The next US tanks in line were not so easily destroyed, and two hits were shrugged off by the lead Pershing, its own 90mm seeking out and killing one of the reversing T-34’s.
Backing up at speed, the other T-34 nearly made it to safety but a 76mm shell tore off its nearside track. The disabled tank was ripped apart by numerous strikes, turret separating from hull as it exploded spectacularly.
Another 85mm shell ricocheted off the lead Pershing, a modest silver scar revealing its impotency.
The Pershing hit back, the shell passing within millimetres of the gun itself but failing to strike metal, hurtling into the sky beyond without noticing that it had obliterated two of the crew as it went.
Bathed in the essences of their dead comrades, the horrified gunners broke and ran.
The surviving 85mm engaged the lead tank, adding a second scar alongside the first.
‘C’ Company’s mortar section dropped their shells right on the money, twisting flesh and metal with ease and knocking out the defenders last weapon of note.
The Lieutenant commanding the defending infantry ordered a hasty withdrawal, and the ridge was vacated.
The Nisei infantry pushed forward, both companies coming under fire from stragglers but keeping up the pressure, conscious of the limited amount of daylight available for their needs.
The Soviet commander had launched his own attacks at 1900 hrs, intending to compress Crisp’s position and pushing his perimeter back further from any possible rescue attempt.
On the ridge line south-west of Eggenthal, soldiers from the 4th Guards Mechanised Corps threw a handful of the 101st troopers out of the ‘Good Night’ Farm, a prominent range of buildings that commanded both the ridge and overlooked the Eggenthal-Oberhelden road.
The modest but impressive looking Red House sat two hundred metres south of route 12, and was a vital position, whichever uniform you were wearing.
It was now in the possession of the infantry of 4th Guards Mechanised Corps, but they had paid a heavy price to displace the defending buffalo soldiers of King Company.
This was not going according to planning, as Crisp had banked on retaining the Red House, and using Goodnight Farm as a start point for his own push towards linking up with Petersen’s force.
A swift orders group was called and found Crisp fired up and ready for business.
“OK, the Reds have fucked up plan A. Here’s plan B.”
He had pencilled in his plan on the map and used the markings to pass on his orders.
He started with the Item Company Commander from the 370th.
“Your boys simply must take it back and hold it, Abraham. We can’t have the enemy sat there covering this road.”
Crisp emphasised the road he meant, the one down which it was intended to evacuate all the wounded.
The wounded captain understood perfectly, his facial wound restricting him from anything other than an indistinct ‘yes sir’.
Abraham Isaiah Johnson was descended from a line of black soldiers, the first of which had fought with the 54th Massachusetts, surviving the debacle at Fort Wagner, only to fall at Boykin’s Mill on 18th April 1865, in one of the last engagements of the Civil War.
“I will give you some mortars, and you can have first call on any artillery Petersen can provide.”
Moving quickly on, Crisp brought in Reeves of George Company.
“Bill, you leave a platoon behind in town to support our friends in King Company,” he nodded at the black officer who sat waiting his turn.
“Keep your right flank tight on Abraham’s boys and help him if he needs it ok? But, your job is to open the road here, all the way to this point,” Crisp redrew a small cross in a heavier hand.
“No further forward than that. Beyond that is an artillery free fire zone. Clear?”
“Crystal, Boss.”
The first time Johnson had heard the expression he wondered if it was some intended sleight but now he knew it was standard fare for the Eagles troopers. However, he couldn’t bring himself to follow suit.
Captain Williamson of 370th’s King Company was next in line.
“Ben, again, leave a platoon behind in your positions. Hang on tight to Bill’s flank here. I want you to sweep the whole ridge up to here and not beyond. Stay inside the road line, probably best to stay inside the wood line. Support the attack on ‘Good Night’ from the ridgeline here, but I need you to take and hold this ground here as a priority.”
Crisp tapped the gentle curve of the woods, sat next to and commanding the important link road.
“Yes Sir.”
Turning to the next man in line, Crisp knew he was dealing the officer a bad hand but someone had to do it.
“JJ, you get the farm. Bring everyone you have. I will give you HQ’s mortar and machine gun platoons too, but you have to take the farm.”
1st Lieutenant Timmins appreciated the extra help, but Crisp was not finished.
“I will also come up to you as soon as things in town are sorted, but at the start it’s all yours.”
The normal commander of Easy Company was an experienced Captain, presently lying on a stretcher in the battalion aid post, both legs amputated below the knees; one by the surgeon’s scalpel, the other by Soviet shrapnel.
Crisp would have preferred to use George or Fox Company but could not spare the time to reorient his forces.
That left Captain Gosling of Fox Company and 1st Lieutenant Muller, the latter placed in command of all the battalion elements holding Eggenthal itself.
“I am leaving you two with most of the transport so you can get the hell out on signal. Until then, hold the line, end of story.”
Crisp relaxed.
“Rocky, you and your element are responsible for ensuring we leave nothing of value behind. Do your thing.”
The grinning Master-Sergeant’s grin said all that needed to be said, so Crisp moved on.
“OK then. Codeword’s are the same, even though Ivan has messed with our original plan. Routes of withdrawal are the same.”
Gosling proffered a lucky strike and the pause as Crisp lit it cued others in for their own smokes.
“I must remind you, we risk friendly fire here. Purple smoke on your location as soon as you breakthrough and make sure your troopers understand that Petersen’s men are coming, and where their stop line is expected to be.”
Gruff replies and nods showed that message was received.
“We’ve been handed a tough duty folks, but we will get out of this. Clearly, General Taylor thinks our scrawny hides are worth saving, and I happen to agree with him.”
The genuine laughter of his officers told Crisp much about the way they were feeling, but he noted that Timmins had not joined in. The young officer’s face was composed, and yet Crisp could sense the man was close to the edge.
A moment’s doubt crept into his mind, a sudden yearning to install another, more proven officer to command,
Crisp stayed his hand, knowing that Timmins could do the job and reminding himself that he would back him up.
“Stay within the plan. No gung-ho antics. Listen for your orders and react immediately. If things don’t go to plan then we will have to improvise. No matter what, this force will be the right side of the red line tonight.”
He stated it confidently, as firing erupted from the line on the edge of Eggenthal.
“Questions?”
More than one of the officers looked towards the area held by Fox Company as they shook their heads in answer.