Chapter 287: The Battle of Racham

Parks' return is indeed a shot in the arm, and it has given many of his brothers in E-Company a boost of confidence. As for the German prisoners, General Eisenhower generously agreed to Parkes' request, and promised to treat the prisoners fairly as long as they did not participate in the killing of prisoners, provided that they did not participate in the killing of prisoners. They were then escorted to the rear by the 2nd Battalion, where Ritter was pardoned, and Eisenhower was personally ordered by Eisenhower to be relieved of his prisoner of war status because of his involvement in Parkes' plot of the German surrender, and was allowed to join the international service team to serve in the army as a free man, but Ritter refused, and he would go to the United States, where the government would arrange a suitable job, and then wait for the war to end.

"I don't know what I'm going to do in the future, maybe I'll stay in the United States forever, maybe I'll go back to Germany after the war, but it doesn't matter anymore, it's that I'm still alive," Ritter said to Parks as he left. He had some gratitude for Parks. Not only him, but also Ensign Eild and other German soldiers who laid down their arms at that time. Because they have another chance to survive, instead of fighting each other with the Americans on the battlefield where the war is raging.

Colonel Zink personally ordered Captain Parks to return to the reins of Company E. Moreover, another group of reinforcements entered Company E, and their number was again 80 men to 96. But 96 people are not the combat strength of E Company. Their combat effectiveness has not been restored, it is a matter of morale. Although the arrival of Captain Parks was able to make a difference in the brothers' mood, in the end, their morale was weakened by the intense fighting and casualties during this time.

From the time they entered Bastone in December, until now, they have either suffered from defensive difficulties or suffered constant casualties from their brothers during the offensive. They had never had a perfect rest, and even if they had a brief stay at Bastone, it was just like a dying man breathing. All the brothers are looking exhausted, and this is not only the current situation of E Company, but also the current situation of the entire 1O1 Airborne Division.

"Brothers are excited about your arrival" Returning to the battalion headquarters from the cheers of the company brothers, Captain Nickerson smiled at Parks with some emotion, "I didn't expect a company commander to be so popular, to be honest, I'm a little jealous" Nickerson said as he got up and poured a few glasses of wine, and then handed it over.

Parks took a cup, Nickerson handed Winters another one, and then Compton, who had returned to the camp and was waiting for Winters and them, because he had heard that Parks had returned.

"But I'm not as optimistic as you. The brothers fought continuously for a long time, they were tormented by torments and casualties, and they needed to rest. Captain Parks looked at Nickerson and shook his head, his tone full of helplessness, although he had felt the enthusiasm of his brothers in Company E just now, their physical tiredness and tiredness of fighting would also be involuntarily expressed in their eyes and expressions. He is not a panacea, as long as he appears, he can make his brothers more energetic and high-spirited.

"The situation is really not optimistic," Compton echoed when he had just inspected the soldiers in the battalion.

Captain Winters shook the liquid in the wine glass a little helplessly, looked at Parks, and then at Compton, and said with a wry smile helplessly: "Actually, we will get a task soon, I believe that tomorrow, we will be out, tomorrow morning, we will attack the nearby southwest village of Rachaem." The good news is that the battle has been postponed for two days, and we are no longer on the main mission. Colonel Zinke, after you returned, made adjustments to the battalion-sized units that were fighting. ”

"Wow-" Captain Nickerson whistled and laughed, "this is the most correct decision Colonel Sink has ever made." I love the decision."

At 5:3o a.m. the next morning, E Company, which was stationed in the town of Norville, departed. Racham is located in a valley on the right side of the road. The snow-covered land descends slowly towards the village from all sides, giving the impression of attacking from the edge of a saucer to the center. The 2nd Battalion attacked from the south and southwest, while the 1st Battalion on the left made the main attack from the north of the village. The layout of the team is reasonable and progressing steadily.

But the 1st Battalion, which was the main attacker, was sniped in a recess of the snow, and although it was a gentle slope, they did not have an advantage at the heights, and the Germans bombarded them indiscriminately with artillery loaded with white phosphorus shells. This caused the 2nd Battalion to keep approaching the village. Among them, E Company attacked from the southwest and advanced quickly.

"The degree recommendation of E Company is too fast, and the first battalion has not yet come up, and F Company and D Company in the south cannot keep up with their pace. Damn, Buck, let's get D and F companies faster, or Lacey and they'll be alone, and it's dangerous," Captain Winters watched with his telescope as Company E continued to advance, and couldn't help but worry.

"I'll be right away, sir," Compton turned and left, knowing the gravity of the problem.

"Tell Lacey to let his men cut in from the barn over there, there is a natural bunker there, there are no German tanks for the time being, and let them stay there and wait for Company D and Company." Captain Winters added.

"Don't worry, Dick, Lacey is not a reckless man," Nickerson held up his binoculars and comforted him.

Parks was indeed not a reckless man, he knew too much about this battle, and if the degree was slowed down, the Germans would flee from the northeast, thus losing the meaning of destroying the living forces of the German army. And he was to lead the company through the entire village from the southwest, and then block the German retreat in the northeast. You must know that at this time, after the Germans fled, their artillery took advantage of the fact that after the American troops entered the village, they bombarded the village indiscriminately, dumping all the shells in the village, and the large influx of American troops, in the small village, the density was very high, so at least more than 40 people were killed and more than 60 people were injured. It turned a victory into a pyrrhic victory. And the Germans mostly escaped.

"Chief, what do we do now?" Sergeant Tybert hooked up and ran in front of Parks, "Captain Winters asked us to wait here, what is your decision?" As he spoke, he touched his chin with his hand

"We have no choice, we can't wait here to be shelled by the Germans, while the Germans are dragged by a battalion, we quickly cross the border village, and in the northeast corner with the help of a strong wall as a cover, sniper the Germans, they have no tanks, this is our greatest advantage. As he spoke, he beckoned to Lieutenant Spierre and Lieutenant Welfare.

"Lieutenant Spierre, you feint from the left and drag the Germans here, Lieutenant Welfare, you are in charge of covering, I will lead a platoon of people through the village, and then Spear will turn the feint to cover, and Lieutenant Welfare will lead the second platoon through the village." Parks issued a series of battle orders.

"So what do I do?" Lieutenant Spiel looked at Parks.

"You stay here and wait for Company D and F, and join them in attacking the village, we will meet in the village, Lieutenant" Captain Parks patted Spiel on the shoulder, then gestured to a platoon of people, and ordered decisively, "Go, let's go" said quickly and quickly stood up, grabbed his rifle and walked towards the northeast corner of the village.

The Germans didn't care at first, because they didn't think any Americans would cross their entire village, until Parks ran and shot at them. Because Parks was on the side, he fired from a good angle to the German machine-gun positions.

"Bang bang bang-" The M1 rifle made the sound of continuous firing, and the crisp "ding" sound of the magazine popping out. The German machine gunners were killed, and the rest were suppressed by Parkes' barrage of fire.

"Fire, fire," Lieutenant Welfare shouted, "machine gun and mortar cover fire" while Lieutenant Spierre led the movement of three platoons from the left, pinning down the Germans.

Fortunately, when Parks crossed the village, Company E was only sporadically fired at because the Germans were suppressed by fire, especially the machine gunners were killed.

There was a "bang" of gunshots, and one of the last few soldiers suddenly fell to the ground.

"Hale is injured" Li Gaot quickly dragged him, and then dragged desperately to crawl to the low wall, "Doctor, someone is injured." Hale was hit"

"Grenade, Legot," Goneri suddenly yelled at him. At this time, suddenly a German grenade flew over and landed not far from Liegotte's side.

"Damn" Lee Goult lunged forward, crushing Hale under him. With a "boom", the grenade exploded, and the sound of the explosion made Liegaut's ears suddenly "buzz", and he was dizzy, and the people and things around him seemed to be shaking and becoming blurred.

"Legot—" He seemed to hear someone yelling at him, and then there was the faint sound of gunshots firing continuously. A figure rushed in front of him, and then pulled his head up, as if it was Doctor Luo.

"Can you hear me?" Doctor Luo's voice was very loud, and it was yelling close to his ear. He immediately struck a spirit, and then pushed Doctor Luo away vigorously, "Damn, I can hear it, I can hear it, don't make such a loud noise." ”

"Okay, hurry up and crawl away from Hale, he's injured, you're okay, nothing" said Dr. Luo pulled him away, and then began to examine Hale's injuries, he was shot in the neck, his esophagus was cut by a bullet, and then penetrated, but very fortunately, his arteries and trachea were not severed.

"You're such a lucky bastard" Goneri also rushed over and yelled at Legot. Then there was another barrage of fire in the direction where the grenade had just been thrown.

The Germans, realizing that their retreat might have been occupied by the Americans, began to become unstable and began to storm the northeast. And at this time the second platoon of Lieutenant Welfare also rushed over, and the forces of the defense in the northeast direction were strengthened. And the pressure on the first battalion was also reduced a lot, and they began to move forward.

Now everything is simpler. Because the retreat in the northeast corner was occupied by the American army, the balance of battle began to tilt heavily in favor of the American army