Chapter Twenty-Nine
February 5 Morning
None of them paid any attention to the sound of the airplane. Flight Sergeant Steutsel had been called in to his superior officer and his morning schedule revised. Instead of taking off on another flight to the south, his planes were to be used to search for a German halftrack to the southwest. Vectoring out over the desert, his four planes soon lost sight of each other. As he was scanning the ground, he spotted a halftrack that was stopped, with three camels next to it. He buzzed it and saw an Arab pulling cases out of the bed. “Obviously looting it, and no Germans in sight,” he thought to himself. He circled around again, and with guns blazing, cut down the Arab looter. He radioed back to his base, “Mission accomplished,” and flew back to his base.
About three hours later, Angelique, Drew, and Dane faced each other at the American base. They all had been patched up by the doctors, and were now saying their goodbyes. Angelique clung to Drew’s arm with a strained look on her face; she knew that she had broken Dane’s heart. “Chéri, thank you for bringing Jesus to me, thank you for saving my life, thank you,” she waved her free arm in the Gallic manner, “thank you for everything.”
Dane’s face was set, but nothing could hide the pain in his eyes. At her words, he looked at her and his face softened. “God bless,” he said huskily,“ God bless you.” He looked at Drew, “God bless both of you. I am so glad both of you are saved.” He couldn’t go on.
Drew cleared his throat, “Yes, thank you for sharing Jesus with me too, and for saving my life, and everything else that you have done. I have a few things to wrap up, and I will need to see you in a few days. What is your outfit?”
“Second platoon, King Company, 26th Infantry,” Dane answered automatically. Drew held out his hand, and was relieved when Dane took it. “I’ll see you later, Dane.”
Dane turned away, and as he walked away with his catlike walk, Angelique looked after him with an unfathomable look in her dark eyes, “He needs a wife that…,” she paused, searching for the right words.
“That can tame him?” Drew finished her sentence softly.
“Non!” She shook her head vehemently, “Non, never tame.” She had the same unfathomable look in her eyes as she gazed at his disappearing figure. “He needs a wife that…can equal him. I could never be that woman! Mon Dieu,” her eyes grew big as she softly added, “What a woman she would be!” She turned and buried her head in Drew’s shoulder again, much to the envy of those around them.
Six days later, Drew was limping through a camp, looking for a certain person. He had been told that his quarry was here, and sure enough he found him. Although Dane was surrounded by men, somehow he seemed utterly alone as he sat and cleaned his gun. Drew stopped and dropped a packet into his lap. Dane looked up, and a smile crossed his lips. “Drew, I mean Captain Matthews,” as he scrambled to his feet and saluted. Drew saluted back, “Drew is correct, and it is good to see you again, Dane.”
Dane picked up the packet, “What is this?”
“Open it and find out.”
Dane did, and found sergeant’s stripes, a silver star, and a purple heart. He stared at them and then at Drew with a twisted smile, “So you get the girl and I get these.”
“Don’t knock it, Dane. It was entirely due to you that we completed the mission and escaped.” He pointed to the items, “This was the least that I could do.”
Dane gave a more natural smile, “Well, thank you for these.”
“I hear that your squad is being rebuilt.”
“Yes, and then it’s back to the front.” Dane held out his hand and Drew gripped it thankfully. “Thank you again for telling me about Jesus, for saving my life, and for making me a better officer.”
“What?” Dane was surprised. “What do you mean?”
Drew gave a wry smile, “I wasn’t a very good officer when you met me, but you taught me how to command.”
“How did I do that?”
“By example.”
Dane shook his head, “I didn’t show you anything that you didn’t already have. What are your plans?”
“Angelique and I are going to Algiers and get married there and then it’s back to intelligence work for me.” Drew waited a moment, “No warnings that if I don’t treat her right, you will come back?”
“No,” Dane grinned, “I know that you will treat her right, and besides,” his grin became twisted, “she wouldn’t want me anyway.”
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Historical Note
When Hitler declared war on the United States in December, 1941, he and the German High Command knew that it would take the Americans a year to put an army in the field. They also knew from historical fact that it would take another year before that army would become battlefield proficient. The soldiers of every other country in the world had to fight for a year before the soldiers learned to fight and survive on the battlefield. The Americans landed an army in North Africa on November 8, 1942, eleven months after Pearl Harbor.
When Rommel routed the Americans at The Battle of Kassarine Pass, he told his tankers to ’Put your tanks in road gear.’ The experienced general knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that the green Americans would not stop running until they reached the sea. Instead, although they ran for up to fifty miles, individual sergeants, corporals, and privates stopped running, organized themselves, and turned and faced the enemy. These impromptu groups slowed down the German advance, allowing time for the Allied reinforcements to arrive. Rommel was incredulous. Although he was urged by other generals to keep attacking, the wily Desert Fox knew that he was beaten and retreated to his original positions.
After the battle, the Americans removed many incompetent commanders and replaced them with able and aggressive men; the most notable exchange was the Second Corps General Fredendall being replaced by General Patton. When the American army fought again in just a few weeks, they gave a very different account of themselves. What it took the soldiers of Britain, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Russia, France, and every other country in the world a year to learn, the American soldiers learned in one battle, The Battle of Kassarine Pass.
About the author
Dwayne Straw grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He has always enjoyed reading books, with his mother starting to read to him when he was a baby. As a young teenager growing up in the Sixties, one of his favorite places was the Young Adult Room at the local library, where he discovered authors like Joseph Altscheler, Robert Heinlein, and Andre Norton.
During junior high school, he wrote a series of science fiction stories about a soldier and his adventures fighting in China, Mars, and space. He never wrote again until recently, when he remembered those stories and sat down and started writing the Dane Shaw Adventures.
He accepted Jesus as his savior when he was five years old one hot summer day when he and his sister started asking their mother questions about God. She stopped ironing and sat down with a Bible and showed them the answers. They both were saved then. As an adult he has served in his local church as an usher, Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and deacon.
He currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife and two children.
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Excerpt from Steadfast in Sicily
Book two of the Dane Shaw Adventures
It was almost an hour later when Dane kneeled beside Lieutenant Jennings, the last surviving officer, and saluted him. The lieutenant had multiple wounds, but had refused to be made unconscious, preferring to help organize the company and suffer the pain. He was one of the good ninety day wonders. But the pain had got to the point where the medic had had to give him another shot of morphine a few minutes ago.
“What’s the story?” he wheezed.
“I’ve got one of my men who understands some German interrogating the prisoners, but we’re not going to learn much more. Apparently, we were spotted by the Germans and a platoon ambushed us. It looks like they suffered about 20 casualti
es before breaking off.”
The lieutenant grimaced in pain, “I heard you caused 17 of them.” Dane shrugged and went on, “There are guards on each side of us, and scouts are out looking for a place to take our wounded.” He mopped his face, “If we stay down here, they will cook. There has to be farmhouses or other buildings nearby.
“As for casualties, the company’s been beheaded; Captain Carter, Lieutenants Galow and Wilson are dead, and the medic says Lieutenant Oosterkamp probably won’t survive his wounds. The First Sergeant and all four technical sergeants are down, as well as seven other sergeants and five corporals. We have a total of 14 dead and 36 wounded, one third of the company.”
Jennings looked at Sergeant Shaw through half closed eyes. The morphine shot that the corpsman had given him had taken effect, and his mind tended to drift away. He had noticed that when it was discovered that all the officers were down, it was Shaw who started issuing orders that were effectual and economic and brought organization out of the chaos. His mind drifted back to the first exploding mortar. Either it was incredibly bad luck or very good aiming, but it had exploded right in the middle of the meeting called by Captain Carter, and the second had landed close by. They had devastated the command structure of the company. He could still hear the screams of the wounded and dying men, and the pain as the shrapnel ripped into his own body.
He forced his mind back to the matter at hand. He had been funneling orders through Shaw up until now, but he wouldn’t be able to hold up much longer. “Sergeant,“ he licked his dry lips, “you’re gonna have to take command of the company, you’re the senior surviving sergeant. I suggest we go back to our lines.” He sighed in resignation. He didn’t like it, but he didn’t know what else to do.
Dane pursed his lips, “Since we haven’t seen any other American units, I expect the Germans have plugged the hole in their line and are between us and our lines. Have you had any radio contact with battalion?”
Jennings shook his head, “We haven’t been able to raise them, radio problems again.” He paused, “They could have broken through and be following us.”
Dane shook his head, “We can’t rely on that, we have to assume that we are on our own with a mission to accomplish. By the way, do you know where we are and where the bridge is?”
Jennings looked surprised, “Captain Carter had the only map, didn’t you get it?”
Dane looked grim, “It wasn’t with his body, and I didn’t see it. So am I right to assume we don’t know where we are going?”
Jennings grimaced in pain, “It looks like we can’t go back, can’t go forward, and can’t stay here.” He shot a look at the sergeant, “Maybe you should have a council of war with all the sergeants and see what they think.”
“Sir,” Dane hesitated and then doggedly plowed on, “If I am in command, then I will command. I’m not going to stop and have a vote every time there needs to be a decision made. I’m open to ideas and suggestions, but I will make the decisions.”
Jennings looked at the determined face and was satisfied that Shaw had passed his first test. He sagged, “Do you know what you are going to do?”
“Not yet, but God will show me,” Dane replied confidently.
Jennings started drifting out again. What was it Sergeant Shaw had said, something about God? His mind retreated into a drug induced haze, blocking out the pain.
Just then Corporal Winans came up, followed by Private Braun. Winans saluted, “Lieutenant, burial detail is finished digging the graves.” He stared at the lieutenant’s white face and closed eyes. Dane turned to him, “Lieutenant Jennings has turned the company over to me.” He sighed, “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes for the burials.”
“Yes, Sarge,” Winans hurried away. Dane turned to Braun, “Did you get anything more out of the prisoners?”
Braun shook his head, “Just names, ranks and serial numbers mostly.”
“How about any other Germans units around, like their company?”
Braun hesitated, “I’m not sure, the company might be close by. Somebody said something before he was hushed up that might have meant that they were an advance platoon for their company.”
“Oh no!” Dane moaned, “So we might be attacked by a company at any time!” He looked around, “We have got of get out of here quick! Go join your squad for now; I’ll probably have to detach you for guarding the prisoners later. Let Corporal Gates know.” As Braun left, Dane went in search of a sergeant.
“Sergeant Zimmerman!” Gaylord Zimmerman looked up as he heard his name called and saw Sergeant Shaw coming towards him. He finished the instructions that he was giving a corporal and turned to Shaw, who wasted no time in getting to the point. “Lieutenant Jennings has turned the company over to me. I’m putting you in charge of First Platoon, Sergeant Grissom over the Heavy Weapons Platoon, Sergeant Lassiter over the Second Platoon, and Sergeant Jones over the Third. There could be a Kraut company nearby and if there is, the Germans that ambushed us have warned them about us. I need you to send a detail ahead and find a place where we can take the wounded out of this riverbed, and also a place where we can defend ourselves from an attack.”
Zimmerman looked at Shaw and thought about what he had just said. He was a lumberjack foreman from Minnesota and well used to keeping men in line. Lassiter was a tough Texan, Grissom was a heavy weapons sergeant and the natural choice there, and Jones was the senior surviving sergeant of his platoon. Good choices all around. He nodded, “I’ll send out a squad immediately. Anything else?”
Dane looked around, “I should have a conference with the four of you, and I’ll need to round the others up. Do you know where they are?”
Zimmerman looked at him, “Um, you could send the runners to find them.”
Dane looked at him blankly and then shook his head in self-disgust. “You’re right, I didn’t think about them.” He looked around, “Do you know where they are?”
Zimmerman chuckled, “I’ll send them out. Where and when do you want to meet?”
Dane looked around and pointed to a big rock at the top of the slope, “Meet there in ten minutes,” he looked at his watch, “at 1045 hours, I need some fresh air. Now I’ve got to hold the funeral.” Dane moved off, fumbling his well-worn Bible out of his pocket. When he got to the grave site, with some of the men standing around, he started reading from Psalms 104, starting at verse 13: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
When Braun climbed the slope to return to his squad, he met Conners standing watch. “Did you learn anything from your cousins?” Conners asked, his ever-present cigarette drooping from the corner of his mouth. Infuriated, Braun swore and turned on him, “Don’t call me a Kraut!” he yelled and swung a punch that caught the surprised Conners in the face, giving him a bloody lip and smashing his cigarette. Instantly the two men started punching each other. Braun dropped his rifle and swung a right at Conners’ head. Conners ducked, the blow missed and then hit Braun in the face that snapped Braun’s head back.
In a rage, Braun rushed Conners, smothering him with a succession of rights and lefts. Conners put up a desperate defense, trying to block the blows with his forearms as he gave up ground, and then his heel caught on a rock and he tripped and fell down with Braun on top of him. Braun felt hands grabbing him and pulling him off before he could land another blow. Rosario held him while O’Halloran yanked Conners to his feet. Gates came storming up, “What is going on here?”, he stormed, or words to that effect.
“He called me a Kraut,” Braun accused.
“I just asked if he had learned anything from the prisoners,” Conners whined. “I didn’t call him a Kraut.”
Gates looked at both of them in disgust. “If you want to fight somebody, there’s a whole German and Italian army out there, go fight them. Braun, stop being overly sensitive. Conners, get back to your post.” Rosario and O’Halloran released their grips and Conners
wiped his mouth, saw the blood on it, glared at Braun with dislike, and slouched away, pulling out another cigarette. Braun mopped his sweaty face and looked at Gates while the other two went back to their posts. “Sergeant Shaw wanted me to tell you that he’s going to dispatch me to guard duty over the prisoners.”
“Did he say when?”
“No,” Braun shook his head, and then added, “What a mess. We got whipped, a sergeant’s in command of the company, and I don’t think he knows what to do.”
Gates looked at him coldly, “You’ve only been with the squad a couple of weeks, you’ll soon find out that Sergeant Shaw always has a plan. As for being whipped, we’re only whipped if you think so. Now get back to your post.”
Although Dane did not hear what Braun said, he could see what Braun had said echoed in his men as he moved among them. The body language and the side long looks let him know that the men were dispirited by the defeat, and disquieted at being led by a sergeant, and a sergeant that many of them knew little about. Since becoming a sergeant, he had held himself apart from most of the men for personal reasons, and as a result was not well known by them. He could tell some of the men were whipped, but the attitude of many others was summed up by a comment he overheard, “Ambushed by a platoon. A platoon, for crying out loud!” When he gave orders for the wounded to be made ready to be carried out of the riverbed, just the hope of them getting out of the oven that was the riverbed made the men perk up. Many of them weren’t beaten yet, but if he didn’t come up with something soon, they very well could be. If only he knew what to do.
While all this was going on, Tennessee and Hemphill were out scouting for someplace to take the wounded- a farmhouse, empty barn, something. They were about half a mile away from the company and hadn’t seen anything yet. They were climbing a rocky ridge when they heard movement on the other side. They froze, listening, and then Tennessee silently motioned for Hemphill to cover him. He crawled up and slowly peered around a rock, to see a face staring at him from only a few inches away.
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