I fired.and it missed.I saw the men manning the gun start to turn it in my direction. Ivan and I knew there wouldn't be many tanks so He had already loaded a high-explosive round. I spotted an anti-tank gun in my sights and ordered a stop. I suspected there wouldn't be much left by the time we reached the town. Another tank returned fire and continued on. As we approached the building firefight I saw one of the platoons three tanks take a hit and go down, the men ran out of it burning, I didn't know them but it was a dagger to the heart to see my fellow comrades go down. The driver (I feel bad, I haven't memorized his name yet) Fired up the motor and we were off, our platoon was the last one to move, the First platoon was already tearing the forest to shreds ahead. Perhaps this has led to my impressive track record with the Commander? I don't want to think of an airburst artillery shell ripping Ivan and I to shreds. "Attaboy Ivan." I produced a theatrical smile and he punched me in the arm as we climbed into the cramped, two-man turret.Ĭall me paranoid, but any time we are going into battle I button the tank up. "Ivan, we will have plenty of time for you to repaint your star later, let's go." This is what he was doing as I re-approached the tank. (Author inspects the battlefield before "buttoning up")I ran over to my tank, a T-34/76 model, it was a year old already but it hadn't seen much combat, my best friend, and loader, Ivan, constantly (bordering obsessively) repainted the red star on the turret, as well as the 10-10 identification code on the other side. "I know you will Dimitri, make me proud my boy!" We need Taranovka to retake Zeleny Gai, farther north," again, he pointed at it's location on the map. I only have two tank platoons, and I know you are experienced, so I know this push will count. "I don't care how you do it," he continued, "just don't run any one of our guys over. "Today Dimitri, we retake Taranovka." He started, jabbing a finger at the towns position on the map. The Battalion Commander had a very special verbal arsenal at his disposal to get us to run quicker, his threats were meaningless (he was, after all, smiling) but we had to make a show. "Dimitri! Get your ass over here before I transfer you back to infantry!"
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