The Hit'em Back Raid

Chapter 3

"Does everyone understand the plan?" Sgt. Sam Troy spoke to the men of K Company. First squad, headed by Lt. Hanley and Sgt. Mc Connell were crowded around the table at headquarters.

"It sounds crazy to me." Mac McConnell said with feeling.

"But crazy works for them." Cage started the reply but it ended as a chorus of voices. First squad smiled at the familiar phrase. Even Hanley got the joke. McConnell felt like an outsider, not only with this new team, but with his own squad as well. It had been obvious from the very beginning that Sgt. Saunders had left very big shoes to fill.

"We did something like this before Sargent. We drove seven trucks across the desert and right up to the prison camp and blew the front gate. The Germans were not expecting anything of the sort." Troy explained the new mission they had been assigned. Once again they were on loan to the commanders of K Company to help pull off a difficult mission. The Germans were expected to make another push in the near future. The Americans, already weakened by the previous assaults, needed an edge to defeat them. Their answer was to free the prisoners of a POW camp and have them attack the advancing Germans from behind while the American forces held them from the front. Someone had heard of Troys' success in another raid and had suggested they call on them again.

"How do you plan to get the trucks full of weapons and supplies past the Germans and behind their lines?" Hanley trusted the plan but he wanted the details.

"We're going to drive them right through their roadblocks." Moffitt said with a smile. "We have forged travel papers that will get us past the checkpoints."

"Moffitt will pose as a German officer. Some of the others will dress as Germans and drive the trucks. The rest will hide in the back. The story is that they are captured supplies that we are moving behind the lines to keep them away from the Americans. Once the supplies are through we have other papers that state we have orders to move the POWs to another camp. The ruse is that High Command is expecting a lot of new prisoners once the new push starts. The trucks will drive right into the camp to pick up the prisoners, only they won't be empty when they arrive." Troy made the plan sound easy.

Hanley smiled at the other man. "And I suppose that you want some of my men to pose as Germans?"

"Volunteers only." Troy answered, suddenly solemn. "Remember, anyone caught in a German uniform can be shot as a spy."

The room was silent for only a moment as the men looked at each other, then they all volunteered. Hanley wasn't surprised at their willingness.

"Alright Sargent, you have your volunteers. Now how do you plan to let the prisoners know what you have planned."

"Tully's going to tell them."

Hanley raised an eyebrow.

"He's going to get captured. Once inside he'll tell the highest ranking officer the plan and they can be ready." Troy shrugged at the Lieutenants' look. "He volunteered."

"Well I hope the highest ranking officer is on our side." McConnell muttered under his breath.

Troy glared at him. "Don't worry about my men."

"We've worked with them before Sargent. They do their part, we do ours. Keep your eyes open Mac, you're about to see something." The Lieutenant gave McConnell a friendly warning before turning his attention back to the map. "Troy, do we have written orders for the POWs?"

"Yes. Headquarters want them to attack the Germans from the rear at predetermined points. We have some weak points that need some support. I'll give you the packets since you're the one who will be dealing with their officers. Once we free the prisoners, my men and I will become couriers to help coordinate the troop movements. You and your men will join the POWs. If there is a need for our services we will be available."

"Just what do you do?" McConnell ask in a sarcastic tone,

"Whatever needs to be done Sargent. We specialize in sabotage and just general sneakiness. You might call us the wild cards in this deck." The briefing was ended with a warning. "This is not going to be a cakewalk. Anyone who wants to opt out needs to do it before we leave. No blame, no hard feelings. We leave this afternoon. If you want out, let us know within the hour so we can adapt our plans." The men all nodded and shuffled out the door. Troy watched them go with a frown.

"Something wrong Sargent?" Hanley hung back after his men departed.

"Just thinking Lieutenant. That new Sargent you have doesn't seem too keen on this mission. And the men don't seem to be backing him like they did Saunders."

"Saunders was one heck of a sargent." Hanley reasoned. "It's been tough trying to replace him. Mac just needs more time. The men respect him, they just aren't real comfortable with him yet."

Troy understood the value of knowing your teammates. He nodded his understanding. "Just the same Lieutenant, I'll be keeping my eye on him."

"Of course." Hanley returned with a smile. "Saunders would have done the same." He began to gather the maps, folding them to put in the waterproof bags.

"Lieutenant.." Troy stopped him as he turned to leave, "I'm sorry about Saunders. I know you two were friends."

"Yeah, thanks." Hanley picked up the bags and left the room.

"Do you think that new sargent will be a problem Sam?" Moffitt watched the lieutenant leave. "We could leave him behind."

"No we can't Jack. That would undermine his authority. He'd never be able to lead that crew."

"Then we'll just have to convince him that this plan will work."

"And that we can do the job." Tully added.

"How do we do that?" Hitch ask.

"We do our job." Troy replied.