As Parks stepped off the stage, he high-fived Winters, Nickerson and Wales. At this time, Captain Zink came to the stage, he coughed dryly, and said loudly: "Okay, guys, I also hope that it will be over quickly, because it is really boring." But now it's my turn, and you'll have to bear with it for a while, but I'll be quick. Well, it's a couple of appointments, and I was going to have a promotion ceremony in private, but why not be here. ”

All the brothers of Company knew what the outcome would be, but even so, everyone wanted to be able to hear Captain Zink say it himself, which would give them a sense of satisfaction.

As expected, Captain Winters was promoted to battalion staff officer, and Parks succeeded Winters as the company commander of Company E, and Lieutenant Wales became the deputy company commander of Company E, which was proposed by Parks.

"I think it turned out to be the best." White said to himself, "We've got a good company commander, but we've got another good company commander, so it's a really good result!" ”

"Pretty good!" When the rally broke up, Malach walked past White, "I love the result!" ”

There was no one who would not like this result, and Parks' prestige had long since gone beyond a row, and the whole company respected him, and he had earned it by his wisdom, excellent tactics, bravery, and protection of his brothers. Of course, he was still very kind, not as commanding or condescending as some officers.

But Parks could not be in office right away, because he was going to Washington, D.C., where he would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Roosevelt, and it would take several days to make the round trip, which General Taylor had chartered. During these days, Company E was temporarily led by Lieutenant Wales, and the company's regular affairs were managed by Sergeants Timbert and Lipper.

Parks left Wigherre early the next morning, and was greeted by Captains Winters, Nickerson, and Welsh, where he was to be driven to Paris, then to London by plane, and from London to the United States.

"Don't worry, Lacey, the brothers of E Company will take good care of it." Wales smiled at Parks, "Waiting for you to come back!" ”

Parks nodded and smiled, "I know, I know, it's just that I want to come back soon." To be honest, I've been with my brothers for a long time, and wherever I go, it seems like something is missing. ”

"That's not good news!" Nickerson whistled and laughed, "It's not a good thing to love home." But it's a wonderful feeling, and I have a plot like this, which is incredible. ”

"Alright, Parks, when did you become sentimental? Let's go, come back early! Winters decided to end the conversation early, even though everyone was happy for Parks.

Parks' car sped away, disappearing at the bend in the road.

"If one day I can have this honor, then I will be satisfied, and it will become the most precious memory of my whole life." Winters smiled slightly, "Let's go, guys. ”

With Parks leaving, the initial excitement of E-Link began to cool down again. It's just that the brothers who received the medal, their excitement has not subsided.

On the morning of October 7, a shrill whistle broke the silence of Wigherr's morning.

"Guys, we're going to go out again." Sergeant Tybert shouted to the brothers to gather, "Fully armed, this is not a routine training, this is not a drill. Hurry, hurry, we've got work to do. ”

"Oh, damn it, what?" Goneri wore pants and muttered dissatisfiedly, he had drunk too much wine last night, and he still nodded, "Are the Germans attacking us?" It's always so hurried every time. ”

"Don't complain, Goneri!" Lipp shouted loudly, "Just do it!" ”

When he left the camp gate, he was met by Kaber, who was wearing a hat and complained to Lipp, "Hey, Lipp, where are we going?" Why don't we know anything. Damn, our company commander isn't even here, and we're going to war. It's terrible. ”

Lip shook his head and ignored him. Instead, Goneri answered: "Karber, can't you complain less?" ”

"Okay, okay, I'm not complaining!" Kaber raised his hands, "But I'm really tired of running around like this, we barely missed a fight, like!" ”

It's a true saying, they didn't miss the Normandy landings, the Market Garden operation, and now they're going to set off again, and even though it's not a big operation, it's going to be very difficult every time.

When Wales was at the battalion headquarters, Winters conveyed to him the mission of the operation, this time Company E would be stationed on a 5-kilometer-wide "island" bordered by the Lower Rhine River in the north and the Ivar River in the south, and the two cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen on the Lower Rhine and Vaal rivers at the two ends were the easternmost defensive line of the 101st Airborne Division; The two small towns on the Lower Rhine and the Vaal are the western end of the border, Orpheus Justden and Dordwald. The Germans occupied the territory north of the Lower Rhine and west of the Ofeuisden-Doudwald line.

"It's flat, but there's a 7-metre-high levee with a wide top that's big enough for two-lane travel. The slopes on both sides of the levee are steep in some places, but more often the slope is gentle, and the base of the levee is as wide as 200 or even 300 feet. And there are a lot of drainage ditches, they crisscross it. Winters gave Wales a detailed introduction to the island, "You know, the weather here isn't too good, it's cold, wet and it rains a lot, so get ready for it, Harry!" We will take over the defensive line of the British 43rd Division. ”

"Don't worry, Dick, don't you know Harry yet? The brothers will be very well taken care of. Nickerson nodded at Winters, "We can all understand your feelings, leaving your brothers will make you uneasy for a while." But trust the brothers, they are all excellent, and Parks will be back in a few days! ”

Winters was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized his problem, and he couldn't help but smile apologetically: "Yes, yes, Harry, let it go, but if anything, can you tell me in time, right?" ”

"Of course! Dick! Wales smiled and nodded, "I'm not like Nick, I always felt like you never left E-Company, you have always been a member of E-Company, with E-Company's brothers." ”

Nickerson couldn't help but whistle, "Oh, he can talk, but Harry, I always feel like he's being flattered!" ”

Winters smiled slightly, and then said: "Maybe we will have a fortress battle and a confrontation battle with the Germans like the first war, but I am not worried at all, we have a whole regiment of British artillery to fire us back." Also, the battalion headquarters will follow you into that area. ”

"Very solid backing!" Wales smiled, "Alright, I've got to go, Dick, we'll see you on the island." ”

The truck team of E Company is like a long snake winding in the morning light, and soon after departure, a light rain fell in the sky, making the road look muddy, and the speed of the car dropped significantly, and the driver drove the car very carefully, this speed made the brothers prolong the time of the car, and their already anxious hearts became as gray as the sky with the light rain.

The brothers looked at the villages on both sides of the road, and the closer they got to the island, the more untouched they became. They were all evacuated, like the villagers of France during the First World War, and the people of the villages on both sides and sides of the positions left.

"I can't believe it's like a place of death, if it weren't for the German cannons!" Paikanti looked at the ghost-like villages he passed by in amazement, and couldn't help but say to Hubl in surprise.

"You're right, but it's good news for us. There must be our supplies here, and the Dutch are certainly not going to move everything away, and I think there are still a lot of good wines in the cellars. Hubler nodded, then smiled.

"Great idea!" Paikanti nodded. But in fact, this also became a reality later.

Company E finally arrived at the designated location, but by the time it arrived, it was already night. The British met the brothers of Company E at a place called the village of Zeten and escorted the vanguard detachment to its new position.

Along the way, Webster asked the members of the British vanguard who were leading the way: "What is the situation here?" ”

"This is a bloody 'death front', brother!" The other party replied.

And Webster quickly proved that what the other side said could be the truth, and did not bluff, and along the way there were countless craters just left by shells of 105 mm caliber and 88 mm caliber.

After a three-hour march, the British squad led the brothers of Company E to their destination: a group of houses nestled next to a huge embankment. On the other side of the embankment is the Lower Rhine, between which there is a flat, moist grazing land about 1 km long. The pastures were littered with the carcasses of animals, burned houses, empty machine-gun cartridge belts and ammunition boxes.

It's a no-man's land.

"Alright, brothers, this is where you are stationed, and I think we have to go first. Finally made it to this day, good luck to you! A sergeant of the British squad nodded at the Welsh lieutenant and said, "Attention, sir, the German artillery fire is fierce, and they have good observation points, you have to dig the trench a little deeper." ”

"Thank you, we'll take notice!" Wales nodded. He could see that there was a real concern here.

The British left. Wales quickly got in touch with the battalion headquarters, and the entire 506th Regiment was stationed on the island.

"Bad news, brothers!" The Welsh lieutenant summoned the officers and non-commissioned officers in the company, nodded at them, and said, "I just contacted the battalion headquarters, and now our entire 506th Regiment is to be stationed here, but we have to hold the line of a British division, which is more than 6 miles long. The line of defense of the 2 battalion was on the right flank, with Company E on the far right. We had only 130 people, but we had to take on the task of defending the line for almost 3 kilometers. ”

"Oh God!" There was a lamentation.

"But guys, we still have an advantage against the Germans, we have a lot of courage and a fearless spirit," Wales continued, "so that's why we were able to win against the Germans." ”

"It's great that we have trenches deeper than the Germans, and more K-sized dry food than the Germans! Maybe we'll be able to get the Germans to surrender with just dry rations. Goneri shook his head.

"Alright, guys, we're going to get started!" Wales shouted, "We're going to hold this line!" ”

(To be continued)