BAND OF BROTHERS: BROTHERS IN ARMS
Chapter One
The Great Day
(I do not own any of the characters in Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan or Saints and Soldiers but I love the characters in all of them.)
Corporal Frank Perconte finished packing his gear and looked around. There was such a flurry of activity around him as men prepared themselves for war. One young man in particular caught his eye. He seemed a bit apprehensive.
"Private, you got all your gear packed?" he asked him trying to sound sure and strong. He, too, was feeling apprehensive.
The young soldier looked to the corporal and saluted. "Sir, yes sir. I have all of my equipment packed," he replied. "Ten minutes," they heard a yell which meant that it was almost game time.
"Private, don't salute anyone. The enemy would love to kill anyone they think is an officer. Looks like they're starting to load up," he pointed at the other C-10s.
"Got it sir," he said starting to but then hesitated to salute.
Stephen Gould adjusted the straps across his shoulders. He had checked and rechecked all of his medical supplies and was ready for anything. Seeing the Private Russo he nodded. "It's almost time," he said nervously.
"Yes sir," the Private nodded.
Captain Lewis walked by the men looking them over. "It's almost time. Get ready, men," he ordered as he went to speak with the pilots.
Eugene Roe checked his gear. He hoped he had enough medical supplies for the trip over, at least he had another medic and he was sure they'd find more when they landed. As he rubbed his hands together and walked down the line of men, asking if they all had their medical kits. He was a nervous wreck inside, but didn't show it on the outside.
"Doc," Gould nodded to him. "You ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be. You? How you holding up?" His Cajun accent became a bit thicker just then.
"Bit nervous about the jump, hope nothing bad will happen. But I guess that's where we come in."
Smirking, he rummaged in his pack for a cigarette. "Want one?" He asked.
"Yeah, thanks." Gould's hands shook a little as he lit it. "I'm alright."
"I'll be glad when we get there. You got enough supplies?" he asked again forgetting that he had just asked him that same question not five minutes ago.
"We'll need the medics to load up, too," Lewis shouted at them.
"Ah, Captain Lewis, do you want us both in the same plane?" Doc asked him.
"HELL, NO!" he looked at him like he was crazy. "We don't need to loose both of our medics if the plane goes down. Let me see," he looked at a paper on a clipboard. "This can't be right! You're both assigned to 003?" He shook his head. "If this plane goes down and you both die, I will be ready pissed if I loose both of my medics. I suggest neither one of you dies," he pointed at them both.
"Yes sir," Doc replied and gave Gould a comical look as the Captain moved away. "He won't be the only one pissed. It'll tic me off something awful."
Gould chuckled at Doc's reply. "I wouldn't be none too happy, either," Gould chuckled.
Frank walked up to the two medics. "Can one of you check to make sure my parachute is secure. It feels a little loose."
Roe shook his head and laughing with Gould as he stuck his cigarette back in his mouth and he checked out Jimmy's parachute to make sure everything was good. "It's a bit loose," he muttered around the cigarette, but tightened it. "There you go, Perconte," he patted the shorter man's shoulder.
"Thanks, Doc," Perconte grinned
"And for the last time I don't plan on getting hit. It'll take a lot more to kill Eugene Roe," he told Gould.
"I like the way you talk, Doc," Gould grinned.
"Gotta keep a positive attitude, keep things on the ball. No use being negative when there is a war going on." A plate was stuck in his face by a private "What's this?" Doc questioned, looking closer. "Ice cream? They are giving us ice cream?"
"Ice cream?" Frank looked at the dessert. "Mmmm! I want some. You got any Rocky Road?" he asked the Private but was instead handed a plate of Vanilla ice cream. "That'll do fine," he took the plate then plopped down to begin eating, or rather more inhaling it. "Why would they give us ice cream this time?" he asked.
"Maybe they think we won't be coming back," Doc wondered out loud.. "Well, at least it's something. Only wish we got ice cream back at basic instead of spaghetti. Remember that? Got through half the plate when the company C.O. comes barreling in, telling us to run Currahee. What a mess that was."
"That wasn't spaghetti, Doc. That was a figment of your imagination." Luz said while walking up to the group of men.
"That was the worst spaghetti I ever had. If my sainted Mama had been there she'd slapped the cook. Still it'd been nice to finish it instead of runnin' an' pukin'." Frank opened his mouth to take another spoonful of ice cream when he thought about what Doc had just said. "They think we ain't coming back? Ah, I wished you hadn't of said that. I just lost my appetite."
"Ah, sorry Frank. I'm just thinking out loud. We'll make it back, I promise. We'll be back in the states before Christmas. Then you can enjoy your sainted Mama's cookin'," he smirked and rattled his helmet.
Captain Lewis walked back and forth watching the men. "Enjoy, gentlemen, this'll be the last ice cream you have for some time. Check and recheck your gear. You medics have all the supplies you need?"
Eugene smiled at Captain Lewis. "Yes sir, we're all set. Just pray. If our plane goes down, y'all be in a world of hurt."
George shoved a large spoonful of ice cream into his mouth only to grab his head afterward "What the..." he paused "Ow! My head hurts. Damn ice cream," he whined. "So, anybody not gonna eat their ice cream?" Luz asked and one of the privates shook his head and handed it to him "Good, more for me then."
Eugene looked over a Luz and chuckled "You're supposed to eat it slowly, not in one bite. Don't come running to me with that sort of problem," he teased him.
"GREER! NATHAN GREER!" a Sargeant called out.
"HERE!" Deacon answered raising his hand.
"Mail Call!" the Sargeant handed him an envelope
Deacon shook his head no when he was offered the ice cream as he opened the letter from his mother. "Ah, damn no!" he said out loud.
Frank heard him and looked at Luz and Doc uncertain of what to do.
Luz snapped his head towards Nathan. "What's going on, Deac? What's the matter?"
"Ah, my dog died," he said disgusted as he wiped a tear from his eye. "She was a golden retriever and I raised her from a pup. Why on all days did my Mother have to tell me this," he balled up the letter and stuck it in his pocket."Stupid dog just got too old."
Luz raised his eyebrow and looked over at Perconte. He was trying so hard to not crack a joke. He wasn't sure how to approach this one. "Just think of all the Germans you can kill in your dog's honor," he suggested hoping Deacon wouldn't freak out.
Deacon nodded. "Yeah, my first Kraut will be for Duchess. She was my best friend for years. Yeah, you're right, Luz," he smiled at him sniffing his nose and laughing slightly. "Thanks."
"Can I have your ice cream?" Frank asked him.
Deacon laughed, "Help yourself, Frank."
"You never stop do ya, Perco? I swear you'll be so fat one day we won't be able to carry you if you get hit," Luz laughed.
"I can't help it," Frank said as he took Deacon's plate and started eating. "I love ice cream."
"What if we're in some fox hole and it's freezing cold outside? You gonna eat the snow?"
"No, but if I'm fat I can keep you warm," he grinned and the others laughed.
"Gee, thanks Perconte. I'm gonna go shoot myself now just to get that mental image out of my head."
"You two don't ever quit do ya'? Arguing like you're brothers," Roe smirked to himself, washing his plate that had ice cream on it so all these things wouldn't be sticky.
"Thanks, guys. You did make me feel better. For that I'm grateful," Deacon said blowing his nose on a handkerchief.
"Listen up, men," Lewis spoke to them all. He was now in full gear, weapon and parachute. "Have a sit down," he told them. "Doc?" he nodded to him. "Doc is going to hand you some air sickness pills. Swallow them with a sip of water and listen up." He paused for a moment and looked at each of them. "I'm proud to serve with each and everyone of you. Good luck. God be with you. I'll see you in the assembly area. Load up." He saluted them and shook their hands as they entered the plane.
Roe quietly handed them out to the soldiers. A thousand things were racing through his mind. This was it. The big drop.
As each man loaded John Lewis shook their hand and spoke to each one.
"I want you two medics in different places on the plane. If something should happen at least one of you may survive," he told them both.
"Yes sir," Gould nodded. "I'll get in the back, Doc," he told him and boarded sitting across from Perconte. The inside of the plane was eerily quiet.
Doc nodded, patting Gould on the back. "See you on the ground," he muttered not sure if he heard him or not. He went ahead and took his air sickness pill, almost coughing it up. It tasted horrible. With that he got on the plane and waited. This was the one part he hated...waiting.
His gear made it difficult to get on but with some help Deacon was able to find his footing and boarded the plane. The airsickness pill he took was beginning to make him feel slightly drowsy so he closed his eyes after he sat down and sighed. The day they had been waiting had finally come. After all the men had boarded Captain Lewis finally boarded himself.
The props of the C-10 came to life with a steady, thunderous rumble causing the plane to shimmy. It taxied down the runway, one of many in line.
One by one they took off into the air filling the skies. Soon the pilots joined the formation of hundreds of other C-10s and headed West towards Normandy and destiny.
Luz sat back and tried to ease the sickness in his stomach. Those damned air sickness pills! With the plane rocking back and forth he was having a hard time trying to not spew everywhere. His color started to fade a bit as he hung his head.
Frank had the guy sitting next to him exchange places so he could sit by his friend. He put his hand on Luz's shoulder and patted it. "You want to get a medic for you!" he yelled trying to be heard over the rumble of the engines.
Gould saw Perconte wave him over so he moved to him squatting down in front of him and Luz.
"What's wrong?" he spoke loudly trying to talk over the engines.
"I feel sick, Gould. Like I'm going to die actually. I think it's those air sickness pills Doc gave us." He raised his head a bit only to put it right back down and cover his mouth.
"Yeah, we are, too! Take deep breaths and try to relax. It'll pass soon."
"TAKE YOUR SEAT, SOLDIER!!" he was told.
"You'll be alright, Luz," he patted his knee and took his seat.
Luz groaned and rested his head against the wall of the plane. Unscrewing his canteen he took a sip. Roe handed him some saltine crackers.
"These will help settle your stomach," Eugene told him.
Luz nodded a thanks and slowly chewed on them.
Lewis sat closest to the open door as they flew. He could see the other C-10s flying all around them. Below they passed over Navy ships leaving trails in the water as they moved across the English Channel towards the beaches of Normandy. It was as though the whole world were moving in one direction towards one destination. It was dark and he could see the reddish horizon as lights began to dot the land ahead of them.
Looking back at the men he watched them.
Some stared seemingly into space, others nervously tapped their fingers, some played with their clickers, smoked cigarettes, or said the Rosary. Each man prepared himself in their own unique way.
He smiled slightly as he watched George Luz and Frank Perconte sitting beside each other. Luz lit Perconte a cigarette and handed it to him before lighting one for himself. They were best of friends but complete opposites. George was always cracking jokes while Frank always whined. Like salt and pepper. But braver men you couldn't find.
Nathan Greer always seemed to have the world on his shoulders but he was one of his best soldiers. Honest and brave, many of the younger men looked up to him.
Doc Roe, the Cajun healer. Fearless, dependable, undaunted in his duty towards the men.
Stephen Gould, the physician. Gould had been in medical school when he was called up to serve.
Both medics were lionhearted, seeming not to realize or care about the dangers around them if the men needed them. They had become fast friends and colleagues each possessing great courage.
And so many other brave men who either flew or sailed across the Channel. What they would accomplish that day in June 1944 would change history forever.