CHAPTER 7 "Returning to the Fray"

Beuzeville-au-Plain, Normandy; France

D-Day; day-break

The first question I wanted an answer was 'where'.

"Where the hell is it?" I asked out.

"Down south!" A soldier replied.

The footsteps we made were soon trounced by the sound of machine-gun fire. I could say it was from ours. Wherever it is, it was just probably a few runs away. I didn't care to look around and see where O'Shea and McCarran are. Anyways, we were heading at the same direction. Here we go again; returning to the fray.

"Everyone! Man defensive positions now!" Captain Collins barked out orders as he ran ahead.

"Shise! I forgot about the radio!" Rosenbaum tried to run back for it.

"You can go for it later, Dieter!" I yelled. "We got something worse to worry about!"

We came across the southern border of this village; the battle was already underway. Fences lining up near a road that stretched back far into zigzags of asphalt and trees. There were sandbags and barbed wires lined up here, with an MG-42 we captured making the shots. The enemy tank was there, in the horizon. It was followed by a few half-tracks and infantry. The spearhead of the German counter-attack.

Sergeant Donnelly was right; an enemy offensive would likely come due south.

We took up our positions in the sandbags. Hopefully, the ditches the others had dug over night could stall the enemy. There was no use waiting for the Captain's signal. I fired my rifle, so as the others.

"Lieutenant Alderman! Call in mortar support now! We need to slow them down before that tank can get within its firing range!" Captain Collins ordered.

"Yes sir!"

He turned to me and said, "Turner! Wesson! Get a Panzer Faust in that house over there and bring it back here! Take out that tank if it gets close enough!"

"Roger that! Come on Robert!"

The machine-gun fire was soon joined by rifles and Tommies. I ran with Wesson; hoping that he knew where to find the rocket launcher in the house. We made our way inside, in the living room. A rectangular box was there, stashed by the fireplace. The inscription was German, but I could tell that this was it because of the headings "Panzer Faust". I tried to open it.

"John! Help me!"

We removed the outer front cover; and I brought out one tube. Quite frankly, they were heavy. Hope mine was heavy enough to blow up the tank.

"We'll get 2 more!" Wesson said, "Just in case we miss or anything…"

Then we ran out, with Wesson hugging most of the launchers. The mortars requested earlier suddenly fired; a familiar ignition came throbbing in my ears. They fired in unison, firing one after the other as we made our way to Captain Collins.

Soon there came a whistling sound. Then…

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Each explosion was seconds apart. Grass and soil were blown upwards as the fire and smoke rained down bits of ground. A few Germans got hit as the others franticly made a charge towards us. Idiots. There is no cover for them but only a small rise to protect them from us. I took a few aimed shots and I brought another kraut down.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Another wave of mortars fired. A half-track was directly hit. But the enemy kept moving forward, despite the losses they were experiencing. German dead litter the killing zone as our gun fire intensified.

The Tiger Tank began to elevate its smoothbore cannon, as its machine gun made a desperate attempt to keep our heads down. I made my way towards Lieutenant Speyer's group, huddled up in the back firing up in the rubbles of a smoking house. Rosenbaum was with them. The tracers were almost inches from my faces; I had to relocate.

Wesson was alone with the rest.

"Wesson! Now!" Captain Collins shouted out.

He stood up; his glasses shaken as he rested the Panzer Faust in his shoulder. There was concentration in his eyes. Lining up the sights, he aimed at the turret of the tank. He squeezed and the rocket fired. It streamed forward like an arrow.

BOOM!

The tank's ammunition and fuel burst into flames as it got obliterated.

"Got him!" Wesson shouted out. "I got h-"

Bang!

A helmet thud was followed by a bullet ripping through metal and flesh.

Wesson fell down flat in his back; a bullet hole gaping at his head as blood seeps out through it. His glasses blown of by the force of impact.

Captain Collins was shock in awe; his eyes wide as the man beside him fell down.

"WESSON!"

"Man down! Man down!"

But back then, I didn't hear him. I didn't saw it. The bullets zipping past my head became heavier; I was keeping my head down. The Germans hiding in the rise made attempts to fire back at us. The unscathed half-track that remained continued to open fire with its machine-gun. I aimed and shot at its armoured turret; hoping to take out the one that mans it.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A third wave of mortars. Then a metallic crunch. This time it had hit the half-track. It exploded as its fuel ignites; enough to turn it into a burning mess. It was loud enough to shroud the screams of those inside. The remaining Germans huddled in the rise were now trapped without support. They made an attempt to fall back, using the derelicts of the destroyed Tiger Tank and half-tracks for cover. Retreat was the best idea for them.

"Look at the bastards run!"

"Don't stop! Let 'em have it!"

Others laughed. Others cheered. Others took down those who were already trying to run. The guys manning the captured MG-42 let loose a seemingly eternal stream of lead. The deserters were picked off little by little. There came another whistling sound. But it sounded so close. TOO close. Then there came an explosion beside us.

BOOM!

Shattered rocks, wood and glass were flying everywhere as the house at our right got blown to pieces; an artillery fire against the MG-42 manned in there by the others. It was a mortar; care of the enemy.

"Shit! Shit!" I cursed.

Dust sprayed right in my face as smoke began to billow from the burning house. I stood in awe; the first casualties for the defence of this town were inflicted.

Another one yelled.

"TIGER TANK! SOUTH EAST!"

I made my way down; follow the ones who were running towards east. The enemy shifted at our left. Damn them…

"McCarran! O'Shea! Make your way back and find Lieutenant Alderman! Tell him to redirect our mortars south east! Lieutenant Speyer! Gather a few of our guys and hold this position! The rest of you follow me!" Captain Collins ran back; again leading the way.

There was gunfire from the other side of town. I hurriedly made my pace; the Panzer Faust in my back slowed me down; its bulkiness hoisted in the straps. Rosenbaum was behind me.

"Where is Wesson?" he asked, his voice breaking.

"Maybe with Lieutenant Speyer and the others."

We made our way to the chapel. I was the first to go in when…

BOOM!

Sounded like a cannon fired. Its walls disintegrated. I was shaken. I felt the sudden force of the explosion bringing me to my knees. It catapulted me. I was lying down flat on my back. The others moved inside amidst the mess; gunfire resumed once again.

"Robert! Robert!"

My body was heaved from the impact to the ground. Rosenbaum lent me a hand. My ears were still ringing. I struggled to stand up. The explosion ripped apart half of the chapel; debris lying everywhere.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah…" I nodded. My vision was blurring as I staggered towards inside.

Inside the chapel; the others were firing through the windows amidst all the glass, wood, soil and concrete that lay broken beneath our feet. Bullet casings came falling down as we continued to fight off the enemy outside; on the other side of the chapel. They were covered by the fences and the trees; I counted maybe 12 of them trying to break through our flank; 20 metres away from us.

A tank emerged from the trees. Seemingly out of nowhere.

"Let them have it! Push them out of here!" Captain Collins yelled.

But the enemy seemed desperate; their volume of fire became more intense. One of us was hit. The piercing sound of ripped flesh; suddenly became prevalent as the fighting continued.

"Gallagher!"

"Tiger Tank! Look out!"

The enormous beast totting a huge gun began to turn; aiming towards the other half of the building we were in. No amount of bullets can daunt in from firing. My eyes were locked staring at it.

"Turner! Take out that tank, now!" Captain Collins ordered.

I went up beside him, dropping my rifle to free my hands. I was shaking. I raised the sights and began to aim. I took a deep breath. Now the front hull of the tank is crossed. I pulled the trigger. Then just like that, the rocket zoomed; leaving a white smoking contrail directing its path.

BOOM!

The explosion ripped apart its frontal chassis.

"Tank's history!"

Without anymore armour, the remaining Germans fled. Like cowards, again they ran away from a fight. Some of us stayed and reinforced our exposed flank. Captain Collins ordered the rest to move out and return to the south edge. The battle was fierce. And I'm almost weary from it all.

From a distance, the gunfire can still be heard. It was everywhere. We made our way towards its direction. Back to Lieutenant Speyer's position. But the Captain had other ideas.

"Turner! Rosenbaum! Go back to where you left the radio and secure it! Make sure it's still intact!"

The enemy began using their mortars now. Many were running off the streets; the ground sprinkled with debris and smoke as houses began to get hit with intensity. They were shelling us.

I remembered about the one Dieter was fixing a while ago. It was in the barber shop somewhere here.

"Let's go!" I nodded back.

We ran across the streets. Amidst the shooting and exploding that enveloped the battlefield around us, I was compelled to fight alongside the others. But we have something more important to worry about. Well, at least in the Captain's point of view. We made a sprint down the road. I couldn't remember much of the signs in this town; points of references that could help lead the way. I couldn't read them. We hoped the shop was still unscathed. The artillery from afar began hitting closer inland.

"Here! This way!" Rosenbaum pointed out.

Alas, the shop was still in one piece. The radio was still there the way we left it; disassembled.

"Give me your gun Dieter! Bring everything!"

His hands scooped every bolt, every screw, every circuit into his waist bag. With two hands he hoisted the radio.

"OK! Let's go! To the restaurant, where it could be safe."

"Right, down the cellar! Hurry!" I pointed out.

We made our way down fast. Bottles of wine began to break as they fall down to the floor; the whole village being shaken by the intense barrage from the Germans. Our footsteps suddenly seized as we lay down the broken radio next to the casks. I took a deep breath. My face was all smudged up with dust and sweat. The feeling was familiar, though. As if it was an element we should all find ubiquitous from now on. Suddenly, I felt my feet stood me up. That urge took over me again.

"Come on let's hurry back outside. They might need us."

"What?"

I gave him back his rifle.

"We got a job to do! Come on!"

I ran outside. I didn't mind if Rosenbaum was following me. The battle was still taking place. And I had to do something. The thing I always felt right.

"Something right for once in my life…"

-TO BE CONTINUED-