Chapter 5

Lt. Hanley tried to get a little more comfortable, wincing at a sharp pain low on his left side, lifting the jacket away from his body he pressed a hand over the area. When he removed the hand there was blood on his fingers, surprised he tried to get a better look, at that moment the jeep hit a bump, causing Hanley to wince...they would need to stop to see how bad he'd been hit.

Kovac kept his eyes focused on the road ahead, he had been scanning the area toward the west when the jeep hit another rut. "Sorry, Sir, the terrain is a little rough through here." He said, casting a look in the LT's direction.

"Kovac, we need to find a place to stop for a moment," Hanley began. "Looks like one of the Germans got a lucky shot in." Hanley said as he continued to apply pressure against his side.

Kovac quickly scanned the man's features before steering the jeep toward a small section of trees to his right. Once they were hidden, Kovac turned the jeep off and walked to the passenger side. "Let me take a look Sir."

Helping the LT remove his jacket, Kovac asked him to lean back then eased the shirt away from the wound, taking a handkerchief from his back pocket he wiped some of the blood away catching the LT's eyes when the injured man jerked away.

"Sorry, LT." Kovac said focusing on the wound, taking the canteen from his belt the private poured some of the water on the handkerchief and continued to clean away the blood.

Hanley remained still and as Kovac tended the wound, the LT tried to remember when he had been hit. The soldier sitting on the passenger side had taken a shot at him, Hanley vaguely remembered feeling a sting in his side but at the time he didn't pay it much attention.

A few minutes later the wound was clean enough for Kovac to get a good look…a bullet had cut a deep furrow about three inches long in the LT's side, folding the handkerchief he placed it against the wound. "Hold this as tight as you can, Sir."

While Kovac took a bandage and sulfa from his med kit, Hanley continued applying pressure to the wound. "Let's take a look." Kovac removed the handkerchief, quickly applied sulfa and once the bandage was in place tied it off, making sure the knot was placed over the wound in an attempt to keep the bleeding to a minimum.

"How does it look, Private." Hanley asked wincing as the knot was tied.

"You'll live Sir, probably need stitches, it's going to be an uncomfortable ride back the road gets a little more uneven as we get closer to our destination, I have a dose of Morphine if you need it."

"Not right now, we need to keep moving." Hanley said as he buttoned his shirt and put his jacket back on. "Thanks."

Kovac put his med kit up then climbed back into the driver's seat and in a few minutes they were on their way. He tried to avoid the bumps and ruts but it wasn't always possible, each time the jeep bounced Kovac found himself glancing at the LT…checking the odometer, he calculated the time remaining before making camp, less than forty minutes, scanning the road ahead he saw only bare land to the east and west.

Hanley was keeping pressure on the bandage, that last rut had caused the wound to start bleeding again…Hanley had hoped it would ease up but fifteen minutes later he could still feel blood seeping through the bandage.

"Kovac, we have to stop and replace the bandage, I'm bleeding through." Glancing around Hanley caught sight of the forest he had thought to use as an alternate route. "Head for those tree's."

Kovac maneuvered the jeep between two trees spaced wide enough apart to allow passage, turning the vehicle off he moved toward Lt. Hanley, it took a few minutes for the bleeding to stop then they reapplied sulfa and a fresh bandage. After he tied the bandage off, Kovac offered Hanley his canteen and when the LT was finished took a sip himself before attaching it back on his belt.

How are you feeling LT? Kovac asked.

"A little light headed but I'll do." Hanley said. "Thanks again."

Kovac was putting Hanley's med kit back on the LT's belt when he thought he heard something, standing completely still he noticed the LT had tensed up as well. Placing a finger to his lips Hanley motioned for Kovac to follow, grabbing their weapons they walked silently to the tree line keeping out of sight as they looked around. Kovac tapped the LT on the shoulder and when he had the man's attention, pointed to the Northwest, a small German convoy was moving toward the east which would take it right across the path the two men would be using.

The convoy consisted of a Command car, Troop transport, two supply trucks and bringing up the rear was a tank, from the short barreled gun turret and two machine guns mounted on top they could tell it was a Panzer IV.

"Damn." Hanley said as he judged the distance between their position and the Germans. "We're not going to be able to take the direct route into camp, looks like we're going off road."

Where do you think they're heading? Kovac asked as he scanned the tank.

"A town called Leaide about fifty miles east, the German's have set up a Command Center there." Hanley answered. "Stay here and keep an eye on our German friends, I'm going to let Capt. Jampel know about the convoy."

Fifteen minutes later the LT was back, "Capt. Jampel said to take the alternate route through these trees, the convoy will have to stay on the road." Pausing for a moment he caught Kovac's eyes. "We'll have to cross the last few miles to King Company in the open, Capt. Jampel is sending a squad to take up position a mile from the camp to keep an eye on the convoy.