"You're talking nonsense, Malarkey!" Guarnere laughed, puffing out his chest.
Such pride filled everyone's chests that they almost forgot their fatigue and pain.
"They completed a 118-mile long march in just 72 hours, with bad weather like rain and snow along the way," Lieutenant Colonel Strayer whispered to Colonel Sink, "They completely defeated those arrogant Japanese devils."
Sink nodded, "I'm proud of them!"
Standing before Colonel Sink were the officers and soldiers of the Second Battalion; although they were very tired, they stood ramrod straight.
The surrounding area was packed with onlookers.
In the square, there were also reporters holding cameras and video cameras.
After the Second Battalion's march was reported, it had become the focus of attention for all of America.
When the Japanese were rampaging in the Pacific, America needed heroic teams and individuals.
This was the time to publicize this heroic group; all Americans needed courage to fight and to repel the increasingly rampant Japanese in the Pacific and the arrogant German in Europe.
Colonel Sink gave a brief speech to the officers and soldiers of the Second Battalion in the square; he was full of confidence and high spirits, but there was nothing to criticize about that, after all, the fatigued soldiers needed to muster courage.
"You will be an invincible group that will guide the American people to pursue victory.
Now we have defeated those arrogant ones, which shows what a valiant team you are, and what valiant soldiers you are!" Sink concluded with a powerful downward chop of his arm in the air.
"To commend the officers and soldiers who performed outstandingly in this long march, Major Horton, Lieutenant Winter, and Staff Sergeant Parks will receive the Silver Star Medal.
soldier Malarkey will receive the Purple Heart Medal." Colonel Sink announced the officers and soldiers who would receive medals.
The four of them stepped out of the ranks, heads held high.
Colonel Sink and Lieutenant Colonel Strayer personally presented them with the medals.
"I look forward to the Second Battalion having even better performance! Major!" Sink personally pinned the medal on Major Horton's chest.
Salute, handshake.
"Yes, sir!" Horton replied loudly.
Sink walked to Lieutenant Winter, a smile on his face: "I always thought you were a good military man, and I was right.
Keep up the good work, Lieutenant, our team needs officers like you."
Winster gave a solemn salute, his upper body leaning slightly forward, as Colonel Sink pinned the medal on his chest.
"Staff Sergeant Parks!" Sink stopped in front of Parks, looking at him with a meaningful smile.
"Present, sir!" Parks raised his hand in a salute, a very standard military salute.
Sink pinned the medal on his chest, then patted his shoulder: "Sergeant, you are the best soldier I have seen in the 506th Regiment.
You are excellent and have great team spirit, and you have made a huge contribution to the entire group.
I think you also had a significant contribution in this march.
Keep up the good work, I hope to personally present you with more medals!"
"Thank you, sir!" Parks puffed out his chest, "There will definitely be an opportunity."
"Well then, good luck to you!" Colonel Sink extended his hand and shook Parks's hand.
At this moment, the reporters were waiting for this moment, and the flashlights suddenly flickered frequently, freezing this scene.
This was the spiritual sustenance that all American people needed most, and the photo of this soldier named Parks shaking hands with Colonel Sink would become the front-page headline of major newspapers and spread throughout America.
This was also the result Colonel Sink wanted.
Fame and benefit were also necessary outcomes of this march.
Malarkey was also commended, and he felt as if he were dreaming.
So much so that many people congratulated him after the ceremony.
"This is simply a dream!" Malarkey said to White, "I just persevered and completed the whole journey, and I didn't expect my luck to be so good to get a commendation.
Colonel Sink is really generous."
"Hehe, Malarkey, you've already received the Purple Heart Medal before even going to the battlefield.
It seems like getting a medal feels really good.
And it was personally presented by Colonel Sink!" White was a little jealous.
"Why can't you get a little injured or something, and then complete the whole journey like me?" Malarkey ignored White's sour tone, "Don't just look at me, Parks got the Silver Star Medal."
Parks was a bit surprised that he could receive the Silver Star Medal, but his conversation with Winster made him understand the reason for receiving the medal this time.
He saw him and Lieutenant Nixon in Winster's barracks.
"You must have some questions, right, Sergeant." Nixon smiled, as usual, pouring a glass of wine for Parks.
"Yes, Lieutenant." Parks nodded.
"Because you made an outstanding contribution to the Second Battalion." Winster nodded, signaling him to sit down, "Colonel Sink's original plan was for thirty to forty people to not be able to complete the entire trek due to the bad weather."
"Now, it's less than ten," Nixon took a sip of wine, "This result is very surprising.
Later, when Major Horton submitted the application for your medal, Colonel Sink saw it and praised you greatly."
Winster also laughed at this point: "And precisely because of this, I also got the opportunity to receive this medal because I recommended it to Major Horton in time, so I still have to thank you!"
Parks knew that Winster was speaking this way only to express gratitude and goodwill to him.
Because he knew that even without the matter of recommending him, he would still receive the medal presented by Colonel Sink, after all, Colonel Sink had a very good impression of him.
Colonel Sink was a person with subjective thoughts, and this was very important.
"Colonel Sink wants to see you." After a pause, Winster said to Parks.
"What?" Parks was a little surprised.
This should be the second time Colonel Sink wanted to summon him.
It was very rare for a Colonel to summon a soldier twice.
"Yes, he has some things he wants to ask you! Go ahead! Go to the temporary battalion headquarters." Nixon nodded to him, "It's a good thing, maybe it's because of your contribution to this march."
"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Parks stood up to leave.
Sink wanting to summon him again surprised Parks.
Under normal circumstances, high-ranking officers would not directly and continuously summon soldiers unless there was some special circumstance.
"Sergeant Parks, it's good to see you again!" In the battalion headquarters, Colonel Sink and Lieutenant Colonel Strayer were drinking coffee.
Sink saw Parks enter and stood up happily.
"Yes, sir! I am also very happy to see you." Parks was solemn, standing ramrod straight.
"At ease, Sergeant, you don't have to be so nervous." Sink smiled and gestured to Parks.
"Through so many days of observation, I have found that you are a very excellent soldier," Colonel Sink said, "Do you know that you are already a national celebrity?"
"Sir?" Parks looked at Colonel Sink doubtfully.
At this moment, Lieutenant Colonel Strayer walked over, picked up a few newspapers from the table, and handed them to Parks.
"Take a look, young man, these newspapers have large photos of you," Lieutenant Colonel Strayer smiled, "The Los Angeles Times, The Saturday Evening Post, and the famous Wall Street Journal.
You are their darling now."
"Sir?" Parks took the newspapers, looking at Sink and Lieutenant Colonel Strayer with confusion.
He wasn't unaware that he would be in the media, but being noticed by these influential media and being distributed throughout America was indeed somewhat unexpected.
"It's like this, you know, ever since the Japanese devils attacked our Pearl Harbor, all the people of America have been plagued by defeatism, and this is a result President Roosevelt did not want to see.
Although we slaughtered the Little Japanese in the Battle of Midway, the path to victory will still be very long, and this process will be very dark and painful," Colonel Sink smiled, "Now the American people need heroes, Parks!"
Parks understood.
He nodded and said to Colonel Sink: "Then, sir, what do you need me to do?"
"Therefore, I am now going to suspend your duties," Colonel Sink said, "The time is thirty days, and you will go to Washington and New York and other places to promote the government's war bonds."
This meant that he had to leave Easy Company.
Although Parks was reluctant, he had to obey the order, after all, if he were to tour and promote war bonds, he would become even more famous, and thus gain more opportunities for promotion.
But leaving his brothers in Easy Company like this, Parks was unwilling.
"Sir!" Parks frowned, "Do I… do I have to leave Easy Company, leave my brothers?"
Colonel Sink saw Parks's reluctance and nodded with some satisfaction, saying: "Originally, if you were to do the promotion, your position should be reassigned by Division HQ, but if you are reluctant to leave your brothers, I will request it from above.
Perhaps you might be able to come back.
Parks, don't worry about the job."
Parks nodded, then said to Sink: "Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome, you deserve it," Sink said, "Alright, our conversation today ends here.
I think if you leave tomorrow, you'll definitely have some things to pack."
Lieutenant Colonel Strayer opened the door.
Parks saluted, then walked out.
"A good soldier!" Lieutenant Colonel Strayer smiled.
Sink heard him and also nodded with a smile.