At Stalag 13, the evening roll call held no surprise. Sergeant Schultz verified that all prisoners were present. Colonel Klink - all crisp uniform and shiny black boots - stepped beside his gleaming Mercedes.
"My dear prisoners," Klink said with his death's head grin, "today thousands of your countrymen trespassed on Fortress Europa soil. They came by sea and air like swarms of locusts, and our illustrious forces are exterminating them as such. Of course there will be some survivors, and very soon you can expect a few of your fellow airmen to come here as guests of the glorious Luftwaffe."
A flock of starlings swooped low over Klink and his car. The Kommandant cringed.
A grinning LeBeau leaned to Hogan and said, "The other car is safe, merci beaucoup."
Hogan winked, knowing that LeBeau was thrilled to have the Peugeot as a project. The car's original registration papers had been lost, but its serial number had been sent to underground channels. LeBeau and several of Hogan's men had dismantled the car and hidden its parts in the tunnels. If enough went well, LeBeau would drive the reassembled Peugeot to its rightful owner.
The starlings turned for another pass. Klink shouted, "Schultz, I want you and your men to shoot these birds in a display of superior German marksmanship!"
The compound resonated with superior western razzberries.
Starlings flew past Klink and headed to the main gate. Schultz said, "Don't shoot, you'll hit our fellows."
"That's tellin' 'em, Schultzie!" Newkirk called.
"Silence!" Klink yelled. "Sergeant Schultz, you will shoot birds as I direct."
"I beg your pardon, Herr Kommandant, it is too late. I will organize a detail to wash your car, and if I may, Herr Kommandant, I will clean your hat myself."
"Clean everything spotless!" The scowling Klink turned to face Hogan. "Dis-miss!" he barked with an iron salute.
Hogan spent the rest of D-Day evening with his ear on German broadcasts, paying special attention to General Dittmar (Germany's top military spokesman). At 10 PM, Dittmar announced that American penetrations had been checked along the Aure River except for a bridgehead at Isigny, now contained (Hogan couldn't help but smile). An attempt to capture Trévières had been repulsed.
Even this last didn't erase Hogan's smile. Trévières was being invested a good three days ahead of the first time, and Isigny had been liberated two days ahead. It was beginning to look like the 29th Division might get more glory than the neighbouring 1st (Big Red One) - which itself was doing well, having taken most of its D-Day objectives although the easternmost penetration was "sealed off" between Tour-en-Bessin and Ste-Anne (still, Tour-en-Bessin had changed hands two days "ahead").
The other fronts didn't seem any different from the first time. Shortly after midnight Hogan switched off and turned in, downing two fingers' warmth of brandy. One side had seen a much better day than the other.