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S/Sgt Ballard had to move his
squad across the river on the middle span of the bridge which had been
blown. The floor of this span was at, or slightly below water level. The
river was wide and deep here. One had to climb down to the blown span
and cross on boards which had been wired in place. The boards were there
to keep the pathway above the water. This usually failed, because there
was a lot of traffic going both ways. The pedestrians had to pass each
other on the boards which were about a foot wide. A lot of traffic put
the boards several inches below the water. When one got to the end of
the blown span they had to climb up to the intact span. In passing on
the floor plank, one had to hold on to the banister and lean out away
from the bridge on one side or toward the bridge on the other side while
the opposite person did the reverse. Vehicles had to be ferried across. |
