I Knew why I felt at home. The spirit of freedom was hovering over that play yard as it did all over France at that time. A country was free again.

They were singing in French, but the melody was freedom and any American could understand that.

Actual combat experience is the only teacher. You never come out of a skirmish without having picked up a couple of new tricks; without having learned more about your enemy...Total involvement with the war was the only thing that kept me alive and pushing.

I was scared before every battle. That old instinct of self-preservation is a pretty basic thing, but while the action was going on some part of my mind shut off and my training and discipline took over. I did what I had to do.

I'll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done.

I Knew why I felt at home. The spirit of freedom was hovering over that play yard as it did all over France at that time. A country was free again.

Now I have shed my first blood. I feel no qualms, no pride, no remorse. There is only a weary indifference that will follow me throughout the war.