Title: "Foreshadowing"
Author: Darkover
Characters: Richard D. Winters and OC
Rating: K
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I do not own "Band of Brothers," the miniseries. Nor do I own any of the men upon whom the miniseries is based, as they were and are real people, for whom I have great respect and admiration. This is a work of fiction. No offense is intended, and I fervently hope none is taken. I am not making any money off of this; please do not sue.
Summary: We should never assume we know everything, much less what the future holds. Please read and review!
What a bunch of rubes, the young officer thought contemptuously as he stood before the audience of young soldiers. From the look of them, most of them have come straight off of the farm. Especially that one right in front, the tall one with the red hair. Much quieter than the rest. Doesn't call attention to himself, but you can't help noticing him, somehow. The new young officer gave a mental shrug. Probably a dummy, that's why he doesn't talk. I'll get on with the assigned lecture.
Stepping forward, the officer announced loudly; "Attention, men! Today I am here to tell you of the differences between the 1903 Springfield rifle, formerly used by the U.S. Army, and the new weapon, the M1 Garand rifle." As he spoke, the young lieutenant picked up one of the two rifles on the table before him and held it up to demonstrate. "As you can see, the new M1 Garand is much improved—"
The young red-haired man raised his hand.
The lieutenant glared at him. "Questions can wait until after my lecture, soldier!"
The red-haired soldier lowered his hand without a word.
In the two hours that followed, the ninety-day-wonder of a lieutenant lectured on the superiority of the new M1 Garand rifle over the old Springfield—without ever once realizing that, as he did so, he had gotten the two rifles mixed up. When he finished, he felt satisfied, even smug. After he had put the young red-haired soldier in his place, no one had tried to interrupt again. When he said, "Dismissed," the men all rose quickly and without comment and headed for the door.
"Not you," the lieutenant called out, stopping the red-haired soldier and glancing at the name on his uniform. "Winters, is it?"
The young man came to attention before him. "Yes, sir. Winters, Richard D."
"Do you have any questions now, soldier?" the lieutenant asked, not bothering to keep the drawling sarcasm out of his voice.
"Just one, sir. How would I go about becoming an officer?"
The smug lieutenant almost laughed in the other man's face. This arrogant young pup thought *he* was officer material! "Why? Have I inspired you today, Winters?"
The young man looked him directly in the eye as he replied; "Yes, sir. You could say you inspired me. Today was very educational, sir…in its own way."
"So, you see yourself as a leader of men, then, Winters?" The smug lieutenant was enjoying himself.
The young man hesitated. "I don't know much yet about being an officer, sir. But I would try to lead by example. And I would always put my men first, sir."
At that, the lieutenant did laugh in the face of the young red-haired man. "That's all, Winters! Dismissed."
As the two exchanged salutes and the red-haired man made his exit, the lieutenant who could not tell one rifle from another shook his head in disbelief. What was the Army coming to, if just anyone—even a quiet, shy, naïve young soldier like that, considered himself to be officer material? Oh, well, no matter. It wasn't likely the soldier was ever going to rise above the rank of private, much less that anyone would ever hear about the bravery or the deeds of Richard D. Winters.