The first platoon was setting up a defense line reinforced by a tank company. It was always nice to have some big guns on your side, even though big guns attract even bigger guns. My crew of three men decided to dig in under a Sherman tank. The three of us worked hard and fast to make one big enough for us. It was comforting to know you had tons of metal overhead.
While we were working, our old buddy Bender was half-heartedly digging a slit trench. Bender was nice to have around, but he was kind of lazy. We were finished with our hole, and he had barely started with his. My crew and I were nice and comfy in our bomb shelter having a little snack, when we heard the unmistakable zipping sound of incoming mortars. I knew enough about mortars to know that this was not a random shelling. We were somebody’s target, and he was having a good run. Of course, we were safe in our deep hole with an iron roof. As we were sweating out the barrage, we heard Bender screaming, “Lordy, Lordy!” Then suddenly, we saw his face above us at the edge of our hole begging us to let him come in. Well, he didn’t wait for an invite, he just threw himself onto our laps. Now hear this, the shelling literally scared the shit out of Bender. Phew!
Editor’s note: Bender is Tec 5 Ernest Bender (37081137).