Where the Road goes -SN2022- ...writer

Some destinations find themselves.

Just outside Bastogne, passing by.

“My father fought around here during the war.”

That noted, they slipped onto a side road.

“Said the place they fought at rhymed with ‘Missouri’.”

Kilometers of rolling farmland and woods pass slowly by.

“THERE IT IS – STOP”

Back up a few meters. A sign: “Bizory 2”

Bizory. Missouri.

Very attentive now, they slowly drive to Bizory.

Peaceful now, Nazis long gone. In one yard, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig: out of place. An old woman smiles and waves.

Turn around; return to the highway.

“Thanks Dad.”

- The End -

Cheers

I very much liked your story.

Battle of the Bulge was in Bastogne, IIRC correctly it was pretty brutal, and Bisozy is close by. Sorry for the long quote but I dig WWII history Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe's "Nuts" reply to the Nazi request to surrender is legendary.

World War II
Main article: Siege of Bastogne
Liberated by the Allies on 10 September 1944, Bastogne was attacked by German forces a few months later. Hitler's plan was to regain control of the Ardennes, splitting British from American forces, then advance to and reoccupy the strategic port of Antwerp and cut off the key Allied supply line. On 16 December, taking advantage of cold and fog, German artillery initiated the Battle of the Bulge attacking the American divisions deployed sparsely around Bastogne. A few days later, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe and the 101st Airborne Division along with elements of the 10th Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne Division, arrived to counter-attack but, after heavy fighting, became encircled within the town. On 22 December German emissaries asked for the American surrender, to which the General answered tersely, “Nuts!” The next day the skies cleared, allowing Allied air forces to retaliate and to drop much needed food, medicine, and weaponry to ground forces. On 26 December the Third U.S. Army, under the command of General Patton, arrived and broke the siege. The official end of the Battle of Bastogne occurred three weeks later when all fighting in the area ceased.

The municipality of Bastogne comprises five sections (Bastogne proper, Longville, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin) which were separate municipalities before the 1977 merger of municipalities. Each contains a number of villages.

Bastogne: Bizory, Chifontaine, Hemroulle, Isle-la-Hesse, Isle-le-Pré, Savy, Senonchamps ;
Longvilly: Al-Hez, Arloncourt, Bourcy, Horritine, Michamps, Moinet, Oubourcy ;
Noville: Cobru, Fagnoux, Foy, Hardigny, Luzery, Rachamps, Recogne, Vaux, Wicourt ;
Villers-la-Bonne-Eau: Livarchamps, Losange, Lutrebois, Lutremange, Remoifosse ;
Wardin: Benonchamps, Bras, Harzy, Mageret, Marenwez, Marvie, Mont, Neffe.

Thanks for your submission

Good Luck in the Contest
Johnny

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

A melancholic, yet inspiring tale, F2d5thCavv2.

Following in the footsteps of loved one's travels and history is good for the soul.