soldier Shikoff smiled faintly at Shifty.
"Who would have thought we were right under the water, and could even hear their voices?
It seems what Major taught you is pretty good."
Shifty was about to boast when he heard Landeman whispering, "Guys, we haven't completely shaken them off yet.
We must leave here, in the opposite direction from them.
That's what we need to do.
I want them to know that I won't follow the rules.
They won't waste time searching the places they've already passed through a second time.
This is our chance.
The Chief said this is 'doing the opposite'!" He grinned, then waved his hand and quickly walked back along the path Malarkey and his group had searched.
They ran quickly forward, but had not gone far when they heard someone shout from ahead: "Hey, "Big" Bill Guarnere, this time you can't hide.
" Saying that, a group of people emerged from the woods ahead.
They held their weapons, aimed at "Big" Bill Guarnere and his group, and then another line of people burst out from behind them.
Clearly, Landeman and his group were surrounded.
And at this moment, what made Landers laugh and cry was that Malarkey and their hounds all had cloth muzzles on their mouths, silencing them.
"Alright, alright, you win!" Landeman helplessly raised his hands.
Shifty was also dejected, then said to Malarkey, "Malarkey, how did you figure out we wouldn't swim across but would stay here?" Clearly, he was still a bit unconvinced, especially seeing Shikoff's crestfallen expression, and couldn't help but want to know clearly.
"Hey, Shifty, you know, the Chief taught this trick, using water to mask one's scent.
Of course, as for why I judged that you wouldn't swim across, it's because this pond is a bit too big.
If you were to swim across with all that equipment, you'd definitely be exhausted, meaning you wouldn't get far.
I think you must have realized that too.
So I gambled.
You know, when it comes to gambling, I always win; don't forget the more than three thousand US dollars I won in England."
"Damn it!" Shifty couldn't help but curse.
Clearly, they hadn't paid enough attention to the details.
But being discovered like this, they couldn't blame anyone else.
Fortunately, what saved them some face was that they weren't the first team to be discovered.
So, they still had a bit of psychological balance.
"From the radio transmission, Landeman's team has been discovered.
This is the second team Malarkey and his group have found.
Can you determine when all the people will finally be discovered?
Tomorrow?
Can they hold out until tomorrow?" Captain Welsh looked at Major Parks, who was standing on the company's balcony, holding a glass of wine and gazing at the dark Alps in the distance, and smiled.
"I can't be sure, but the later a team is discovered, the more practical combat value they possess," Major Parks nodded to Captain Welsh.
"We are different from ordinary companies; we must learn to hide ourselves so we can protect ourselves from mortal danger.
My mission is not only to lead them in special operations but also to teach them how to preserve their lives." Then he turned to look at Captain Welsh and suddenly smiled faintly, "It's just that for you, I've dragged you into a quagmire."
"Is this a quagmire, Reese?
You surprised me.
I've never experienced such training and such a combat style.
Even though I participated once, that pales in comparison to now.
You know, I like to try new things." Captain Welsh chuckled, "Remember, I'm not here because of you, at least not entirely because of you.
I have my own ideas too!"
Major Parks merely smiled faintly; he knew Captain Welsh was just trying to comfort him.
But no matter what, he was already part of this company now; what more could he say?
What he had to do now was to lead this company, to lead them to experience a completely new way of fighting, and then bring them back alive.
In the future, these people would be the elite of the US Army; the future special forces would rely on these people to grow larger and achieve greater victories.
Day gradually dawned.
The company, divided into squads, had all dispersed into the Alps during the night.
By dawn, twelve squads had already been discovered, with four of them found.
The discovered squads were then integrated into the search teams, which put increasing pressure on the remaining eight squads.
Moreover, none of the squads had prepared field rations; they had to solve their survival problems in the wild themselves.
Major Parks slept for a while midway, and Captain Welsh was still sleeping in the company headquarters.
Major Parks didn't wake him.
He walked alone to the company's balcony and gazed into the distance from there.
This was the Black Panthers' first outdoor concealment and survival training; such training would only become more frequent in the future, but the time left for them wouldn't be too long.
On the Pacific battlefield, the US Marine Corps was still fighting fiercely with the Japanese!
The last squad member was found at 3:20 PM, four days later. The squad leader was Joe Liebgott. When they were found, they weren't exhausted; rather, one soldier made a mistake, which led to them being surrounded by three squads and unable to escape. However, this outcome was already remarkable for those new to this training. During these four days, they basically survived by eating some creatures from the forest. And to avoid attracting the attention of their pursuers, they could only eat them raw. This had caused many people to vomit and feel dizzy, but they still ate it. After all, Major Parks, as the Captain, had demonstrated this before the exercise, personally swallowing a live worm.
The wilderness survival training gave these soldiers their first taste of the brutality of training; what they had learned in paratrooper school now seemed like nothing. After three consecutive wilderness survival training sessions, everyone looked different. The subsequent tactical and combat training further exposed them to many novel and incredible things beyond conventional battlefields.
Tactical training included high-altitude assaults, precision parachuting, stealth attacks, ambush sniping, and various tactical coordination methods and offensive/defensive strategies developed by Major Parks. Combat, on the other hand, was a unique martial art taught by Major Parks himself, which significantly improved their fighting abilities. This was different from ordinary boxing and the bayonet charges or unarmed close combat they had trained for in previous military engagements.
Even so, there were still some who considered their fighting skills superior and wanted to show off. They always believed theirs were the best. Among them, a Corporal named Brad, feeling unconvinced, challenged the entire class after a training session. This Corporal had been a top boxer in underground boxing matches before enlisting, winning many fights.
"Bang!" With one punch, a soldier was sent flying, landing on his backside, grimacing. This was already the fourth one. The company members formed a large circle, while Brad once again raised his hand high in the center of the circle. He smiled triumphantly, not even bothering to glance at the soldier he had just hit.
"Oh - God, you made me lose thirty dollars, damn it. Is there no one who can go up there and beat this guy to a pulp?" Luz watched the bruised and swollen guy, shaking his head and complaining, "Hey, Toy, you can go up there and teach that guy a lesson. Right now, I feel only you can make that guy understand! Arrogant kid!"
"No, I don't want to make a fool of myself!" Toy poked Luz with his hand and said, "Don't get any ideas about me. I'm not willing to lose face in such a situation. Honestly, this guy's combat skills are truly impressive. I wonder who's better, him or the Boss? It should be the Boss, I know the Boss is also very good at combat. But if it's a throwing knife competition, I guarantee I can make you a fortune!"
"Don't talk about that. No one can go up and duel with that guy now. Of course, if you can persuade the Boss to compete with this guy, then I'll bet all my belongings, 300 dollars."
Luz grinned, showing his teeth.
"Bet on who to win? The Boss?" Toy glanced at him.
"Of course! That's a given. I need this to turn things around, Joe!" Luz said, shaking his head again, "I really don't know who can persuade the Boss. I know, besides us old guys, there's no one else. The Boss thinks highly of you, Toy!"
The matter did not end because no one challenged him. After no one else challenged Brad, he walked around the field, full of self-satisfaction, and then returned to the barracks surrounded by the crowd. Brad's squad leader, Guarnere, was in the barracks, looking at Brad with an unpleasant expression: "Feeling good, are we?" He snorted disdainfully at Brad.
"Yes, Sergeant. I won, they all lost, that's a fact! I don't want to learn combat techniques that are even inferior to mine!" Brad held his head high, looking very proud. Those who had surrounded him also sensed some tension and dispersed.
"You think the combat skills we're learning are useless?" Guarnere looked at this arrogant fellow, feeling a bit annoyed. Yes, in the company, these veteran Easy Company soldiers had long regarded Parks as an unshakable core figure. And this outsider was still here, pointing fingers at him, which made him quite angry.
"It's not useless, it's just that if Captain Parks is willing, I think I can teach you my combat techniques for free." Corporal Brad looked at Guarnere, smiling slightly, the corners of his mouth upturned, clearly confident in his combat skills and with a hint of arrogance.
"Alright, I'll talk to the Captain, and I hope he listens to you, and you should pray for yourself!" Guarnere decided not to waste any more words with this guy. Of course, he felt that this matter could still be discussed with Major Parks, otherwise, many people might harbor other intentions and discard the methods taught by Parks.
So when Guarnere reported these circumstances to Parks, Parks was visibly surprised. He knew that this Corporal named Brad had good combat skills, but they weren't very effective in actual combat. This meant that face-to-face combat might not necessarily be the best way to kill someone.
"Alright, before training starts today, I will grant Corporal Brad's request." After careful consideration, Parks finally nodded. And this was enough to excite Guarnere.
This news also excited everyone in the company; they had already started placing bets. The veterans of Easy Company unhesitatingly bet on Major Parks to win, and they placed large bets. Luz truly put down all his belongings, 300 dollars, without any hesitation. This was his great opportunity to turn his fortunes around.
"Watch your underwear, Luz!" Toy had to remind him again. But Luz didn't care at all; he even chuckled, "If I win, I can buy a thousand pairs of underwear." Indeed, this was a huge gamble. Everyone in the company was continuously increasing their bets. Guarnere was also very excited; he saw this as a good opportunity to get rich. Although he was not satisfied with Brad's attitude, it would be a great thing if Major Parks could step in to teach him a lesson and also allow the Easy Company veterans to win a large sum of money.
The next day, at six-thirty in the morning, the entire company had assembled, and Parks had already appeared on the training ground. Everyone in the company was holding their breath, but they were all anticipating the arrival of a certain moment.
"Corporal Brad, attention!" Li Pu Sergeant shouted loudly from the side of the formation.
At this moment, a soldier stepped out from the neat ranks, head held high. This soldier was Brad. After stepping out, he saluted Major Parks.
"I know you want to challenge me. Well, I can tell you, the combat techniques I demand from you are not for fighting, but for quickly killing enemies on the battlefield. I know you're not convinced. But today, I can show you what combat on the battlefield is, not just two people who only know how to swing their fists." As he spoke, Parks slowly took off his jacket and nodded to Brad, saying, "Get ready, and it's best to go all out. I hope you attack me with all your might!"
Brad stared intently at Parks, then nodded. He also took off his jacket, and the company's soldiers immediately formed a large circle on their own. This was a battle between dragons and tigers; everyone wanted to witness every exciting moment, especially since many people had bet all their belongings on it, which made them extremely concerned. Soon, Captain Welsh arranged for two pairs of boxing gloves to be brought over.
The two began to move their feet constantly. Brad's gaze became serious for the first time. When he fought with others in the company, he appeared light and carefree, but this time he felt unprecedented pressure. Every step he took seemed heavy, far from the ease of Major Parks opposite him.
Suddenly, Major Parks across from him briefly closed his eyes. This was a good opportunity. Brad's steps quickly moved forward, and a punch, whistling through the air, went towards Parks' head. He held back two parts of his strength in this punch, fearing that injuring the Major would cause him trouble. But the punch "whooshed" through the air, missing its target, which startled him. He immediately pulled back his hand, guarding himself vigilantly with one fist. But Major Parks did not take the opportunity to attack, which allowed him to retreat calmly.
It seems Major Parks's strength is impressive, being able to dodge such a fast punch. It seems I must go all out; I can't lose face here, as many people have even bet a large sum of money on me. He took a deep breath, then concentrated all his strength in his right hand. Taking advantage of Parks's foot movement, he quickly threw another punch. Those around them even heard the sound of the wind brought by the boxing glove, and exclamations of "Oh" rose from the crowd.
"Bang!" This punch seemed to land somewhere. Everyone stared intently. Brad's boxing glove was hit on the side by a punch from Parks. Because all of Brad's strength and impact were in that hand, his whole body, with Major Parks's side strike, tilted to one side. He couldn't stop his momentum and was about to fall sideways. And Parks's other fist had already reached the back of his neck, striking down hard. But Parks merely tapped his neck; what looked like a fierce strike turned into a tap, but this tap was enough to make Brad fall to the ground.
With a "thump," Brad's body hit the ground, and the sound made everyone's feet tremble. Just like that, Brad only threw two punches before being knocked down by Major Parks. Others didn't see clearly, but Brad knew that his neck had been tapped by Major Parks. If that had been a full-force hand, his neck would have been broken by now, and his life would have been over. He was a combat expert, so he naturally knew that Parks was holding back.
Brad awkwardly got up and said to Major Parks, "You won!"
Parks, however, somewhat appreciated Brad's self-awareness. He nodded and said, "Combat is about killing the enemy, not about winning or losing. We are about life and death. Everyone must remember this!" Then he gestured to Li Pu Sergeant: "I know there are also people who are very good at shooting, and perhaps want to challenge. Right now, I don't need challenges; I just want to demonstrate that our shooting needs to be precise. We need everyone to become elite shooters like snipers, but not everyone can achieve that in such a short time." As he spoke, he had already disengaged the rifle's safety, then raised the rifle, holding it up without any unnecessary movements. "Bang, bang, bang," eight consecutive bullets hit the target two hundred meters away.
When the target was brought over, everyone gasped, as every shot had hit the bullseye. "What we want is not to shoot at stationary people waiting here; we want to shoot at moving people. So, such results don't prove anything. Of course, I will select those among us with good marksmanship; you will become the company's dedicated snipers."
Parks stopped talking, then looked at the group and said, "Alright, if anyone is still unconvinced, you can come out and challenge me one-on-one." His words hung in the air for a long time, but no one dared to take another step forward.
June 9, 1945, was a rather special day.
The Black Panther Commando Company, formed by Major Parks, had been officially established and trained for a month, and now, some were beginning to consider its deployment.
But before that, they needed to assess the results of this training, which meant the 101st Airborne Division would hold a mock exercise here.
It would be the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Regiment against the Black Panther Commando Company.
The exercise location was an offensive and defensive battle in the forest area of the Alps.
There was no distinction between attack and defense; the key was to defeat the opponent or achieve the predetermined mission objectives.
The viewing stand was bustling with important dignitaries, and some key U.S. Army officials were also present.
General Taylor of the 101st Airborne Division accompanied the important figures on the viewing stand to watch the exercise, while other parts of the stand were reserved for mid to low-ranking officers to observe.
"This is our first battle!" Guarnere pursed his lips, then adjusted his gear, telling his squad mates, "Remember, guys, we just need to do what we do in training.
There's nothing else to say, all we want is victory.
Don't look at the enemy having three companies.
But we are the Black Panthers, we are worth four of them, so victory will still be ours."
"Bring it on, Sergeant!
I don't want this month of torture to be for nothing!
We're going to make them look bad!" Brad, from the squad, laughed loudly, "I'm a cold-blooded killer now, don't think you'll get out of here alive!" His words immediately drew a burst of laughter.
Before anyone else could speak, a sharp whistle blew, and the company began to assemble.
According to the exercise rules, the Black Panther Commando Company would attack the defensive zone of the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Regiment, destroy their supplies, and rescue the "captives." This was precisely to leverage the strengths of the Black Panther Commando Company.
"I wonder if Reese can pass this time!" Major Winters turned to Captain Nixon beside him on one side of the viewing stand and said, "This is his chance, Nix, and I hope he can pass.
To be honest, the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Regiment, has more combat experience, so the difficulty of this exercise is not small.
It seems those guys from the Army Department want to see more than just a show; they want something valuable!"
"I know, but I'm more worried about those guys from the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Regiment!" Nixon chuckled, "You know when I started to have absolute faith in Parks?
It was when he got out of Arnhem completely unscathed.
That's when it happened; honestly, I was stunned then."
Winters smiled slightly and said no more; he raised his binoculars and looked towards the exercise area again.
Both sides were ready.
Three-colored flares streaked across the sky, and the exercise officially began.
"I don't know why General MacArthur, all the way in the Pacific, is interested in this company-level exercise!
This is incredible to me." A major general in his 40s was saying something to a senior British officer.
That British general was General Urquhart, who was rescued by Parks' battalion in Arnhem.
He listened to the major general's words, frowned slightly, and then looked at him, saying, "Sir, what is your name?"
"Benjamin Wesman, General!" The major general replied casually to General Urquhart, then smiled and said, "I know you, you are General Urquhart.
I've heard of you!"
"You've always been in the Pacific?" Urquhart looked at Major General Wesman.
"Yes, previously in the Southwest Pacific, then I took over the entire Pacific Theater.
I have always worked for General MacArthur, the Commander of the Pacific Theater." He showed a confident smile, then nodded and said, "We experienced bloody battles there; it's truly unforgettable."
General Urquhart smiled slightly; he just nodded slightly and said, "Major General, I respect your contributions to the Pacific Theater, but you have overlooked what is happening here.
If you could experience some of the events in the European Theater, you would have no questions.
I think, as for why you are here to observe a small-scale exercise, you should ask your commander, General MacArthur.
I believe his answer will not disappoint you.
Of course, you can also find the answer from this exercise."
Major General Wesman couldn't help but feel a bit awkward; he knew he might have been abrupt and possibly made a big mistake.
Almost all the people sitting there were prominent figures, and he even saw one person on the main viewing stand, but he couldn't be sure, because that person was surrounded by guards.
The Black Panther Commando Company seemed to have vanished into the forest; they barely launched any attacks, while the defending 3rd Battalion, 502nd Regiment, was heavily guarded, and the place where the "captives" were held was even more heavily defended.
But no matter how vigilant these people were, the surroundings seemed quiet, as if this was not an exercise, and there was no attacking force.
Although soldiers at observation posts occasionally checked the surroundings with binoculars.
"No one, nothing.
I bet those guys don't dare to come." A soldier looked around again with binoculars, still seeing nothing, discovering nothing.
He shook his head, annoyed, at his companion, saying, "I guess we'll have to stay until the end of the exercise.
I didn't expect Hitler to be dead, and we still have to play such exercises."
"Be vigilant, buddy, the opponent is Major Parks.
We all know how famous this guy is.
Don't let us end up as a joke." His companion was clearly more cautious than that soldier; he took the binoculars and continued to observe the surroundings.
There was still no movement around.
He could even hear the sound of insects from the lake ahead, but there was no sign of anything amiss.
After a while, the complaining soldier raised his hand to look at his watch and said, "It's time for the shift change, damn it, those guys must have been slacking off again.
Today is an exercise, not many people take this seriously.
Heaven knows what's going on!"
"Wait a minute!
Perhaps it's a bit late!" The steady one nodded, raising his binoculars again.
Just then, two heads suddenly emerged from the water; they wore waterproof masks and quickly raised their sniper rifles, firing at the two men.
With two "thump-thump" sounds, bullets hit the two men, instantly splattering white powder.
They were "killed." All of this happened suddenly and very quickly.
The two men didn't even have time to react.
"Damn it, where did they crawl out of?" The grumbling fellow couldn't help but stare at his companion, saying, "From the water?
God, how did they cross from the water?
Damn it, how did they do it!"
His companion couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Who knows?
Damn it, but this is good, we are finally 'killed,' and now our mission is complete.
I want to go back and sleep; this damn exercise has made me nervous!" With that, the two helplessly climbed down from the outpost at the gesture of the two Black Panther commandos in the water.
Just then, suddenly, a large fire erupted at the 3rd Battalion HQ's supply storage area, followed by a sharp whistle that broke the previous silence, and all the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion began to get nervous.
The supplies had been destroyed.
This was very obvious.
And these supplies were guarded by two platoons, and now the men from these two platoons had silently withdrawn from the battle.
Their outposts were taken out, their platoon's camp was destroyed by a sudden large fire, and when the fire started, their entire platoon was inside the barracks.
The Black Panther Commando Company used incendiary bombs; no one could escape alive.
This was not the worst thing; although the supplies were raided, not a single soldier guarding the "POWs" moved.
They had not received orders and were holding fast to the "POW camp." This was their priority, and also the key to the success or failure of this exercise.
Moreover, the order they received was to immediately shoot all the "POWs" if anyone attacked.
They had machine gunners positioned at various points, with machine guns aimed not at the perimeter, but at the "POW camp."
"It seems they're in trouble!" Winters couldn't help but frown; he observed the entire attack process through his binoculars.
This process could be described as a classic example of feinting, but the 3rd Battalion's commander knew where the focus of his exercise was: the POWs.
This clearly increased the difficulty for the Black Panther Commando Company.
At the POW camp, at least one company was guarding there.
Nixon also watched anxiously, and at this moment, Captain Speirs, who was also observing the entire exercise today, joined him.
He was even more eager to know what kind of results the Black Panther Commando Company would achieve.
Captain Ken Bauer of I Company, 3rd Battalion, was guarding the POW camp, vigilantly watching his surroundings.
All three platoons of his company had already been deployed.
Now, communication with Battalion HQ was lost, and the radio was also out of order, but he was a rigid man; without orders, even if the entire Battalion HQ was destroyed, he would stick to his post.
"Captain, an order from Battalion HQ has arrived!" A soldier reported to Ken Bauer, "It was brought by a Sergeant."
Ken Bauer also knew that the Battalion HQ's supplies had exploded and that intense gunfire had occurred there.
He frowned, then nodded, signaling for the Sergeant to be brought over.
"This is the order from Battalion HQ!" The Sergeant handed the order to Captain Ken Bauer, then stood by, awaiting his response.
"This is impossible.
Why would you call my company to reinforce Battalion HQ?" Ken Bauer frowned and said to the Sergeant, "Sergeant, are you sure you are conveying the order from Battalion HQ?"
"Do you have any objections, Captain?
Two of our companies, one has been severely hit, two platoons have been declared 'killed,' and now we can't withstand the Black Panther Commando Company's attack.
They are all experienced, rigorously trained men, while we are now a group of soldiers anesthetized by wine and women after victory.
Is there any comparison?
God, if Battalion HQ is breached, we are destined to lose this exercise.
For God's sake, you must believe!" The Sergeant seemed a bit anxious, starting to speak rapidly and incoherently.
It seemed the situation was indeed as the Sergeant described; their Battalion HQ was facing a crisis, and the gunfire there seemed to intensify.
He hesitated for a moment, finally giving the order to send two platoons to reinforce Battalion HQ, while he continued to lead one platoon to hold out here.
Crucially, the crossfire he had arranged with machine gunners at four positions was enough to shoot all the "POWs" if his position was attacked; he believed he had that capability.
The gate of the POW camp opened again, and two platoons of soldiers began to file out through the gate, while Ken Bauer vigilantly watched the surroundings.
He had now arranged all the remaining men of one platoon at their posts; only then did he feel a bit at ease.
Not long after the two platoons had exited, suddenly, a group of people covered in grass emerged from the waist-high grass.
If they hadn't suddenly stood up, no one would have noticed that they had been lurking there for a long time.
They aimed their guns at the soldiers of the two platoons who had gone out for reinforcement.
The two platoons were surrounded and then declared out of the exercise.
A very faint "thump" sound was heard, and then Captain Ken Bauer, who was on patrol, felt a pain in his neck.
He instinctively touched it with his hand, and a little white powder appeared on his hand.
Clearly, he had been hit by a sniper, which meant he would withdraw from the exercise.
And all of this signaled that the final attack of the Black Panther Commando Company had begun!