a soldier's second combat, when he realizes the fighting does not stop at
one battle, there is more and more after that.
He learned to whistle through his teeth. He learned to sleep on rocky
earth. He learned that scabies are itchy little mites that burrow into your
skin, especially if you've worn the same filthy clothes for a week. He
learned a man's bones really do look white when they burst through the
skin.
He learned to pray quickly. He learned in which pocket to keep the
letters to his family and Marguerite, in case he should be found dead by
his fellow soldiers. He learned that sometimes you are sitting next to a
buddy in a dugout, whispering about how hungry you are, and the next
instant there is a small whoosh and the buddy slumps over and his
hunger is no longer an issue.
He learned, as one year turned to two and two years turned toward
three, that even strong, muscular men vomit on their shoes when the
transport plane is about to unload them, and even officers talk in their
sleep the night before combat.
He learned how to take a prisoner, although he never learned how to
become one. Then one night, on a Philippine island, his group came
under heavy fire, and they scattered for shelter and the skies were lit
and Eddie heard one of his buddies, down in a ditch, weeping like a
child, and he yelled at him, "Shut up, will ya!" and he realized the man
was crying because there was an enemy soldier standing over him with a
rifle at his head, and Eddie felt something cold at his neck and there was
one behind him, too.
THE CAPTAIN STUBBED out his cigarette. He was older than the men
in Eddie's troop, a lifetime military man with a lanky swagger and a
prominent chin that gave him a resemblance to a movie actor of the day.
Most of the soldiers liked him well enough, although he had a short
temper and a habit of yelling inches from your face, so you could see his
teeth, already yellowed from tobacco. Still, the Captain always promised
he would "leave no one behind," no matter what happened, and the men
took comfort in that.
"Captain.. ." Eddie said again, still stunned.
"Affirmative."
"Sir."
"No need for that. But much obliged."