"Sergeant get your weapons squad moving now, flank that fucking tank! Jack ordered and his men quickly leaped into action while others sought after cover.
As the Panther fired its second shot, the shell hit its mark this time around and had sent one of the M4 halftracks up in flames.
Moments later, the weapons squad finally returned fire and two separate A.T. rockets swished forth into the night.
The bright flash of orange illuminated the surrounding darkness as one of the rockets connected with the inside drive wheel of the tank while the other penetrated the side of the now immobilized Panther.
Everyone was filled with anger due to the explosion that had hit the halftrack, it ended up severely wounding a few guys and one of the combat medics taking cover behind it went down with a fatal wound to the back of his head.
So once the tank caught fire and the crew, desperate to make their escape from the burning coffin. Tried to bail out and run away, but they were mercilessly hosed down by the entire platoon that opened fire on that tank.
It was an astonishing sight to see, so many muzzle flashes lighting up the night and the mens faces that held expressions of hate and anger while the dozens of tracer fire peppered the tank.
Even though it was overkill, Jack couldn't help but stand there and watch on in silence instead of speaking out. He was angry too, those boys didn't deserve to get hurt and sadly deep down, he knew it couldn't be avoidable.
Finally a booming voice thundered out over the gun fire, "Cease fire, hey! Cease fucking fire!" Slowly, the gun fire faded and after a few parting shots sounded off before things went into silence once again.
"Spread out and prepare for contact, the enemy is not too far off." One of the Lieutenants said, calling out to everyone that was standing around and watching the tank combust in a fiery explosion.
Everyone stood there for a few more seconds before they started to move, it wasn't fast though and it wasn't to Jacks liking either, but they were moving at least.
Suddenly static erupted from one of the radio operators and it was Don who had rushed over to report in to Jack.
"It's from the forward outfits sir, the enemy is pulling back and Sergeant Jefferson is waiting to be advised." Donny said as he leaned closer to Jack, that way he didn't need to speak so loudly.
"Alright then, have them get a head count of casualties and request the reserves to come forward to replace those gaps." Jack said after he took a moment to think and Don nodded his head before kneeling down to relay the orders.
*
Day 9, Monday September 25th, a few days later,
Karl's plan to cut off the forward airborne units from Son and Veghel had succeeded for the most part, but without heavy casualties resulting from the wedge.
He had formed two major battle groups at regimental sizes to make his cut off more effective, battlegroup A had been formed from the 301st heavy tank, the paratrooper battalion sent his way and troops from the 15th Panzergrenadiers battalion.
As for battlegroup B which took the brunt of the assault formed up the a panzer battalion from the 2nd panzer with four companies from the 26th Volksgrenadier and the 10th Panzergrenadier as well.
These two battle groups had drove that wedge Karl needed between the XXX corps and the British first airborne paratroopers stuck still on Arnhem's side of the bridge with pockets from the 82nd in nearby towns from Son.
Luckily for James and a majority of the 101st airborne, they had pulled back in time to reestablish a new defensive frontline that's soon to be reinforced and stabilized by the XXX corps.
YOU ARE READING
Screaming Eagles
Historical Fiction"You're about to embark on a great crusade..." General Dwight D. Eisenhower had said in his speech to the troops prior to the opening assault on Normandy's shores. However, Jack and James O'Brian never heard that speech, because they were in the air...
