CHAPTER 3 "A Change of Course"

August 1942

Camp Toccoa, Georgia

"What the hell was that Turner?"

A whistle earlier, the obstacle course was halted. Everybody probably didn't know what was going on. They remained where they were.

Captain Collins approached me.

"Well?"

I made Company history by being the first one who made a mistake in training. It was the 3rd leg of our exercise having emphasis on doing more runs, push ups, sit ups, military stuff.

"Sorry sir. I just-"

"Don't give me an excuse!"

"…"

The trouble of being first place in a race is that you got pressure all around you; blanking out some of your thoughts. It's just that this isn't such a race. This is the obstacle course. The Captain made his way to where I flunked; the fence.

"My instructions were clear, Private!"

I followed him. It was probably the most logical way to get through with this.

"I said stay low and duck under them! What gave you an idea on jumping OVER them, huh?"

"Sir, when I saw the fence, I just cleared it-"

"By jumping?"

"…"

"You weren't listening Turner!"

I guess it was my fault. I trusted on my instincts; instructing myself to perform something in a way it is already automated in me. Probably I got used to getting through things like that by leaping; much like how I do it when I was a kid. Yeah, always hopping over any obstacle that gets it my way as I ran away with 5 dollars in my pocket. Kind of childish of me.

"I don't want any incompetence like that in my Company. Do that again and you'll get your ass kicked out of here!"

"…Yes sir…"

The others were pissed, as far as I could tell. Half-way down the obstacle course, and then I mindlessly hit restart. I could hear the murmurs behind me.

"Alright boys let's do it all over again. Back from the start." The Captain then whistled.

He turned to me and said, "Next time, when you do something, give a damn about thinking! Don't just trust your instincts."

Whoa…how did he know that I was just following my instincts?

Two fellows approached me.

"Thanks a lot, Turner!"

"Next time, why not use your head to smash the opposition?"

"Yeah, yeah…I'm sorry."

That was the very first conversation I had with David and Hugh; and a start to get friends.

Sergeant Donnelly barked out, "O'Shea! McCarran! You can thank Turner later! Get your asses back here!"

Foucarville, Normandy; France, 0030 hours

D-Day

After minutes of walking, we stopped by a trench used by the Germans for protection against air raids. We just took the liberty of having a 5 minute break. We were still down to 11 guys. There came a screech up from the skies. It sang louder and louder. Then BOOM! I house obliterated 30 metres away from us. The ground rocked like in a seizure. Heh. Surely the bombers are doing a good job demolishing everything.

Damn. I knew I left my pen.

I approached Lieutenant Speyer.

"Sir, do you have a pencil or…uh…something?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, I'm just gonna write down in my diary…"

"You can do that later, man, when this night is over."

"But sir, what if I might not live through this night?"

"Do you want to write in your notebook or not?"

"Of course, sir." I replied.

"So keep your act together! Stay alive so you can write on it later!"

I sat down. Captain Collins and the rest were assessing the situation; jotting down notes in his maps. Trying to find out if there will be a change of course. Another explosion in the distance. Those bombers were hitting the ground hard. But they didn't hamper the Captain's stream of thoughts.

"I think we are here. Foucarville. Probably a mile and a half northeast of Ste. Mere-Eglise."

I could hear them discussing.

"We should take D-17 and head into this town here, Beuzeville-au-Plain. There we could get relief from either from Baker or Dog Company."

D-17 was a road I think. Beuzeville-au-Plain was actually Able Company's objective on D-Day.

"Sir! We got Airborne guys coming!"

"What? Finally!"

"Well! They certainly took a while." Captain Collins exclaimed.

I stood up, keeping my head covered by the bushes and by the trench. Even more reinforcements! Still I gripped on my rifle in case the krauts show up and spoil our rest.

I could here the running of their feet. They were only a few guys as I could tell.

I wasn't able to see their faces because of the bushes. But their voices gave a big smile in my face.

"O'Shea! McCarran! So you guys made it too huh?" said Captain Collins.

"Yes sir. We hooked up with these guys from Baker Company and…"

"We just got lucky that we found you guys here."

"David! Over here!" I shouted out.

O'Shea turned around. I waved my hand out so he could see. The two were certainly surprised to see me. Behind them are 3 others who have met up with them after the jump.

"Hey Robert!"

"I thought you were dead, Turner!" McCarran said.

"Not yet." I grinned

"OK guys break it up. No time for hellos. Let's move out."

Before I knew it, 5 minutes was up.

The Captain ordered, "Guys, listen up. We'll head south, so watch your compasses. We'll head to route D-17 all the way until we reach Beuzeville. We'll take the town from here. Keep your guard up and I don't want any surprises this time. Those not under my command, feel free to tag along. Remember: there are krauts all over the place."

"Yes sir." Lieutenant Speyer replied.

"Oh, and Robert…" Captain Collins turned to me.

"Sir?" I replied.

"I need you to use your head this time, OK?"

I lowered my head with a grin. Yes sir, I'll do that. I was glad that most of the guys here did not know what the Captain meant by that.

McCarran and O'Shea were laughing.

"Shut up you two…" I said.

We were about to move out. Weapons reloaded and ready to go. Lieutenant Speyer came to me.

"Here, take care of it."

He handed me his pencil; a crumpled yellow stick, a bit worn out but the lead's fine.

"Sir? But I thought you said I'll do it later?"

He grinned and said, "I'd be damned if you get your self killed without even writing with it."

I placed the pencil in my pocket; together with my diary.

The words he said gave me a slight intuition about the events that lie ahead. The trek towards our goal was about to begin. I kept those words in mind as we left the trench.

"What happened to your nose, Robert?" McCarran came to me.

"Oh…I got it from the jump. It stings a bit…" I replied.

"Here, take this." He threw me a piece of cloth. "That'll do for now. I'll patch it up later."

I felt that from here on, everything else that'll happen is going to be the real deal.

-TO BE CONTINUED-