Post by floydragsdale on Jul 25, 2013 11:03:03 GMT -5
It’s wintertime, you are in Belgium and the Battle of the Bulge is still raging, however your outfit, Company G of the 424th Regiment has been temporarily relieved of its’ front line duty for several days.
Nonetheless, a detail of men from G Company has been assigned to the task of guarding a bridge that passes over a railroad bed and you are one of the men selected to take part in the mission..
A very foggy, misty night exists when it’s your turn to stand guard at one end of the bridge. If German Soldiers approach the structure it is your responsibility to ignite a fuse that will blow up the bridge.
It is difficult to see more than twenty or thirty feet, consequently, you keep your ears tuned to the situation as well as your eyes.
“What’s that sound?, you wonder, yet nothing unusual is visible. There it is again and once more. It’s a clicking sound; now your mind's eye turns the sound into a very slow, intermittent footstep like noise.
Cautiously, you check conditions of the mechanical device that is wired to blow up the bridge and all is well.
Slowly, the sound becomes more distinct and your eyes and ears become tuned to the direction of sound. At this moment you envision a German Army patrol, very cautiously, sneaking up to the bridge.
Your body is tense and your heart is going like a galloping racehorse as you anticipate seeing silhouettes of German Soldiers appear through the fog and mist. Unexpectedly, your imagination turns into realism when out of the fog appear about a half a dozen sheep, grazing along the railroad bed.
The German patrol that you visualized in your minds eye are four footed creatures who held your almost breathless attention for what seemed like unending moments to you.
Your opportunity to blow-up a bridge just vanished as a flock of sheep emerged out of the midnight fog instead of the imagined enemy patrol that you were waiting for.
Floyd
P.S.
I experienced that episode on a very damp, foggy night in Belgium, many years ago during the Battle of the Bulge.
Nonetheless, a detail of men from G Company has been assigned to the task of guarding a bridge that passes over a railroad bed and you are one of the men selected to take part in the mission..
A very foggy, misty night exists when it’s your turn to stand guard at one end of the bridge. If German Soldiers approach the structure it is your responsibility to ignite a fuse that will blow up the bridge.
It is difficult to see more than twenty or thirty feet, consequently, you keep your ears tuned to the situation as well as your eyes.
“What’s that sound?, you wonder, yet nothing unusual is visible. There it is again and once more. It’s a clicking sound; now your mind's eye turns the sound into a very slow, intermittent footstep like noise.
Cautiously, you check conditions of the mechanical device that is wired to blow up the bridge and all is well.
Slowly, the sound becomes more distinct and your eyes and ears become tuned to the direction of sound. At this moment you envision a German Army patrol, very cautiously, sneaking up to the bridge.
Your body is tense and your heart is going like a galloping racehorse as you anticipate seeing silhouettes of German Soldiers appear through the fog and mist. Unexpectedly, your imagination turns into realism when out of the fog appear about a half a dozen sheep, grazing along the railroad bed.
The German patrol that you visualized in your minds eye are four footed creatures who held your almost breathless attention for what seemed like unending moments to you.
Your opportunity to blow-up a bridge just vanished as a flock of sheep emerged out of the midnight fog instead of the imagined enemy patrol that you were waiting for.
Floyd
P.S.
I experienced that episode on a very damp, foggy night in Belgium, many years ago during the Battle of the Bulge.
