In Easy Company, Lieutenant Dick Winters was the most considerate person.
Although the entire company was still in the adjustment period of recruit training, Lieutenant Winters always tried his best to train according to Lieutenant Sobel's requirements.
Everyone was exhausted after each training session, but they had no complaints about Lieutenant Winters; that was his charm.
However, regarding Lieutenant Sobel, everyone in the company had a feeling: the black swan had arrived.
"Lieutenant Herb Sobel, who is that person leading the training?" Colonel Sink specifically came to inspect Easy Company's training.
He saw the team in training uniforms repeatedly practicing.
"That's Lieutenant Dick Winters, Colonel Sir!" Sobel was delighted that Colonel Sink could come; this was his chance to show off.
"He is a good soldier!" Sink smiled as he watched the training team.
His love for this team came from his heart, and of course, this was also because his 506th Regiment was proud to be the first airborne unit in the U.S. Army.
With this mindset, he preferred every soldier to love the 506th Regiment from the bottom of his heart, just like himself.
Herb Sobel did not speak, his facial expression becoming a little unnatural.
He had expected Captain Sink to commend him, but he didn't expect Lieutenant Dick Winters to steal his thunder.
"Does your company have a Sergeant named Reese Parks? I heard he performed outstandingly in training." Colonel Sink paid no attention to Sobel's unnatural face, looking at the training team as if asking casually.
"Yes, Colonel Sir." Sobel's face was a bit awkward.
Colonel Sink had come to inspect Easy Company but paid no attention to his own situation, only asking about two other people.
"But I demoted him a few days ago; he is now a soldier in Easy Company's Second Platoon."
"Demoted? Why?" Sink was a little surprised.
The company commander had a certain degree of autonomy in promoting and demoting non-commissioned officers, but generally, when promoting or demoting non-commissioned officers, they would file a record with battalion headquarters.
The matter of Reese Parks' demotion seemed to be only within Easy Company and had not been reported to battalion headquarters; Sink had no idea what was going on.
Seeing some displeasure on Sink's face, Herb Sobel quickly explained, "It's like this, Colonel Sir.
Because Parks had a conflict with people in Town during his day off and hit someone, he had to be punished, but..."
Sink interrupted him, "Alright, whether it's a promotion or a demotion, it won't affect my view of Easy Company.
You lead an excellent company, and I am deeply proud of it."
Saying this, Sink walked to the jeep, "Lead your company well.
I believe it will definitely become the best company in the 506th Regiment, Lieutenant Herb Sobel!"
Herb Sobel quickly saluted, "I will do my best, Colonel Sir!"
Sink's jeep kicked up dust and left the training ground.
Watching Sink leave, Herb Sobel walked towards the training ground.
"Lieutenant!" Lieutenant Dick Winters saw Lieutenant Herb Sobel make a stop gesture, so he stopped and saluted him.
Herb Sobel looked at him with a complicated expression, then said sternly, "Lieutenant Dick Winters, the training plan has changed.
Tonight we will have a 12-mile cross-country training."
Dick Winters was a little puzzled, pursing his lips, and asked, "Lieutenant, is night cross-country training held every Friday? Today is only Tuesday; there are still three days until Friday!"
"The training plan has changed, Dick!" Sobel almost roared.
"From now on, we will run 12 miles every Tuesday night and Friday night.
We will be paratroopers, the best unit in the U.S. Army.
For our company to become the best company among paratroopers, we must—march 12 miles twice a week at night.
If anyone can't do it, then he can leave; this place doesn't raise good boys!"
Dick Winters looked at Herb Sobel, then finally nodded and said, "As you wish, Sir!"
"Continue training!" Herb Sobel turned and left the training ground.
"Bastard!" Bill Guarnere muttered softly.
Everyone on the training ground showed helpless and unwilling expressions.
"Brothers, don't be discouraged, let's continue.
Remember, we are not the U.S. Army, nor the Navy, nor clerks sitting at desks typing; we are paratroopers, unique paratroopers.
Is there anything that can stump us?"
Winters clapped his hands, "Alright, let's continue!"
After the daytime training ended, the tents were filled with the soldiers' complaints.
"Sobel is a piece of shit; training completely depends on his mood." White couldn't help but complain again, "Then what do we need a training outline for? Is it for us to wipe our asses with?"
"I bet Herb Sobel definitely used the hard paper from the training outline to wipe his ass.
He completely discarded the content of the outline, maybe he thinks he is that piece of paper that can wipe asses!" Ed Heffron joked.
"We will be paratroopers, the best unit in the U.S. Army.
For our company to become the best company among paratroopers, we must—march 12 miles twice a week at night.
If anyone can't do it, then he can leave; this place doesn't raise good boys!" George Luz imitated Herb Sobel's voice, shouting loudly at White.
"You're the good boy!" White yelled back at Luz.
"Alright, this is not a big deal, guys!" Parks stood out at this moment.
He felt it necessary to stand out; in his previous life, he had watched "band of brothers" many times and knew Herb Sobel's final fate.
However, if Sobel was not transferred as the plot predicted, the Easy Company brothers would only face tragedy on the battlefield in the future.
"Of course we are dissatisfied with Sobel, but we cannot rely on our complaints to get Lieutenant Sobel transferred and have Lieutenant Winters become our company commander." Parks said, "What we need to do is try to cause less trouble and not make things difficult for Lieutenant Winters, understand?"
"Lieutenant Winters is a good man!" Cobb suddenly said.
Yes, everyone knew Lieutenant Winters was a good man, but no one could change his and Lieutenant Sobel's positions or their destinies; Parks and the others were just soldiers.
He was afraid that the soldiers' accumulated grievances against Sobel would erupt to some extent, but definitely not now.
Because Easy Company hasn't even officially become paratroopers yet, and they still lack training.
Training would increase a soldier's chances of survival on the battlefield.
Therefore, Parks did not oppose night training.
"Brothers, Easy Company is not Lieutenant Sobel's company alone; it is the brothers' company." Parks said solemnly, "For Lieutenant Winters! For Easy Company."
He extended his hand.
At this time, the soldiers all came over, stacked their hands together, and said in unison, "For Easy Company!"
Yes, for Easy Company.
This was the wish in every Easy Company soldier's heart; these days of training had made the Easy Company brothers feel that this company was like a single entity, and everyone was like their own flesh and blood brother.
During the night cross-country march, Sobel did not accompany the team; he waited at the company's barracks.
The full-gear night cross-country left the soldiers of Easy Company listless.
"I really can't take it anymore!" Christenson stopped, bent over, and gasped heavily.
He was a machine gunner, and the machine gun he carried was much heavier than an ordinary rifle.
"I need a drink of water!"
"No, no, Christenson, don't you know, you can't drink water during full-gear night cross-country?" Parks knew that if Christenson drank water, the result might be the same as in the TV series: he would have to run another round in full gear.
"This damned M1919 (U.S. Army platoon machine gun) is really too heavy." Christenson couldn't help but complain.
Parks shook his head and smiled, "If you're willing to carry this thing and run another round, I don't think I have any reason to persuade you anymore.
Stop complaining, Christenson."
Perhaps it was because Herb Sobel's shadow began to spread in Christenson's heart that he forced himself to endure and no longer thought about that water bottle.
The 12-mile journey almost exhausted the soldiers' spirits.
Under the night sky, only a team of soldiers was moving, panting, but their formation was neat, and there was a "rustling" sound from the friction of their leather boots and wild grass.
"I have something to say!" At this moment, David Landers suddenly murmured.
George Luz, next to him, looked at him puzzled, "Who do you want to say it to?"
David Landers suddenly said to Winters, "Lieutenant Winters!"
"What is it?" Lieutenant Winters turned to look at him as he walked.
"Request permission to speak, Sir!"
"Permission granted!" Winters said.
"Sir, we have a total of nine companies."
"That's right!"
"Why are we the only company that has to run 12 miles in full gear in the dark every Tuesday and Friday night?"
Winters was stunned, then retorted, "Then why do you think it is, soldier Landers?"
Landers loudly said, "Lieutenant Sobel hates us, Sir!"