This excerpt takes place in the woodlands, somewhere in Germany.
This is a journal entry of the fictional main character Yukeman (Yanni) Slavic
All is original…inspirations were HBO's Band of Brothers.
December 12, 1943
Dear Someone…
We have walked for days on end. It seems like we have been walking forever. The enemy is all around us, yet we don't know when or with what forces they are going to attack with. It keeps my men anxious for what is yet to come. We have lost thirty good men in the last week. The number of"lost" men continue to rise more and more as the days and weeks pass on. Their lifeless bodies will be sent home in a wooden box. They are a memory in our minds but a brother in our hearts. When we lose a man we have lost a brother. We each mourn in our own way.
It's a tough win, this war. It has claimed many lives and yet brought us together. Though some of us joined as best friends or family members none of us may have never gotten to know each other if the war hadn't brought us together. Yet we do this, fight in this war, not for ourselves but for those back home. Those we love, those we do not know, those yet to meet, and to build up hope in our world, a world of peace. We all long for the war to be over and to return to our families, which depends if we survive this war, but its all worth it to be together and to fight for our country and to regain piece once again.
We have seen a lot of blood spilled in the past year. It's scary not knowing what will happen in the days to come, but I have belief in the God above and I believe he knows what he is doing. I do not know the plans God has in store for me and I may never know, but whatever the plans may be, I will take them willingly. I will die for my God and my country. My wife writes me everyday, telling me that her and our church prays for all of us. I know that there are many of people are praying for us, which is comforting because so many of us have died and we do not know how many more of us will die before this war is over. War is a evil thing. It takes away brothers, sons, and friends. I pray that we may soon return to our families and be safe from enemy fire.
I miss spending time with my family, especially during holidays when we would have a home cooked meal. Oh Gosh! How much I miss a good, hot home cooked meal! It's been almost two years since I have been home and had a home-cooked meal. During Christmas we have a big ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, a fruit bowl, sweet potatoes and various different wines. French wine is my favorite. Just thinking about it is making me hungry for my wife's and my mom's delicious meals. Oh the meals I've missed!
A shot of excruciating pain went through my body and before I knew it a pool of redness was seeping from my side. I could hear myself screaming in pain. When Sergeant O'Conner's came over to me and said "Hang in there Yanni, Stay with me" I knew that I had been shot or something was happening to me that was making this rather large pool of blood. I was very scared. I did not want to die. All I could see was some of my men lying on the ground bleeding. I could hear their cries of agony. Then my whole life flashed before me and I saw my wife for the last time as I slipped into the darkness…