Chapter 1
Welcome to the Airborne
"Dad would have loved this." thought the Private as the rest of the 101st Airborne Division marched down the field. Today was graduation from Airborne Basic and he was finally, after a long time of daily runs, classroom sessions, and combat training, earning his wings. "Crap, the Sergeant, try not to think Charles." he thought to himself again as the Master Sergeant started to walk down the line, rewarding the wings to the other paratroopers and finally to him. "Congratulations Private Shelton!" said the Master Sergeant as he saluted the Private. "Thank you sir!" replied the Private as he saluted the Master Sergeant. "You earned these wings boy.". In a flash, to what Shelton felt like a minute of glory, the silver wings were attached to his uniform shining in the sunlight. As the Master Sergeant shook his hand, he said slightly quiet, "Your father would have been proud of you with those wings.". Private Shelton in a second, during the greatest moment in his life, felt a sudden moment of sadness. "I know he would have sir, thank you.". He shook his hand one last time as he continued down the line.
The Private looked to the side and closed his eyes. "Thanks for ruining the moment." he thought quietly to himself as if he was saying it out loud. Before he had time to pull himself together, he heard someone yell out his name in an ordering way, "PRIVATE SHELTON!! GET YOUR ASS UP HERE!!". "Damn, what did I do now?" he was thinking to himself as he ran up to the front of the lines in front of the Major. "Yes sir!". The Major looked to the side at an officer with many medals and ribbons on his uniform. He noticed that the man had a helmet on with stars on it. "Oh boy, a general, what did I do?". "Son this is Major General Lewis, he wants to speak to you in private." he said in a calm way as if he never yelled in the first place. "Glad to meet you Private Shelton." he said as he shook Charles's hand. "Nice to meet you too sir.". He was starting to feel uneasy on this. He was starting to sweat and his heart was beating fast, eager for what was going to happen. "Your flying stateside, fly out in two hours.". Shelton was very surprised at what he said there. "For what sir?". The general looked at him and smiled. "Top secret till we are in the states.".
-Two hours later that day-
"Top secret? Major General Lewis? There is a Major General named Lewis? What is going on!?" he pondered to himself as he sat on the C-47 aircraft, waiting for the pilot to take off. He noticed four other paratroopers get on the plane and sat across from each other. "Hello." said one of the paratroopers directed to him. Charles looked up at the paratrooper. "Hi." he said slightly confused, trying to be friendly. "What division are you from?". "101st Airborne Division." he said in an instance as if he knew what he was going to say already. "101st eh? Nice!". Shelton tried to ignore the soldier, but decided to continue the conversation. "What about you-", he looked at the patch on his shoulder in amazement. "82nd Airborne Division?". "Private First Class Jonathan Peterson, 82nd Airborne Division." he said as if he was addressing an officer. "Corporal Andrew Vickers, 2nd Rangers." said the soldier next to him. Private Shelton was very surprised at what Vickers said. "Why are you wearing paratrooper gear?". Vickers looked at him slightly confused, "You got me. The Major General ordered me to wear this.". Now Charles was confused at this. "Why does the Major General require us to wear paratrooper gear?" he thought to himself. He looked at the soldier next to him. "What military branch are you part of?" he questioned. "Private First Class Christopher Jackson, 1st Infantry Division.". "What the hell?" thought Charles. Another soldier started addressing himself. "Private Second Class Simon O'Brian, British PPA Commando's, sir!". A few of the men started to mutter to each other. "A British Commando?". The commando nodded his head and saluted with two fingers. Private Shelton leaned back and closed his eyes as the plane started to move and fly off the runway.