The Disguise in Plain Sight Raid
By:AliasCWN
Chapter 1
"Littlejohn! Nelson!"
The two men rushed over at the sound of their names.
"Yeah Sarge?"
Sergeant Chip Saunders eyed the two soldiers in front of him. They didn't look too tired for the job he had in mind. "Command has a compound about three or four miles back where they're holding prisoners. You and Billy take our prisoners back there and turn them over to whoever is in charge." Saunders directed his orders to Littlejohn, effectively putting him in charge of their assignment. "Once you drop them off, get right back here." He pulled his helmet off and ran his fingers through his long hair. "Hopefully we'll still be here when you get back. If we aren't…well, you'll just have to find us."
The big man nodded his understanding. The battle lines had moved quite often in the last few days. First squad was currently tasked with holding a small hill and the surrounding area, but he knew that that could change at a moment's notice.
"Go back, drop them off, and get back here, no fooling around." Saunders warned gruffly.
"Got it Sarge." Littlejohn hefted his rifle and turned to his smaller companion. "Come on Billy, we got work to do."
Saunders ran his fingers through his hair again. "Keep your eyes open Littlejohn. There may be Kraut patrols infiltrating our lines." Putting his helmet back on his head, Saunders sighed. "Maybe once this push is over I'll have time to get a haircut."
"When this push is over all I want to do is sleep." Kirby complained from nearby.
"Now you're starting to sound like someone else we know." Littlejohn observed. "And all you do is complain because they sleep a lot."
"Aw shut up you big oaf." Kirby growled angrily.
"Shut up, both of you!" Saunders ordered before the argument could get started. "Littlejohn, you and Billy get moving." With a jerk of his head, Saunders sent them on their way with their two prisoners.
"Kirby, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut." Saunders walked away, tired of the arguments, and if truth be known, just plain tired. They all needed sleep and he admitted that a little R&R wouldn't hurt, knowing how unlikely that was, he settled for checking their perimeter.
"He's worried." Caje's quiet announcement interrupted Saunders' thoughts.
"We're all worried." Saunders replied.
"He had good friends in Second Squad. He took it hard when he heard about their capture." The cajun explained Kirby's outburst.
Saunders sighed, resigned to having the conversation that he had been avoiding. He knew how Kirby felt; the sergeant from Second Squad was a good friend of his. "We all had friends on Second Squad. We're all worried. But we don't take it out on everyone around us like Kirby."
The cajun shrugged. "That's his way. He doesn't mean anything by it."
"I know." Saunders answered softly. "I just don't have the patience for it right now."
"Why don't you go get some rest? Things are pretty quiet right now, we can handle this."
The sergeant started shaking his head. "No, I need to finish checking the perimeter." Saunders moved off, calling over his shoulder. "I'll see you later."
Caje's words echoed in his head as he checked on each man on guard. A lot of them had friends on Second Squad. He wondered if the others were getting nervous and irritable too. It was something he would have to consider as the day wore on. Sending Littlejohn and Nelson back with the prisoners left him shorthanded but he hadn't wanted to keep men guarding the Germans. They had enough problems without worrying about prisoners escaping.
Littlejohn and Billy turned their prisoners over to the guards at the prison compound. The fighting had been widespread over the last week and there were quite a few prisoners already there.
"Gee Littlejohn, I wonder if they have this many of our guys." Billy tried to count the prisoners but it was hard to get a good count with all of them milling around.
"Could be Billy, I heard that they overran a couple of our lines." Littlejohn looked around the compound as he answered.
"It's too bad we can't go after them."
Littlejohn laughed at Billy's innocence. "And just how would you do it Billy? We can't just walk in there and tell them that we want them back."
"Sarge would think of something." The smaller man declared confidently.
"Maybe you could suggest it to him when we get back. We'd better go, he's waiting for us."
Billy nodded and turned to leave.
"Hey Billy, do you see who I see?"
Littlejohn's question stopped Billy in his tracks. Turning, he looked where Littlejohn was looking. Coming out of a tent in front of them were several guards and four German prisoners. Billy looked at the guards but he didn't recognize them. "Hey!" he yelled as he recognized the Germans.
One of the German prisoners turned at the yell. Seeing Littlejohn and Billy, his eyes sparkled with delight and he smiled widely. "Hi guys!"
With Billy following, Littlejohn rushed over to greet their friends.
"What are you guys doing here? You aren't pulling off some mission without us are you?" The big private eyed the others with suspicion. "You didn't find another squad to work with, did you?"
Tully Pettigrew laughed and shook his head in denial.
"Do you know these men?"
Littlejohn snapped to attention as an officer stepped out of the tent.
Returning his salute, the Major repeated his question. "Do you know these men?"
"Yes sir."
"Who are they?"
Littlejohn glanced at the four men in question with surprise. It suddenly dawned on him that they were dressed as Germans, maybe they were undercover. Maybe they didn't want anyone to know their true identities.
Seeing the look on his face, Sam Troy guessed at his thoughts. "It's all right Littlejohn; we already told them who we are."
""Then why are they asking me?"
"He just wants independent confirmation."
"I'm asking the questions here soldier." The Major demanded angrily. "Do you know these men or don't you?"
"Yes sir." Littlejohn answered, pointing toward each man. "That's Sergeant Troy and that one is Sergeant Moffitt. The other two are Privates Hitchcock and Pettigrew."
"And how do you know them?"
"We helped them with a couple of assignments." Littlejohn answered.
"What kind of assignments?"
Billy tugged on Littlejohn's sleeve. "Can we tell him that?"
Littlejohn looked from Billy, to the Major, to Troy. "I don't know, can we?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The Major demanded.
"He means that it's classified Major. Unless you have the proper clearance, he can't tell you any of the details." Troy explained before Littlejohn could answer.
"I see, all right privates, you can go."
Littlejohn nodded at Troy and turned to leave. He nearly collided with a messenger rushing toward the Major. Side-stepping quickly, he waited for the other man to pass.
"Major, an urgent dispatch from headquarters." The messenger handed the officer the sealed envelope and backed away.