The next second, the French soldiers excitedly shouted, "God, you... you are Shire, you are Shire!"
The soldiers finally reacted and began discussing one after another:
"Is he really Shire?"
"The Shire who's always helping us win battles?"
"Yes, and he gave us a lot of supplies, including marching blankets!"
...
The soldiers then scrambled up to shake hands with Shire:
"Very glad to meet you, Colonel!"
"Thank you for the supplies and the hope you gave us!"
"You are our pride, Colonel!"
German officers also came forward to salute Shire, shaking his hand with a face full of admiration, speaking in awkward French:
"You are a respectful enemy, Colonel. It is very fortunate to see you in person."
"No, I should say, it is very fortunate to be alive and see you!"
The French soldiers laughed heartily, their laughter filled with pride, as they understood what the German officer meant.
