10 a.m.
Neat rows of olive drab vehicles curved along the water 's edge . Jeeps and half-tracks shouldered close by weapons carriers and six-bys , all of them shrinking to insignificance beside the looming Patton tanks . A speakers ' platform was set up in the center of the line , near the audience . At precisely 10 a.m. , General Wingrove stepped forward and scowled at the crowd until they settled into an uncomfortable silence . His speech was short and consisted of nothing more than amplifications of his opening statement that actions speak louder than words . He pointed to the first truck in line , a 2 1/2 - ton filled with an infantry squad sitting stiffly at attention . The driver caught the signal and kicked the engine into life ; with a grind of gears it moved forward toward the river 's edge .