CHAPTER XXI

"Hey, hey, Kaber, then you have to make sure that the Germans have a Major Horton or Captain Sauber too, so that they can travel long distances in such cold weather to break the damn world record set by that damn Guy Ben." Joe Toy grinned at Kaber as he smashed the frozen ice on his gun.

"Brothers, you can massage your feet and legs first!" Parks reminded the GIs around him, "This relieves the pain." It's better than doing nothing. ”

Parks took the trouble to explain the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet and legs over and over again. That's the only thing he can do right now. Look at the other companies, they are even worse than E Company, several of them can't get up and just roll down on the snow.

Stiff, swollen muscles gradually begin to relax and become warmer. Everyone cheered, "Parks, I think Zink should have given you a medal." You've saved everyone! Compton Barker felt his legs and soles warming up, and shouted at Parks happily.

Lieutenant Winster came over, and he found Parks: "Hello Sergeant! ”

"Hello, Lieutenant!" Parks saluted.

Winster returned the favor and nodded, "Thank you, Parks!" ”

"It's nothing!" Parks smiled, "It's just some simple massage techniques that can help the brothers, so why not do it?" They are my siblings! ”

"You're right, Parks!" Winster looked at the other two companies not far away, "However, there are also brothers from Company D and Company, who are worse than us. Why not help them, such a simple and effective method will make a big difference to them. ”

"Sir, this ......" Parks hesitated, after all, it wasn't E-Company.

"That's right, I taught your method to Major Horton and Captain Sober, and Major Horton felt good, so I suggested to him that you help the other two companies." Winster explained, "I don't think you're going to say no, are you?" ”

"Alright, sir!" Parks actually has the heart to help, but without the permission of the chief, doing so will only put himself in a passive and helpless situation.

When Winster returned, Major Horton found him.

"You told him everything?" Horton looked at Parks, who was walking towards Company D and Company, "He's a good soldier. ”

A smile appeared on Winster's face, "Yes, Major. He was the best soldier I've ever met. ”

Horton nodded, looked at the figure of Parks who was demonstrating to the soldiers of the two companies for a while, and smiled: "I think if we can get to Atlanta smoothly and defeat Ben Yan, I will apply for a medal from him." ”

"He definitely deserves that honor!" Winster Road.

Captain Sauber was in a restless mood throughout the morning's march, and from time to time he yelled at his brothers, who were a little sluggish in the ranks. It was clear that his sentiment came from the conversation between Major Horton and Winster in the morning.

Major Horton was to present the medal to Sergeant Parkes. This is still not the most important, after all, Parks's contribution is seen and felt by the officers and men of the whole battalion. And he himself is a beneficiary of it. The important thing is that this award was presented by Major Horton directly to Lieutenant Winster and not to himself, that is, he was not the first to know about it. And he happened to be the company commander of Parks' company, which made him very frustrated.

Despite Captain Sauber's constant troubles, such troubles are definitely no worse than God's. With the experience of the first day, the officers and soldiers learned to protect themselves and conserve physical strength. Even the whispered curse Sauber's stamina was saved.

The second day of camping was the same as the first day, and at eleven o'clock in the evening, everyone was released as if they were in hell. Although the resting tent did not resist anything, it was still possible to catch a breath.

All the people did not speak, but as ordered, after eating the bread of the interference, they all fell asleep quietly. No one wants to speak, because as long as they open their mouth, cold air will pour in, and they can freeze their intestines into ice cubes.

"It's only twenty-eight miles at last!" White muttered, wrapped tightly in the blanket and shaking all over.

Yes, we will be in Atlanta tomorrow, and twenty-eight miles is close enough for the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion who have been tortured for two days, and enough to give them courage.

At six o'clock in the morning of the third day, the whole battalion woke up with several more brothers in D and F companies. What started during the day the next day finally showed signs of spreading on the third day.

The fallen GIs were carried away, accompanied by ambulances just outside the mountain road. Parks was in a very uneasy mood, and although he had provided the best help he could to these officers and soldiers, he could not save them all. But that's good enough. It is undoubtedly a consolation to know that during this long journey in history, dozens of officers and men of the battalion fell or fell behind, and so far, there are less than 10 people in total. More importantly, none of the officers and men of Company E were left behind during this trek.

"What do you think, Malachi?" Parks saw Malaki limping forward. He struggled to carry the mortar barrel, and it was almost like he was staggering.

"It's nothing, Parks, it's just that his feet are all blistered with blood, and they're all swollen." Malaki bared his teeth, trying to squeeze out a smile, but his expression was painful.

"Give me your mortar barrel!" Parks reached for the barrel of the cannon on his shoulder.

"I can hold on, Parks!" Malaki shook his head, "I just want to go by myself, I can do it." Malachi's insistence forced Parks to re-examine this GI, it turned out that the officers and men of Company E had a kind of glory in their bones, that is, a firm will, enough to make a name for themselves on the European battlefield in the future.

Parks didn't insist anymore. From the bottom of his heart, he was proud of these strong officers and men of Company E. Even the obnoxious Captain Sauber showed impressive tenacity.

Ahead is the suburbs of Atlanta, the roads have become neat, and the muddy paths have been left far behind, so that many people have a sense of optimism. But they ignore the fact that if you usually walk on a concrete road, it must be a pleasure compared to a muddy path.

But when the swollen feet stepped onto the hard concrete road, they felt the pain of friction, more painful than the muddy path, and many of the GIs' swollen feet were frayed and bloody.

But no one complained, everyone was gritting their teeth and insisting. At this time, Major Horton gave the order for the team to rest on the ground at Oglethorpe University in the suburbs, have lunch, replenish their strength, and then prepare to enter the city for their final destination, a place called "Five O'Clock" in the center of Atlanta.

"It's time to eat!" Someone was shouting.

Marachi, who was sitting on the camp, tried to stand up, but felt a piercing pain, and he couldn't stand up.

"I'll help you!" Parks wanted to get over.

"No one is allowed to help him! Parks, you stop! It was Captain Sauber's voice, "If you can't hold out, then the ambulance is right next to you, and you can go to the hospital right away, but don't think about getting your paratrooper badge anymore, private!" ”

"Yes, sir, I can hold on!" Bit his lip, and under the gaze of the crowd, he suddenly fell to the ground, and crawled forward with his two hands, and he crawled over, crawled to the officer, and said in a calm tone, "Give me two pieces of bread!" ”

No one blames Captain Sauber for not being humane, it's a hurdle that everyone has to pass.

"It's easy to raise! Malarkey! Parks couldn't help but applaud.

In an instant, all the people of Company E applauded Maraqi, and the applause was like a storm, sweeping away all the suffering, torture and endless complaints in the hearts of the officers and men for the past three days. Now that they were only six miles away from their destination, they had nothing but endless pride in their hearts that they were going to beat the Benkews and set a new world record.

"Malachi, if you creep into Atlanta like this, Colonel Zinke will think you're untidy and won't let you into the feast he gave us." Goneri joked on the sidelines.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely walk to the celebration banquet." Malaki smiled and looked at the brothers around him, and suddenly felt warm in his heart, like brotherhood, giving you encouragement when you were at your weakest.

The whistle on the opposite side came back to me.

"Brothers, we will make new history!" Winster shouted loudly in the group, "That way, we can rest for a few days instead of having to go to bed!" ”

Suddenly there was a burst of laughter in the team, and it turned out that Winster, who was serious, was able to joke.

When the procession entered the city, it still surprised the officers and soldiers, because the sides of the road were full of cheering people. Lieutenant Colonel Stryll had arranged for a marching band to meet them a mile from "five."

"I feel like a hero who has liberated all of Europe!" Marachi, who insisted on completing the journey, heard the sound of majestic military music, and his spirits were lifted, and he forgot the damn pain, "How do I feel like I am being inspected in the Takoya military camp?" He smiled.

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