Jump: Into the Valley of the Shadow by Dwayne Burns

Author:Dwayne Burns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781935149941
Publisher: Casemate
Published: 2006-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

JUMP

Nine

We ran for the lights and shot from the hip.

As the battle for Nijmegen unfolded in the first three days of Market-Garden, the 508th saw companies fighting at Beek, Wyler and Ber en Dal. Our 3rd Battalion’s fight in Beek with F Company support was waged with plenty of Germans other than the ones we had chased from the hill. In fact, our platoon was lucky to sit somewhat quiet for most of a day in the orchard while the others had their hands full in town. However, our own job was very important because we were keeping anyone off their backside. The Germans soon realized that our command of the high ground was a big asset and they started sending in artillery. It didn’t come our way very often but they seemed to cover the whole hill at one time or another and some guys took a good hammering. Likewise, they never brought forth any sizeable ground troops like the force that we had driven off with that crazy charge.

We could tell when the Germans were ready to hit the town because from our position we could see the enemy entering from the north end and I’d radio down a warning. After a couple of hours of weapons fire, we could also see the Jerrys leaving and then knew that the 3rd Battalion had held its own.xxxi

However, the Krauts didn’t ever leave for long; they kept coming back and kept looking for new ways to overrun Beek. And each time they entered one could hear another round of intense fire. Every now and then, a German patrol that didn’t know better would try to come around the east side of town. We’d watch until they were well within range and then our machine guns would open up and send them running back across the flats.

After a day, changes in personnel were made of both men and officers on the hill. I stayed in my position on the hill since there was no other radio operator. Captain Martin and Lieutenant Goodale showed up with a platoon and Lieutenant Polette led the others either into Beek or to establish a position elsewhere on the hill. Lieutenant Goodale joined my position as a platoon leader.

“You’ve got it good up here, Burns,” the lieutenant told me.

“How’s that Sir?” I responded.

“Beek is a mess. They won’t give up.”

“Well it’s been mostly quiet here,” I informed him. “But the Jerrys keep sending patrols and there’s a short shelling every so often. Like you said, they won’t give up.”

Goodale replied, “We’d better keep our eyes open.”

“You got it.”

A scout came back to report he’d seen some soldiers digging in on the northwest side of Beek.

“They’re way off in the distance but right at the edge,” he said, “and I can’t tell if it’s Fritzes or some of our guys.”

“Let’s find the captain,” Goodale said.

We discussed it and got on the radio to learn that newly commissioned officer Vernon Thomas was acting in his first command role. I smiled with some pride and the lieutenant grinned back.

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