2nd Infantry Division Bruges Headquarters
Fort Bruges
Infantry vs. Infantry Field Training
10:00 April 20th, 1925
The sound of artillery at the range a mile away could be heard as the war games whistle officially sounded. The object of this game is to flank and kill the enemy. No ammunition is being used of course but officers are watching the movements and will decide who is killed and who lives based on the actions of the soldiers and leaders. The operation is Charlie Company head to head with Alpha company in the edge of a wooded location in the Fort Bruges training area. The two companies start half a mile apart and begin the operation at precisely 10:00 hours.
“That’s the whistle, right on time. Alright boys we know Alpha company is out there coming to get us right now.” said a calm Capt. Willems “okay deBruyn; lets get a good plan going, what does our terrain look like?”
“Lets see here, sir, about fifty yards in the woods to the north is a creek bed over looking the north and western sides of the woods.” he replied.
“Alpha company would suspect that, they aren’t exactly morons.”
“They ain’t exactly Charlie company either, Capt. Willems” Lambert added in.
“You might be on to something Thomas. But either way we can’t rely on them to be indiotic today. We need to prove we are the best in the battalion. Hell the whole division. So..” he grabbed the map from deBruyn.” from where we are we have the ability and advantage of going south around the creek and coming along the thicker tree line to the east of here. They shouldn’t be able to see us coming if we keep low and go fast. Pvt. Martin!”
“Yessir?” Martin replied to Captain Willems.
“I need you to spread the world to the platoon leaders. South around the creek and east along the tree line, low and fast.”
“Yes sir right away”
As he left to do what ordered Willems was thinking and quickly started dropping extra gear he didn’t need this moment. Keeping ammunition and his weapon and canteen. Everyone looked at him for a moment before he said.
“Drop everything you don’t need, keep your canteen, weapon and ammo. We need to be light enough to run before they get to a better location.”
Everyone nodded in agreement and the sound of things hitting the ground started to fill the air as everyone began dropping what they didn’t need. Just as they were finishing up a squadron of fighters flew over head. No doubt heading west to the airfield. Perhaps on a routine training flight.
It was now time to begin the assault around the creek and tree line and the signal went through the ranks fast. Everyone nearly uniformly began to move with speed to the south. Around the creek they went and along the edge of the trees and some even in the trees. They had no idea if the plan was working or not until about one hundred yards down the tree line Captain Willems ordered a stop.
“Everyone stop, get low now.” he whispered and everyone dropped. Just 50 yards away was the other company marching through the woods to the creek bed. Just as he thought they would. At the same time they noticed in orange vests the observing officers just behind alpha company. Then a voice yelled out.
“Son of a..” it was PFC Max Leonard. He was leaning up against an ant hill. Being bitten in his pants by the little insects. A soldier beside him covered his mouth but it was to late. Alpha company heard it and began moving to take cover and some to flank. Willems needed to think fast knowing they didn’t see his men yet.
“Tall grass…everyone roll back twenty feet into the taller grass in the open. Go. Stay low.” As everyone began doing this he thought for sure they had been seen but Alpha company was looking in the wrong location. A good 15 yards away from the original position. As the remainder of alpha company arrived they walked right in front of the tall grass without thinking. Capt Willems ordered everyone to fire and thus the game was won.
The Battalion commanding officer came over to see what had happened. Ordered fifteen men of Alpha company to be dead and forced to be carried away by the others. Before giving his approval to Capt. Willems and the men of Charlie company.
"I might make a group of soldiers out of you in the end, congratulations."
Later in the evening at a bar in Bruges the mean of Charlie are celebrating their victory. Giving cheer to the quick thinking of Charles Willem. Drinking and celebrating for another day.
It would probably make sense for you to at least secure a port somehow before attempting to conduct trade negotiations with us.
