The story is told of a military patrol reconnoitering enemy territory. Taut as piano strings, the little group of men probed the shadowy images of uncharted terrain. Suddenly, the night was rent by a blinding flash, and the point soldier was mortally wounded.

While the sergeant screamed for the unit to take cover, a young recruit plunged insanely ahead to the dying man. There he, too, was wounded. In extreme pain, mustering his ebbing strength, he dragged his now-dead friend back to the unit and collapsed. Above the roar of the battle the sergeant yelled, "You fool! Why'd you go get yourself shot for a dead man?"

The recruit replied, "Sarge, I had to hear him say, 'I knew you'd come.' "