Post by Jeremiah Welsh on Jul 30, 2009 22:16:42 GMT
Date: September 11th 1944
Time: 0000 Hours (Midnight)
Weather: Foggy with a light rain.
The Battle for the Hürtgen Forest had been a tough one over the past day. It had been rainy, and foggy. The mud was sticking to everyone's shoes. Morale was showing signs of fading amongst the men here. There had been a lot of brutal fighting, and a lot of casualties. A whole battalion was reduced to a third of its men by the end of the first day. A lot of men had been deployed here, including some elements of the 3rd Armor Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division. This included Private Jeremiah Welsh. He had just gotten here. After a good night sleep, Jeremiah had gotten word that a midnight patrol was being raised, he volunteered. The young private had seen action before, and was not new to it.
He grabbed his haversack and slung it over one shoulder. His rifle was freshly cleaned, the sights had been blacked with his lighter and he had a cigarette in his mouth. He was the first one to the assembly area. Jeremiah lit the cigarette and took a drag. He heard his old buddy First Sergeant Hobbar was leading the patrol squad. It was a comforting relief to know some one familiar was leading it. Jeremiah took out a clip of ammo for his M1 Garand. The eight .30-06 bullets shined in the dim light put on by lamps and spot lights. He banged it on his helmet, for luck and so set the rounds better. He opened the receiver and pushed it in. Sliding the handle back up and receiver plate, he took the safety off.
As he saw Hobbar coming up to the assembly area, he smiled.
"Good ta' see ya Mike," he said.
Taking another drag of his cigarette, he sat on the ground as he awaited the others. A lot of stars shined brightly out here, more than New York would ever have. He missed Brooklyn. It was such a distant memory now. He had been gone for two years. A lot must have changed. He wondered if when he got back, his construction job would still be there or not. He wondered if he would be able to adjust after all this war. Hell, he wondered if Isabella would move to New York with him. It was all so confusing. He had seen some bad things, some really bad things. All of it made him cringe as it passed before his eyes. He was never a hero, he never thought so. He figured all the heroes were the guys that wouldn't be goin' home. All the guys that would never see their parents, or breathe the nice air of their hometowns. Man, it was so distant.
"Mike, can ya' still remember what home feels like? A nice bed, good food and a broad with ya? Because I can't remember it as well as I did when I first met ya..." said Jeremiah with a sad sigh.
Jeremiah couldn't even remember his mother's cooking. He couldn't remember his dad signing old Irish songs in the shower. His little brother and sisters talking. His little brother had gotten it in Saipan. He had gotten his head taken off by Jap machine gun fire. His uncle had sent him a letter the day the family found out. He couldn't believe that day that his kid brother was never coming home. But now, now he could see it easily after seeing all the other guys that weren't goin' home.
Time: 0000 Hours (Midnight)
Weather: Foggy with a light rain.
The Battle for the Hürtgen Forest had been a tough one over the past day. It had been rainy, and foggy. The mud was sticking to everyone's shoes. Morale was showing signs of fading amongst the men here. There had been a lot of brutal fighting, and a lot of casualties. A whole battalion was reduced to a third of its men by the end of the first day. A lot of men had been deployed here, including some elements of the 3rd Armor Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division. This included Private Jeremiah Welsh. He had just gotten here. After a good night sleep, Jeremiah had gotten word that a midnight patrol was being raised, he volunteered. The young private had seen action before, and was not new to it.
He grabbed his haversack and slung it over one shoulder. His rifle was freshly cleaned, the sights had been blacked with his lighter and he had a cigarette in his mouth. He was the first one to the assembly area. Jeremiah lit the cigarette and took a drag. He heard his old buddy First Sergeant Hobbar was leading the patrol squad. It was a comforting relief to know some one familiar was leading it. Jeremiah took out a clip of ammo for his M1 Garand. The eight .30-06 bullets shined in the dim light put on by lamps and spot lights. He banged it on his helmet, for luck and so set the rounds better. He opened the receiver and pushed it in. Sliding the handle back up and receiver plate, he took the safety off.
As he saw Hobbar coming up to the assembly area, he smiled.
"Good ta' see ya Mike," he said.
Taking another drag of his cigarette, he sat on the ground as he awaited the others. A lot of stars shined brightly out here, more than New York would ever have. He missed Brooklyn. It was such a distant memory now. He had been gone for two years. A lot must have changed. He wondered if when he got back, his construction job would still be there or not. He wondered if he would be able to adjust after all this war. Hell, he wondered if Isabella would move to New York with him. It was all so confusing. He had seen some bad things, some really bad things. All of it made him cringe as it passed before his eyes. He was never a hero, he never thought so. He figured all the heroes were the guys that wouldn't be goin' home. All the guys that would never see their parents, or breathe the nice air of their hometowns. Man, it was so distant.
"Mike, can ya' still remember what home feels like? A nice bed, good food and a broad with ya? Because I can't remember it as well as I did when I first met ya..." said Jeremiah with a sad sigh.
Jeremiah couldn't even remember his mother's cooking. He couldn't remember his dad signing old Irish songs in the shower. His little brother and sisters talking. His little brother had gotten it in Saipan. He had gotten his head taken off by Jap machine gun fire. His uncle had sent him a letter the day the family found out. He couldn't believe that day that his kid brother was never coming home. But now, now he could see it easily after seeing all the other guys that weren't goin' home.