| Table of Contents < - - - return Chapter 21 - Taking a village < - - - next Don Bennett's War Chapter 20 - Night Fire _______________________ Night came upon
us as we moved on along the side of the hill, the rest of the battalion
following. We walked steady for hours, how many no one could tell, pausing
occasionally for the scouts to investigate a likely hot spot. We stopped
once and then slowly moved up to a place where our whole platoon was
assembled. We were told that the enemy was set up 100 yards ahead down
on the edge of the valley. We were to get cover and get ready to fire
at a spot where my squad sergeant was going to fire a tracer bullet.
I sat down behind a ten inch alder tree, poked my B.A.R.
around the right side of it, broke out extra clips of shells, and waiting
for the telling shots. Other men took similar positions near me. The
whole preparation took place with barely a sound and in pitch darkness.
We waited a few minutes until our sergeant fired the starting shot,
and then all hell broke loose. There was a fuselage of shots going both
directions. I fired first at where I saw the tracer bullet go, and then
at the flashes of the enemy's rifles as they returned our fire. We heard
some of the enemy yell, and some groaning and after awhile their firing
came to a halt. We then stopped firing and all was quiet except some
of the Germans yelling in pain. None of us were touched. Fearing that
the groaning might be a trick, we moved on around that area and on through
the woods. We could hear the groaning until we were far past it. We
advanced for a few more hours until we could make out a town ahead.
Chapter 21 - Taking a village < - - - next Table of Contents < - - - return _________________________ Copyright, Donald Bennett
Sr., 1999 - 2025, all rights reserved on all images and content.
Web Site By Webmeister
Don Websites and Graphic Design |