Monroe left early the next morning, taking a cargo ship that regularly shuttled between the U.S. and Normandy. Before she left, I told her that if the war ended and I made it through, I'd come back America to find her.Monroe didn't say anything—she just smiled, a smile that felt like goodbye. As I watched her disappear into the distance, I couldn't help but remember the wild night we'd shared. Damn this war, I thought—let it end already!
The training of the new recruits in my Company 3 was almost finished, and we had another day of rest.
The next day, I gathered the company, ready to head to the Clécy region, where we would temporarily fall under the command of the 13th Regiment of the Sixth Army.The troops were lined up neatly.their spirits high. Although many of them had never seen the horrors of the battlefield, the constant victories of the Allied forces had stirred their competitive blood. Perhaps it's in every man's nature to crave battle!
"Gentlemen, welcome to this brave company!" I said, addressing the newly trained soldiers of Company 3. "I won't waste time with speeches, but I promise you, being in my unit means you'll get the chance to show your skills and take it to the Germans!"
A laugh rippled through the ranks.
"Sir, if we get to Berlin, can I take a shot at Hitler's wife?" One soldier said, laughing.
"Oh, my God! You can take a shot at Hitler's wife, but only if you're alive by then!" I shot back.
Laughter erupted again.
"Now, I'm leading you on a rather easy mission, and the code name for it is 'Catching Rabbits.'"
"Sir, who came up with that code name? It's a bit weak!" a soldier yelled.
"I came up with it! Got a problem with it, Private?"
"Sir, can we have something a bit more badass? It'd sound more intimidating!"
"Oh, Private, I've definitely remembered you now! You're going to be in trouble!" I laughed, continuing, "Alright, it's settled then. Let's move out!"
Our equipment for this mission was solid. Unlike the soldiers, I didn't have to march. I was sitting in a brand-new Willys Jeep, watching the American soldiers march in perfect formation. Only one word described how I felt: blissful. Spiritually blissful, physically blissful—after all, the night before Monroe left, I was truly satisfied. Of course, I'm sure Monroe felt the same way.
This mission also came with some extra perks. The Allied command had provided Company 3 with two M8 Greyhound armored reconnaissance vehicles. Though these were less powerful than the German's Puma armored cars, they were still useful, particularly for dealing with German infantry. Given that our task was just to clear out some scattered German forces around Clécy, my superiors were being generous, though what I didn't know was that my former superior, Major Langford, had played a big part in securing this support.
"The message from higher-ups, combined with reports from reconnaissance planes and intelligence officers, says there are an unknown number of Germans operating in the bushes to the north of Clécy!" My radio operator, Samuel T. Brooks, relayed.
"Bring me the map!"
We pulled over, and I spread out the military map on the hood of the Jeep. Looking at the map, I saw that north of Clécy was a large stretch of hills, covered in thick brush, with numerous winding paths crisscrossing like a spider's web. The terrain was complex. No wonder the Germans were still active there. Such a landscape was only manageable with sufficient forces—something the Americans didn't have, especially since Germans weren't inclined to face us head-on.
"We need to find and eliminate their main force. Otherwise, we'll be playing hide-and-seek with the Germans for months, and that's just too much of a hassle!" I said to the officers around me.
"But how do we find the main German force?" Joanner asked, sounding frustrated.
For a moment, the question hung in the air, everyone stumped.
I frowned, my eyes fixed on the map. "The main roads around Clécy are lined with villages. Which unit is stationed at Clécy?"
"That would be the 13th Regiment of the 6th Army. They're in charge of defending Clécy. Right now, their forces are stretched thin, maintaining control of the strategic points and keeping the peace. The Germans are constantly raiding, so they're under a lot of pressure and don't have the manpower to hunt down the scattered German units."
"Alright, let's head to the 13th Regiment and get the situation from them first. We'll figure out the rest later."
The commander of the 13th Regiment was named Matthew Herbert, and seemingly he was tall—nearly two meters. I couldn't help but think that any German soldier who saw him within their line of fire would have a hard time resisting such a big target. If they didn't hit him first, it would be a disservice to such a large frame.
As I was thinking this, Herbert himself walked up with a big smile.
"Captain Carter, I've heard of you! You're the one who made the first breach at Omaha Beach, and then delivered that great victory at Vierville. You did a hell of a job! I'm glad you're here—you're just the man I need!" Herbert's voice was booming, almost as loud as thunder, as he immediately praised my past accomplishments.
"Sir, that was all thanks to General Bradley's leadership and the bravery of the soldiers. I can't take all the credit," I replied humbly.
"No, no, no! That's your credit! Don't argue with me! Since the command sent you here, I'm sure you have some idea about the situation in Clécy. Got any good battle suggestions?"
"Sir, I'm here to follow your orders," I answered.
"Good, very good!" Herbert was pleased by my response.
In war, it's not enough to just follow orders from the command—unless it's a secret mission. You must always follow the orders of the commanding officer in the area. But what I didn't know was that Herbert was planning something that would lead me into a tough spot if it involved a full assault on the northern brush.
"You've arrived just in time! The Germans know my forces are spread thin, so they've gotten more brazen. They keep attacking and sabotaging our roads here in Clécy. Just yesterday, those bastards managed to seize eleven trucks filled with supplies on their way to Avranches!" Herbert continued.
"Things are that bad?"
"Worse! Since we've been stationed here, we've lost over sixty vehicles and nearly a hundred tons of supplies. The Allied command is furious about it!" Herbert's frustration was palpable.
"Forgive my curiosity, but how many German troops are in the Clécy area?"
"Not many—just about a battalion. If they had more, they would've launched a full-scale assault by now!" Herbert answered with confidence.
"Still, that's quite a lot for me!" I said with a grim smile.
"You've got it wrong, Carter! I'm sure you understand why the situation is the way it is. Hobart, bring me the map!" Herbert barked at his aide.
The aide spread the map on the table, and Herbert circled the northern part of Clécy with his finger. "We're holding the main road through Clécy, with control of the key strategic points. The Germans, however, are operating in the northern brush. I don't have the strength to go after them, but they don't have the strength to destroy us either. It's a standoff, but the situation is still more favorable for the Germans—they split into small teams, attacking and then retreating. It's a constant headache for me."
"So, what are you suggesting, sir?" I asked cautiously.
"You guys are here just in time. I'll pull a company from each battalion and send a guide to help you attack the Germans hiding in the northern brush."
"Sir, we're not familiar with the terrain here. Do you have any reconnaissance on the area?"
"Oh, my oversight! I forgot to mention—we've found some local French civilians who live in the area. They can guide you through the terrain."
"Having locals guide us is perfect!"
"But don't rely entirely on them. I'll also send over the intelligence and reports I've gathered. Get a battle plan ready and report it back to me!"
"Yes, sir!" I replied.
Back at camp, I gathered the four platoon leaders and shared what Herbert had said, along with the plan for our next steps.
"There are about a battalion of Germans in the northern brush of Clécy. No heavy artillery. They're scattered throughout the area, but that's where their base is," I briefed them.
"Sounds like a lot of Germans!"The one speaking was my acting second lieutenant platoon leader, Ben Gibbs. The original second platoon leader, Harper, had been injured in a battle on the way to Coutances and stayed behind there to recover."
"They're spread thin," I said. "They won't be able to gather forces. If we keep up the pressure, Herbert's reinforcements will be here in no time, and with air support, the Germans won't have a chance to escape!"
"That makes sense," Joanner added. "Their units are probably operating at the company level, and even if they are a company strong, they won't take us down easily. We can call for air support and flatten that area!"
I couldn't help but think how deep the American soldiers' love for air support ran. It was like their sense of victory was directly tied to having air superiority. Maybe in the future, in places like Vietnam, they'd learn a lesson about the cost of relying too heavily on planes. But that was a war decades away.