Bunker Time

Bunker Time

When things are quiet on line, it is a time to savor.  The war fades fast when your grabbing illusions. Memories, fantasies—this war aint real—it’s just a bad dream.  Good time to be thinking about home.  Laying on the top bunk trying to get some sleep.  Pretty boring, huh.  Not in this GI’s life.  It feels great.  Sure beats blood and guts. Sand filtering down from the ceiling when an incoming round got too close.  I had all the comforts of home. A sack, a roof over my head and sand in my face..  Maybe I could actually get some real sleep.  It’s been a quiet week.  Things were slowing down.  Time to think about getting laid on R&R in Tokyo coming up in a few weeks.  I drifted asleep.

Sunday afternnon, running cross country in the arboretum.  Lou was there waiting for me by a tree, smiling, blond hair flowing in the breeze, a torrid kiss, a frenzy to make love, on a leafy spot, soft, inviting nurturing.

Rosie was on the phone.  Sgt Grole was sitting on some sandbags cleaning his rifle, muttering to himself.  He never seemed comfortable when it was quiet.

“Ok corporal Graff, just a sec. let me talk to Sgt Grole.  This is Graff, he says he’s freezing his ass off, laying in the snow in freezing temperatures is a bitch.  His ambush is well set up. Everything is god damned boring, scary but boring.”  Rosie reported.

“Tell that fucking frenchie’ frog its better than getting his ass shot off.”  snarled Grole.  “I’m going out to check the perimeter.”

“The Patrol is hit, I can hear the gunfire!!” shouted Rosie.  “Its Graff.  He wants back up now.”

Grole was back in a second strapping on his gear.  Rosie,  get on the phone to the squad learder of the second and third squads.. Were moving out.” ordered Grole.

Rash what is this, not just a spot but spreading. all over my body.  Oh my God it’s poison ivy.  I called Lou, she was half laughing, half crying. It hurt so bad but it hurt so good.

I was rudely awakened by the noise immediately below me and putting on my flak jacket on the way down.

“Rosie, let me talk to Draff.”

I grabbed the telephone. “Draff what is going on” I asked.

Draff came back “were overrun, looks like a company size,  I’ve called artillery in artillery.  It’s coming in now.”

I could hear the explosions, could hear the confusion, the gunfire, could sense the threatening shadows.  I knew there were casualties because I could hear the screams and cries for “medic medic”.  Our ambush was 15 people.  Draff was talking about possibly one hundred enemy attacking them..

I shouted over the telephone to Draff “The backup patrol should be there in a few minute. Sgt Grole is coming out with the rest of the platoon, Battalion is sending some Ethiopian’s from one of their patrols near you.

Graff shouted back “A few minutes shit, we ain’t got that much time.  I’m too busy to talk.  Don’t really know what is going on, but… “ cursing in French,. I shouted back “You can do it. Close in the perimeter. Don’t let them penetrate. Help will be there quickly to give you some help.”

“Yes sir, I’m glad your on it. We will do the best we can”

“Draff we can bail you out.  I’m coming out with more men from company.  Just tighten up and hold on. The chinks may run if they sense that your backup is big enough to give them trouble.  I am asking Battalion to get the Ethiopians in back of the enemy force attacking you. If they think they can be surrounded, they may back off.”

I was trying to pump Draff up anyway I could. The radio was silent..  I knew that Grole and three squads, twenty men, would not be enough.  How fast would the Ethiopians get there?  Gotta get more help from company and follow Grole out.  But how much could he get from a company already stretched thin.  Angie Digereo the new company commander, gave him another squad, nine men, and said  “Smith find a way to get those men back anyway you can”

I muttered to myself “Shit, we don’t know how many chinks are out there or where they are’.  Just trying to get out to Draff without shooting at own own people is going to be real tough. No way to organize this thing. Rely on your leaders to make good decisions.”

“Rosie, you getting any information over that phone” I asked.

“No word from Draff, but Grole just reported that he is being ambushed by a chink patrol about half way out.”  Rosie reported.

“Shit ,Rosie, keep trying to get in contact with Draff” I said.

I spoke to my Company Commander, “Angie if this is really company size and they have a blocking patrol to flank it, there must be a reason. Where are they going?”

Digereo agreed “no sense waiting, I better talk to Battalion.”

Talkings’ for shit, I thought. Moving out was the only thing I could do at my level. Capt Digereo would take care of what was going on here. He’s worried about his own perimeter. I was lucky he gave me those few men.

“Rosie, get somebody to help.  Bring the field telephone and a lot of wire and a radio and a backup radio and come with me.”

I talked to the squad leaders “ tell the men to grab some rations and plenty of ammo and grenades. If we do get through, Draff will be nearly out of ammo.  Make sure the machine gunner and the BAR Man has plenty of ammo.  Let the other men carry the extra. Those automatic weapon guys will need it. And give the bazooka to Sgt Harris. Tell him I want to see him.”

“Yes Sir” Rosie said, he was excited and scared.  He muttered to himself “How am I gonna’ carry all this stuff, I ain’t no mule”

But he was also proud that I had some confidence in him.  Sgt Harris walked in.  His men were assembled just outside the bunker. He had heard most of what I had told Rosie.

He said  ”Rosie, Cpl Curtis will help you out.  He is the assistant squad leader and is right outside the door in the trench.”

Harris pretty well knew the situation.

I said, “We will be aggressive.  Move out as fast as we can. Graff needs help in a hurry. Have your point man follow the trail out of the trenches and then move directly toward the fire fights.  You stay with me and Rosie.  He has the comm. equipment.  There are so many different elements out there, we will have to rely on our guys to communicate if they can.  When we make contact we will try to make us look bigger than we are. And that will just be any way we can at the moment”.

Just as he was about to leave, Captain Digereo came in and said “Good News. that Ethiopian patrol is not big, fifteen men, but you know hose guys at night, there damn good.If anyone can break up that chink bunch, they can.  Battalion thinks the Chinese are are trying to get to the low saddle approaching the Ice Cream Cone, and then try to overrun the outpost.  Pretty gutsy, but Smith we are right in the middle of it.  Just luck that your ambush patrol disrupted there plans.  This is one time we did something right.  This is what ambush patrols are for.  But be careful, there may be other chink ambush patrol waiting for you.”   I spoke to Corporal Greff “You stay here and keep trying to get in touch with Draff.  And keep in touch with us,and the Captain.”

Dreff wanted to come. He was closest of friends with Draff.  They had fought together in the underground in WW II, but he new that communication liason not only critical but very difficult to keep coherent given the equipment they ere using.  he comforted himself by knowing that Draff would take care of himself.  Grole was being stymied by theChink ambush.  He knew he could handle it, but it delayed him from getting to Draff.  He had communications.  He knew that Lt Smth was on the way and so were the Ethiopians.  But against a company size chink ambush patrol and another ambush  patrol keeping him busy, whew.  Like shoveling shit against the tide.  No word from Draff was a bad sign.  It was a question of time!!

Draff wondered how his men could put up a fight.  This is bad he thought.  Telephone line was cutand still trying to get the radio operating. The intensity of the fight was dying down a little.  He thought he saw a firefight to the rear of the Chinese[it was the Ethiopean patrol].  He could also thought he could see a firefight back toward the American trenches[that was the ambush Grole was in].  He was hoping it was help, and a lot of it and soon.  He had no communication. He really had no idea of what was happening except he was damn busy with his own fight, trying to survive.

Grole broke through the ambush and moved on Draffs’ position. I kept the chink ambush busy.  Grole and Draff exchanged passwords.

The first words role had for Draff was”you fucking son of a bitch.  How many times do I have to save your ass.  When this is over I’m coming to Paris and I want you to get me laid , different woman, every two hours.”

Draff muttered something that he thought was very funny to him, in French. This was not over yet.  The Chinese attack resumed with high intensity.  The Ethiopeans were on the radio. They thought  that they could break through, but was not sure where the American Patrol was.  The firefight seemed to be everywhere.  Grole answered “Just come through, we will hold our fire as much as possible.  If you can get through we have a chance. If the chinks do we got big problems.  Grole made things sound simple. The Ethiopians showed.  At about the same time, I was on the perimeter with the password.  The Chinese moved back into the night at least for the time being.  I got on the horn with Digereo

Capt Digereo said “form a detachment and try to bring the wounded and dead in.  I will have a unit go out to meet them. But keep the main body including the Ethiopeans in position. Well done.  Battalion is still not sure about what is happening”.

“Sgt Drole use the least wounded to bring in the dead and wounded.  Sgt Harris take someone from our patrol and search our ambush position.  I’m sure we left wounded there.  I will help the Ethiopians.  They have dead, wounded and missing.  If we have to go out and get them, that is what we will do.  They saved our asses. Where is the Ethiopian in command?”

Incoming fire put everyone’s nose in the snow.   The perimeter returned fire. It was not heavy or sustained small arms. Just harassing.

“Nothing but trouble tonight” I thought.   “Sgt Grole, dawn will be breaking soon and if the chinks haven’t left the valley by then, we will splatter them with artillery all the way home.”

“Yes Sir, mighty good feeling. but I gotta’ see to those wounded” replied  Grole.