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"And so do I. Five minutes for the Padre."
I felt myself begi
I was all right then while I inspected each man into his cocoon down one side, with Jimmie and the platoon sergeant taking the other. Then we buttoned Jimmie into the No. 3 center-line capsule. Once his face was covered up, the shakes really hit me.
My platoon sergeant put his arm around my armored shoulders. "Just like a drill, Son."
"I know it, Father." I stopped shaking at once. "It's the waiting, that's all."
"I know. Four minutes. Shall we get buttoned up, sir?"
"Right away, Father." I gave him a quick hug, let the Navy drop crew seal us in. The shakes didn't start up again. Shortly I was able to report:
"Bridge! Rico's Roughnecks... ready for drop!"
"Thirty-one seconds, Lieutenant." She added, "Good luck, boys! This time we take ‘em !"
"Right, Captain."
"Check. Now some music while you wait?" She switched it on:
"To the everlasting glory of the Infantry—"
HISTORICAL NOTE
YOUNG, RODGER W., Private, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division (the Ohio Buckeyes); born Tiffin, Ohio, 28 April 1918; died 31 July 1943, on the island New Georgia, Solomons, South Pacific, while single-handedly attacking and destroying an enemy machine-gun pillbox. His platoon had been pi
His bold and gallant action in the face of overwhelming odds enabled his teammates to escape without loss; he was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor.