Observations placeholder

From Camp Lucky Strike we moved to the first place where we became operational. It was an estate called Arnicourt outside of Rathel, France. While we were waiting for our equipment to arrive, we were given one-day passes to go to Rheims. I had talked two buddies into joining me.

This particular morning I had arisen early to write Marguerite a letter before I left. When the weapons carriers arrived that were going to carry us, I climbed into the back of one and took my seat on one side between my two friends, noticing there were twelve of us in the carrier. We were waiting for the other carrier to fill when something deep inside of me placed the thought in my mind,

“Get off of this carrier and go write Marguerite a letter."

"This is absolutely ridiculous. I have just written her a letter. I have fought too hard to get this pass into Rheims and besides, what will my friends, whom I have talked into going with me, think?"

Again the voice deep within me: "I said, get off and go write Marguerite a letter."

But I wanted to see the cathedral of Rheims and I ignored the second warning. The third repeat order was so loud in my mind I was afraid my friends could hear it. Looking utterly confused and surprising them when I arose, I tried to make some plausible explanation as I was leaving the truck. If they could not understand, the top sergeant was even more surprised when I handed him my pass.

The young soldier picked by the sergeant to fill my place took my seat between my two buddies. The carrier had not gone eight miles from the hospital when it hit a land mine that the Germans had planted in the road. It blew the carrier over, instantly killing the soldier who took my place and causing severe injuries to my buddies.