CHAPTER 14 "Why We Fight"

June 11, 1944 (D-Day plus 5); Past Bridge #4, outside Carentan, Normandy; France

2120 Hours; Evening

1st Platoon; Able Company, 506th Parachute Regiment

06/11/44

9th entry

502nd isn't looking too good today. The day ended without any element of Airborne units making it into Carentan itself. The nearest presence we have is just about a kilometre away from the town. The 506th was to stay behind and cover the flanks of the advancing party tomorrow, while the 502nd resumes its advance early in the morning. As always, Able Company was put on reserve.

Another good break for us, though. What left to do for us is to maintain the lines of communications and coordinate attacks with other Companies. We are looking forward for a nice and less busy day in front of us.

I heard that once we are done with Carentan, the 101st Airborne Division will be assimilated into the reserved units for the rest of the Normandy Campaign. This means that less combat will be exposed to us. The VII Corps will carry on the advance to France.

Man, I'm looking forward to return to England; have my R&R spent by taking plenty of sleep. Hopefully, I wouldn't die before our part in Operation Overlord ends.

The distant rumblings of air bombings from afar kept us awake. I was looking forward for some sleep; after today and all. Yet instead, I found myself staring into the night; sitting at my helmet as I watch the distant glows of blasts inflicted by the Air Force at Carentan. Those German bastards surely won't have the pleasure of sleeping tonight.

The Company is having their dinner. Yeah. What a way to eat when just a few kilometres from you the Germans are taking a beating. You could hear the explosions from afar. Yet all of us only minded their meals. Captain Collins had been eating with the rest of the CO's of the Regiment. The rest were just sprinkled everywhere.

I was eating with the others from 1st Platoon; beside the road en route to Carentan. Boxes made up our tables as oil lamps were lit in our little feast.

"Hey Robert! Aren't you going to eat that?" O'Shea asked.

"What? This?" I turned around.

"If you won't, well you can just-"

"Here, take it." I grumbled. "I don't like it anyway…"

"Why, you hate pork and beans Robert?" McCarran said.

"Do I? It's the same damn thing like last night."

"Heh. I don't care if it is the same-damn-thing-like-last-night. Eat up what you have, we got a big day tomorrow. You're going to need your strength."

"What I need is a few glasses of Scotch, Hugh. And some sleep." I sighed.

"Or some chicken curry. I can tell." O'Shea cut in.

The others were eating their dinner. I hate to admit that I'm starving. But to eat that stuff they called food over and over again will drive me nuts. I stood up and grabbed my gear. It has to be there somewhere. I felt it. My ration bag. I brought out a tin can; patented as C Ration. Labelled as 'liver spread' as I further read. With my knife, I pierced open the lid; O'Shea and McCarran staring at what I am doing. I turned to them.

"Do any of you have any slice of bread?"

"You shouldn't open that, Robert." O'Shea said.

"Whoa…Is there a reason why I shouldn't, huh? David?" I frowned. "Come on, do you guys have any?"

"That stuff tastes like hell. Believe me. You'd rather throw it away for the dogs to sink their teeth in."

"You can't stop him, David." McCarran cut in. "Just let him stomach that shit."

"I'd rather have something different than the same thing every time, Hugh." I boasted.

"Here." He brought out a slice of corn bread; wrapped in aluminium foils.

With that, I scooped up. But in that moment on, I got turned off. They were right. I could smell the taste of the liver spread like they were passing into my mouth through my nostrils. It was horrible. It stenches a bit like blood and burnt meat. I wanted to throw it away. But on second thought…I daubed it into the bread. I have nothing left to eat anyway. Again they would laugh at me once I affirm that they are right. I nibbled at it, even though I could taste the disgusting mix of liver and bread in my mouth. I should have listened to David…

I showed no signs of biliousness though. I kept it cool. With a quick drink on my canteen, they were stunned to see that I have managed to eat it up.

"How do you feel?" O'Shea asked, sounding as if he is concerned.

"I'll live…" I murmured.

"Look at him. He's about to puke…" he laughed

"Shut up, David!"

"Yeah, right."

They were already done with their meals. They stood up and grabbed the tomato-stained cups they ate on; bits of food remained at the bottom.

"You coming with us?" McCarran asked.

"Yeah. I need to wash my face."

They made their way inside a house; placed the cups in a running tap of water inside the kitchen. It was odd to see that the place even had water. The Germans cut off most of the water supply in the areas the Airborne had captured when they found out that we were settling there.

Taking a basin, I washed my face with hands scooping up a gush of water. Tiny drops splashed at O'Shea's cheek; who was busy filling up his canteen.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"Sorry, David. The water is too cold for you?"

"Asshole…"

"Come to think of it, we're lucky to have water this cold." McCarran cut in. "Not like in Ste. Come-du-Mont. Smells like I'm in a sewer…"

"Because it's rain water?" I asked.

"Because Sergeant Donnelly pissed on it when Hugh washed his face!"

"Shut up, David."

"Well, if you ask me, I can't wait to go home. There's plenty of water there in my neighbourhood." I said. "Clean and fresh, too."

"Yeah. I can't wait to get back to Brooklyn." O'Shea mused. "I want to be sure that Rose is still single…then I'll make her answer…"

"What makes you so worried?" I asked.

"The girl's a blonde for God's sakes, Robert! You know how bad the other guys want to have one!"

"Well if you like to go home, just whistle." McCarran sighed. "And I'll gladly shoot both of your legs and make it look like an accident. Just like the other wounded fellows who earned a ticket home."

"Sure…"

"Just make sure you keep your acts together. Sooner or later, this war will be over and we can all go home. That's why we fight, anyway." I told them.

"Yeah."

"I guess."

We went silent; contemplating over the fact.

I did make a point. The only reason why we keep up with the other guys on this unit is that we can be sure that we win this war. And with the war over, we also won our rights to go home to our families. Funny. I couldn't see the brash, dreaming and youthful looks of the rest; as I remembered them back in Camp Toccoa.

Yeah. We all dreamed of making our country proud. But then, when we were herded finally into this war, what we all dreamed instead is just to make it back home alive and also to ensure that the other guy beside you would too. I finally realized what Gretchen pointed to me.

She was right. I shouldn't be wasting my life for this. Soon I'll be back. Then she will realize that I am different from the others. That I did something right for once in my life.

I tried to live for her and for my family. But it would be all in vain if I go home in a box. I'll stay alive.

That is why I fight.

"Come on guys. We still have a big day tomorrow…"

I went back to my things outside. It was time to sleep. Carentan was just at our horizon. Tomorrow will be the final push. A bit like a do-or-die thing. I know that the 502nd will lead the charge. But soon, I expected, we will be joining them. And when it all starts, it's going to be ugly.

With that, I picked up my rosary; the one thing I never thought I would bring out or even mention. This is for me; I pray I would not make it back to Gretchen as a corpse.

The night draws to a close. Staring at the stars above, I lulled myself to sleep; thinking what tomorrow would have in store for us…

-TO BE CONTINUED-