Ernie's strongpoint

Game 2 of Five Men in the Bulge

PFC Ernie Borgnine has been left to hold the Krinkat road.  In a ruined house hastily fortified Ernie and three of his boys await the dawn, and reinforcement by C Company.  

Squad Sergeant "Rock" Hudson is leading the rest of the section up in support, but has waited at the canteen for a good breakfast before setting out. 

Weissmueller's section move on table, but the MMG hammers away.  Two of them bail off table. 

Johnny is left with his section of 8 men

Ernie and his boys have just had coffee and are midway through a pack of Lucky Strikes... each.   The radio guy is just out of shot visiting the latrine.

 Hooray for our side, Hudson leads his reinforcements on table.

Weissmueller gets a scurry move.  They get into cover and deploy the Lmg.

A good shot causes the Yank MMG gunner to flinch.  He ducks behind cover, scared.  The radio guy returns from the latrine and gets on the net to the Major.

The Germans shooting is better.  A knock down hit on Ernie!  Just a scratch, but he slumps to the floor.

Hudson splits his men left and right.  Two of them risk a peek over the snowdrift hedgerows.

But Johnny Weissmueller has sent two of his own boys out to the flank. 

Young Klinkerhofen sprays away with the SMG.  The shock dice make the two GIs bail.  A grenade from Andi Merkell completes their rout.

Young Klinkerhofen gets a flinch as the Americans target him.  He ducks back into cover, scared.

But Klinkerhofen and Merkel use the position to lob grenades into the strongpoint.  One knockdown, lots of smoke.

The Germans rush up more men, but Ernie is back up and gets the MMG working.   One knockdown 

Close quarters and the Germans are struggling. 

Another potato masher across the hedgerow.   

But Ernie repositions the MMG in a scurry.  The Germans at the hedgerow are enfiladed. 

Bob Seger and Tommy Hanks arrive to relieve the bunker.  Any Lucky Strikes left Ernie?  NO?

Johnny leads his Panzer Grenadiers off table.  Hopefully the Yankees won't have an MMG next time.

But an on a minute.  Where in all of that was Sergeant Hudson?  Turns out he stayed at the back behind the furthest hedgerow.

The platoon Commander has requested Hudson be transferred to battalion.  That has since been accepted, as has Ernie Borgnine's promotion to temporary Squad Sergeant.