Just Another Town (WWII story)

"The town center?" Quarrie asked

"Genius, John" the captain replied

"We have how long until the attack starts?"

"Somewhere around 15 minutes now. Better get moving."

"Yessir. The town is about a half mile away right?"

"Yes. Now go. You won't have much time if you wait."

"Yessir."

John left, and jogged back to the camp. Hecould tell there was an attack coming ,even without the captain telling him so. The me nhad their garands ready and many were turned west, towards Dourburg. He approached his small squad, there was Lionel Hoffman, his best friend, Henry Cartwright, the calm one, Rich O'Connor, the joker, and last, but not least, there was Frederick Richards, the one whose finger was glued to the trigger. They saluted or nodded and John sat down next to Lionel.

"You guys ready?" John asked, lighting a cigar.

"Ready enough sarge," Henry said.

"Good. Let's get going. Somebody get Harding over here," John said. Harding, fully Lawrence Harding, was the best shot in the platoon, the unofficial sniper.
"Alright," Ric hsaid and turned to get Harding. He succesfully dragged over to the squad, without any explanation, only that Quarrie wanted him.

"You needed me?" Harding asked, his New England accent blatantly obvious

"Actually no, I just decided to drag you over here for the fun of it and-of course I needed you! Listen, we're assigned to take the courthouse" he said, motioning to his squad. "And we need you to help snipe out the Germans from the courthouse top."

"I geuss I can do that sir but I'd need to check with the Lieutenant for this."

"Go and check then"

When he returned with the affirmative response, the squad set off. It was an uneventful march, but everybody in the squad hated marches except for Henry. They all hated the anticipation of the march, the fact that they knew they would die. Henry never could explain why he loved marches, but he did.

About 100 yards from the towns outskirts several Germans started firing. They only had Kar98s, so the fight was easier than it might have been. One bullet hit a member of another squad and killed him. Frederick crouched and fired a good 15 bullets at one German. Lionel moved to their side and fired off three rounds at the snetries. Two hit a German, and blood flew out of his chest, and he fell over, slamming into the ground. There was only one left, and hardign took care of that oen, wit han expertly aimed shot to the face. Two dead on American side, and 5 on the German's side.


"Think any got away?" John asked

"Not sure, I hope not. That'd be bad," a man from a different squad replied.

"Well either way it-"

Bullets flew out of the forest, as many men either hit the deck ,or were shot. Some fired back at them and others charged to the flanks, or to the Germans' rear. Quarrie hid behind a rock, along with three others.

"Soem body needs to move up, you two, you're both privates, you guys go up there" he said

The men nodded and ran towards the cluster of rocks and branches. The first one made it, but the second one was shot once in in both sides of the chest and fell. The German fired several more rounds into the corpse's back and legs.

"He's dead you stupid Kraut" the other said, firing several rounds at the German.

"And you-" Quarrie said, motioning to a man who had just charged up, "Follow me"

They charged to the side of the Germans and fired int othe mass of enemes. A few fell, but others charged at them. They continued firing into the charging Germans, killign more. At this point the Americans charged up the hill at the Germans, causign them to fall back. The men could now approach Dourburg in peace. PEace unti lthey got into the town