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The Allies h northern France and across the German border in a final drive towards Berlin Abel was posted to the First Arland: local supplies were al town at which they arrived had already been ravaged by the retreating German army When Abel arrived in a new city, it would take hi food supply before other American quartermasters had worked out exactly where to look British and American officers were always happy to dine with the Ninth Ared to requisition such excellent supplies On one occasion when General George S Patton joined General Bradley for dinner~ Abel was introduced to the fa an ivory - handled revolver
Me best meal I’ve had in the whole damn war,’ add Patton
By February 1945, Abel had been in uniform for nearly th= years and he knew the ould be over in a ratulatory notes anduniforeneral to let hiht in just one battle, but Bradley wouldret hear Of it
Although it was the duty of a junior officer to drive the food trucks up to the front lines and then supervise the meals for the troops, Abel often carried out the responsibility hi of his hotels, he would never let any of his staff knohen or where he next intended to pounce
It was the continual flow of blanket - covered stretchers into the cao up to the Front and take a look for hier bear a one - way traffic of bodies, Abel rounded up his anised the fourteen food trucks He took with hieant, two corporals, and twenty - eight privates
The drive to the Front, although only twentyAbel took the wheel of the first truck - it h heavy rain and thick mud; he had to pull off the road several tiht of way in their return from the Front Wounded bodies took precedence over empty stomachs Abel wished that most of them were no ested any sign of life
It beca big was going on near Reen, and he could feel the beat of his heart quicken So to be involved
When he finally reached the command post he could hear the ene in anger as he watched stretchers bringing back yet more dead and wounded co nothing about the real war until it was part of history He suspected that any reader of the New York Times was better informed than he was
Abel brought his convoy to a halt - by the side of the field kitchen and ju hi asha the of one hundred gallons of soup, a ton of corned beef, two hundred chickens, half a ton of butter, three tons of potatoes and one hundred and ten pound of baked beans - plus the inevitable K rations - in readiness for those going to, or returning from, the front When Abel arrived in thetables and empty benche& He left his two chefs to prepare theone thousand potatoes while he went off in search of the duty officer
Abel headed straight for Brigadier - General John Leonard’s tent to find out as going on, continually passing stretchers of dead and - worse - nearly dead soldiers, the sight of ould havecommonplace As Abel was about to enter the tent, General Leonard, acco out
He coy3ducted a conversation with Abel while continuing to walk
’What can I do for you, Colonel?’
’I have started preparing the food for your battalion as requested in overnight orders, sir WhatT ’You needn’t bother with the food for now, Colonel At first light this ed railroad bridge north of Reave orders that it should be crossed ie head on the efst bank of the river Up to now, the Gere across the Rhine long before we reached it soiwe can’t hang around waiting for lunch before they demolish this one’