At a battle, we walked slowly through the wet grass, our eyes searching for the enemy. 1, machine gun fire broke the 2. We hit the ground,3from the shots by a low stone wall a few feet ahead.
My radioman called the commander to 4as I ordered two soldiers to help me locate and knock out the 5. While I crouched( 屈 膝 ) on one knee to talk to my guys, I heard an explosion — and then I was on my6.
＂Jack! Jack! You've been 7!＂ the radioman shouted.
Two rescuers tied me to a stretcher (担架). In an aid station, a doctor put a bandage (绷带) over my8 knee. Some time later came a nurse's shout, ＂Wake up, Jack! You've got to get on a9— you're flying to a hospital in England!＂
I became 10 . All my possessions lay in a11pile of equipment. I could12everything after the war except the photo of my new bride, Ellen, which I13carried with me.
＂I'm not going until I14my wife's picture again, ＂ I said. ＂It's in the gas mask cover you15 from me.＂
I knew the nurse could 16me go, but instead she said, ＂OK, I'll see if I can find it,＂ then17out to search through the piles. Finally she came running 18back. ＂I've got it!＂ she shouted, waving the picture in her hand.
How she found it I'll never 19, but I'm glad she did. That photograph comforted me through20 times. Now, 69 years later, it sits on my bedside table.
