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November 27, 1950; Hill 1278 (co-author challenge)

The moon rose shortly after sundown. From our position on the hill we had a good view of the road west of us, and the frozen lake just beyond. The moon, just three days past full, gave a silvery half light to the hill with out a name. For us it was hill 1278.

Our fighting positions faced northwest, towards the road. Tomorrow we would advance up it. Stopping only at the Yalu River. The border between Korea and China.

A patrol had gone out at sunset. I told my boys to keep an eye out. If we saw anyone approaching we would challenge them with the word “Apple”. The countersign was “Cobbler”. Any one that didn’t know the countersign, well, they didnt come from our side.

Dulles lay down in the foxhole and tried to get some sleep while I took the first watch. We would alternate every two hours.

I heard a noise behind me. Approaching from the east. “Apple”, I called out in challenge.
There was a long pause. What I heard next made me forget the chill of the wind.

“Pie”, one of the men in the dark called back.

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