GUNG HO

Chapter 4

"Hello, sir." Captain Lewis said as he saluted Colonel McKinnley, an elderly officer with greyish hair. The colonel was meeting Lewis's squad in the barn so that he could recognize them for their recent work. The squad had been making routine patrols for the past month and they were close to being replaced.

"Hello, Captain." Colonel McKinnley replied with a small salute. "Great job out here, Lewis. You're a great man. Now where are the men?" He added, patting Lewis on the shoulder.

"Well...They should be in there." The captain said, pointing at the barn with his Thompson. He tipped his helmet back and let his weapon hang loosely by his side.

"Let's get on with it." McKinnely said, heading for the barn. He pushed open the door to reveal a rugged squad. Everyone was sleeping except for Wilson who was cleaning his M1 Garand. He looked up, saw the colonel, and cursed under his breath. He immediately snapped to attention and yelled for the squad to wake up.

"You boys put up a heck of a fight. We got the Germans on the run. They won't return to this territory." He looked around, waiting for his words to sink in. "Victory, gentleman, victory." The battered soldiers looked at each other.

"We move out in the mornin'." Wilson, now a Lieutenant, said to the men. The happy faces were gone.

"Where too?" Sergeant Myers asked with annoyance. The others looked at Lewis.

"Well, we can't be too sure but we figure that we will be advancing on St. Lo." Myers looked away.

"Oh, can't wait!" Myers said sarcastically. Wilson gave him a look but the colonel didn't seem to care. McKinnely started to leave but then turned, remembering something.

"Captain, I almost forgot." He put his hand in his pocket, searching for something. "I believe you deserve this." He said, throwing a patch at Lewis. "Don't you think so men?" The soldiers smiled.

"Thank you, sir." Lewis said, saluting the colonel.

"You deserved it, Major. Yes, you are a major, but I believe we should keep you on the battlefield. Your men seem to like you." He winked and then left.

"Major! Come on, Major?!" Sorpelly said, grinning. Lewis sat down at a bench at took off his boots. Henry walked over to him as the other men went back to sleep.

"Congratulations, sir." He whispered as he shook Lewis's hand. "So what do you think of St. Lo.?" Henry scratched his head, eager for the major's reply.

"Well," Lewis said as he watched Davis write a letter across the small room. "It's not going to be easy, that's for sure." He took a sip from his canteen. "Is there anymore coffee?" Lewis asked, changing the subject.

Henry sat silently for a moment, taking in the words. "Um...well, sir, I believe we're all out." Lewis looked away, disapointed. "Sir, how well of a defense do you think the Germans have at St. Lo.?" Lewis looked at Henry, unable to make up an excuse to talk about something else. He looked off into space.

"Rumors say that it's well protected but you can never tell, you know." Henry nodded. "There are rumors about everything. Last week someone told me Hitler was actually an American spy." Henry smiled. "Rumors..."

"Sorpelly said that he heard that the war is almost over. Do you think that's true, sir." Henry looked at Lewis.

"I doubt it, Doc, I doubt it." Lewis looked down at the bayonet he held in his hands and started to pick at a sliver in his thumb. "You better get some sleep. Long day tomorrow. Hey, do me a favor and wake Sorpelly up. He fell asleep again on watch duty." He gazed in the direction of Sorpelly who was slumped over the machine gun, snoring. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the watch that his wife had given him. He opened it up to see the picture that he now looked at so often. How much he missed her. He took one last look at it before closing the watch and dropping it into his pocket. He wandered across the room to a pile of hay and slept, his helmet and Thompson next to him.