The loss of Captain Sobel was a tragedy to Easy Company. Yet everybody knew officers come and go. Major Winters promoted me to Captain in place of Sobel. After taking the city of Bastogne, Easy company had to travel to Werbomont. We knew it was going to be hard taking that city. German forces were everywhere. The day before our assault, E Company members were busy preparing and praying. They thought about their loved ones. In the morning, Major Winters, Captain Nixon, and me ordered our platoons to move out. We encountered the heaviest firefight in our call of duty so far. Germans had heavy 20mm machine guns and 105mm Howitzers. The sounds of gunshots echoed everywhere. Captain Nixon ordered his platoon forward. I ordered mine to cover them. Within seconds after they left, I saw they were on a suicide mission. They had to cross an open field with no cover against half a dozen armored tanks. The sight of them getting gunned down and shot terrified my mind. It still haunts me today. Captain Nixon was blown apart by a shot from the 105mm Howitzer. Yet his platoon was able to steal a 70mm German Halftrack. The two guys that manned that turrent fired continuously and destroyed multiple enemy German positions. I zoomed into my scope and looked at the German tank. There was a little hole in which the Driver could see. I adjusted to wind patterns and distance and fired. The tank exploded into the sky. “Holy Moly” I thought but seconds later I saw American planes flying over. The sounds echoed for miles around. I zoomed in again and kept firing away at the German forces. “POP” “POP” Germans fell everywhere. Victory at last! This would be the first defeat of the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge. Though its a heart lifting victory, we had many casualties that day.