Part 1.2- Currahee

Author's Note: So here is the remainder of Part 1. Thank you to everyone who has commented, favourited, and followed this story, it makes the long hours of editing, deleting, and re-writing worth it. In this section, and sections to come, I have taken some quotes from the series and paraphrased some of what some of the characters said, so not all of this is completely mine. Hope you enjoy.

"Women are the bravest creatures I know. They face adversity head on, fiercely protect the people they love, keep fighting past exhaustion and personal pain until all the danger is passed. Then and only then do they allow themselves to collapse"- Anonymous

September 6, 1943, Brooklyn Naval Shipyard

Easy Company attended Camp Mackall for about four months where they focused on mapping and various battle tactics. They learned numerous skills, but mostly learned that Sobel was useless in a fight. The man would bring them to the wrong position then lead them straight into an ambush.

As a kid, Griest and her brother would pour over maps and navigate themselves through New York City. They started out exploring their neighbourhood of Queens but branched out until all of New York was their playground, much to their mother's distress. Due to that, Griest picked up map reading and navigating quickly. The men joked- but not really- about Griest leading them while Sobel watched their six. Skip said maybe the Germans would be so surprised to see a female soldier that they'd surrender.

That day, they found themselves boarding a ship to bring them overseas. The men were excited to finally move forward but nervous about the future ahead. Griest was no different; she remembered Chris' anxious exhilaration on that final day, she understood that feeling now. She thought of her mother and uncle and wrote them a quick letter. She was horrible at writing them and apologized, but, unfortunately, she knew that habit wouldn't change.

Easy hung over the railings of the ship as they watched Lady Liberty appear and vanish as they muttered to themselves speculating about their final destination. There was talk about Japan or Africa, but Griest hoped they were nothing but rumours. She wanted to kill Krauts and finish the war her brother died for.

After they got tired of the endless waters, they went below deck to their bunks. The bunks were stacked on top one another and were nothing but a thin, scratchy mattress that hung from support beams. The entire room smelled of smoke, vomit, fish, and body odor; that was her home for several days. Griest hated it and would hate sailing the rest of her life.

Being the only female, she got catcalled and razed often. She acted as if it were no big deal but sometimes, the way the men looked at her, it made her nervous. The rest of Easy shared her unease and made it so one of them accompanied her everywhere she went. They played it off as one Easy soldier talking to another. The looks and acts decreased significantly, and for that, she was greatly appreciative towards her men.

Her bunk was with the rest of Easy in the middle of the ship, which meant they had to push and fight to get there. More than once, there was an 'accidental' brush of her breast or butt, but she learned to live with that. Her bunk was on the top over Luz, Liebgott, and Doc. Luz made a joke about her loving to be on top. Griest rolled her eyes but chuckled.

On their first night, Guarnere and the guys were talking about trust on the battlefield. Griest was listening half-heartedly as she tried, but failed, to compose a letter home.

"As long as he, or she, is a paratrooper," Toye agreed knowing Griest would be listening. She grinned and threw a cigarette down to him. She didn't smoke but used them to trade or gave away to them as rewards for agreeing with her in good natured arguments.

"What if that paratrooper ends up being Sobel?" Luz asked. The men rolled their eyes and discussed an 'accidental' weapons discharge or joining another officer. They eventually got onto the officers' religion when Guarnere confessed he wasn't sure he'd be able to trust a Quaker, something he claimed both Sobel and Winters were.

"A what?" Liebgott asked under Griest somewhere.

"A Jew," Guarnere clarified.

"Fuck; I'm a Jew," Lieb growled back as he jumped off his bunk and stared at the Philly.

"Good for you, now get your nose outta my face." Griest never knew who threw the first punch but, either way, the fight was on. She waited for a moment before she swung her legs over the edge of her bunk. Then she jumped down. She landed between Guarnere and Lieb startling them both as she blocked one of Guarnere's punches meant for Liebgott's nose.

"Knock it off!" She shouted glaring at them both. "Come on, you guys are better than this. I mean, Jesus, you're fighting over Sobel! Fight about stupid shit like the end of a joke, which girl has nicer tits, or whatever is fine, but not about this. If you wanna fight you do it to blow off steam and you do it somewhere else. Doc doesn't need to be put to work before we even leave the States!" Her voice was like iron as the men grew quiet, even those who weren't in Easy Company. She turned around and began climbing back to her bunk when Skip laughed.

"You both listened to Chucky, and she's half your size! So much to being tough guys and-" he froze as Griest gave him a look the men knew to be wary of. He swallowed hard as Griest smiled slowly.

"Were you saying something, Warren?" She asked sweetly.

"No, ma'am," he answered. Griest flashed him a wink then returned to her bunk.

September 18, 1943, Aldbourne, England

The first few days at England were spent learning and perfecting more tactics, fighting, and shooting. Griest was a good marksman, certainly no Shifty Powers, but she could hold her own. Easy learned how to use the bayonet in closer quarter fighting and various maneuvers in both fighting and battle strategies. The final stage was putting it all together. It was hard and challenging but most of the men enjoyed it.

Griest, Luz, Tipper, Perconte, Skinny, Skip, and a few others were placed in Sobel's platoon as they conducted another mapping and mock battle exercise. Guarnere, Lipton, and the lucky ones were with Winters. Sobel's team quickly became lost within the first hour; however, Sobel only realized that when they encountered a fence that wasn't marked on the map. He ordered the platoon to take cover behind a small bunch of trees as he, Evans, and Tipper tried to figure out where they were and how to get back on course.

"Are we lost again, Chucky?" Perconte asked as she nodded her head releasing a thin stream of air creating a sharp hissing sound.

"About a full grid off where we should be."

"Jeez," he huffed, "he should just suck it up and let you navigate." Winters suggested that during their last exercise back at Camp Mackall but Sobel swore he'd be dead before he let a redcoat-turned bitch lead him anywhere. They were later caught by an opposite team's ambush, which would have killed 90 percent of the company. It took everything Griest had not to give Sobel the I-told-you-so and the what-did-you-say look, but even then her weekend pass was revoked for dirty ears.

"Now we're going to sit on our asses for twenty minutes until he figures out where to go," she huffed. She crossed her arms as she sat down making herself comfortable.

"You know where to go?" Luz asked. Griest gave him a look as she pointed a finger to the north east.

"C'mon, Luz, don't insult me by asking that." She winked.

"Luz, can you do Major Horton?" Perconte asked as his eyes lit up and a smirk crossed his face. Griest sat up; she knew that look. He had an idea. Luz nodded and demonstrated it perfectly. "Maybe the good major can goose this schmuck; get us moving?"

"No, no way-"

"C'mon, Luz," Skip pushed as Griest nodded urgently adding her voice to the pleas.

"Alright, but just this once. Shh!" Luz relented. Everyone smirked as Luz cleared his throat.

"Is there a problem, Captain Sobel?" Luz shouted in a huskier, lower tone imitating the major expertly.

"Who was that?" Who broke silence?" Sobel screamed back.

"What is the godDAMN hold up, Mr. Sobel?" Luz called after a few moments. They waited as they all leaned forward anxiously.

"A fence, sir, a-a barbed wire fence," Sobel answered hesitantly believing Luz's trick.

"Oh, well that dog ain't gonna hunt!" Everyone held back snickers as their cheeks grew sore. "Now cut that fence and get this goddamn platoon on the move!" They were off in a minute as they walked through a farmer's field surrounded by cows. They were caught later by Winters' platoon, but none of Winters' men could understand why they were laughing so hard until that night when they shared 'Major Horton's' orders.

The next afternoon, Sobel had them assembled. His face was flushed and cross as he stared at Easy. His hands formed fists at his side as he breathed quickly and hard. His shoulders were tight and stayed near his ears. A cow mooed in the background as soldiers tried to return the loose cows to their proper owners. Griest had to bite the inside of her cheeks to keep herself from laughing, but she wasn't the only one.

"Who the hell told me to cut through the fence yesterday?" He hissed in a quiet fury. His eyes cut through everyone like razors but not Sergeant Evans; he was the only man safe from Sobel's wrath. He even glared accusingly at Winters, his platoon, and Tipper. Winters and his men weren't even there and Tipper had been standing beside Sobel when the orders were given. Sobel stepped in front of Griest as his warm, sour smelling breath hit her like a wall.

"Was it you?"

"No, sir," she said staring forward. She hitched her voice to make it higher as if pointing out her vocal range made it impossible for her to successfully make that impression.

"Who did?" Sobel glared down at her. Griest looked up at him as everyone refused the urge to look at Luz. Luz was one of them. Sobel, despite his rank and position, was not, and Easy would defend their own until the end.

"I don't know, sir," she said keeping her iron gaze on Sobel. He turned away and moved onto the next man, but it was pointless. He sent them all on a 15 mile march in full gear as punishment, but Easy just laughed through it all. The 15 miles was well worth it. At the end of the march, Griest noticed Winters staring at Luz knowingly with an amused smile.

The next few weeks were hard on the entire company. Sobel had court-martialed Winters for a bullshit reason, who appealed the decision. Winters was placed on mess hall duty until a final verdict could be reached but it left Easy alone with Sobel. Most of the NCOs got together and gave Colonel Sink an ultimatum: Sobel or them. The act could be considered mutiny and put each NCO at risk; Sergeant Harris was transferred and Ranney was demoted, but the others were alright. In fact, their plan worked; Sobel was transferred to an instructor position at the new parachute training school at Chilton Foliat. Lieutenant Meehan replaced Sobel; he was a good, dependable man and Easy liked him immediately. As a bonus, he never used Griest's gender against her and treated her equally.

"I told you I'd make it longer than Sobel," Griest chuckled, gently body checking Doc who just grinned in response. Things were finally looking up for Easy.

May 31, 1944, Upottery, England Airfield

Easy arrived at the airbase where soldiers filled the entire area. They were comprised of numerous different companies, battalions, and even different countries. British soldiers manned the checkpoints and sentries ensuring the safety and security of the airfield. Some were even dressed in Kraut uniforms to familiarize the Airborne men with the German uniform. It was strange and exciting to know their training had come to this; that they were finally moving forward, but also nerve racking.

Easy went through a few changes in leadership; they had gained a new assistant platoon leader named Lynn Compton, but better known as Buck. He was a good officer who got along better with the NCOs and enlisted men than the other officers, everyone liked him and respected his leadership. Winters was returned to them after his court-martial was thrown out. Everyone was excited to have him back, even Guarnere. Some of the men were promoted to sergeant as the platoons were shifted and men were reassigned to different squads, but they knew everyone well enough that it did not hinder their performance.

At the airfield, Easy learned and trained for the coming assault vigorously; a night jump into Normandy where they would provide cover to the men as they stormed Utah and Omaha Beach. Afterwards, they would take over the town of Carentan to link the two beaches together. Easy studied the maps until they knew the land better than their home streets. Finally, the day came.

The soldiers of all battalions were outside as they slowly packed their gear methodically and meticulously knowing this was the real thing, it wasn't practice anymore. They all talked and complained about all the gear they had, particularly Toye.

"Three day supply of K-rations, chocolate bars, Charms candy, powdered coffee, sugar, matches, compass, bayonet, entrenching tool, ammunition, gas mask, musette bag with ammo, my webbings, my .45, canteen, two cartons of smokes, Hawkins mine, two grenades, smoke grenade, Gammon grenade, TNT, THIS bullshit, and a pair of nasty skivvies!" He finished as Perc gave him a look.

"So?"

"This stuff weighs as much as I do, and I still have my chute, my reserve chute, my Mae West, and my M-1," he grumbled tossing his underwear to the side of the pile. Griest grinned at him.

"Ya, life must suck for you, Toye!" She teased flashing him a wink as she thought of her own gear causing her grin to turn into a scowl. She had decided to do one last walk around and check with everyone before she strapped herself into the enormous pack.

"How the hell do you do it?" He asked staring open mouthed at the petite girl.

"Momma didn't raise no quitters," she called as she flexed her muscles before she left and made her way towards her gear; she couldn't put it off any longer or she'd be jumping without her equipment. The airfield was a chaotic mess as paratroopers wandered around yelling at each other in their 100 pound plus gear. Most of the men had their faces covered in black paint making everyone look similar; only those in the same company could differentiate another. Even Griest was identical to the other men in her bulky fatigues, especially when she was suited up, only her height distinguished her from the others. Liebgott was cutting people's hair into mohawks or other crazy styles making the paratroopers look like an army of the mentally insane; though they always joked they were for jumping out of a working airplane.

Griest maneuvered around everyone and found her gear where she had left it. Luz and Doc were standing nearby with Malarkey and Guarnere a few feet away. Malarkey stood there staring at the new leg bag they had been supplied; in theory, it was a good idea but none of the men knew how they worked or had ever jumped with one before.

"It's just an extra 80 pounds strapped to your leg. Griest, you know how the hell this thing works?" Luz asked as Griest quickly strapped her gear on. The straps immediately bit into her shoulders as she helped Luz and Malarkey. Then she conducted a final check to ensure her gear was on properly. A paratrooper passed them all a letter from Colonel Sink as Griest finished her check.

"Soldiers of the regiment," Luz read out loud imitating the colonel's long drawl, "tongiiight is the niiight of nights," he slipped out of the impression and continued, "Today, as you read this, you are enroute to the great adventure for which you've trained for over two years."

"That's why they gave us ice cream," Guarnere huffed holding his bowl up.

"Easy Company, listen up!" Meehan shouted as everyone looked towards the CO. "The Channel coast is soaked in with rain and fog; there is heavy winds on the drop zone. The invasion has been postponed; we are on a 24 hour stand-down. There will be no drop tonight."

The memory faded as she looked back to the mirror. She shook her head and joined her guys in the theatre waiting for the magic words; for the jump that would change her life forever.

June 5, 1944, Upottery, Airfield

That night was the longest night in Griest's existence. They gave Griest her own room, which she loved at first. She walked around naked for the first five minutes just because she could; but during the night, the solitude became a curse. She stared up at the ceiling straining to hear her boys. She missed Smokey's snoring and Skip's muttering as he seduced women in his dreams; she even missed Perconte's deadly midnight farts that would leave her gasping. All she could hear in that tiny room was her own breath, her frantic heartbeat, and the creak as the barrack shifted and settled. All she could think about was her boys, the jump, and the letter that would destroy her mother.

At 0230 she gave up and left the small, cursed room and wandered around the airfield hoping the night air would help clear her head. The air was cold and humid sending waves of goosebumps under her fatigues. She smiled relishing that feeling. She noticed she was not the only one who couldn't sleep; many other soldiers were sitting in the grass and talking quietly to each other, but no Easy men. She went and talked to some of the Brits, the ones who would talk to her. They talked about training, what a jump was like, what the States was like, what England was like, and much more. The British talked about what they had seen and done in France with ghostly faces and trembling voices. They wished her luck. About two hours later, she returned to her bunk but tossed and turned until morning. That morning at breakfast, she beelined straight for her company. They all watched her approach as their shoulders lowered and their facial muscles relaxed. Luz gripped her arm when she joined them.

"We missed ya, Chucky," was all Skip would say. She nodded in agreement as they sat down and ate quietly. The company sat unusually close together so their shoulders were touching through the meal. After that night, they always got co-ed barracks and slept better because of it.

Late that afternoon, the jump was given the green light as everyone got ready once again, but the energy and excitement from the day before was gone. The men weren't laughing or joking; they were silent and kept to themselves while sitting in larger groups.

Griest sat with Lipton, Luz, Penkala, Skip, Malarkey, Guarnere, Bull, Toye, Buck, and Doc, but, like everyone else, there was minimal talking. Her stomach was a typhoon of emotions as her head pounded and her mouth grew dry. She felt hungry but the thought of food made her dizzy. She was sweating under all her gear making her shiver whenever the wind blew at her while her black face paint dripped into her eyes.

"You think they'll give us ice cream again?" She asked in a lame attempt at humour. The men chuckled but it was too tight and forced. She thought about her family and her brother's bones; that thought gave her focus as she felt even colder.

"Gentlemen, and lady," Meehan called gaining everyone's attention, "Doc Roe is handing these out for airsickness. Everyone takes one now and after 30 minutes in the air." Easy organized themselves in front of their assigned planes. Lip, Luz, Buck, Shifty, Talbert, and a few others left to join their platoons. She watched them for as long as she could before they vanished into the sea of soldiers. Then Doc approached her and pressed two tiny pills into her hand. Griest smiled up at him for a moment as she squeezed his hand assuringly before accepting the pills. She saw fear in his large, dark eyes. She wondered if he saw the same emotions mirrored in her own eyes.

"Good luck, Doc," she whispered as he moved to the next person. Griest swallowed the first pill and placed the second into her breast pocket. Winters took Meehan's place and smiled down at them. His smile, pride, and the confidence in his eyes felt like the sun and temporarily pushed their fears away.

"Second platoon, listen up. Good luck. God bless you. I'll see you all in the assembly area." He smiled once again before grabbing each man's hand and pulling him to his feet.

It felt deeply intimate as Winters stared into their eyes. Griest thought of a time when she was six years old. She had fallen off her bike and refused to get back up. Chris encouraged her and gave her the courage to try again. He stared down at her with a kind smile, just like Winters was, and pulled her to her feet. Griest was so focused on the memory she was surprised to see blue eyes instead of Chris' hazel green. Winters smiled at her and pulled her upright squeezing her hand as he did so. His grip was strong and unrelenting.

"We'll make you proud," she promised with an iron voice that wavered ever so slightly.

"You already have," he whispered back as Griest stepped towards the giant belly of the plane. She needed more help to get up the stairs and into the plane, which her boys gave without question. She sat down crushed between Smokey and Guarnere, Doc was at the front of the plane, and Skip and Malarkey were near the back. The planes took off as she suddenly felt tired; she wasn't sure if that was due to the pill or her lack of sleep. She grasped the front of her pants anxiously and listened to the roar of the loud engines. The vibrations shook her bones as her teeth chattered together. She looked to the floor as her eyelids grew heavy. Her head fell forward as she fell asleep almost instantly.

It would be the last time she saw some of her boys alive...

"You are about to embark on the great crusade towards which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you... I have full confidence in your courage, devotion and skill in battle"- General Dwight E. Eisenhower

Author's Note: So that's Part 1, it was a lot of setting stuff up; things get a little faster paced in the next chapter. Let me know what you guys think or if there's anything I can improve on, any criticism is welcomed. Once again, I'll try to have the next chapter up by Friday but next week is busy for me, so we'll see. Thanks for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed.