Uleski and First Sergeant Harrert met the personnel carrier as it pulled up next to 66. “First Sergeant, when did you get here? Is C Company here too?”
“I’ve been here for about fifteen minutes. I haven’t seen C Company since last night. In fact, after I left the column, I didn’t see anyone in the battalion until I came up to Pierso and 33.”
“What do you mean, you left the column? Why did you leave the column?”
“Well, sir, it’s like this,” Harrert began in a tone of voice that betrayed the frustration he felt over how things had played out during the road march. “We weren’t on the road an hour before the company we were following made a wrong turn and began to go in circles, traveling along dirt roads, through side streets in villages where the M-88s got stuck, and on and on for two hours. At one of our halts, while we were waiting for an M-88 to back up after becoming stuck on a street that was too narrow for it to pass and find an alternate route around, I went up to the captain leading the column and asked him if he knew where he was. When he showed me a spot on his map that was two map sheets to the west of where we really were, I tried to explain to him he was wrong. Well, it had been a long, hard night for him and he wasn’t about to listen to an obnoxious NCO. He told me to get back to my track and get ready to roll. That’s when I said to myself, “Raymond, to hell with this shit. I’m going to find the company.” So I went back, pulled my track, the ambulance track, and the M-88 out of column, and took off looking for you.” Pausing, he dropped his gaze and took to shaking his head. “I’m here to tell you, sir, that boy had his head lodged so far up his third point of contact that I doubt he knows we left.”
“Well, I really wish you could have brought C Company with you,” Bannon opined. “Even so, it’s good to have you here. You’re the first good thing that’s happened all day. Besides, you’re just in time for the attack.”
Uleski, who had been eyeing the platoon leaders and wondering why they were so glum, snapped his head around toward Bannon, “Do what? Attack now? Without the rest of the battalion?”
Bannon knew the platoon leaders had heard everything that had gone on between him and the colonel. They were now waiting to see how he was going to deal with the nightmare they’d been handed.
Bannon returned their expectant gaze with one he hoped did not betray his true feelings. It was going to take a lot of finesse to convince them and Uleski that they could pull it off. But if he could do it in the manner he had settled on without any further interference from battalion, they just might have a fighting chance. With all the positive enthusiasm he could generate, given the task ahead of him, he began issuing new orders.
“Gather around and listen up, gents, while I tell you how we’re going to skin this cat,” Bannon muttered with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. “The situation and the conditions for the first part of the operation, the attack on LOG, are still the same. If anything, we have improved the odds.”
Ignoring the quizzical looks this comment resulted in on the face of his platoon leaders, Bannon pressed on gamely. “We’ve had a break, bore-sighted the guns, checked the tracks, had breakfast, and got a chance to see the objective and our axis of advance. Team Bravo is in position and ready to support us. So we will go as we had planned.”
Pausing, he looked from face to face to see if his upbeat prelude had done anything to banish some of the skepticism his initial announcement had resulted in. Though he could tell none of them were totally convinced, at least they were listening.
“Lieutenant Harding, you will start the move by bringing your platoon up the road. As before, your platoon will be in the middle with my tank hanging onto your far right track. The two tank platoons will start their move when the Mech Platoon comes up even to them. Both tank platoons will move out in an echelon formation. Second Platoon, you’ll refuse your right. Third Platoon, refuse your left. When we get out in the open between those two tree lines, the whole Team will pivot on 2nd Platoon, move through the gap, and head for Objective LOG. As we move on LOG, I want to give the village of Lemm a wide berth, just in case the Russians are in there. So don’t crowd the 2nd Platoon.”
“Lieutenant Unger, I want you to contact your guns and have them locked, loaded, and ready to pound LOG the instant we receive fire. All you should have to do is yell shoot. Don’t wait for me or anyone else to tell you. Just do it.”
“Lieutenant U, as 3rd Platoon is short a tank, I want you to team up with Pierson and play wingman. That way you won’t be so obvious hanging out there all by yourself in the center. Once we’re on LOG, we’ll size up the situation before we roll on to Objective LINK. If no one comes up to cover our move, 3rd Platoon will take up positions on the far side of LOG and over-watch the move of 2nd Platoon, followed by the Mech Platoon. We will move up onto LINK as planned with 3rd Platoon coming up on order. I’ll be between the Mech and 2nd Platoon. Do you have any questions?”
The platoon leaders hesitated as they looked at Bannon, each other, then back to Bannon. As one, they all shook their heads.
“All right then, Lieutenant Harding, I want you to start your move in twenty-five minutes. I have exactly 0835 hours. Let’s roll.” The platoon leaders saluted and went their separate ways. The XO and first sergeant stayed.
Uleski was the first to speak. “Are we going to be able to pull this off?”
“Well Bob, like I said, as far as the first part of the attack, if anything, we’re in better shape. It’s the second part that’s shaky. It’s my intention to take my time going from LOG to LINK, if we go at all. The longer we take, the better the chances are that the rest of the battalion will close up. If we’re hit hard getting onto LOG, I’m going to hold at LOG until the battalion commander either moves up Team Bravo to support, or Delta Company comes up. I think that’s the only way we can play it.”
“Agreed. But once we’re out in the open, the other people may not like us taking one of their hills. You know how possessive the Russians are of real-estate once they take it.”
“Yeah, well, that’s why I said we are going to have to play it by ear. I don’t intend to jump out beyond LOG on our own unless I’m sure we can do so and be around to talk about it tonight. And if it comes to pass you find yourself in command of the team, I expect you to do the same. Use your discretion. Clear?”
“Clear, boss. Got any more cheerful news you wish to share with us?”
“No, none that I can think of. If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
With that, Uleski turned and headed for 55. Bannon then turned to Harrert.
“First Sergeant, there are some people over there in those woods belonging to the Scout Platoon of the 2nd of the 93rd Mech. Take your track, the medic track, and the 88 over there and let them know what we’re about to do. With the way everything else has been going this morning, I doubt if anyone else has coordinated with them. If there are mines or some kind of danger that they know about that are going to cause us problems, get on the radio and call me ASAP. Stay there until we get up on LOG, then close up on us on LOG if and when you can.”
“I don’t have the 88 with me right now. I left it with 33. But I’ll take the medic track and get moving unless you have something else.”
“No, that about covers it. See you on LOG.”
Bannon had little doubt his positive attitude and confident spiel did little to relieve the concerns and apprehensions his platoon leaders had about the upcoming attack. He certainly hadn’t sold himself. Be that as it may, he concluded grimly, with twenty-two minutes to go before the Mech Platoon began to move, there was nothing more he could do but to mount up and wait. As he did so, the crew of 66 watched him. They had heard the orders and, like the platoon leaders, didn’t look very convinced. It seemed, Bannon sighed, the old saying You can’t fool all the people was true.