In the summer of 1942, camp Toombs opened its doors to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, as an experimental outfit, the first parachute infantry outfit, in which young men would take their basic training and their jump training together as one unit. It was located in Georgia, with a 1000 feet mountain dominating the ground and camp. The first thing you saw was that mountain, it was staring you right in the face.
The camp was a sloppy mess, with red clay and muddy grounds. The barracks were under construction when the men arrived into Toombs, which was later changed to, Toccoa. The commander of the 506th, Colonel Robert Sink, changed the name. Camp Toombs sounded very off-putting, that's what one young private thought, while walking down the sloppy path.
All walks of life came through those gates.
The depression was over, and they were all looking for that fresh-start.
The majority of the men were athletics and hunters. They didn't have to worry much about shooting a gun or running for miles on end. Some of the guys were poor, had to drop out of school to work but had plenty of street smart and common sense. Those were some of the smartest people you'd ever meet. People like Johnny Martin, Bill Guarnere, Carwood Lipton, and Joe Toye. And then you had those guys with the best shots, Shifty Powers, Earl McClung and Skinny Sisk. Everyone had a talent, they were bright in their own way. Personalities were loud, booming and coloured the camp.
That group formed Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th.
Easy, Dog and Fox Companies made up 2nd, and the Battalion HQ Companies.
Over seeing 2nd Battalion was Major Strayer.
Easy would be split up into three Platoons, with two Lieutenant's to each Platoon.
The Platoon would each have a mortar squad, three twelve-man rifle squads with a light machine-gun attached to each squad. And each Platoon would have a medic. After basic training, everyone would be sorted out into their role. Whether it was a mortar-man, machine-gunner, rifleman or a medic, that was now your role in the Company. During the weeks of training, a few Privates would be promoted to Corporals and squad leaders, replacing the NCO's who already had their jump wings when the fresh-faced volunteers arrived.
For first month or so, they really looked up to the Sargent's because they had their jump wings, something each volunteer was determined to earn. Training in Toccoa was not going to be easy, it was not going to be a walk in the park, and it wasn't going to be like any other outfit in the army. Being a Paratrooper only brought out the best and each man wanted to fight beside the best.
Easy Company's commanding officer was Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, standing as his executive officer was Lieutenant Clarence Hester. Sobel sorted everyone into their Platoons, that was his first order for most of them. The next order was to change into their boots and athletic trunks.
Most of the men ran up that mountain, Currahee, which was three-miles up.
It was a hard run, more so for others, they lost some men that day. Three-miles is easy enough to run on a flat surface at your own pace but trying to attack that mountain full speed ahead, just to keep up with the fastest, was extremely hard. The guys who did well, were the men who played a lot of sports back home. Officers like Winters, Hester, Matheson and Nixon, they were the first to reach the top. And once you saw your Platoon leader up there, yelling for you to keep going, you had no other choice but to keep going. And this was just day one.
What was the rest of training going to be like?
They did callisthenics, pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups. Everyone was going hard at it on the first day, the guys who were shinning, did over thirty, the guys who lacked, only did about fifteen and the guys who were slow, they just managed ten. But only doing ten on your first day was fine, if you continued to do ten, you were out. So, they were under a lot of pressure to do well during physical training. The mental stuff, that would come later but first, they had to get over the obstacle course.
The obstacle course consisted of tunnels, walls, monkey bars, rope climbs and long jumps.
The wall was over ten-feet high. Leading up to that wall, were smaller ones behind. The rope climb was a bit of a challenge, you had to use your upper-body strength and if you had none, you wouldn't even make it halfway. A lot of men had done this sort of activity before and if you weren't used to rope, you'd feel this terrible burn in your hands. The rope climb was horrible.
And this was still only day one.
They had lunch, did more physical training.
Ate supper and then did a night-march.
Finally, they went to bed.
And they'd have to do the same thing the very next day.
…
September brought the last of the volunteers for Easy Company.
Most of the men were starting to develop friendship now and had formed tight little groups. Soon, they'd be sorted into squads, while the Privates who were now NCO's, replaced the old Army Sargent's, who dropped out when training got too tough. The men in Easy were strong, Sobel trained them harder than any other Company, he tried damn hard to do that. And he did, Easy had the best record of fitness, they completed the timed obstacle course the fastest and they ran up that mountain more times than any other Company. They were tough, mentally strong and the nicest people you'd ever meet.
Rory Gallagher was one of the last officers to join Easy Company.
The new officer was only twenty when walking into Toccoa. And at five-foot-four and a female, you'd think the army had lost their minds. But it wasn't Rory's choice to join Easy Company, it wasn't her choice to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. Rory was fairly happy where she was back in Britain, but they needed at least one person jump behind enemy lines, to be within a strong unit and observe the situation. And they picked twenty-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Rory Gallagher.
Major Strayer was both anxious and excited to meet Rory.
He invited her into the officer's club, which was a barrack near the front of camp.
Rory had only just walked into Toccoa, when Strayer immediately got her inside the club, where a few other officers were. It was a nice barrack, very clean and fresh, just like the officers inside. Rory had to remind herself of her manors, she was used to officers, yes but she also had another side to her, which brought her here.
"Lieutenant Gallagher, I've been very anxious to meet you". He said, "I've assigned you to Easy Company, they've been pushed extremely hard by their Commanding Officer, 1st Lieutenant Sobel. But they are impressing me greatly, Lieutenant. I'm sure you'll fit right in".
A glass of whiskey was soon thrust into her hand.
"I hope your journey here was pleasant, Lieutenant. Did you experience much turbulence?"
Rory blinked, staring down at the whiskey.
First off, she didn't drink.
And secondly, Rory wasn't expecting such a warm welcome.
She cleared her throat, "yes, it was fine, sir".
Strayer smile, "well, can you tell me more of your time in training?"
"Well – physical ones, sir". Rory said, sound vague about it. "And – eh – well, they're more interested in your emotional and mental strengths, sir".
"Well, we have a lot of lectures here, Lieutenant Gallagher". He said, "weapons, map reading, how to use and read a compass, codes, signalling, field telephones, radio equipment, switchboard and wire stringing…the list goes on".
She nodded slowly, "yes, that's pretty much what we did, sir".
He pulled an amused smile, "don't worry, Lieutenant Gallagher, I won't ask much of your training. I know it's top secret".
Rory cleared her throat and handed the glass back to Strayer, "I don't drink, sir".
"At all?"
"No, sir".
He sighed, "do you smoke?"
She smiled, "like a chimney, sir".
Strayer took out his carton of cigarettes and brought one out for her.
"Now, as the Battlefield writer". He said, "you'll need to start training for your role".
Rory took out her lighter and lit the cigarette.
"So, we'll start off by letting you take notes throughout the training day". He said, "after, you will type it all up, hand the report to your CO, who will then bring it to me. Understood?"
"Yes, sir". Rory said, "I've done that before".
"Yes, they only told me so much". Strayer said, "but you have been to Poland".
She nodded, "just the once, sir. We didn't do much".
He chuckled, "don't worry, Lieutenant, I will not ask".
Rory liked Strayer.
He was genuine, respectful and seemed like a straight-up guy.
She had met a lot of officers during her time, Strayer was one of the good ones.
"Okay, Lieutenant. I will place you under Lieutenant Winters, he'll help you with training".
Because it was early evening when Rory arrived in Toccoa, she was shown into the officer barracks, where four other officers slept. The four of them were all from Easy, of course. Lieutenant's Winters, Nixon, Hester and Matheson. Because the officers were expecting a new officer, they were all open minded and friendly. Strayer had warned the men of a female joining the Company, Sobel had told his men about Rory Gallagher joining the officer ranks. Sobel had told them exactly this;
"she'll be taking notes during our time in combat. She will not fire a weapon".
Which was true, Rory wasn't expected to fight with the Americans.
But here in Toccoa, everyone had to learn how to fire a weapon, even if Rory wouldn't need to use one, they wanted to teach her how, just in case.
"Welcome to Toccoa". Hester smiled warmly at her, "did you have a good journey?"
She was a little nervous.
Rory knew the men of Easy admired their Platoon leaders a great deal, Strayer had told her and even though she wasn't here to be a leader, Rory would have liked it at least, if the men didn't hate her, she would be working closely with them, after all.
So, she gave the man a nod.
"Oh, good". Hester said, "now, that's your bed, right there". Hester told her, "get yourself unpacked and settled in, we have an early start tomorrow".
Keeping her head down, Rory wondered to the back of the barrack and placed her bag down on top of the cot. She had one green blanket, a white pillow and a white mattress sheet. At the foot of the cot was her footlocker and, on a small platform next to her, was a desk with a typewriter. Rory's weapon during the war would be that typewriter, one she was expected to carry until this war ended, or if she died. Either way, that typewriter was her new best friend.
First impressions, she seemed a little skittish.
Petite and a not a lot of her. She had knobbly knees, messy light hair, green eyes and was so pale, you'd think she was always sick. Rory didn't cut her hair, it went passed her shoulders. And it was always untameable. Her mother had a face full of dark freckles, Rory had freckles too. They were dotted over her face at random. Kids used to tease her relentlessly for that. And if it wasn't her freckles, it was her round spectacles, which she wore while reading and writing.
Rory complained of headaches since a young age.
At the age of ten, her mother took her to the doctors, and she walked out with glasses. She wasn't blind, she just needed an extra pair of eyes when concentrating with words. If Rory didn't wear her glasses while reading and writing, overtime, the words would get blurry and her head would hurt. That was it.
"So, where're you from?" Matheson asked.
Rory cleared her throat, while she hung up her uniform.
"A farm".
Nixon laughed, nudging Winters side, giving him a nod.
"A farm?" Matheson repeated.
Rory nodded, "yes, a farm".
"You got cows on that farm, Lieutenant?"
"Dairy cows". She replied, "for milking".
"I never would have guessed".
Rory's lips twitched, "yes, that's sarcasm".
"It is, yeah". Matheson commented, with a smirk. "How'd you like them apples?"
Rory was flattening down her uniform when he said that.
She frowned and stilled her movements.
"What apples?"
He chuckled, "ah – it's an expression, Lieutenant".
Rory shook her head, "I've never heard it". She said, "so, you must have made it up".
"No, it's been around for years".
"I haven't heard it before".
Matheson couldn't tell if she was being serious or not.
Hester only shrugged in return, though he was amused.
Mouth slightly open, Matheson looked back at the new officer.
Rory stepped away from her uniform, looking at it with a hard-concentrated face.
She stuck her tongue out a little, holding her thumb up in front of her.
It had to be right, it had to be as straight as a plank of wood.
Sighing, Rory shook her head and walked back over to her uniform.
She brought it out, laid it on the bed and reached over for the iron.
Winters cleared his throat, "well, at least you're anal about things, Lieutenant".
Rory brought out the board and plugged in the iron.
"My name is Rory".
"That's a nice name". Nixon said, with a tiny smile. "And you lived on a farm?"
"Yes". She said, "my name is nice".
He laughed again, "I like you Rory, you're – uh – well, you seem fun".
When the iron was hot enough, she brought out her footlocker and stood up on it, reaching the board. It was one of the strangest things the officers had ever seen inside their barrack thus far. But she was short, and she couldn't reach the top of the ironing board. At least she was thinking on her feet, that's what Winters had to tell himself, while he watched her iron out her uniform.
"How old are you, Rory?" Hester asked.
"Twenty". She replied quietly, "how old are you?"
He smiled a little, shaking his head. "Twenty-three".
"Okay". Rory said, "are you all roughly the same age?"
"We are". Winters replied, "Lieutenant Sobel is the oldest".
She continued to iron out her uniform, steam filling the area around her.
"Where is Lieutenant Sobel? Is he not welcome at the officers club?"
There was an awkward silence.
Hester cleared his throat, "he's – uh – he's busy today".
"He doesn't usually go". Nixon added, "I think he likes being alone".
"It's not that he doesn't fit in-"
"he's very busy".
Rory smiled a little, "that's funny".
"What?" Matheson asked.
"You're all making stuff up about him". She said, "why're you doing that?"
"No – no, we're not". Hester said, "we're – uh – look, you'll meet him tomorrow, alright?"
"He wants Easy to be the best Company around". Nixon said, "so, he'll push the men hard, officers included".
Rory looked over at him, "what's wrong with being the best?"
"Oh, nothing". He said, "you know, if you can carry out an order you can achieve too-"
"sometimes, he can be a little cruel". Winters told her, "but we try not to discuss these matters with the men, understand?"
Nodding, Rory looked back down at her uniform.
At the moment, she was wearing her uniform from back in Britain. It was green, with matching trousers and dark brown boots. She had her Lieutenant badge on her collar. And two badges on each side of her shoulder, on her jacket. Rory would need to hide her old uniform away, she would not be returning to that unit. Her work back in Britain was over and her new life in America had only just begun.
Rory collected her new uniform and hung it up.
Taking a step back, she checked to see if everything was straight.
"Well, Rory". Nixon said, "I'd say that's pretty damn straight, huh?"
Walking back over to her bed, Rory picked up her nightclothes and stared up at the officers. Winters cleared his throat.
"We – uh – we won't look".
Rubbing her lips, Rory shook her head.
"Where's the latrines?"
"Right across from us". Nixon told her, "can't miss it".
"Thanks".
When she left, the four of them looked at one another.
"Well-"
"she seems nice enough-"
"she's a little-"
"look, different can be a good thing too-"
"think the men will like her?"
Winters sighed quietly, "there's nothing wrong with her being quiet".
"No, we're not saying that, Dick". Hester said, "she's here for a reason".
Nixon nodded and looked back towards Winters, "what'd you 'wanna do, Dick?"
"Major Strayer put her in my charge for the duration of training". He said, "she'll be training with 2nd Platoon, mostly. I can't give her any sort of special treatment".
"I don't think she wants that". Matheson said, "she'll find her feet here, we'll bring her along to the officers club, get to know her a little".
Hester sighed heavily, "Sobel's 'gonna give her hell".
Rory returned a few minutes later, wearing her jacket over her nightclothes.
She headed back towards her bed and took her jacket off.
Rory folded up her old uniform and placed it into her bag, which then went into her footlocker.
There, now she had officially made a fresh-start.
After staring at her bag for a few moments, Rory pulled the door down.
"So, that farm you mentioned before…".
Eyebrows twitching, she looked up towards Hester.
"It must have been in Britain, right?"
Rory gave a small nod, "yes, it sat two-miles outside of a town".
Hester smiled, "see? Now we're getting to know you, Rory".
"What about family?" Matheson asked, "what do they think of you being here?"
She pulled the blanket back from her cot and got under.
Rory laid down, head resting against the pillow.
She had a loving family back home. Two great parents and five siblings. Their Grandmother lived with them, after her Grandfather Gallagher passed away, their father took in Grandmother Gallagher, she had a lovely room over-looking the pond, which sat at the bottom of the field.
"I haven't seen them in a while". Rory told him quietly.
"I didn't go back home after I graduated officer training". Nixon told her, "you miss them?"
"I don't think about them enough to miss them". She replied softly.
"That's probably for the best, huh?" Matheson shrugged, "I mean, no point in getting homesick, right?"
Rory yawned softly into her hand, "yeah, you're right".
Hester checked his watch, "well, it's almost lights out".
"Is it that time already?" Winters frowned.
"Yeah, get a damn watch, Dick".
Snorting softly, he nodded. "I'll get a watch in my own time".
Nixon pulled a face, "did you just make a joke?"
"You tell me".
He looked over at Hester and Matheson, "I think he just made a joke".
Hester walked over to the light, "alright, goodnight fellas – Rory".
"Goodnight".
"Yeah, night".
The lights turned off.
Rory was fast asleep.
Her last thought was obvious; what would tomorrow bring?
…
The officer woke up at six and had to quickly get changed, wash-up and then head on over to see that the men were getting up and ready. Rory wasn't used to that, she never had to do that as an officer back in Britain. As a group, they were all officers and didn't have to train, the Staff did that. But here, the Platoon Leaders had to watch over around forty young men.
That's how Rory first met 2nd Platoon.
They were all dressed and standing by their beds.
Winters went around each man, making sure they had everything in order.
They gave her curious stares, while Rory simply walked behind Winters, taking mental notes of the names stitched on their uniform.
Guarnere, Malarkey, Lipton, Diel, Muck, Penkala, Toye, Wynn, Grant, Liebgott.
The list went on.
Guarnere was a Corporal, Diel and Lipton were Sargent's.
It said so, beside their name.
Rory didn't think Winters would need a name tag, he seemed to know the name of every single man in his Platoon. She didn't see him look at the stitched writing once. And when they reached the end of the line, Lieutenant Sobel entered the barrack.
Immediately, everyone stood up a bit straighter.
Painfully straight.
Sobel turned to one man, Muck and said.
"Dirt behind your ears. Pass revoked".
But he didn't just say it, he yelled it.
Rory was sure she saw spit coming out of that man's mouth.
So, he was that kind of officer. Brilliant. That's just what the Company needed. A screamer. And Winters was right, this man was being cruel. The men had done a fine job with their uniforms and the barrack was spotless, you could eat off that floor, but Sobel somehow imagined all these infractions, he was making-up excuses, just so he could revoke their weekend passes.
Twenty young men had their passes revoked and it was only seven in the morning.
"Change into your boots and trunks, we're running Currahee!"
Rory frowned.
What was that?
Winters told them they had five minutes to change, which meant the officers only had four minutes to get ready. It was the ultimate race back into the barrack. Rory was wearing her PT gear under her uniform, just so she could be quick about changing. Her uniform slipped right over her boots, so she didn't have to worry about re-doing her laces again.
When all the officers were ready, they got their Platoons into formation and marched towards the back of camp, where Rory soon came face to face with a 1000 feet mountain. This was Currahee and it was three-miles up. The men could reach the top and bottom in fifty minutes, meaning Rory would have to keep up with that excellent time.
Her first run up Currahee was fine, Rory was used to running up hills. She did that a lot back in Britain, in fact, they ran up many hills for training. Various hills because back there, they were surrounded with nothing but massive hills. The Staff thought it would be perfect to put them up against the hills and for the first few runs, Rory would spew until her throat burned. She wasn't used to such runs, hard work yes but not running up a hill.
When they got back down, they did their push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups.
Rory saw the men do over thirty with ease, while Sobel struggled.
But the CO still did the exercises, he just lagged a little.
Rory was pretty shattered after that run up Currahee, she only managed thirty on the dot, while the target was set at thirty-three. She'd just need to do better next time. And when they finished that exercise, the Company broke apart for breakfast. The officers headed to the officer mess hall, where the five of them sat down at a table. It was a quiet barrack, Rory could only imagine the enlisted men were having colourful conversations about this mornings training.
"Well, how did you find it?" Nixon asked.
Rory gave a little nod, "yes, it was quite fine".
"You did well, Rory". Winters said to her, "you'll reach thirty-three by the end of the week".
"Well, I wasn't expecting Currahee". She admitted quietly, "I mean, we did a lot of hills back in Britain, but I guess it's been a while".
"How are you finding things so far?" Matheson asked, "what did you make of Lieutenant Sobel?"
Rory swallowed the food in her mouth.
"It's very different". She said, "like, the way things are run here…it's different".
"Doesn't the British Army have order and discipline?" Hester asked, with a tiny frown.
"I'm not sure". Rory mumbled, "I wasn't in the Armed Forces".
"But you trained as a soldier, no?"
She nodded, "yes, we did a lot of physical training". She said, "we even jumped out of a plane".
Nixon huffed, "so, you've already got jump wings?"
Rory shook her head, "no, we didn't get any wings after we jumped. We just had to do it".
"What's it like jumping out a plane?" Matheson asked.
"It's intensely fast for the first four seconds". Rory said, "then your canopy shoots up and it slows down. I think you'll all enjoy it…unless you're afraid of heights. Then your fucked".
Winters almost choked on his water.
Nixon grinned with a small laugh.
"Colourful language, Rory". Hester commented. "I think the men might like you".
"Speaking of". Matheson said, "I've 'gotta pick six guys for latrine duties. Apparently, all the men came back late from their annual Friday night march…Dick?"
"Not on my watch". He said.
"You don't have a watch". Rory pointed out softly.
Nixon laughed again. "God, Rory. You're something else".
Winters cleared his throat, "thank you for reminding me, Rory…but the men arrived on time, Matheson. So, he's probably just up to his old tricks again. Twenty of my men had their passes revoked this morning".
"Twenty?" Hester raised an eyebrow, "seems like someone is in a bad mood this morning".
"Tough break for them, huh?" Matheson mumbled, "I'm thinking Martin, Bull, Perconte, Luz, Tab and Carson for latrine duties". He said, "I can't remember the last time they did it".
Rory stretched up and looked out of the window, "who's that man digging holes?"
Winters followed her stare, "that's Alley". He said, "he's always digging holes".
"Why is he digging a hole?"
Matheson cleared his throat, "well, I believe he tripped during the run up Currahee".
"That's a shame…he seemed pretty energetic this morning".
"Oh, he's always like that". He said, "I don't think Sobel likes his energy".
Nixon shook his head, "one of the guys got kicked out this morning for having a can of peaches".
"God, don't remind me". Winters said, "he was devastated".
"It's a can of peaches". He muttered, "it wasn't like the kid was hoarding a bunch of grenades or Sobel's damn underwear".
Hester frowned, looking at him. "That's disgusting, Lewis".
Nixon made a gesture, "well – I'm telling you this again, that man's smart".
"Jesus, Lew". Winters sighed, "he's not smart. He's turned the men against him".
"Exactly". He said, "and they've grown stronger because of it".
"Okay". He nodded, "but, they don't respect him, Lew. His plan has backfired".
Matheson shook his head, "it wasn't his plan, fellas. It's just his personality. Sobel's only friend is first Sargent Evans and sometimes I think he's just as bad as Sobel".
Nixon snorted, "no – no one is as bad as Sobel-"
"where'd Rory go?"
…
Jim Alley was digging up a six by six hole, he had to do three.
No one was watching over him, but Sobel would be back to check and see that the man had done what was asked from him. Of course, Alley cursed the world while he dug because it wasn't fair, Sobel just hated him and if Alley made one tiny mistake, he'd get punished for it. Digging holes, mostly.
"You're Alley, right?"
Alley stilled and looked up from the hole he was currently in.
"Uh – yeah, Lieutenant".
"I'm Rory". She said, "that's a nice hole".
Alley snorted out a tiny laugh, "aw, thanks, Lieutenant".
Rory wasn't looking directly at him, she was looking at his hand.
It had two blisters, probably from digging so much with a trench-tool.
"You should see someone about your hand". Rory told him quietly, "or, I could help you?"
Alley frowned, "um – I'm not sure that's allowed". He said, "it's my punishment".
She looked around, "I don't see him anywhere".
"Well – uh – he probably has a spy".
Rory smiled, shaking her head.
"No way, Alley".
She jumped into the hole and took the trench-tool from him.
"Sit down, keep watch". Rory told him, "if he comes, we'll switch very quickly".
Alley cleared his throat, "Lieutenant, this makes me feel a little uncomfortable".
"Why?"
"Well…officers aren't meant to be digging holes".
"Just pretend I'm not then". Rory said, beginning to dig. "You smoke, Alley?"
Alley slowly sat on the edge of the hole, "yeah?"
Reaching into her pocket, she brought out a carton of cigarettes. "Take one".
"Thanks". He smiled a little and placed the cigarette between his lips, lighting it up. "So, how're you finding Easy?"
"I like this Company". She said softly, "you're all fast".
Alley smirked, "couldn't keep up, Lieutenant?"
Rory smiled, "I could". She said, "but only just".
"So…you're meant to write up combat reports?"
"That's the plan".
"Where'd they find you, Lieutenant?"
She cleared her throat, "they didn't find me, Alley. I found them".
He grinned, "yeah? How'd that come about? Because no offence, Lieutenant but – uh – women don't usually head out into combat, you know?"
"I'm not offended".
Alley chuckled quietly, "oh? That's great".
Rory rubbed the back of her neck, "where I'm from, they don't care what you are, they just look for the right person for the job, I suppose".
When Sobel came back, the holes were done, and Rory hid behind one of the barracks.
To her surprise, Sobel told Alley to fill those holes back up and walked away.
Alley didn't look down about it, he must have known it was coming but Rory felt a little peeved for the man. Sobel was cruel, she had seen it that morning and there the now with Alley. Writing up that report after the days end, it was going to be interesting, to say the least. But before she could even think about writing out that report, they had more training.
The men were taken into the barracks for lectures.
Rory sat in the back, listened in and took mental notes.
They were learning about different weapons, ones the Germans used. She already knew about them, they were taught similar things back in Britain. The MG42's, German stick grenades, Maschinenpistole 43, MP38's, 88mm rockets, Schu-mines, Panzers, Tigers. The Germans had a lot of dangerous weapons. They were loud and scary as hell.
After learning about a few enemy weapons, they moved onto the field for target practice.
Rory was given an M-1 rifle, which she was told to keep with her at all times.
"Treat it as your wife". Hester said, but then added, "or husband…".
She smiled, "then I'll break him".
"Okay, as a kitten then".
"Better".
For the first set of firing, they all had to stand-up and shoot together.
Sobel would give them the command, "ready…aim…fire!"
Across the field were sand-bags, they had a bulls-eye, one on the heart, throat and of course, the head. The main objective was to hit the target, or get as close as you could, with one single shot. Rory watched, standing between Winters and Nixon.
"Fire!"
The shots rang out and she was so impressed.
For the guys who didn't get it, they were close enough.
Shifty and McClung impressed her the most that afternoon. They both got them between the eyes, their targets were great. They must have been hunters before coming here, unless, they had already been soldiers. Because Rory had only seen a shot like that from an old soldier, one who had been through the Great War.
The mortar squad came up next.
It was 2nd Platoons, with Guarnere, Malarkey, Muck, Penkala, Brad Freeman and Ed Sabo.
Malarkey set it down, Sabo put the shells down the tube, with the increments and Guarnere told them the range, where to set it and how many increments to use. You could use four in total, one increment will send it about twenty yards, two will send forty, ect. They put in two. The shell came flying out of the tube and flew forty-yards down the field, blasting the target. Rory smiled a little, thinking she had never seen anything so accurate in her life. Especially coming from a mortar. Those things were a lot harder to control and reconnaissance correctly.
She saw 1st and 3rd Platoon use their mortars next.
Rory looked over to the mortar squad from 2nd Platoon, Guarnere looked confident.
And he had every reason to be, his squad was by far the best.
That's when it hit Rory.
She was going to be alongside the best Company in 2nd Battalion.
Major Strayer was right, Easy were strong.
They were smart and Rory would need to somehow fit in.