Denmark ~ Allied Units marked in blue their routes are also blue. Axis units and routes in red.
A cool wind blows off the channel in the early morning hours. Leaning up against a grimy wall John looks uneasily about. This day had been opposite of routine from the start and would only seem more strange as time passes he thinks. Gazing out off onto the English Channel he mulls over everything that had happened as of late. He and the few other men on the French loading dock it seems are bound for Denmark and a forsaken motorized infantry division west of Copenhagen. With any luck the supply ship they are hitching a military enforced ride upon will allow them on deck soon. Once that happens John shudders at the thought he would be bound for more combat in what had been described as a “risky bet.”
*********
John sits in one of the wooden chairs set up in a library like room in style. His recent arrival in Denmark had left his body in a weary state. Glancing around the packed room he observes a man in a pressed suit walking towards a podium placed opposite the room’s oaken doors. A coughing sound erupts from his mouth several seconds latte and he taps a wooden stick on the podium trying to bring the rowdy group of servicemen to order. Following several such failed attempts he manages to bring the noise in the hall down to a dull whine. Standing up straight he coughs once more and begins to speak. “Good day sirs it is my pleasure to welcome you to Denmark. The recent landing has opened up a multitude of opportunities for the men whom the allies have managed to land thus far. This is a joint operation and thus while the British will have the final say in maters concerning the division Americans will be serving as the lower command.”
Turning around and disappearing behind a short curtain that had been erected in the back of the room the speaker can be heard rummaging about. Several moments later his body reemerges and the curtain is drawn back. Now in plain sight is a projector and milky white screen. Erupting another annoying cough this man begins to talk again. “I have gone ahead and had a slide show of sorts prepared, for your reference. It entails the actions of the Danish liberation thus far. Fiddling with the projector a light flickers on. The speaker stands back and strides quickly out of the room. Closing his eyes John lets the sounds of the film inform his as to its visual content.
**********
Sitting back on his cot John opens his bible and reads from the fading page. With the briefing over the servicemen had been issued tent assignments. As it ended up John was the lone American in a structure with a few Brits. His companions were all lounging about conversing in low tones. While they tried to hide it they were all observing John’s actions trying to figure that Yank out one might say. Looking up from his current passage John sighs and notices one of the other men standing to leave. “I’ll see you folk in the morning for another day of snoozing,” he calls out over his shoulder pulling back the tent flap.
“Yeah you wish boy,” John shouts back. “Bright and early we move south go get informed,” he envelopes further. With a wave of his hand John motions for the young man to leave the confines of the tent. Placing his bible back into the worn pillow case which serves as a travel sack he looks up at the ceiling and reminisces about his wife.
