1340

After the funeral, the winds shifted and the sky darkened. Heavy winds and snowfall pelts us, the temperature has dropped. Visibility has been reduced to only a few feet for the snowfall is so thick. There is still light out, dimly lighting the gray skies. We stand shivering at our posts, and shift change has become more rapid. The men can man their positions for only about an hour at a time before having to return to the relatively safety of the tents to shield from the elements. Some of the men have made a game out of seeing who can stay at their post the longest. Like competing fraternities each side sees who can hold out the longest in the weather. The record is one of the German privates for an hour and a half but it came at the cost of severe frostbite, much to the aggravation of the medics.

Lucky for us tankers, our metal home shields us from the wind but not the freezing temperature. I sit in my commander seat observing the woods through the periscope. "Freak storm. Just what we need, right Boss?" say Sammy shivering in his seat, his teeth chatter uncontrollably. I reply, " Hopefully those things won't bother us with the weather being like it is." Turney wrapped in a blanket, who is also shivering, adds " You know those Krauts aren't half bad." " Til this is all over and they start shooting at us again." Lucky rebukes in his seat peering out at the forest through the tank gun sight. Daunte adds, " How do we know they ain't gonna shoots us, sah?" I respond," Hopefully we and the Krauts will go our separate ways, if we get ourselves out of this mess."

Suddenly there are sharp knocks on the tanks hull. I open the hatch, the metal groans, and immediately the icy cold wind stings my face. I look over the side and can barely see the silhouette of the figure through the thick snowfall. "Smith." The figure shouts, its Captain Davis. "Yes sir," I shout back. "Come with me, we need to talk." Oh no that can't be good. I climb out of the hatch and slide down the tank to the ground.

1745

Me and the Captain trudge through the snow that has accumulated up to foot. The sun is begins to fade. Windy snow pelts us, and the darkening sky is further reducing our field of vision. I shudder as an aggressive snow gale blasts me.

We stumble into the command tent, and dust the snow off of us. It is lit only by a small gas flame stove on the ground. There standing at the other end is the Major in a long trench coat talking to a German orderly. He looks to us and dismisses his orderly. As soon as the German soldier exits, the Captain speaks, "Alright Major, tell Smith here what you just told me." I stand puzzled.

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"Sargent Smith." he starts, "As I just informed your Captain, My men are out of food. We were only ordered to perform an ambush and retreat. So we packed light supplies." I, confused, ask, " What does this have to do with me?" Captain Davis intercedes, "As you know Smith, Lieutenant Peterson was killed last night and I have no other officers. And as you are the highest ranking among the enlisted. You are now my second and command." My eyes widen in disbelief. This is not what I wanted. Oh why me? "But Captain..." I am interrupted by Captain Davis, " It has already been decided. Anyway continue Major." The Major resumes his briefing, "With lack of food and our casualties mounting, I propose a breakthrough." "A breakthrough?" I repeat. "Yes American, we cannot withstand a lengthy siege by these creatures and with the weather worsening I fear that we may become trapped here. So I suggest by tomorrow when the weather clears enough we mount our infantry on the tanks and advance through the forest as quickly as possible." I am baffled at such a ludicrous plan, it is practically suicide to go into the forest.

I am about to object, then one of our soldiers steps in to the tent and whispers to the Captain. He replies, " I'm coming." He looks to us and excuses himself. They both step out of the tent leaving me and the German Major alone. After a moment of awkward silence, The Major speaks, " I know what you are thinking American, yes I know it is a foolish plan. But I made a promise to bring these men back home. And for many of them there is not a home to come back to. Your bombers made sure of that. I lost my wife and grandchild when your bombers destroyed my city." "I am sorry Major" I reply. "No." He says, "It is the price of arrogance." He pauses a while in somber thought then continues "I joined the Nazi party because they promised to return my country to glory. And for a while I believed them. How foolish was I as we all were. Now they have only brought ruin to my home while they preach greatness from a pile of ashes." He looks to me, his eyes full of sober reality, and says " I know this war is lost American, but I pray for when this wretched war is over that these boys may find a small sliver of peace." I nod in agreement and think that this is a good man that stands before me and I am glad to have him as my ally.