Chapter 6:
"Back in North Africa once more, on the ground in the hell hole of the hot desert. I haven't missed this place, but it makes up for the stormy weather of the Atlantic when we were headed for the St. Nazaire Dockyard.
I fought in the Battle of Gazala, I fought at El Alamein and Alam El Halfa. Now we're leading the counter attack.
Another day of this shit, God help me."
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After the raid on St. Nazaire, I was shifted back to North Africa with Jimmy Doyle.
I was re-assigned to the 7th Armored Division, buncha boys they call The Desert Rats, an elite and battle-hardened force, these boys surprised me, their togetherness, they relied on each other.
They were resourceful but unorthodox, their legendary status as the elite was almost amazing, the way they took the fight to Rommel's Afrika Korps.
I've been around several groups of fighters in this campaign, but the 7th Armored, I'd be honoured to go into battle with anytime, anywhere.
We're launching a surprise attack on a Kraut supply base in Northern Egypt, Brigade's going in hard and we'll drive 'em outta here!
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October 29th 1942
Northern Egypt
El Alamein, Egypt
25 Miles South of El Alamein
On a cliffside overlooking a German supply base, the squad of soldiers from the 7th Armored moved into position, leading the squad of soldiers was Thomas Lafayette.
Armed with a Lee Enfield Rifle, Thomas laid the rifle down as he pulled out a pair of binoculars, he saw that the Germans were entrenched into an elaborate maze of trench lines.
To the North-West, Thomas could see some of the British soldiers setting up positions to lead a diversionary attack led by Matthew Doyle. The father of James Doyle.
Beside Thomas was another soldier, he wore a M1 Helmet like Thomas, the soldier was heavily built, he carried a Browning Automatic Rifle in one hand. He had dark blue eyes, dark hair.
He was heavily built and he wore an American combat uniform like Thomas had done, in the moonlight, his dog-tags shone clear as his name was lit up.
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CAMPBELL, MATTHEW
07/23/19
A POS
CATHOLIC
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Matthew Campbell was beside his old friend from the Army, the pair had been the best sharpshooters in the Army by a long shot, but Matthew's wife Veronique had kept level with them.
Matthew was a soldier in the Army Rangers, a new breed of elite soldiers in the US Army.
The pair had reunited after the 1st Battle of El Alamein, they continued to fight together and were already an unstoppable team of soldiers on the frontlines.
One of the British soldiers in Thomas's squad approached as he said, "Sergeant, the men are ready and waiting." "Wait till the decoy leads those tanks away, then we make our way through." Thomas said.
Matthew smirked as he said, "Ready old man?" "Who you callin' old man, you rat bastard?" Thomas said with a teasing smile.
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"King-5, this is Queen-6 we're commencing attack, you should see Jerry tanks leaving the base, over?"
Looking out at the base, German tanks were nearing where the flashes of light were erupting as Thomas then said, "Roger Queen-6, enemy tanks leaving the depot, we're commencing assault, out."
Preparing his rifle, Thomas turned to the squad and said, "Let's go, boys, let's give those bastards a bloody nose."
Oblivious to the noise happening behind them, the German Afrika Korps were ambushed by the 7th Armored soldiers that had penetrated their lines and began eradicating them.
Thomas led the squad whilst Matthew provided suppressing fire towards the German soldiers with his BAR, giving the boys an opening as they proceeded through the maze of trenches that connected to the supply depot.
During their flanking mission they only suffered two casualties both soldiers were dead that Thomas had respected and trusted with their combat experience. Even though he was accustomed to losing soldiers, Thomas still felt regret at not keeping the boys alive.
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Working in tandem with a British Corporal, he cleared topside whilst his companion cleared bottom, when he killed any stragglers still in hiding, he had shouted, "CLEAR TOP!"
"CLEAR DOWN, COME ON SERGEANT!" came a reply back.
Heading back down, the Corporal then said, "Come on, Sergeant, we've gotta link up with Doyle and his squad!"
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Proceeding to the rally point where Doyle and his squad were waiting, Thomas and his squad charged forward with Thomas shouting, "1st Squad, lay down suppressing fire!"
"3rd Squad, move in! Let's give Sergeant Lafayette and his boys some covering fire!" Doyle shouted, launching the attack on the supply base.
Signalling to Campbell to flank right, he fired on the German forces whilst advancing forward, the joint squads fired on the German forces that were taken by surprise on account of the unsuspecting offence.
Causing as much damage as they saw fit, Thomas and Campbell planted explosives on the bunkers holding munitions and destroyed all the trucks and other defences lying around.
When the supply base was destroyed, Thomas turned to a nearby building that had the door sealed shut, Matthew then said, "We've got a door here, planting an explosive!"
"The lot of you, stand back, this'll pack a punch!" Thomas said as he took up positions and changed weapons with one of the soldiers.
The door was blown off the hinges as Thomas said, "I'm goin' in, Matthew on me!"
Matthew Campbell followed behind Thomas as the pair worked close together, hearing footsteps round the corner, Thomas signalled to Matthew to clear ahead whilst he held back.
Matthew rounded the corner and fired the rest of his clip into a set of German soldiers, as Thomas joined him, the pair moved forward through the maze as they came across a small German bunker, listening closely, they could hear the sounds of German soldiers as Matthew said, "Looks like the krauts have got documents, what they're for, I don't know."
"Let's go and get them." Thomas had said. The pair moved in with grenades primed and ready. Tossing them in different doorways, the pair heard explosions as they peered round the corner before spraying the area.
Heading inside, the two soldiers looked around the bunker and saw a bunch of files, Thomas peeked over them as he said, "Oh shit, this is similar to what me and Jimmy found in St. Nazaire."
"Rocket components, assembly factories, there's even a little structure leading underground, not far from Tunis." Matthew said. Thomas nodded and said, "Let's get this to intelligence."
The pair gathered up as many documents as they could and exited the bunker, they headed topside as they saw a radioman nearby who said, "Lieutenant Doyle, Jerry tanks spotted near town, brigade's roundin' everyone back to town to hold the position."
"Looks like we're in hard fighting lads, everybody get in the Bren Carriers, we're finished up here, let's go, move it, move it!" Doyle shouted.
"You heard 'im lads, let's go!" One soldier shouted. Another soldier soon shouted, "Stiles, check that Bren gun, those krauts get to town before us, I want everyone locked and loaded!"
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Jumping into the Bren carriers everyone in the squads turned around and headed back to the Brigade Command Center.
German forces were spotted heading towards the town with steely-eyed determination and ferocity.
Spotting them moving along the road, Thomas brought up his Thompson and fired onto the Germans with several short bursts of fire.
Matthew fired his BAR, with superior accuracy as the carrier moved through the sandy field.
The carrier stopped outside the barbed wire as Thomas hopped out and fired on the advancing Germans as he said, "We've gotta get to the rear and hold these bastards back!"
Jimmy fired on the Germans with his Lee Enfield rifle as he growled out, "Let's get goin', fall back to that 88mm!"
The radioman stayed close to Campbell as he said, "Sergeant, I've got HQ on the line!"
Taking the handle, Matthew called out on the radio, "Queen Six, come in, this is King Five, we're under heavy and we need artillery support, we cannot hold out much longer!"
The enemy advanced under a steady rate of speed, taking fire from the Brigade of British soldiers still holding the line on their own accord.
Matthew sprayed the German advance with his BAR trying to hold the line at his position, but he was struggling because the enemy were surrounding him.
Pushing the radio operator behind him, Matthew covered him and said, "Make your way to the 88mm, I'll cover you! GO!"
Laying down cover fire, Matthew suppressed the enemy holding them back as he said, "Where's the goddamn cavalry when you need 'em?!"
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"Hold your position, we gotta hold them off!"
Matthew Doyle came racing in at the front of the line, firing his rifle and skilfully taking down German soldiers.
A tough soldier, who was born with an Irish temper, he had, jet black hair, icy blue eyes and a strong build, there was also a faded scar across his left eye that he had earned from a German slashing his eye. He was mentally scarred from his days in WW1, but he was as strong as a leader as anyone ever hope could be to fight on the frontlines.
Matthew Doyle led from the front, he led like he was a young Lieutenant again, he treated his men like they were his family, he treated Thomas and Matthew like they were his 2nd and 3rd sons.
He loved his children dearly and saw the pride and honor in both of them, especially since Margaret was working as a part of British Intelligence. His son Jimmy was a Royal Marine assigned under his command which he had been proud of.
His own nephew, Matthew Donarelli was a Sergeant in the US Army of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Matthew who had gone through hell and back in the Philippines. He had been proud of his nephew and even heard about Elena Torres who was his former Fiancée and had said some words of condolences through their Famiglia bond.
Matthew was a proud man who had a loving family, he was proud to be fighting for their freedom and for his country.
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Fighting alongside his son, he saw how good a soldier his son was and knew that he was a lot better than he had once been. But his only concern was how his son would be at the end of each battle.
Standing alongside his son, Matthew looked at the swarming Germans as he said, "Back in the fight as always!"
"Can't believe you're relishing battle!" Jimmy said firing his Thompson into the Germans.
Thomas aimed down the sights on his rifle and fired one headshot per soldier, his kill shots had relieved the pressure for the moment, but their little victory was spoiled as a runner came by as he said, "The jerries are attacking the south side of town the bastards are goin' to overrun us!"
Thomas nods and says, "Campbell with me, let's go!"
The two soldiers raced across to the other side as Matthew fired his BAR into the Germans as he shouted, "Enemy troops coming in hard!"
Firing at the Germans, the pair fought on the ground trying to hold the German force back, they brought in armour support and Thomas and 2 other British soldiers worked the 88mm artillery piece as they blasted the halftracks and any trucks that were bringing in reinforcements as well.
Matthew fired round after round at the German Afrika Korps, his BAR pushed back against his shoulder, the rifle pounded against him that he never felt it because of his weight.
Many a soldier saw how proficient, Matthew Campbell was with heavy weapons even bazookas and demolitions, Matthew was the artist that made the US Army proud, but slightly worried considering his recklessness and darkening anger at the Germans.
Matthew preferred to be the man on the ground, causing trouble and dishing it out, Thomas was the man who liked the high ground, but when the situation called for it, he'd get his hands dirty, taking the fight to the Germans.
The radioman was shouting into the radio for someone to answer his call for support and soon enough their call for help was answered, "King Five, this is Queen Six, standing by to receive coordinates. Artillery is ready to lend you boys a hand, over?"
That news was music to Matthew Doyle's ears as he said, "'Bout fuckin' time, that artillery joined the party."
"Damn good to hear, Queen Six, Enemy Armor and Infantry about to overrun our positions, over?!" the radioman shouted.
The radio operator on the other end had said, "Understood, be advised, Monarch-6 is standing by to lend some artillery support to you lads!"
"Jimmy, get to one of these roofs and rain down some artillery support." Matthew ordered. He turned to Thomas and said, "Lafayette, get up there with him and cover your asses!" "YES SIR!"
Jimmy and Thomas raced to a nearby roof as they set up by the sandbags, the pair checked their weapons as the radioman with them, had said, "All ready, lads!"
"German Armor to the south, two panzers!" Thomas shouted.
Jimmy looked through the binoculars, before saying, "Got 'em, fire mission…" rattling off the coordinates.
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Meanwhile, on the ground, Matthew was holding back the German attackers, using only his BAR and his sidearm.
The enemy steadily approached as Matthew Doyle approached him and said, "This isn't going well."
"Don't back down, we can do this, Colonel." Matthew said. Matthew Doyle nodded and replied, "Today is a good day to die."
Matthew laughed as several bullets hit close to him as he reloaded his BAR before pulling the charging handle back, "Let me get up for the top shot!"
Matthew raced out of the slit-trench turning his body as he sprayed the German advance, his gear hung across his shoulders as he raced towards a German truck.
Artillery continued to shriek down all over the town, and on the current cliffs burning wrecks of enemy tanks and halftracks littered the area, with Thomas looking through the binoculars, he saw additional tanks approaching, but to his surprise, they were British Crusader Tanks.
Jimmy looked over as he laughed out loud saying, "'Bout damn time, those tankers got here!"
"About damn time, boys, go get 'em!" Thomas said holding his Thompson in the air.
Heading back down the stairs, Thomas looked at Jimmy ushering him to the side, Matthew soon enough joined them, the trio talked amongst themselves, soon enough Jimmy had said, "I'm goin' to need a minute, Thomas, you're with me for this. Matt, stand at the door and be ready to block anyone in, but my father is allowed in though..."
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Matt nodded as he moved with the two soldiers, standing at a door.
The two veteran soldiers walked towards a radio, to which Thomas said, "You okay, Lieutenant?"
"Someone made their intention to speak with you, you'll be pleasantly surprised." Jimmy said.
Turning the radio on, Jimmy made contact with someone, the codewords 'Broadway' and 'Ebury' rose an eyebrow with Thomas.
Soon enough he was called to the radio, his stature turned rigid, he felt like a fresh new green soldier fresh into battle, under the guidance of James Doyle, Thomas listened to every bit of man on the other end of the radio.
By the end of the radio, Thomas remerged from the building as he looked to Matthew and Jimmy as he said, "We're operational, all three of us. You've got me as a team member."
"We need a name?" Matthew said. Jimmy smirked, "Resolute."
"Task Force Resolute." Thomas said. Matthew picked out three cigars as he said, "I like it."
"Let's fucking punish those bastards." Jimmy said with a teasing laugh.