A/N: Hello everyone! This is a very old fanfic story that I wrote for BoB. I have a newer story, completely different in the works, but I've wanted to post this one for a while. It follows the series, but I've added several things to it. Stick with it for a few chapters, as the first few are character development, and I realize that the female protaganist seems like she has no background/history to her, but more will be revealed in due time. I hope you enjoy!

It was hot, hotter than normal. To be training for a war during this time, was sheer punishment. The flies showed no mercy to our skin as they buzzed around our heads, nipping at our sweaty flesh.

Our company was standing at attention, as we had been for the past twenty minutes, as we waited for our commanding officer. He was late. Not that this was any surprise to us, but standing, in full gear, in that blasted heat, was too much.

I looked over my left shoulder, to see Lieutenant Nixon smack his neck, successfully killing his attacker.

Sighing, I glanced down at my combat watch. 1425. He was definitely late. I couldn't help but shake my head, as I continued to stand there.

Just when we thought that we were being played the fools, an angry shout was heard coming from behind us," You people, are at the position of attention!"

I knew instinctively, that everyone in our unit had perfected their position, just as the words were spoken.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see our CO, Lieutenant Sobel walking to the front of our lines. He was out of his mind, as he wore his new leather bomber jacket, in this heat. Sobel walked past Lieutenant Winters, giving him a disapproving look, most likely from how the men were not at the correct position of attention. Then again, nothing was ever good enough for this man, and we all knew it.

Sobel stopped in front of one of the shortest men in our company, Frank Perconte. He sized him up, then spoke," Private Perconte, have you been blousing your trousers over your boots like a paratrooper?"

"No sir," Perconte replied. I felt badly for him, as I could only imagine him quaking in his boots a little.

"Then explain the creases at the bottom," Sobel demanded.

I closed my eyes, knowing that Sobel was up to his old tricks again, and knowing that he was going to be even harder on the men, simply because it was Friday.

Perconte tried to speak up," No excuse, sir."

Sobel didn't stop there," Volunteering for the paratrooper infantry is one thing, Perconte, but you've got a long way to go to prove that you belong here. Your weekend pass is revoked," he glared into Perconte's eyes as he walked away.

When Sobel approached another man, he demanded," Name?"

Handing his M-1 to Sobel, the reply was instant," Luz, George."

I didn't have to see what Sobel was doing, I knew that he would find something wrong with Luz's gun. I was right.

"Dirt in the rear side aperture...pass revoked." Sobel continued down the line, making men even more nervous. He stopped again, peering down at our most respectful Sergeant in the unit, Lipton.

"When did you sew on these chevrons, Sergeant Lipton?"

"Yesterday, sir."

"Long enough to notice this," Sobel spat as he held some loose threads an inch from Lip's face," Revoked." I could see the brief flash of anger make an appearance on his face. I didn't blame him.

To his credit, Lipton simply replied," Sir."

I closed my eyes, praying that this torture would be over soon. I heard Sobel bust a few more of our men for silly things that didn't exist, such as rust on the butt plate hinges, and a rusty bayonet. I felt like Lieutenant Sobel was reaching at this point. He came out in front of all of us, telling us that he would make us the best company in the regiment. He revoked all of our passes for the weekend, and continued to glare at us.

Finally, he shouted," Change into your PT gear...we're running Currahee."

Winters turned to address us," 2nd platoon, move out. We have two minutes."

Everyone turned around and headed towards their barracks to change.

I quickly ran towards mine. When I reached it, I instantly threw my gear to the floor. I was glad to be out of the sweaty gear, and into something fresh, even if it was going to get just as sweaty on this run. Once I tied my shoes, I stood up, and rushed back to rejoin the men.

On our run up the mountain, I could barely make out some of our men stumbling and cramping from the heat. Sobel, of course, would order us not to help each other out. I knew that we'd never follow such an order. We always found a way to help one another in any situation. This was the point of such training, but Sobel insisted that if we didn't follow his petty orders, we'd be punished, as if being under his command wasn't punishment enough.

Winters had reached the top of the mountain first, pushing past Sobel to tag the pedestal that sat next to him. I was the next one up, right behind Winters. He held me up, by grabbing my elbow, which had to have upset Sobel, as he glared into my dark eyes, but I ignored him as I tapped the stone, and turned to head back down the trail that had become so familiar to us.

I could hear Winter chanting the others on, before he headed back down, then I could make out Sobel telling us how horrible of a job we were doing. I really hate that man...