Title: A Moment In Time

Word Count: 1,716

Rating: PG

Notes: One moment in time as seen from four different people

Winters

"You need to move fast, get into the town before they can bring mortars and artillery down on you."

I tell this to Dike and pray to God that some of it sinks into his decidedly non-tactical head. It is clear he thinks he knows what he's doing which is what worries me the most; the man is incompetent yet doesn't know it-a sure combination for disaster. I see it, Lipton sees it, and I'm sure a good number of the men see it; yet there is nothing I can do about it except hope against hope that the fates will smile on us today and let us take Foy with little resistance.

I turn to Dike once more just in time to see him stifle a yawn. I feel my own level of irritation beginning to rise.

"I'm counting on you; get it done."

He nods once, sharply and trots off someplace, hopefully to brief the company.

I sigh as I watch him go.

It's done. There's nothing more I can do.

Dike

I listen as Winters briefs the objective to me, uncertain as to what I am supposed to be getting out of all this. Yes, we need to take the town, what's going to be so hard about that? I know what to do, after all, would they really have me running the company if they thought I was incompetent?

Winters continues to drone on, something about speed and artillery fire, but it doesn't seem too important. I know my platoon leaders have been briefed by him already so if I don't grasp everything here, things should still go okay and no one will ever know the difference.

He tells me to get it done, as if I need to be reminded.

I nod my head and move over to where the other Lieutenants are gathered to let them know the situation.

After all, I am in charge of this company.

Lipton

I watch Winters and Dike huddled together over a map of what I presume to be Foy and pray that Winters is giving Dike all the help he can. I've had a bad feeling about this ever since I found out Dike would be leading the company in a combat action but I know it cannot be helped.

Men around me are getting jumpy; all of them as nervous as me or perhaps even more so regarding the impending attack.

I watch Luz tweak his radio a bit, brushing a bit of snow off the controls. He smirks at me and yawns widely; I just shake my head and continue observing.

Roe is on the outside of the group looking exhausted and watching the preparations taking place. I wander over to him.

"Gonna get busy before too long, I'm afraid."

He looks up at me with eyes ringed by dark circles.

"I'ma thinkin you're right about tha', Sergean'," he replies in his soft voice, sounding as if he were miles away.

And as I turn to leave, I can't help but wonder what it's like for him, this waiting to see who will live and who will die; who he can save and who he can't.

I hope we all live to see tomorrow.

Speirs

I stand on the ridge overlooking Foy and observe the town through my field glasses. Things look quiet, too quiet, which means the Germans most likely know we are coming and are prepared.

I see Easy Company about 100 yards to my right, preparing for the assault into town. They're in the lead today which leaves Dog Company with nothing much to do but wait.

I can see Easy's CO being briefed by Captain Winters. I don't trust Dike, never have; the man is too jumpy, is never around when the bullets start flying. I hope he's not leading them all to their deaths.

I raise my glasses again and continue scanning the town below.

Winters

Easy Company begins its movement toward Foy with 1st and 2nd platoons out in lead and 3rd platoon trailing. Dike, not surprisingly, is in the middle of all this mess, effectively cutting him off from the lead elements.

About 200 meters into the assault, a German machine gun opens up and I see men begin to drop.

I see Dike freeze all the sudden and dive behind a haystack.

I don't believe this.

I can hear Dike calling for everyone to fall back, a stupid move since they are closer to reaching cover in the town than they would be by attempting to re-cross the open ground just covered.

I grab the radio and demand to talk to Dike. I can hear Luz on the other end telling Dike "You need to talk to Captain Winters,sir." Dike never comes on line but I can hear his hysterical orders to fall back.

After a few moments, I see 1st platoon begin to move out alone and wonder what the hell is going on.

Without thinking, I grab my rifle and begin to make my way out there. However, I'm stopped cold by Sink calling for me to return, telling me I'm the battalion XO; get back to the ridge.

I feel utterly helpless standing here watching my men get killed and wounded one by one.

It only takes a moment but I decide Dike has to go. I look around for someone, anyone, to send in there and relieve the man when I finally spot Spiers from D Company.

"Speirs!" I yell. "Get in there, relieve Dike, and take them on in!"

To his credit, Speirs never flinches, never hesitates. I watch him unsling his Thompson and sprint down the hill.

Please, Lord, don't let it be too late.

Dike

Things are going pretty well as Easy begins moving into Foy; I don't know why Winters was making such a big deal out of all this. The men are moving along and the platoon leaders know what they're doing.

No, not hard at all.

All of a sudden, I hear the sharp bark of a machine gun start up and feel bullets begin to fly by.

I act on instinct and dive toward the nearest stack of hay hoping it will provide some cover.

Before I even have time to catch my breath, I am swarmed by NCO's and platoon leaders who want to know what the hell is going on, what we're going to do.

"Fall back!" I yell. "Everybody fall back!"

"Sir, we have to do something…."

"Sir we are sitting ducks here….

"You need to talk to Captain Winters, sir…."

The voices are all too much for me and I begin to feel everything closing in on me.

I don't know what to do and start searching desperately for a solution, try to remember what it was Winters was saying earlier.

I demand 1st platoon flank around the town and attack from the rear with the other two platoons providing covering fire. This seems like a good plan in my head but those around me give each other worried looks.

I reiterate my order and 1st platoons lieutenant takes off running.

I hear the crackle of the radio and Winters' voice drifting through the handset. I see various faces around me, demanding that I take action.

I don't know what to do.

Lipton

Easy moved out slowly, as if it knew it was on a death march into Foy.

Everything was quiet for the first 175 meters or so with no shots fired by either side. Then, an MG opened up suddenly and men began scrambling for cover, our CO included who made tracks for the nearest haystack.

Shouts of "fall back, fall back" filled the air, stopping the advancing men in their tracks. I had no idea what was going on, couldn't see Dike, couldn't find 1st platoon out in front, so I called for the men to take cover while I went about finding out CO.

He was hunched against the hay looking lost and confused. I felt overwhelming disgust fill me at that moment. Here he was, a goddamn officer, a company commander for chrissake, letting his men die.

"Sir, we need to do something," I demanded. "We can't just stay here, they have us targeted."

I don't know if any of this ever reached Dike's ears or not, but I'm guessing it didn't.

All of a sudden, he starts shouting for 1st platoon to take the town from the rear while the rest of us cover them, a dismal plan at best. I feel my face settle into an expression of shock as I realize that is the best he is able to come up with.

I knew he'd get a lot of good men killed.

Speirs

I am still watching from the ridge when I see Easy halt suddenly and their CO disappear from sight.

'What the hell?' I think to myself. 'Why aren't they moving?'

I can hear Winters demanding that someone get Dike on the radio that moment but obviously the connection is never made as I see Winters grab his weapon and start to move out toward Easy, only to be stopped by Sink.

Moments later, I see him spot me, demanding that I go out there, relieve Dike, and resume the attack as best as possible.

I am moving down the slope before I even realize it, and am at the haystack where Dike is huddled in a matter of minutes.

He looks as if he's in shock, merely nodding when I tell him I'm taking over. I hear the sound of a collective sigh fill the air as the men realize they are free from their CO.

I demand for Lipton to give me a status report and he does, indicating where 1st platoon is cut off and where a sniper in a nearby building has been steadily cutting down the company.

I bark orders out and the men spring to their feet to carry them out.

I watch Easy begin to reform and advance into town, cutting down enemy soldiers left and right. I follow close behind, never looking back to see if Dike is still sitting there.

The sniper fire suddenly stops.

Maybe it'll be alright