Prologue
27th, April, 1942
7:38:56 AM
The sky is a miserable grey in the early morning light. Slightly less than two-thirds of the company is on this military train, tanks and all. The train is moving at a rather slow pace. The April sky may bring rain. Who knows?
Only a few men remain in the barracks cars. I go through three and observe, spending no more than half a minute in each. Men are lining up in the mess cars for food.
I get to the conductor's intercom in the front-most sleeper car. It's the officer's car, an economy class sleeper as opposed to a troop barracks. The train is on a gentle curve now, and I observe the three other cars of servicemen, and the food car. Behind them are dozens of tanks, being towed along with us all in canvas shrouds.
I pick up the intercom and tap it with my finger.
"Now here this. This is the CO..." I wait.
"We arrive, at Fort Schwartz within the hour..."
"Upon arrival, all crew will get their tanks off of the rail cars. You are to do checks of all equipment. Tiger crews are to take the travel tracks off of their vehicles. All tanks, will report to the firing ranges, and are to eliminate inaccuracies in gun sight alignment. Bunks will be assigned by section. Keep your luggage with you when you get off..."
"The second half of the company will be here... Whenever... That is all."
I hang up the intercom.
