"And so do I. Five minutes for the Padre."

I felt myself beginning to shake. It was a relief when I could call them to attention again and add: "By sections... port and starboard... prepare for drop!"

I was all right then while I inspected each man into his cocoon down one side, with Jimmie and the platoon sergeant taking the other. Then we buttoned Jimmie into the No. 3 center-line capsule. Once his face was covered up, the shakes really hit me.

My platoon sergeant put his arm around my armored shoulders. "Just like a drill, Son."

"I know it, Father." I stopped shaking at once. "It's the waiting, that's all."

"I know. Four minutes. Shall we get buttoned up, sir?"

"Right away, Father." I gave him a quick hug, let the Navy drop crew seal us in. The shakes didn't start up again. Shortly I was able to report:

"Bridge! Rico's Roughnecks... ready for drop!"

"Thirty-one seconds, Lieutenant." She added, "Good luck, boys! This time we take ‘em !"

"Right, Captain."

"Check. Now some music while you wait?" She switched it on:

"To the everlasting glory of the Infantry—"

HISTORICAL NOTE

YOUNG, RODGER W., Private, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division (the Ohio Buckeyes); born Tiffin, Ohio, 28 April 1918; died 31 July 1943, on the island New Georgia, Solomons, South Pacific, while single-handedly attacking and destroying an enemy machine-gun pillbox. His platoon had been pinned down by intense fire from this pillbox; Private Young was wounded in the first burst. He crawled toward the pillbox, was wounded a second time but continued to advance, firing his rifle as he did so. He closed on the pillbox, attacked and destroyed it with hand grenades, but in so doing he was wounded a third time and killed.

His bold and gallant action in the face of overwhelming odds enabled his teammates to escape without loss; he was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor.