The 179th Battalion occupies the critical town of Galloper's Overlook. So long as Equestrian forces hold it, the 3rd Army in valley below is safe from bombardment. Should the town fall, then the Northern Front will collapse. The battalion must hold.
But they can't. Outgunned, outnumbered, and surrounded, the 179th is running low on both ammunition and hope. Captain Tome, a stallion painfully aware of his own shortcomings as a commander, must find a way to stave off the inevitable. In war, ordinary ponies must rise to become the heroes everyone needs. Courage takes many forms. So do legends.
This story is part of the AU canon "War's Generation," but may be read as a standalone.
As this story contains graphic imagery of war, I am placing a link to the Veteran Crisis line here, as well as links to the national suicide prevention hotline and a list of international hotlines. There is no shame in needing help. In truth, it is courageous to ask for it. To those who served, you served us - let us help you.
This story is dedicated to all men and women in uniform, to ordinary heroes, and especially to the 101st Airborne, colloquially known as the 'Screaming Eagles,' and to the 308th Infantry Regiment, colloquially known as the 'Lost Battalion.'
The cover art used with the kind permission of Vole-A, who commissioned the piece from FoxInShadow.
Original characters my own. My Little Pony and its contents are the property of Hasbro, Inc. and its affiliates. Please support the official release.
Thank you for this story, friend!
Well written.
It is difficult for most of us to get into the mind of a soldier in battle, perhaps most of all because we do not like thinking about the reality of what they face. Still, the willingness to appreciate the horrors of the battlefield help us appreciate just how much is given for the sake of those not doing the fighting.
Also, recalling Sabaton songs, was the town's name any sort of reference to Rourke's Drift?
Thank you for this story, and for your poignant Author's Note.
I am a veteran of the Marines, and it's good you put that link to the hotlines there. Thanks for that.
9937404
Thank you. And it was not a deliberate reference, but I can quite honestly say that I've forgotten more about military history than most people ever learn, so I was probably subconsciously influenced by it. I name towns and such based on "that sounds like an appropriate name for its relevance to the plot," so, yeah, probably some influence. Just not intentional.
9937407
Thank you for your service.
"What did you do?"
"What was needed."
"When did you do it?"
"When it was needed."
"where did you do it?"
"wherever I was needed."
"Why did you do it?"
"Because I would not pass it on."
.
.
.
"Will you do it again?"
"I never stopped."
This reminded me way too much of All Quiet on the Western Front. Good job.
9937562
Magnificently put. If you don't mind, I might borrow and adapt that.
I'll tell you, it's incredible watching interviews with vets, especially WWII vets, where they're asked, "Would you do it again?" right after telling all the horrible things they saw, and without even thinking they say "Yes." And when they're asked, "Would you serve again if your country needed you? If right now you had to take up arms?" and these 90-year-old guys, without hesitation, say "Yes." It motivates me to be a better man and take more care of my community. It just feels wrong not to serve in some way after hearing from men and women who served.
9937819
Go right ahead man, I'm sure you can put it better than I ever could. I may have a silver tongue, but that's no substitute for perspective.
9937942
Thank you.
Well, damn. Now I have to go write a military story. I’ve been wanting to as a way to introduce the anthro AU I’ve been working on for a while, but thing is . . . I kept thinking I needed to do some huge, multi chapter epic, and I would still LIKE to do that, eventually, but such things are hard for me. I tend to lose my focus, or my attention drifts to something else and I lose motivation.
This brought into perspective for me that you don’t have to write a huge multi chapter epic to bring the feels. I am not ashamed to admit that I have tears in my eyes after reading this. I am nowhere near as good a writer as you, Antiq, but I am damn sure gonna try!
9939793
Glad to hear you found it moving and inspiring, thank you.
Devastatingly effective, as your war stories always are. Thank you for a snapshot of all-too-real horror.
9941815
Thank you. It's an interesting sort of niche I seem to fill.
You have the gift of inspiration. When you write, you inspire people.
9944461
Thank you!
You're excellent at these little war pieces and well-crafted tone coupled with smooth prose. I can't believe that there's so little attention for them. Have you tried adding them to more groups?
10005472
Sometimes I add them, but I don't know how much traffic some of the war forums I'm familiar with get. I'm always happy for other people to give them publicity, certainly.
9937407
Belated comment, but thank you for your service.
Antiquarian, when I was in High School I took part in the Naval JROTC, eventually a recruiting officer came around and I was told that due to certain medical issues I had at that time I would not be able to serve. 15 some years later I'm past the cut-off for most of the recruiting programs, and to be quite honest I look at myself and see an ostrich, a coward who wishes that I could stockpile my room with food, water, books, and plushies to wait out the seemingly inevitable human apocalypse. The captain in this and your other war stories probably have more grit, determination, and dare I say courage in a single hoof than I have in my entire body.
11196253
"Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier" a man once wrote. I often feel that way myself, having similarly once desired to serve only to be prevented by health. Yet I also believe that we're all put here for a reason, and if mine is not to be a soldier, then I had best make the most of our soldier's sacrifices by being the best version of myself in the ways I am called. Every man may think meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, but I think is the trick to turn that feeling into motivation to do good unto others in the vocations we are called to. Then, instead of being wasted discomfort, it becomes motivation. Mr. Rogers was never a soldier, but he had the courage to change thousands of lives for the better through his quiet kindness. Not all are called to courage in physical battle, but we may show courage in other sorts of battles - in doing the right thing, even when it's unpopular. I've found that to be of great help to me (and by extension others). Perhaps you may find it helpful as well.
11198295
Thank you, I'll try to keep this in mind. On a side note, On an idle whim I sketched a quick drawing of one of your OCs the other day.
11198684
Thank you! Feel free to message it to me if you so desire
My grandfather was in the Lost Battalion. Thank you for writing this!
11784427
Apologies for the year's delay in responding. Somehow I didn't see this in my feed.
Thank you for your kind words, and peace to your grandfather. He earned it. I know that story well, and it always brings a tear to my eye to think on what those men went through.