American Valor Quarterly Issue 12 - Spring 2015 | 页面 16

National Archives

tracer planes overhead. You could see
them in the sunlight as the sun shone
over the horizon. You could see the
planes going North and South. Even
though I didn’t know exactly where
I was, I knew I had to go northwest,
so I started in that direction. I picked
up the first man about
five minutes into that
walk. I picked up five
more men and they all
thought that I knew
where I was going. We
were all scared, so I had
a quick meeting with
them and said, “Men,
you know I have no
idea where I am so let’s
stop in one of these
farmhouses.” I figured
a farmer could tell me
where we were because
farmers can read maps.
But it was a risk because
we were also told that
any of these farmhouses
could be a hideout for
German officers, which
would turn our escape
into a kill box. But I
thought we’d have to
take a chance. I asked
the others what they
thought and they said,
“Sergeant, we’ll do
whatever you want.”

Next I said, “Brevands?” He said,
“Oui.” I knew we were pretty close.
Next I said, “Carentan?” He started
thumping on the floor, and said, “Oui,
oui.” I thought, “Oh my God, we’ve
got to get the hell out of here right
away. I knew wher