A/N I can only apologise a thousand times over for not posting any sooner. A lot of personal issues that I won't bore you with anyway I promise I will never be missing so long again. Thanks for everyone whose read, commented followed and fave this story whilst I was missing. This chapter is shit, I haven't reread it or spellchecked but I wanted to get one out there. I apologise for the shortness and shittyness of this chapter I will improve it next chapter it's been hard getting back into writing after so long being missing, hopefully you will continue to read this story. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Chapter Twelve: Sleep
D-Day + 6 1944 Carentan France
"Hey Jimmie did ya hear about Blithe?" a voice asks from above me. My eyes shoot open and my arms reach up on instinct, bracing in anticipation of the harsh sunlight. The light doesn't greet me however; instead the summer sun is blocked off by the dark haired radioman stood above me.
"Can't you see I'm trying to sleep here?" I mumble sleepily ignoring what he said. I fall asleep for one fucking minute and Luz has to ruin it. Has he been taking pointers from Hoob? That's twice now I've tried to get at least ten minutes shut eye and each time someone wakes me!
"Yeah I know but thought you'd want to hear about what happened to Blithe!" Luz loudly exclaims. Sighing I haul myself up from the stone floor leaving my pack and helmet on the ground. Luz at this point has fished a cigarette out from god knows where and has begun smoking it. He leans against one of the sides of the now destroyed buildings that line the small back alley of a now more peaceful Carentan. I mirror his actions pulling a smoke from behind my ear and lighting it with my lighter I lock eyes with him.
"What about Blithe, he's not dead is he? Last time I saw him he was fine" worry clear in my tone, I can't be dealing with losing another man, especially a member of my platoon.
"Nah but according to Perco he went blind. He said that he couldn't see anything." Luz says between drags. "Apparently Winters was gonna send him back to England…"
"Shit where is he now? Is he ok" my outburst cuts Luz's sentence off.
"He's fine like I said, Winters was going to ship him back to Aldbourne but he suddenly could see again." Luz finishes as he takes his last drag of his smoke throwing the stub on the ground.
"Jesus I wonder what caused that? He's defiantly ok though?"
"Yeah he's…"
"1st platoon on your feet tactical columns" Luz doesn't get to finish his sentence as the shout of our Lt from the main square of the town stops him, looks like we are on the move again.
"Let's go" sighing I push myself away from the wall.
"Duty calls" George adds with a small frown on his face.
Stumping out my nearly finished cigarette I pick up my helmet, gun and pack from the ground. Luz waits for me to finish adjusting my bag before setting off towards the rest of Easy. We walk the small distance in silence. Our boots echoing on the hard ground, when we reach the others I notice Blithe amongst the already moving group. He seems ok, a little tiered and worried maybe, but that's understandable. I'll have to speak to him later. Luz exchanges a look with me before nodding and walking towards Hoob and Perco near the front of the column. My eyes scan the crowd till I spot the figure of our Lt who is in the middle of gathering up the stragglers before he heads to the front of the group, quickening my pace in order to reach him I open my mouth to call out to him.
"Where are we going to Sir?" Welsh turns round my eyes meeting his as he dismisses the privates he was talking to. He indicates with his head that we should start walking seeing as the rest of 1st Platoon has nearly left the town centre now. I match Welsh's fast pace as we catch up to the others.
"We're pushing west seeing as the everywhere else is flooded." Welsh explains as we walk past several men reaching near the front of the line I debate on whether to mention Blithe.
"Sir, do you know what happened with Blithe today?" curiosity getting the better of me, that and I am his Sergeant, Welsh pauses a second before opening his mouth.
"Not really I'm going to speak to him about it later, for now just keep walking north and keep your men in order" Welsh commands, I nod in response as he walks away from me at a fast speed towards Lt Winters. Looking at the men near me I notice the back of my three friends. Falling into my position slightly behind them we begin the walk across the fields.
My boots slosh on the muddy grass, every part of me and my kit is soaked, everyone is soaked for that matter. This fucking rain better ease up soon, the thick hedgerows and undergrowth isn't providing much protection from the harsh weather. Internally sighing I readjust my hand on my rifle. The mass of men that are walking in formation are staying relatively silent apart from the odd conversation breaking out. Perco's impatient nature is beginning to bug the usually easy going Luz, Hoob and me.
"Hey, Luz how far we going" Perco speaks up from his place in front of me. He glances between Luz and Hoob.
"Oh, Jesus Christ, I don't know Frank. I don't know. Until they tell us to stop" Luz says annoyed, his patience completely gone now. Who can blame him, we've been marching in the pouring rain, towards the enemy and Perco keeps whining like a little Kid.
"High ground. There's high ground up ahead" Hoob correctly states as he looks around the field and path ahead.
"He's right" I chip in causing Hoob and Luz to glance back and grin at me. Perco continues with his rant after he glances back at me for a few seconds scowling.
"Ok geniuses answer me this then" Frank pauses as he looks between the three of us. Hoob looks amused and Luz's grin has managed to become even bigger. My lips turn up into a smirk. "Why is Easy company the only company who's either at the front of an advance, or like now, exposed and the far edge of the line?" He has a point to be honest.
"To keep you on your toes" Hoob retorts.
"No that's not what I'm saying" Perco bites back frustrated at the young privates logic moving his arms around to make his point. "I'm saying…I'm saying that we are never in the middle were the fifth of nine companies of this regiment Able through Item. Think of it" Perco finishes.
"See there?" Hoob points towards the high ground ahead. "You see that…" Shit, the sound of machine gunfire cuts Hoob's sentence short. I slam my body on flat on the floor pulling my rifle into a firing position, the rest of the fellas doing the same.
"Incoming!" A voice yells from somewhere. All hell breaks loose. Multiple rounds of gunfire from the fields make several of the men panic.
"Contact right! Get in the hedgerow!" Welsh commands over the chaos, aiming and pulling the trigger towards the gunfire I slide towards the wet muddy embankment, relying on the thick bushes and mud wall for cover. Hoob and Perco land near me.
"See what I mean?" Hoob says to Perco as he shoots.
"Now's not the time Hoob" my finger pressing the trigger as I shoot a Kraut, killing him instantly. Hoob shuts up and continues firing.
"Right here! Sargent More! Stay Low" Winters yells from somewhere, I'm too focused on killing the Krauts that are on the opposite hedgerow. "Luz get down here with the radio!"
"Why the fuck are they singing?" Hoob complains for the thousandth time next to me. It is baffling to her such happy sounding German singing coming from the opposite side of the field. It's a cold, damp night nothing to be singing about.
"I don't know Hoob, but complaining isn't gonna stop them so try and get some sleep" with that Hoob leans his head against the muddy wall of the trench we dug earlier and closes his eyes. Finally I can get some shut eye. Moving my pack and reposition myself into a more comfortable spot, closing my eyes the sound of a branch snapping not far from our hole makes me jump on edge. Pulling my refile up I scan the dark surroundings. Another snap closer to us makes me more anxious.
"Flash" I call out hopefully it's not a German coming to slaughter us.
"Thunder" comes the reply from our lieutenant. The figure of Welsh emerges from thick foliage a smile on his face; I lower my weapon as he slides down our trench. Surprisingly Hoob is asleep. "Larsen" Welsh greets me as he places his rifle and helmet on the floor.
"Any news sir?" I ask looking at him expectantly. We've had no new orders for a while. The last was after the firefight died down a few hours ago with only a few bouts of machine gun fire occasionally coming from their hedgerow.
"No, we stay in our hedgerow they stay in theirs" He says as he takes a swig from his canteen.
"Have you spoken to Blithe yet?" Welsh takes another gulp of liquid before putting the cap back on and putting it away and meeting my gaze.
"No I was just going to see him now. Try and get some sack time, you need it Larsen" With that he stands up collects his rifle, puts on his helmet, climbs out of our trench and heads towards Blithe. Closing my eyes once again I quickly drift off to sleep.
"Hey Jimmie wake up!" Hoob's voice rudely awakes me, his hand shaking my shoulder. Fuck will I ever be able to get at least one decent sleep in this godforsaken war.
"What Hoob?!" my voice cracks a little. Opening my eyes I see that it's still night time. Hoob's confused face stares back at me.
"I heard screaming coming from that way" He points towards 3rd Platoons trenches. "I think it was Lieb and Tab, they were screaming for a medic" shit one of them is injured. First Tipper now Lieb or Tab, please God don't let them be badly hurt or dead.
"When was this?" I ask fully alert now, all grogginess of sleep gone with the seriousness of the situation.
"About five minutes ago, it took me a while to wake you" Hoob sheepishly admits as he looks away from me towards the direction of the trench where the screams came from.
"I'm going to have a look, you stay hear" I order as I haul myself up the slippery slope. Weaving through the thick foliage I glance into each passing trench until I finally reach the one Tab was in earlier a large tree looms over it. The outline of two figures are sat in the trench, Lieb's loud angry voice becomes clearer the closer I get.
"…you dint just fucking shoot without checking first! Jesus Christ!" Joe scolds the worried looking private.
"What the hell happened Joe?" Lieb turns away from the young private and looks towards me. When I finally reach the two men I notice drying blood stains on Lieb's hands and clothing. Where's Tab?
"Private Smith here stabbed Tab" Shit I hope it's not fatal.
"I'm so sorry he looked like a kraut, he was wearing a kraut poncho and…"
"Save it kid, I'm sick of your excuses" Lieb cuts off the rambling man. "You shouldn't have done that"
"Both of you be quite" I snap now is not the time for us to be at each other's throats. Both men stop and look towards me. "Lieb's right you fucked up but there's nothing you can do now. It's been done. Just never do it again." Private Smith looks at me and nods his eyes full of guilt. "Go find your platoon leader and explain what happened" I order. He quickly scurries off towards another trench.
"How is he and where is he now?" I ask turning my attention to a pissed off Joe.
"He was ok, wasn't that bad, Doc took him on a jeep to the aid station." Joe explains as he sits down pulling out his pack of smokes, offering me one. I gladly accept and slide down next to him, pulling my lighter and lighting both sticks. Taking a long drag I relish in the small comfort the tobacco gives me. Thank god he is going to live. I don't think I could cope with losing him as well as Tipper.
"Speirs came by before to see what was going on" Lieb speaks up after a period of silence. Smoke pluming out of his mouth as he spoke.
"What did he say?" Speirs was a bit of a mystery to me. The few times I've come into contact with him he's said very little. There have been rumours about him shooting kraut prisoners on D-day.
"He didn't say much, he asked what happened and then told Smith to be more careful and said something about being less jumpy and then left" Lieb says as he flicks his finished smoke to the side and stands up. "I better go back to my trench I'm due to go on patrol soon"
"Yeah I better get aback too. I don't trust Hoob on his own" I joke as I jump up the embankment after Joe. He gives a small smile as he heads off towards his trench as I head towards mine.
0530 D-Day + 7 1944 Outskirts of Carentan France
The morning dew seeps into the knees of my ODs as I kneel down beside Welsh. We are finally going to attack.
"We don't know what they've got we may be attacking a weaker force, possibly more paratroopers" Welsh looks up from the clipboard, glancing round at me, Martin, Hoob, Perco, Luz, Martin, Malark and Gonorrhoea.
"And you know how they can be" Hoob jokes, causing Welsh and a few others give a small smile.
"Fire and manoeuvre" Welsh pauses to glance around the group again "That's the name of the game. Fire and manoeuvre." He continues. "Dog and Fox companies will be on our left flank moving with us." Welsh folds away our orders before looking at us to make sure we listened to his orders. I shake my head as most of the other fellas do the same. "Let's make them holler"
Standing up I notice Perco glancing at one of his many watches.
"It's 9:30 in the evening back home must be…" the deafening sound of mortar fire cuts Frank short.
"Mortar!" slamming myself down I pull my gun up into a shooting stance.
"Incoming! Everybody in the hole!" Welsh screams at us as we all scramble into position. Fuck this is going to be one hell of a fight.