The … were coming into the post, some were carried on stretchers, some walking and some were brought on the backs of men that came across the field.

чесно говоря без них куда легче

var s:string;

i:integer;

Begin

  read(s);

  for i:= 1 to length(s) do

    if i mod 2 = 0 then s[i]:='*';

  writeln(s);

End.

с ними только больше кода

var s:string;

i:integer;

Begin

  read(s);

  for i:= 1 to length(s) do

    if i mod 2 = 0 then begin

      Delete(s,i,1);

      Insert('*',s,i);

    end;

  writeln(s);

End.