Lest We Forget. By: Benjamin Fudali, June 10, 2012

Transcription

1 Lest We Forget By: Benjamin Fudali, June 10, 2012 The events described below, happened on a dreary winter s day in the Belgian village of Eupen. It was in this town that the courageous and loyal 1st Canadian Parachute Brigade was locked in battle with the retreating Nazis. Canadian soldiers had to fight extremely hard for Eupen, because it was one of Germany s last stands in Belgium. These courageous soldiers had already fought their way through Normandy and had developed an outstanding reputation at the Western front during the campaign of 1944 since; they had never failed a single mission. Sadly, this time around, the Brigade was heavily outnumbered during this battle. In fact, there were many Canadian soldiers that died or were severely injured in this unfortunate battle. However, after hours of struggle, our motivated soldiers emerged once again victorious, even though all odds seemed to be turned against them. December 21 st, 1944 Private Roger Thompson TAKE COVER!!!, I screamed. Just then, I heard a powerful blast. MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!, ordered Sergeant Pearson. I immediately jumped up and followed him into the war-torn church. Suddenly, he signalled me to stop. He pointed at an enemy sniper upstairs in the left tower. Let s nail him, I whispered. Alright, he replied. You get him while Jones and I watch the door. Quietly, I started to walk upstairs in a crouched position. Suddenly, I heard a quiet sob. I peaked upstairs and caught my enemy reading a letter. He stood up, unaware that I was spying on him, and looked through the window. As he got up, he unintentionally dropped a photograph... It was a picture of a woman! I inadvertently thought of my wife in Kingston. The poor man was probably homesick! But wait, what was I thinking? He was my enemy! We were all homesick! The man probably killed some homesick men himself. I even heard rumours of the Nazis killing innocent civilians in this town. He deserved to die. I grabbed my rifle and aimed at him, but I simply couldn t pull the trigger. Just then, the sergeant walked up behind me and shot the sniper. What s the holdup, kid? Been waiting for you for ages! I was simply speechless. Anyways, he continued, I just got a transmission saying that there are a couple snipers camping at the west end. Think you can handle that?

2 I nodded my head absentmindedly. Good! I ll be in the right tower if you need me. I grabbed my sniper rifle and peeked outside the window. I realized that I wasn t able to do this anymore. I waited for Sergeant to leave. Then, I sprinted downstairs. I could hear him yelling but continued to run out the back door. All I wanted to do was go home, back to my family, my loved ones. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot! I felt a sharp pain coming from my thigh I was hit! Aargh, I moaned, at least I never have to come back to this place again.

3 I was left alone for a while, anticipating my death. I started to get chills. I thought it was all over for me, but wait could it have been? Yes it was! Reinforcements! MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!, ordered one of the reinforcements. Suddenly, he saw me and halted. Hang on son, I gotcha, He said. Then, he called to his friend. Michael, get over here! They pulled me behind the church and started treating my wound. Then, I saw Sergeant Pearson. He sat down beside me and examined my wound. Don t worry son. Just hang on It s only a flesh wound. You ll live, I promise. I managed a smile and responded over-dramatically, I sure hope! He smiled, squeezed my hand and just like that, he left. December 21st, 1944 Sergeant Bryan Pearson Go back to Berlin!, I yelled. Suddenly, a grenade landed right next to me!

4 TAKE COVER!, screamed Thompson. I dived forwards. We needed to get away! I noticed a church, around a hundred meters north. I quickly decided to go for it. MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!, I yelled as I ran towards it. I slowly opened the door and looked around I saw one. I signalled my men to stop and pointed at the enemy upstairs. Let s nail him, whispered Thompson. Alright, I nodded, You get him while Jones and I watch the door. Thompson left. I examined the grey streets. Those buggers were everywhere! Unexpectedly during my examination, Jones nudged me and passed the radio. Hello, this is Squadron B-6 requesting for support Crssh Enemies in the Crssh west of the church Crssh in sector A-4 on the roof. Over Crssh. I wasted no time to respond. Roger, we hear you loud and clear. Support incoming. Damn Krauts, I remember mumbling under my breath. I headed towards the left tower and casually walked upstairs, when I saw the sniper still alive! What s the matter with that boy?, I groaned to myself. I aimed my pistol and shot the sniper. The boy looked at me like I kicked a puppy. I fill in the silence, What s the holdup kid? Been waiting for you for ages! He just stared. Anyways, I just got a transmission saying that there are a couple snipers in the west end. Think you can handle that?, I asked, unsure. He nodded. I left and told Thompson where I d be. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we re home. I mumbled to myself. I waved to Jones and told him that I would be in the other tower. As I casually walked upstairs, I heard Thompson frantically running downstairs. What the, I said, completely surprised. Where do you think you re going private?, I demanded. Get back here! The boy ignored me and continued to sprint outside. I dashed to a nearby window and saw him in the street! THOMPSON, NO!, I yelped. The boy collapsed. He was shot!

5 Even today, I wonder what I should ve done. I couldn t go outside; I would ve been shot within a blink of an eye. What was going through that kid s head? I grabbed my sniper rifle and shot the enemies on the rooftop and realized that there were plenty more rushing through the streets. I started to panic so, I ran downstairs and instructed Jones to open fire. I m not dying without a fight!, I exclaimed. I was about to open fire when, I saw the Nazis retreating! I took another look, this time with my scope, and saw Canadian reinforcements coming from behind! They re flanking them!, shrieked Jones, much like a five year old on Christmas morning. We re gonna live! Just then, I remembered Thompson. I grabbed Jones and shoved him out the door. We have to help em!, I said as I spotted Thompson lying on the ground, in a puddle of blood. I carefully made my way to his position. He was still alive! I examined his wound. Luckily, it wasn t so bad. Though, the poor boy lost a lot of blood!

6 Don t worry son. Just hang on It s only a flesh wound. You ll live, I promise. I tried to cheer him up. Thompson looked up, smiled and replied, I sure hope! I was reminded by a sudden explosion that I had to leave so, I withdrew from the scene, to fight the rest of the battle with Thompson on my mind. December 21 st 1944 Corporal Alfred Jones As we approached the streets, a Stielhandgranate fell dramatically in front of us. Through the smoke, I got a glimpse of Sergeant Pearson near the church. MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!, He ordered. I decided to follow him, although I feared we wouldn t live. Silently, we crept into the old, gothic church. Sergeant suddenly stopped and pointed at an enemy sniper. I didn t want to kill him. I had enough. Thankfully, Thompson volunteered. He immediately left upstairs. Sergeant headed towards the other side of the gigantic wooden church door. I was left to my own devices. I was wondering whether I would return home. I knew that Sergeant was thinking likewise. I tried to remain optimistic. But it was fruitless. I was convinced that my country didn t care about us. They simply don t know what we ve been through, I thought. We, the soldiers of the 1 st Canadian Parachute Brigade, were the only ones to ever know. BOOM!!! I glanced through the window. Another panzer division, I mumbled to myself. I looked again and saw advancing German troops from all directions. My heart pounded wildly. Is this the end? My radio vibrated in my pocket. I handed it to Pearson. He started talking but all I could understand was Support incoming. They ll need a lot better support than us to take on Fritz. I turn to Sergeant and catch him walking away. I was left completely by myself. I figured that no matter what I do, I would likely not survive. I was convinced that I had nothing to lose. At that point, all I wanted was to be remembered as a brave and loyal Canadian soldier. I ll be in the right tower, declared Sergeant Pearson, who unintentionally startled me as he headed upstairs. There was a moment of eerie silence. The inarticulateness, however, was short lived. For, seconds later, I heard Private Thompson frantically running downstairs while Pearson shouted. Thompson exited through the back door and into the street! He was a goner. Then, as if on cue, I heard Sergeant s desperate cry, proceeded by a loud gunshot. I turned from nervous to vengeful. Pearson instructed me to open fire. I unleashed all my inner rage. I expected to be shot within seconds, however Ironically, the Nazis were running away! In the distance, I spotted Canadian reinforcements! They re flanking them!, I cheered. Just then, Sergeant grabbed me and shoved me into the street. I dashed towards the reinforcements to fight with my brothers in arms, glad to be alive and no longer alone.