Chapter 39
1830 Hours
May 20, 1943
Commanding General’s Mess
Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division
Camp Kunkle
Oujda, Morocco
As the sun slipped below the western peaks, scores of ruby ribbons—woven with bright golden threads and studded with rose-colored flakes—flared in the blue-black sky. The officers of the 509th were too busy, too tired, or too distracted to pay attention to the gorgeous sunset. This evening, they gathered in the new division commander’s mess to celebrate Phil Genero’s promotion to major—and to say goodbye.
Phil’s exploits, especially during the battle at Feriana, had become legend among the airborne troops in North Africa. No one questioned the wisdom of Genero’s selection to higher rank. He’d earned his promotion the hard way.
Since the 509th had no billet f
