And Along Came Jake (20 page)

"I hope everything works out for ya. So, I don't see any other boys from your neck of the woods here, most of us are from Missouri up to New York, how'd you get on this flight?" Pvt. Patterson asked.

"It's a long story." Big Tex sighed. "I went to basic training in December, I was supposed to be on a flight to England in March, but me and another soldier were horsin' around one day, and I dislocated my shoulder pretty bad. The army kept me stateside to heal until they finally released me for this flight. I'm supposed be with the 29th Infantry Division, 116th RCT."

"I'm gonna be in the same outfit!" Private Patterson added.

Pvt. Birch and Glosman overheard the discussion, and both turned around to introduce themselves and let him know they were all assigned to the same unit. The four soldiers immediately became a tight-knit crew, spending the remainder of the flight talking and swapping stories, experiences, and expressing their thoughts about going to war.

"We'll be starting our descent in approximately fifteen minutes" Captain Wilkins announced over the loud speaker. "On behalf of the United States Air Force, I would like to welcome you to the country of England."

The plane landed, and although the recruits were tired, they were also excited and anxious to see a country they've never been to before. Once off the plane, Army trucks were lined up, waiting to take the troops to their respective duty stations.

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"116th—116th over here!" A Sergeant called in a thick New York accent. He stood by the deuce-and-a-half truck holding a sign with the Blue and Grey symbol on it."

The soldiers assembled next to their units truck, as Pvt. Patterson, Birch, Glosman and Freeman walked toward the Sergeant holding the 116th insignia. "We're in the 116th, Sergeant!" Pvt. Patterson said, as they all gathered around.

"Name and rank!" The Sergeant ordered.

After identifying themselves, the Sergeant gave them each a 29th infantry division patch, and ordered them to load into the truck. After the trucks were filled with both new recruits, and seasoned soldiers from the 29th infantry division 116th RCT, they began to roll out, heading for the southern coast of England, for amphibious beach landing and assault training.

The drive took about an hour, but when they finally arrived at their training post, Pvt. Patterson, Birch, Glosman and Big Tex were completely amazed and in awe at the spectacular sights as they jumped out of the back of the deuce-and-a-half.

They saw all types of military equipment, vehicles, ships, and different watercraft floating in the ocean. There were tents as far as the eye could see, and what looked like thousands of soldiers, both American and British, busy doing something productive.

After the new additions were briefed, they received their assignments from the Sergeant in charge. Pvt. Patterson, Birch, Glosman and Big Tex all went to Alpha company (A. Co.) 116th RCT. As the sun started to set, and the training was over for the day, all the soldiers gathered around their tents, built fires and began to laugh and joke with one another. they were scared, nervous, anxious, and excited, but made their way with heavy gear, to where Alpha Company's tents were set up.

The company noticed the new recruits approaching their tents, only a few yards away and began laughing and cracking jokes at the newbies expense. "Hey Cherries, miss mommy yet?" A corporal said as they all laughed.

"Welcome to hell boys!" one of the more obnoxious Privates called. "We're all gonna die out here, life don't get any better than this."

"Shut up, Nelson. Why do you always gotta say stuff like that?" One of the religious soldiers said, as they engaged in a shoving match.

"Hey, break it up!" a familiar voice shouted, as he separated the two.

"S-S-Staff Sergeant B-Bradford?" Pvt. Birch smiled, excited to see their recruiter from Blackwater.

As Pvt. Birch and Patterson walked up to SSG. Bradford to shake his hand and get reacquainted, the other boys in the company began laughing and mocking Pvt. Birch's excessive stutter.

"What are you laughing at?" The big Texan said, pointing his finger at one of the other Privates who's been there only a few weeks.

"N-N-Nothin'!" Pvt. Tucker stuttered, mocking Pvt. Birch. "W-W-What ya g-gonna do about it b-b-big fella?"

Big Tex walked aggressively toward to Pvt. Tucker, effortlessly picked him up, and threw him hard on his back about four feet away. The company began to laugh and cheer on the big Texan, as many of them wanted to do the same to the company's loudmouth for quite some time.

"Sorry!" Pvt. Tucker mumbled as he stood up and rejoined the group, brushing sand off his clothes, face and hair.

"We ain't the ones you need to apologize to." Corporal Gill said as he opened up an individual precooked canned meal, also known as a 'C' ration, and began to eat.

Pvt. Tucker, went over to Pvt. Birch, extended his hand and offered an apology. After they shook hands, the four newcomers to A. Co. were accepted and immediately became part of the close knit group.

That's just the way it is in the military as bonds form quickly. It's very diverse, with people from many different walks of life, backgrounds and personalities. But when it came down to it, they knew at the end of the day, they were all each other had. Those who fought and argued would come together in time, and it always made them closer, and better friends in the end.

Those who traveled and trained that day were extremely exhausted, so after the newcomers were given their tents, and assigned their weapons, they all went straight to sleep. They knew tomorrow's training would be just as intense, if not more than the day before.

The month of May was dedicated to heavy training for an all-out assault to take place in Normandy France at the beginning of June. The plan was to remove the stronghold Germany had on France, liberate the French, then ultimately use France as a springboard to invade Germany. It was easier to get to Germany through France than it would be from Italy or other surrounding countries. To take France back from the Germans was imperative.

The 116th Regiment would lead the charge on Omaha Beach, Alpha Company would be the first wave, covering the Dog Green sector with the 2nd Rangers to their right. The mission for Dog Green, was to open up the draw for the armored tanks and other heavy equipment, in order to make their way into the small town of Vierville.

Their training had them going from main ships called LSI's (landing ship infantry) capable of holding a battalion of men, to a much smaller boat, called LCA's (landing craft assaults) which only held about thirty men and equip with a ramp that would lower, making it easy for troops to exit quickly and make their way to the beach.

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It was 3:00 a.m. on June 5, 1944, and 'Operation Overlord' was about to take place. All the troops got in the LSI's that took them ten miles away from the beaches of Normandy. They planned the assault on the beach in the early morning hours, when the tide was extremely low, to avoid any underwater obstacles set to sink or slow any approaching watercraft. The assault was scheduled for 6:30 a.m. but right before the troops were about to load into the LCA's, the mission was cancelled for 24 hours, due to horrible weather.

The morale of the troops were brutally diminished, as they were all hyped up, ready to invade. All they could do now, was remain in the LSI's surrounded by the rough choppy water and wait. The 24 hour waiting period was both miserable and uncomfortable. Most of the men were seasick, and in no mood, shape or condition to fight.

At 4:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944, the troops were given the green light to board the LCA's, and make the two hour trip to the beaches of Normandy. The four companies, of the 116th RCT, that made up the first wave were Alpha, Echo, Foxtrot and Golf Companies with Alpha company leading the way.

"Okay men!" Staff Sergeant Bradford yelled in the LCA that carried him, Pvt. Patterson, Birch, Glosman, Big Tex and twenty five other soldiers to the beachhead. "Keep your heads down, stay focused, and get across that beach as fast as you can; don't stop until you reach the seawall!"

Both Pvt. Patterson and Glosman gripped their M-1 rifles tightly, while Pvt. Birch and Freeman held on to their BAR's (Browning Automatic Rifles). Staff Sergeant Bradford carried an M1A1 Thompson machine gun, and one Corporal carried a flamethrower, everyone else was armed with the standard M-1 rifle, and a few other BAR's.

A few minutes before making landfall, they were greeted with mortars and heavy machine gun fire. They noticed the LCA's to the left and right were experiencing the exact same effects as well.

Confusion and fear had begun to set in, some soldiers panicked and began to jumping from the back and sides of the LCA's, before the ramp had a chance to lower. This wasn't helpful to them at all, it only made the situation worse for those who jumped off early. Not only were they being hit by machine gun fire, they were so weighted down with equipment, that most of them drowned within minutes.

Those who remained in the boat, waited until the ramp dropped; the events that followed were completely chaotic, and didn't even seem like real life. Some were shot and killed as the ramp lowered, and those lucky enough to evacuate the LCA in one piece, still had to wade through chest deep surf to make it to the beach. This slowed them to just under a walking pace, making them more vulnerable and visible through the enemies gun sights.

It was so confusing, as German machine gunfire came from every direction, almost as if the entire German Army were firing from the cliffs and bluffs, raining down hot lead on every last one of them.

As Pvt. Patterson exited the LCA, he heard tiny snaps, as bullets rushed past him. He tried to stay focused, and continued walking through the water, hoping to escape the hail of munitions. He looked down at the water and noticed that the once blue ocean with white caps, was now crimson red, with the blood of his fallen brothers in arms.

Inching closer to the beach, he saw countless scattered bodies of friends he once joked with, trained with, and those he may die with, scattered about bleeding, dying or dead. He heard familiar voices from soldiers in A. Co. crying out for mercy, their mothers, and their God, while screaming in agony and pain.

When he finally reached the shore, he was protected by some exposed watercraft obstacles, and a small sand mound created by a mortar round, which just barely covered his head. Bullets kicked up sand in front of him, and continuously passed over him.

He lay flat on his belly, directly behind the mound, oblivious to the few soldiers who also took refuge with him. He suddenly heard a nervous voice yelling directly in his ear.

"Y-Y-You okay, J-Jake?" Pvt. Birch stammered.

"Yeah, what about you—you okay?" he replied.

"I don't know about y'all," Big Tex said "But I had a few close calls––Well heck, will ya look at that, my canteen got shot up!"

"I hear ya Big Tex." Pvt. Glosman agreed "I had to dump my pack in the water, I almost drowned, and got shot up to."

"Looks like it's just us behind this mound, fellas." SSG. Bradford said.

Jake glanced behind him, and noticed Pvt. Tucker's torso being pushed on the beach by the incoming tide. The tide washed Pvt. Tucker's lifeless body next to the boys. Looking at the body, there was no doubt a mortar round must've torn him in half.

Pvt. Glosman drug Pvt. Tucker's body close to him and began pushing his exposed intestines back inside of his chest cavity.

"You're gonna be okay, Tucker, it's gonna be alright!" Pvt. Glosman said, yelling for a medic.

"Look at me, Private!" SSG. Bradford ordered, "He's gone, Private, I'm sorry… but he's gone. Stay focused now, we gotta cross the beach and reach the seawall."

Pvt. Glosman washed his blood stained hands in the crimson colored water, grabbed Pvt. Tucker's dogtags, put one in Pvt. Tucker's tattered breast pocket, and the other in his own pocket.

"SSG. Bradford?" Pvt. Glosman spoke in a shaky voice.

"Yeah, what is it Private?" SSG. Bradford answered.

"Are we gonna make it through this?"

"Sure we are, kid." SSG. Bradford said, attempting to keep up his soldier's morale, knowing deep down they were all going to perish.

"W-W-What are w-we gonna d-do, SSG. Bradford?" Edwin asked.

"We're gonna make a break for the seawall!" he answered.

"Are you crazy?" Pvt. Patterson questioned "Just look out there! Everyone's either dead, injured or hiding like us, not to mention there's three to four hundred yards of open beach from here to the seawall. We won't make it four feet, let alone four hundred yards!"

"Look behind you, Private!" SSG. Bradford responded. "If we stay here we'll get taken by the tide. There's nowhere else for us to go but forward!"

The vast majority of A. Co. had already perished, including the Captain, First Sergeant, all the officers and most of the Sergeants. The five soldiers hiding behind the mound, made up their minds to do the unthinkable, and try to cross the beach. They made a pact with one another, if any of them went down, the rest would continue towards the seawall without stopping. To stop and attend to a fallen soldier in the open beach was next to suicide.

"Edwin" Pvt. Patterson calmly spoke. "If I don't make it, will you tell my Maddie that I'm sorry, and that I love her?"