By Brad Cook
Spring 1940.
Gunfire clattered in the distance as I made my way through a field outside Eersel, in the southern part of the Netherlands. I had become used to the constant chatter of submachine guns and the intermittent crack of rifle fire, but I knew it was vital to keep my wits about me at all times. One sloppy move and I wouldn’t make it to my objective.
Two of my fellow soldiers had joined me on this mission; we three occasionally ducked into a nearby hedge and dropped to a prone position if the sporadic weapons fire sounded too close. One of the group, a higher-ranked infantryman, owned a pair of binoculars that he used to ensure all was clear before we moved on.
Overhead, three German Stukas dueled with a pair of British Spitfires, their guns blazing red trails through the clear blue sky. Anti-aircraft fire spat from the guns defending Eersel, trying in vain to keep the enemy planes from coming in low to rake the town with a deadly hail of bullets. Finally, one of them lost a wing and spiraled out of control, smashing into a nearby hill. A column of smoke belched from the wreck and we congratulated the gunner.
Strategic Objectives
Then the news arrived: we had captured the town of Eindhoven. It would give us not only a base from which to bring out reinforcements but also a way to supplement our production of tanks, planes, ships and weapons. An important victory for our side, to be sure, but merely one small battle in a much larger war.
We moved away from Eersel, getting closer and closer to our target, the town of Achel. A tank rumbled past on its way to set up an offensive position. Within minutes, it began trading booming cannon fire with an enemy tank. We took the long way around the fight, not wanting to get in the middle of it, and used that opportunity to take a flanking position on the town.
Machine gunners greeted us when we got too close, so we sprinted along the town’s perimeter until we saw an enemy flag flying from a building. Crouching in a stand of trees, we surveyed the situation. An opposing soldier popped out from behind the building but was quickly gunned down.
Satisfied that we could see no more exterior resistance, we made a dash toward the building. As we entered, a rifle cracked a greeting, eliminating one of my fellow soldiers. My remaining comrade and I returned fire, taking out two of the enemy before moving up the stairs to clear out the rest of them. An intense firefight left me standing alone, slightly injured but able to secure the building as ours.
My mission accomplished, I waited for a truck to roll by and pick me up. I would soon rejoin the other members of my brigade and wait for word of a new mission to undertake. A few more successes like this one and I would soon become a ranking officer, able to set up missions and lead troops into battle. I was just one more person doing my part to help our side win the war.
