In a certain company fighting in the World War were two brothers, one a captain and one a private.
As their company stormed the ragged top of the mountain opposite where they were stationed, the young captain was mortally wounded. Covered with blood and terribly hurt he dragged himself to the shelter of a shell crater where he lay protected under heavy machine gun fire. His company was forced to retire to a shelter a few hundred yards back where the lines were re-formed and they were waiting orders.
Saluting his commanding officer, the young private requested the privilege of going back for the body of his wounded brother. The officer objected. Would it be wise to risk a life in the face of such a rain of fire? The captain was mortally wounded and probably dead.
Finally he gave his consent and the lad crawled out to the shell crater on his hands and knees. Tenderly raising the body of his captain brother he started to crawl back towards his company lines. As he reached their shelter the life of his brother passed out and he laid the body tenderly upon the ground.
The commanding officer came to him and as the private saluted, “Well,” said the officer, “your brother is dead. Your trip was useless. Was it worth while for you to run such a risk?”
The young soldier replied as he smiled into the face of the superior officer, “Yes, sir; it was worth the risk. As I crawled down over the top of that shell crater and looked into the pale face of my brother, his eyes were closed and I knew he was going to die. When I touched him he roused and slowly opened his eyes. He recognized me and said, ‘I knew you’d come, Tom. Oh, I knew you would come.’ All the risk I ran was paid for, because he believed in me—and I am glad, sir, that I was able to prove myself, in that moment, worthy of that belief.”
—Adapted from “Association Men.”
QUESTIONS
Aren’t you glad that you can help the Red Cross to help brave men like these?
How did they show their love for their country’s flag?