A few chosen words

[floydragsdale]

This happened to me when we (G Co., 424th) were trying to avoid being captured by the Germans in the early stages of the Bulge campaign. Also, rations were very scarce then. Personally, this Soldier had been without food for at least one day. Furthermore, most of us had very little sleep for several days. Yet, we had been on a forced march for five or six hours to escape being captured by the German Army.

We took breaks (10 minutes) approximately every hour. During one of these breaks the feeling of exhaustion simply overwhelmed my body. I felt completely drained of energy. As the break ended, an officer shouted, “OK men, on your feet, it’s time to more on.”

At that moment this Soldier refused to get up. As the rear of the column was passing by an Officer looked at me and said, “Alright Soldier, on you feet - - - move out.

My reply was, “Sir, I’m exhausted and unable to walk another step.” He replied, “Do you see the curve in the road back there? “Yes sir”, was my response. Then he said, “OK soldier, stay where you are but in another ten minutes you’re going to see a big German King Tiger tank coming around that curve .

Immediately, the adrenalin began flowing through my body as if it was a lit proxy fuse. Renewed with a new source of energy, to my feet I sprang. From that moment on this soldier could have led the column.

It’s amazing what just a few chosen words from an individual can do to a person. That Officer, I think, would have made a good football coach.


Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks again for another insightful post. You manage to bring humor to a situation that was anything but funny at the time. No coach ever had greater motivational material!

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Thanks, Connie:

I can still remember that incident, as if it happened last week.

The snow - the grey foggy day - - - and how my exhausted body was telling me that I couln't walk another step. G Company men were taking their break by resting in a ditch alongside the road. I remained in the ditch when the break was over and was watching the last of the column go by when that officer spoke those "chosen words" that ispired me to move on.

Later that day our column was halted. Word was whispered, from one platoon to the next, "No talking, caughing or sneezing, we are within fifty yards of theGerman lines."

Of course, we had weapons (mostly rifles) but little ammunition. Also, at the time, we probably coulnd't have fought our way out of a paper bag.

Nevertheless, in spite of the odds against our Company, everyone of us made it through the day.

Floyd