The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-01-18
Platoon Leaders,

Platoon Leaders.
Buck Eversole Is a platoon ser
geant in an infantry company. That
means he has charge Of about 4C
frontline fighting men.
He has been at the front for more
than a year. War is old to him and
he has become almost the master OF
it. He is a senior partner now in
the institution OF death.
His platoon has turned over many
times as battle whites down the
old ones and the replacement sys-
tenn brings up the new ones. Only
a handful now are veterans.
1T gets so it kinda gets you, SEEM
these new kids come up" Buck told
me n night in his slow. barely
audible Western voice, so full of
honesty and sincerity.
Some Of them have just got
fuzz on their faces, and don't
know what it's all about, and
they're scared to death. No mat
ter what, some Of them are
bound to get killed."
We talked about some Of the other
old-time non-coms who could take
battle themselves, but had gradual
ly grown morose under the RESPONSE
bility Of leading green boys to their
slaughter. Buck spoke OF one SER
geant especially, a brave and
hardened man, who went to his cap
tain and asked him to be reduced
to a private in the lines.
Il know it amt my fault that
they get killed." Buck finally said.
And l do the best I can for them,
but I've got so I feel like it's me
KILN 'em instead Of a German. I've
got so l feel like a murderer. I hate
to look at them when the new ones
come in"
Buck himself has been fortunate.
Once he was shot through the arm.
His own skill and wisdom have
saved him many times. but luck
has saved him countless other
times.
One night Buck and an officer took
refuge from Smelling in 4 two-room
Italian stone house. As they sat
there. a shell came through the wall
Of the far room, crossed the room
and buried itself in the middle wall
with its nose pointing upward. 1t
didn't 60 off.
Another time Buck was leading
his platoon on a night attack. They
ere walking in Indian file. Sud-
denly a mine went off, and killed
the entire squad following Buck.
He himself had miraculously walked
through the mine field without hit.
ting a one.
One day Buck went stalking a
German officer in close combat, and
wound up with the German on one
side Of a farmhouse and Buck on
the other. They kept throwing gre
nades over the house at each
other without success. Finally Buck
stepped around one corner Of the
house and came face to face with the
German, who'd had the same idea.
Buck vas ready and pulled the
trigger first. His slug hit the Ger
man just above the heart. The Ger
man had a wonderful pair of binocu.
lars slung owe his shoulders, and
the bullet smashed them to bits.
Buck had wanted some German
binoculars for a long time.
The ties that grow up between
men who live savagely and die re-
together T ties Of great
strength. There is a sense of fideli-
ty to each other among little corps
of men who have endured so long
and whose hope in the end a be
but SO small.
One afternoon while l was with
the company Sgt. Buck Eversole's
turn came to 60 back to rest camp
for five days. The company was due
to attack that night.
Buck went to his company COM
mander and said, Lieutenant, I
don't think l better 60. I'll stay II
you need me-"
The lieutenant said, "Of course
need you, Buck, I always need you.
But it's your turn and l want you
to go. In fact. you're ordered to CO."
The truck taking the few boys
away to rest camp left just at dusk.
1t was drizzling and the valleys
were swathed in a dismal mist. Ar.
tillery of both sides flashed and
rumbled around the horizon. The
encroaching darkness was heavy