All Americans, Part 8 and 9 (Sicily 23 July 43)

[bigjackmac]

All,
    I got a couple more games of my 82nd Airborne in action in Sicily this weekend, with both written up on my blog:
www.blackhawkhet.blogspot.com

In the first, Dog Company is advancing with 2nd Plt on the road and 1st Plt to their right, off-road.  1st Plt makes a successful assault to dislodge the Germans holding the flank.

In the second, with the German flank protection gone, 1st Plt pinches left, behind the German MLR opposite 2nd Plt, and rolls them up.

Then the company took up blocking positions on the highway to isolate Marsala, but a counterattack never came.  They have reorganized, with 2nd Plt disbanding to provide replacements for 1st and 3rd Plt's. 



Sgt Reyes, 2nd Squad, was lost, as was Sgt Carlyle, the renowned bazooka gunner.  But Cpl Locke, Cpl Ignacio, and Cpl Alston stepped up, with the latter two being recommended for Bronze Stars (and Locke is rather aggravated that he wasn't, though he was a bit reckless).

Hope you stop by and take a look.  The campaign has taken a heavy toll, but the war goes on.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nooooooooooooo not Carlyle! 

[Hertsblue]

(and Locke is rather aggravated that he wasn't, though he was a bit reckless).

I thought reckless was usually what got you a decoration - or dead. 

[bigjackmac]

Thanks for looking guys.

Yeah, between losing Hume (he was my favorite squad leader) and now Carlyle and Reyes, I'm pretty despondent.  I'm already thinking about how I can bring back Carlyle after this campaign, i.e., he was evacuated to North Africa from Sicily, but recuperates and rejoins the unit before Salerno or Anzio.  But Hume and Reyes are KIA...

Reckless with yourself gets you decorations, reckless with a substantial portion of the platoon's firepower that could have gotten the whole platoon chewed up piecemeal get the Lt and Plt Sgt a bit cross with you.

V/R,
Jack