Please take a moment to read the following excerpt from this novel.
"He came back across the river in the morning after the sun was up. It was hot and dry. Two officers from Charlie Company, a captain and a lieutenant, stood on their bunker and watched the long green line of his company emerging from the tree line across the river, wading across, passing through the wire. Captain
Richardson stood at the gate with each platoon leader in turn and watched as the man cleared their weapons at the gate and wound on up the hill to their company sector. They had marched all night and had the sagging gait of exhausted men.
A few feet behind Captain Richardson stood Lieutenant Colonel Williams, the battalion commander. He stood silently, his hands folded behind his back. As soon as the last man cleared the wire Captain Richardson turned and saluted. Lieutenant Colonel Williams returned his salute stiffly, spoke quickly, then pivoted and started for the battalion command post, a former French farmhouse. Captain Richardson followed him awkwardly.
From atop their bunker the Charlie Company officers could see the clerks leaving the bulding, followed by their officers. Captain Richardson and Lieutenant Colonel Williams went inside.
"Pitiful sight," the captain said.
"Yes sir, it is." the lieutenant answered. "He'll most likely be relieved."
"Oh yes, he'll be relieved. He'll be lucky if that's all that happens."
The lieutenant said nothing. He expected to be appointed to command Captain Richardson's company. He knew that he was next in line to command a company, and he was anxious to prove his worth and gain an important page in his professional resume. He had decided to become a career Marine."
