If A Soldier Could Tell his Story

Bombs crashing from above on his left, artillery and gun fire to his right. Above cold icy rain was falling down on his newly issued helmet as he shivered hunkered down in his foxhole that he just finished shortly before sunset. Montell Ross Jr. known as Monty had just finished boot camp and was shipped to Europe, like many before him, to fight for his country, the world. His friend, we’ll call him Bobby, was hunkered down in his own foxhole just a few feet away, and was balled up trying to stay warm. Monty like all the new recruits around him was scared, frightened and cold.
Blood of the lost soldiers pouring into the little streams and indents in the cold slippery mud. The faint sounds of American and Germen screaming lost in the harsh rain in the German Lands. Monty huddled up in his foxhole hoping that this war would soon be over so he can return home. Lying there just shooting in to the dark forests where the Germans were concealed. Waiting for his Lieutenant’s command but noticing that he lay dead in his fox hole along with his own puddle of blood.
Monty laid there with thoughts about home. The smell of his mother’s apple pie, jumping in the old model T, riding up and down the dusty dirt roads on a hot summer’s day. He was thinking about all the good times he spent with his two older brothers, fishing, swimming and working on the farm. When the Allies landed at Normandy during D-Day this had all changed. Somewhere in the European Theater, both of his older brothers were serving in the war and could also have been in harm’s way. A fourth brother was state side training for that day he too would walk on German soil.
It was midnight the rain had finally stopped. The clouds finally drifted away and the moon was bright. Monty finally got a chance to think since the gunfire and bombing slowed, but not enough to fall asleep. As he looked up at the stars noticing that his friend wasn’t asleep either. Monty figured at that point that the only soldiers that were asleep lay dead in the mud. Looking up at the stars still feeling wet from the blood of soldiers and the lieutenant. Monty turned over and found his friend Bobby crying. Monty wondered if it was from the loss of soldiers and friends or was it simply he missed his family.
The night played on, minutes seemed like hours. Even though the rain had stopped, he laid there soaked, cold and lonely. By now poor Bobby had drifted off to sleep. Monty too was occasionally dosing off. Though he felt miserable lying in the German landscape, his body was begging him for sleep. He drifted in and out, awakening from an occasional gun shot. Both sides weren’t moving, waiting for daylight to continue the onslaught.
Time seemed to stand still. Monty wondered when this fight would be over with. Slowly he faded out of reality. He was back home mowing the front lawn. Oh the smell of a freshly cut grass. He took pride in a nicely cut lawn. The sounds of birds, the buzzing of bees, the warm sun on his face. Gone, all gone he thought. What would happen, happen to him and so many others he though? Off in the distance was a loud explosion, bringing him back to reality.
Daylight was approaching and things would start heating up again. The Germans were reeling from the day before and would soon be pushing to gain back, what they had lost. It would be a long day, but push ahead the American would.
At sunrise the sounds of war could be heard again. Monty, Bobby and many other troops were still hunkered in they’re fox holes, waiting for the order to push forward. Today was expected to be perhaps the bloodiest of all.
The United States artillery began firing salvos at the German lines. The German soldiers were reeling from the barrage. Monty couldn’t hear a thing over the crashing of the artillery rounds. Soon it would be his turn, his and the other’s who were waiting to march towards the enemy lines.
Just like the battle before, the General’s would give word for the troops to go and the orders would filter down the chain of command until finally the leaders on the ground would give the orders.
Finally the order came and the soldiers were crawling in the cold wet mud, on their bellies toward what could be the end of their lives. Gun shot’s could be heard. The squad’s assignment was to secure a tiny bridge and stop any advancement from troops who may be in reserves. Monty couldn’t tell which side was firing. He and his squad, lead by Sergeant Sample slowly crawled towards the enemy. His squad began to engage the enemy. Smoke made it very difficult to see a thing. Bobby, who was next to him, could no longer be seen. Only another soldier who Monty couldn’t remember his name was visible.

To be cont.