“Some Where in France” INFANTRY
P.F.C . Henry Ladendecker
It was in the blue
of the night, that our Jeeps felt their way up, seemingly, in a dead road for
15 minutes until we finally reached a small town that had been badly beaten as
though by a band of Indians in the movies we so often have seen. Some houses were still smoldering, while
others with no roofs or large holes in their sides, where at one time was a
window or door, now have room enough for any G. I. Truck to pass in and
out. Here we dismounted with all our
equipment hurriedly because the whistling sounds of 88’s were marking the town.
Lead by a guide in
single file while our nerves tightened a little we were taken to the Command
Post whose place was on the cellar of the few remaining houses that were left
standing. Here we gathered our wits
together for we knew we were safe. I
think!!!!!
The situation was
given to us quickly, for time is most valuable, especially, at night, because
of Enemy Patrols, who seek our positions and whereabouts. A Guard Master was made, and we posted our
men at picked Gun Position. Once more we
became nervous for it required from everyone 2 hours of vigil watch under a high
strain of physical effort, peering through the blackness of night and listening
to the countless strange noises trying to mold what might be or could be the
enemy we seek.
When daylight
finally came the aspects of normalcy arose within us for as we made a survey
all looked bright, for we saw a number of good old G.I.’s who had been backing
us up all through the night, roaming around.
Back at the
Command Post upon another survey by us, we came across a setup that only a
dream could mold so elegantly. Before
our eyes was a stove, cooking utensils, plates, table, a pan of churned butter,
two chunks of bacon, salt, onions, spuds together with a garden filled with
chickens, rabbits, hogs, the usual varieties of vegetables and greens, that we
once left behind so long ago.
Without
hesitation we began to function. The
stove was started, water soon was boiled and the breakfast for 18 under
way. French fries, coffee eggs, that the
boys rounded up, jam and biscuits that we had in our possessions created our
first menu. Fortunate, enough we had two
cooks in our midst, myself and a young lad, we call Hoppy. However, with the life of animal about us
lead those who knew the trade kill chickens, rabbits and a hog, solely because
the instinct of fresh meat was what he yearned for constantly, but could not
make it an actuality until now and nothing was going to stop his dream come
true.
The chicken,
spuds, cabbage, carrots and coffee brought about our dinner that made us open
our belts and back away. For supper we
had rabbit more vegetables, stew, baked beans, coffee jam and butter. Oh yes, the linen and such not forgetting the
wine and calvados in barrels in the cellar.
K.P. became no struggle what so ever.
All that was necessary was for someone to cook and that
department proved successfully each time we moved around the stove. Special concoctions of fruit bar sauce that
were collected from our breakfast “K” rations, baked apples and chocolate
pudding in which the bars are found in our supper “K” rations as well as meat
loaf were by no means a castaway.
Probably the greatest surprise of all to each and every one of us was
the hidden flavor of our Army “C” rations that so detest when eating from the
can, that our ample supply suddenly vanished when cooked on a range. The idea of setting at a table will probably
remain with us a long time, no doubt, a treasure to most of us solely, because
it could not happen again in a million years.
No house could be complete without some kind
of relaxation, so I might as well tell you that there were two puppies and cats
to amuse our time upon. We aim to take
the smartest pup as a mascot for we know it will only starve if left alone.
The thought just
occurred to me that not once did I mention who sponsored this affair. I am at a loss for words, that, I can assure
you, but perhaps when I tell you that maybe the roar of cannons, the falling of
shells through the roof and about the backyard caused this tenant to leave in a
hurry. Whatever other reason that they
had we will never know.
So, I will leave
you now in the face of an unfinished chapter because, I cannot state my
departure in time of war nor can I mention what life will bring when we leave
here.
I only hope and
pray that our free nation will spare its inhabitants this kind of destruction
both in mankind and nature that we have seen, but in will stand united equally
as a neighbor to a neighbor and rid the country of these who try to menace it.
Sincerely,
Sgt.
Paul J. Fleming
One of the 18 men in the group.
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