Warriors (Band of Brothers - Joseph Liebgott)

Chapter 33: Why We Fight

A/N: This chapter and the next are about Concentration Camps. This chapter more so. 

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Within minutes of arriving Winters had a few of the men go on patrol. Mariah was having a smoke with some of the men when Winters ran up to the group.

"Hey guys, we gotta go. The patrol found something."

Everyone looked at each other then quickly followed Winters to the trucks.

They drove for half an hour before Perconte told the truck to stop. Everyone jumped out and walked towards the large gate. Behind the gate stood a large number of men, they were bald, pale, and incredibly thin.

No one could believe what they were seeing. What was this place?

The clang of a chain hitting the ground was heard, the gate was opened and they began to make their way inside. As they did most of the men that were behind the gate clung to it, they were terrified.

As they entered the smell took over everyone's nostrils.

"Oh my god, Dick." Mariah heard Nixon say. Mariah turned to look at him and then to where his eyes were. What she saw would stay with her for the rest of her life; From the barracks more men began to emerge. Everyone stopped and watch them clamber forward, some could barely walk.

One of the men fell to the ground. "Oh!" Mariah yelled before running forward to help him up.

"Are you okay?" She asked helping the man up. He nods then stares at her and then her uniform. He saw the patch on her arm and began running his fingers over it.

"American?"

Mariah nods her head. "Yes." He put his arms around her waist and put his head into her chest. They stayed like for a couple of minutes until the man let go, he looked up at her and thanks her. He lets go and walks towards the soldiers at the open gate.

She turned away and continued walking, quickly wishing she hadn't. In front of her was burnt down barrack, at her feet were the burnt bodies of the people trapped inside. Mariah's legs buckled and she fell to her knees. A hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Winters standing above her.

"Sir," she said standing up.

"Mariah, we need your help with assessing some of the men."

"Yes sir." She followed Winters over to a group of men who were sitting on the ground with soldiers looking them over and giving them water. Joe and Webster were also there helping to translate. He handed her a pair of gloves that some of the medics had brought.

"WEBSTER!" She yelled. "I NEED YOU OVER HERE!"

Webster ran over to her. "Do you need me to translate ma'am?"

"Yes please."

Webster bent down in front of the man and began speaking to him. After a few minutes the man lifted his head up to look at Mariah, he nodded and Mariah smiled at sat down on her knees in front of him.

"Webster would you mind asking him if he's okay with me checking his skin?"

The man nodded once again after Webster had asked. She began by checking his hands, she moved up his arms noticing small blisters and rashes. Mariah turned his arm over and noticed numbers tattooed on his wrist. Mariah's eyebrows furrowed; she looked up at Webster hoping for an explanation.

"They all have them. It looks like a way to dehumanize them, refer to them as numbers instead of names."

"Jesus Christ." she mumbled before turning back to the man in front of her. She was going to check his neck next when she noticed his shirt was unbuttoned. "Web, can you ask him to remove his shirt."