I do not own Band of Brothers, only Adriana Roosevelt.
E Company arrived in Upottery, England on May 31, 1944. The men and Adriana had made it through two years of Sobel's crap and had rejoiced together when he had been promoted out of Easy. Now as they clambered off trucks, their new Lt. Buck Compton could be heard shouting orders for the platoons.
Adriana was sitting in the front of one of the trucks as it pulled to a stop. She stepped out into the mud and was met with a strong, cold wind in her face followed almost immediately by the Philadelphian man.
"How you doing Rosie?" Guarnere asked
"I'm fine Guarnere," she said letting him throw an arm around her shoulders.
"You sure? I heard you had a bit of a cold," Guarnere said.
"I'm fine. That was Doc Roe worrying too much," Adriana said dismissively.
"Well take it easy just the same alright?" Guarnere said.
She nodded and smiled as Guarnere patted her shoulder and trudged off to his tent. Adriana turned to go find hers when she had to stop for a mob of men with thick accents. She couldn't place what the accent was, but apparently Hoob knew one of the men. She stopped to watch the interaction.
"Hey you got a luger?" Hoob asked. "I'm dying to get my hands on one."
The other man said something, but Adriana couldn't understand him. Judging by Hoob's reaction, neither could he. His face lit up at the sight of the gun. He aimed it at no one in particular then turned to show it to someone, but the owner wouldn't have that. Hoob apologized then wished him luck.
"Trying to steal his Luger, Hoob?" Adriana asked slapping his shoulder.
"Naw," Hoob answered lightly. "I just wanted to show Petty. But I understand. Lugers are good guns. I wouldn't want to lose mine either."
"They aren't that good Hoob. They tend to go off by themselves," Adriana said seriously.
"Ehh still. They are wonderful guns. Well ill see yah Rosie," he said waving and turning toward Muck.
Adriana shook her head and continued to her tent. Before she took three steps, Nixon caught her arm.
"We have a briefing in ten minutes," he said, all too joyfully.
"Aww come on Nix, I haven't even gotten to my tent yet," Adriana said with mock disappointment.
"I know I know Adri, but that's what you get when you're a Lt. All officers, let's go!"
He practically skipped away leading her by an arm. They made it to the large, open air building in just enough time for Nix to get up and start speaking. All the officers and non-coms were gathered around the sand tables, listening closely to Nix.
"San. Meri Dumon. Causeway number one, causeway number two," Nix said pointing to the bored with a pencil. "The ultimate field problem. The estuary of the Duve River divides two beach heads codename Utah, here, and Omaha, here. Seaborne infantry will hit these beaches in force at a date and time to be specified. H-hour, D-day. Airborne's objective, Gentlemen, and Lady," he added smiling at Adriana. "Is to take the town of Carantan, thus linking Utah and Omaha into one continuous beach head."
Later that day, when all the men assembled, Meehan told them about the plans. Adriana, having heard all of this more than once from Nix, didn't pay attention. She was standing at the front of Easy Company, watching her men. Some looked grim, some excited. Most were smoking but they all seemed to understand their orders. For that she was very thankful. When Meehan was done, all the men were dismissed to get their stuff together.
Adriana was kneeling in front of all her stuff listening to Joe Toye ramble off all the stuff he was going to have to carry on his back. Perconte was to his right and Adriana was between Perco and Luz.
"What's your point?" Perco asked.
"Well this stuff weighs as much as I do and I still have my shoot, my reserve shoot, my may wes, my M1."
"Where you keeping your brass knuckles?" Perco asked poking Adriana in the ribs and chuckling.
"I could use some brass knuckles," Toye said thoughtfully.
As another soldier came by yelling for Sgt. Martin Luz tapped Adriana's arm.
"Hey Bell, what is this for?" he asked.
She sighed in mock annoyance at Luz and took the strap that he didn't know how to use. He smile, but soon his smile faded. Adriana looked up at his face, and concern crossed hers.
"What's up Luz?"
"Are you ready?"
"For what? To drop into Normandy? As ready as I will ever be," she answered for the fourth time that day. Everyone seemed concerned that she was ready to drop into a war zone.
"I mean you feel like… well you… you know that…" Luz faltered.
A wave of deep caring washed over her and she grabbed Luz's shoulders.
"Luz, don't worry about me alright? You know I am one of the best soldiers here," she said, the last part meant to be funny.
"I know, I know," Luz said not meeting her gaze.
"Luz, come on," Adriana said touching his chin and lifting his face. "Why so worried all of a sudden?"
Adriana watched Luz's dark eyes searching her face then they finally met hers.
"I have wanted to-" but he was interrupted by Johnny Martin.
"Hey Rosie!"
She looked up then back at Luz.
"Go on," he said nodding and giving her a little push.
She shot him a smile and left. He sighed and continued putting his stuff together when Malarkey and Guarnere came up. Guarnere plopped down with a tray of ice cream while Malarkey explored their new leg bag.
"Why are they springing these things on us now?" he asked no one in particular.
"What's it matter. It's just an extra 80 pounds strapped to your leg," Luz commented dryly. "Does anybody have any idea how da' hell this thing works?"
He held up the strap Adriana hadn't showed him how to use. No one answered him. Instead someone walked by handing out pieces of paper. Luz took his and began in Col. Sink's voice.
"Solders of the regiment. Toniiiight is the niiiiight... of nights. Today as you read this, you are in route to the great adventure for which you have trained for over two years."
"So that's why they gave us ice cream," Guarnere said defeated.
Meehan announced later that day that the jump would be postponed, so Adriana found herself sitting in her tent, writing her father.
'Father,
Things are going well here. Captain Meehan just told us the drop was postponed due to weather. We will probably jump tomorrow. We are going into Normandy father. If there was ever a time to pray, it would be now. I miss you and mother, and my brothers, but I have a different kind of family here. The boys are great. I wish you could meet them. They are all gentlemen and are all looking out for me so don't worry.'
She was interrupted by Liebgott bursting through the tent flap.
"Lieb what are you doing up?" she asked.
They had to start getting ready to jump in a little less than an hour.
"There is something out here I think you will want to see, Adri," he answered.
His eyes were bright and excited and he held out a hand to her. She was confused but took his hand anyway. She was pulled out of her chair and quickly through the crisp morning air until they came to an opening in the tents. At first she didn't see what Liebgott was so excited about until she heard a voice she knew well.
Lieb let go of her hand as she ran to her father's waiting arms. Most of the men were gathered around Roosevelt at a respectful distance and they all smiled and clapped when Adriana threw herself into her father.
"My daughter," he said holding her close to him.
He leaned back from her and held her at arm's length.
"Men if you will excuse me. My daughter and I have some things to catch up on," Roosevelt said calmly.
Adriana jumped up and wheeled her father's wheelchair to a bench on one side of a tent where she sat facing him.
"Father what are you doing here?" Adriana asked, tears falling from her eyes.
"Do you think I would miss my daughter taking her first steps into the combat zone? Adriana, I am so proud of you."
"Thank you father," she said throwing her arms around him again.
"Now tell me how you are. You have been doing well you see," he said nodding to the 2nd Lt. bar on her collar.
"Oh that," she said smiling. "I got promoted the second month. I got into a fight with Bill Guarnere, and they found out I was a woman."
"It only took them two months?" he asked, his eyes sparkling.
"Yes father," she laughed.
"Who is this Bill Guarnere?" Roosevelt asked looking around.
"Wild Bill," Adriana said looking for him.
He was standing next to Joe Toye, complaining about something.
"He is the loud one," she said to her father.
"Should I speak to him?" Roosevelt asked seriously.
"No, no father. Bill is a wonderful man. They all are."
Roosevelt looked around then back at his daughter.
"I want to meet them," he stated.
"All of them Father?" she asked somewhat surprised.
"Yes," he nodded simply.
"If you insist," she said and got up and took her father's hand.
She wheeled him back to the group of men mulling around the tents. All the men looked up watching carefully. Adriana led her father up to the first group of men she saw.
"Father, this is Donald Malarkey, Warren Muck, Alex Penkala, Bill Guarnere and Joe Toye. Boys, this is my father."
Each man shook Roosevelt's hand in turn, all of them white faced.
"My daughter tells me that all you men are the best at what you do," he said.
"We are the best sir," Guarnere said nodding.
"Well I'm glad of it," Roosevelt said patting Bill's back. "Adriana says you two had a problem back at basic."
"Well you know Wild Bill. He is always making problems with everyone," Muck piped up.
Guarnere looked back and forth between Adriana and Roosevelt, who were both smiling.
"I'm glad you two are getting along now," Roosevelt said nodding to Guarnere.
Guarnere's face softened immediately when he realized he was not mad. Before they had a chance to say anything else, Winters walked up followed closely by Nix, Buck, and Lip.
"Sir," Winters said putting his hand out to Roosevelt. "1st Lt. Winters, sir."
"I have heard of you. May I call you Dick?" Roosevelt asked shaking his hand.
"Of course sir," Winters said.
"I have heard how good you are Dick. You are a true leader."
"Thank you sir," Winters said.
Adriana could see his eyes light up at the compliment. Roosevelt continued to meet the men. He shook Nixon's hand, Buck's hand and Lipton's hand, and then was asked if he wanted to say anything by Meehan. He nodded.
"Men of Easy Company, lend me your ears for a moment. Two years ago, my daughter came to me and told me she wanted to help in the war. Naturally, I was hesitant at first, but as you probably all know, she is as stubborn as an ass."
The men laughed and Adriana shrugged. It was her greatest character flaw, but it was helpful at times. Like when she was trying to coral a company of unruly men.
"You have all shown great courage and love for your country by volunteering to do this. You have brothers standing around you. My daughter has told me how much you all care for each other. Carry that into war, and you will all come home. Men, and my daughter, I wish you all the best of luck. The eyes of your country are on you. Go with God."
The men clapped.
"Oh father your wonderful. I'm so glad you came to see me. When are you leaving?"
"Right after I see you off my dear," he said smiling.
"Easy company!" Meehan shouted from across the field.
"I have to go father. We need to get ready," Adriana said kneeling in front of him.
"Go darling. I'll be here watching you leave," Roosevelt kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Thank you," she said leaning into his embrace for a second then turning to get her things together.
Roosevelt watched her go, flashing back to a memory long ago. When she was a child and her long locks were blowing in the wind, the caramel color of her hair contrasting stunningly against the yellow of the flowers in the field. She turned to look at him, the grey-blue of her eyes against her tan skin making her white dress stand out. How he loved his daughter. His first daughter. His first child. From the day she was born she had him wrapped around her little finger. Now, 18 years later, his beautiful little girl was going off to fight a war, and for the first time in his life he couldn't be by her side, protecting her. He had to trust these men who started out as strangers, but were not family. All of a sudden, a feeling washed over him. He knew she was going to be ok.
Five o'clock rolled around and men began getting serious. Most were finally realizing that what they had been training for, for over twenty two months was finally going to happen. All 13,000 Paratroopers were ready to jump into a war zone. Most normal people would think they were crazy, but they all had their own reasons for going. Regardless of their original reasoning, they had 12,999 more reasons. They had each other. They had their brothers. And a sister.
Adriana had just come back from checking on all the Easy company planes and was heading to hers, when she saw her father. She felt tears come to her eyes and she ran to him. He caught her and held her. For a minute she forgot about the men around her, and what they were about to do. She forgot about the war and how many men had died and how many more were going to die. All she felt was her father's strong arms around her. She too remembered when she was a child. So many nights she had longed to be in her father's arms, but couldn't because he was away at war. Now she was going to war, and she knew she would still long to be in her father's safe embrace. She looked up at him.
"I'm going to miss you father," she said, her eyes still shining.
"And I you. But don't worry dear. I'll be here when you get back."
"You promise?"
"Of course I do," he said. "No go. We wouldn't want you to miss your plane."
He smiled and gave her a push then grabbed her arm. She turned grey eyes on him question eyes on him.
"Adriana. I'm proud of you. Always remember that."
"I love you father."
"I love you too. Now go. And please be careful."
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