Then: Easy Company marches to Fort Benning.
"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation." - Charles Kettering
Now: Rebecca and Easy Company earn their wings.
Chapter 11 - Jumping
December 1942
When Easy arrived at Benning, they weren't welcomed to a newly refurbished base like they were at Toccoa. Instead, they arrived at what was known as the Frying Pan where jump training went on and where the barracks and other buildings consisted of scrubby little wooden huts on top of sand. Some considered Benning to be more miserable than Toccoa.
However, Easy found Benning to a welcomed relief because they had finally reached the stage where they would begin real training for becoming paratroopers. They had begun parachute school. Parachute school was supposed, to begin with, PT known as A stage, followed by B, C, and D, each lasting a week. The 506th however, skipped A stage.
Because First Battalion arrived ahead of everyone else, they went to A stage and embarrassed the jump school sergeants who were in charge of calisthenics
Easy Company and the other Toccoa men would laugh at them during training and in one instance, even ran backward and taunted the sergeants to races while on their daily runs.
After two days of the 506th's mockery, the jump school sergeants told the C.O. that they were in much better physical shape than they were, so all the companies of the 506th started stage B immediately.
B stage consisted of one week of going to packing sheds each morning and learning how to fold and pack parachutes and then jumping into sawdust piles four feet off the ground. Each stage got closer and closer to the real deal. C stage Easy made jumps from 250-foot towers and a wind machine that taught them how to control and collapse their chutes after landing.
Finally, came D stage. The real thing. It consisted of 5 jumps from a C-47 that would guarantee those who completed it, their wings.
It just didn't feel real to Rebecca and she didn't think it would hit her until she was up in that C-47. The night before their first jump, Rebecca sat on her bunk, packing and repacking her chute. She was nervous as all get out and felt like throwing up. All her training was leading up to these five jumps. She hoped and prayed the past year of rigorous training would prepare her for tomorrow. The last thing Rebecca wanted was to freeze at the door and make a fool of herself. Like the drill instructor said, any hesitation boarding the plane or at the door will result in immediate dismissal.
After more meticulous inspection of her chute, at 2300, Rebecca forced herself to get some shuteye.
XXX
Rebecca stood at the door of the C-47, the loud sound of the engine piercing her ears. She looked down below, unable to see anything. It looked like it was night down below, yet she could see the sun gleaming through the windows of the plane. She looked around and saw no one else on the plane except her.
What am I doing here? Where's the drill sergeant? She began panicking. She had to do it. She had to jump, or else.
Without a moment's thought, she hurled herself out of the plane, waiting for the jerk of her parachute to carry her safely to the ground.
One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand. Nothing, no prop blast, no parachute.
Rebecca was hurtling towards the ground faster and faster. She checked for her reserve chute; she wasn't even wearing one. All she had on was her jumpsuit. A terrible feeling of dread overcame her. She was going to die.
As the ground started getting closer and closer, she let out loud screams.
"Help me!" Rebecca screeched right before she hit the ground.
Rebecca seized and jolted up from her bed.
It was just a dream. She sighed. Her heart was still racing and she was covered in a cool sheen of sweat. Rebecca glanced at her watch. It was 0520, reveille was in ten minutes.
Rebecca swung her legs over her rack and began getting ready. God, I hope that was just a dream.
XXX
Easy Company boarded the planes at Lawson Field in sticks of 24. Rebecca was placed with Dick, Nix, and unfortunately, Sobel. However, when they boarded and the plane reached 1,000 feet, she glanced over at Sobel expecting to see his normal arrogance, but instead, Sobel looked like he was scared to death. Rebecca smiled to herself. It was good to know even Sobel could be knocked down a peg.
At 1,5000 feet, the red light went on and the jumpmaster yelled for everyone to stand up and hook up.
Rebecca hooked the line attached to the backpack cover of her main chute to the anchor line running down the middle of the top of the fuselage. It was now or never. Butterflies rose up in her stomach.
"Sound off for equipment check!" The jumpmaster shouted.
Everyone went down the checkline and when the light turned green, the jumping began.
Rebecca watched as each man jumped out of the plane hoping they all had a successful outcome. Finally, it was Rebecca's turn. She stood in the doorway with her hands on the outer edge of the door, looking into the horizon like she was told. It did look amazingly beautiful from so up high. It was like being in heaven. Hopefully, if the jump went the way it was supposed, she would still have no idea what heaven looked like.
Rebecca's heart was racing with anticipation and the butterflies made it hard to breathe.
"Don't worry, Lieutenant, you're gonna love it!" The sergeant yelled at her.
Without a moment's hesitation, she leaped from the plane praying to God this wouldn't turn out like her dream and the prop blast would inflate her chute.
One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three one thousand. A jerk and then the sweet sensation of flying.
Rebecca looked up above her and saw the waving silk of her parachute floating her back down to earth. After clearing the roaring C-47, the world around her was completely serene save for the whistling in ears as she continued down to the ground. It felt like flying. When she touched down, she was unable to hold her glee.
The jumps that followed were a breeze and Rebecca enjoyed them so much she found herself unable to wait for the jumpmaster's signal. When the final one came around she actually found herself slightly upset. She loved the adrenaline so much and didn't know when they would be going for practice again.
XXX
Easy Company was dressed to the nines for their celebration upon earning their jump wings.
Rebecca was amongst the proud paratroopers, her pride radiating off her. She felt honored to have Col. Sink pin her wings on.
"Congratulation, Lieutenant. I'm mighty proud." She remembered Sink saying as he pinned her wings on.
After the pinning ceremony, Easy Company went to the bar on base to celebrate with some well deserved heavy drinking, singing, and merriment.
Rebecca walked into the room and for the first time since she arrived for training, she didn't feel out of place. She felt like she truly belonged. Getting her wings proved that to her.
She found Dick out of the crowd and a huge smile plastered itself on her face.
"Congratulations, Becca." He said.
"You too, Dick." She hugged him tightly.
They made their way over to Nix who was a half-way through a Vat 69 and looking very merry.
"Hey, Rebecca, congratulations!" Nixon cheered raising his glass to her.
"Same to you, too, hun," Rebecca said, hugging him in return.
Rebecca stood at the bar, looking around the room and taking in every ounce of celebration. She wasn't ever going to forget this moment. Although, she also thought that this day would never come. Rebecca smiled to herself knowing that if it weren't for Dick and Lew's constant support and their overall friendship, she probably would've dropped out.
"Hey, guys, thanks so much for helping me pull through when things got tough. You both really helped me hang on."
"You did this all yourself, kid," Nixon said.
Dick nodded in agreement.
Before another word could be said, Colonel Sink entered the room and the celebration halted.
"Ten-hut!"
Everyone snapped to attention as the Colonel made his way to the stage with a smile on his face.
"Well, at ease, paratroopers." He began, "Good evening, Easy company."
The men all greeted the colonel with a hearty "Good evening, sir!"
"Now, parachute infantry is a brand-new concept in American History. But by, God the 506th is gonna forge that brand-new concept into victory."
The room broke out into cheers and wallops.
"I want you to know, that I'm damned proud of each and every one of you," Sink said, making eyes with Rebecca. Nixon patted her on the shoulder probably having seen it too.
"Now, you deserve this party." Sink asserted, receiving a beet from Grant.
"So, I want you to have fun and remember our motto… Currahee!"
The entire room cried out after Sink, "Currahee!".
"Becca," Dick began, grabbing her attention, "I think the Colonel is looking for you."
Rebecca glanced over to where Sink was. He hailed her over.
"See you guys in a bit then," Rebecca smiled.
Rebecca made her way through the boisterous crowd of drinking men and out the door where Colonel Sink was waiting for her.
"Now, Lieutenant Clark, I don't want to keep you from the party too long," He began and reached into his pocket.
Rebecca felt her heart leap when the Colonel pulled out a silver lieutenant's bar.
"I deemed it fit to promote you. You have proven your place here in the Airborne and have proven to be very valuable to the company. I've seen the way the men look up to you now, and well, you above all people deserve to get this promotion along with your wings."
Rebecca glanced up at the Colonel, then to the silver bars, feeling tears begin to form at the side of her eyes.
"Thank you, sir, this means so much." Rebecca gushed.
Colonel Sink even pinned her new lieutenant's bar on her collar. "Congratulations, I'm damn proud of you."
Colonel Sink turned to leave and Rebecca re-entered feeling even better if that was humanly possible.
Nixon was first to notice her new rank, whistling at the sight of the silver bars freshly pinned to her collar.
"Look who's on the fast track to success," He laughed, "You wanna drink to celebrate, there, First Lieutenant?"
"You know the answer to that, Lew." Rebecca reminded him, rolling her eyes.
"God, you're about as stiff as Dick." He joked.
Winters walked back over and handed Rebecca a club soda. "Congratulations, again, Lieutenant," Winters said smiling and sipping his drink.
"Thanks, Dick."
Rebecca glanced at the clock, "I think I'm gonna turn in. I got aid station duty early tomorrow." Rebecca stated.
"Aw, come on, Becca! The party just started," Nixon pleaded.
"Sorry, but I'm exhausted, busy day you know," Rebecca added.
Nixon shrugged his shoulders and took a healthy swig of his Vat 69.
"I'll walk you out," Winters said.
The two made their way out of the mobbed hall, elbowing drunk GI's the whole way. The party just couldn't be contained. Rebecca was glad to be leaving. The cigarette smoke was becoming unbearable and the men were becoming too rowdy.
Rebecca and Dick began walking to the barracks.
"You know, I never thought I would make it," Rebecca admitted.
"But you did, and you should be proud," Winters said.
"I am, I am."
Rebecca remembered how hard it was to win the guys over and earn their trust. It was hard fought, but she was sure she would have more work cut out for her.
Rebecca and Dick walked the rest of the way to the barracks in silence. The two approached the door.
"Thanks for walking me here, Dick."
"You're welcome."
Rebecca smiled at him, hugging him again and gently kissing him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Richard, for everything."
Rebecca turned on her heel and entered the barracks.
"Goodnight, Rebecca." He whispered.
Rebecca walked over to her bed, stripped down, and tucked herself in, pride tenfold to when she graduated from nursing school. Everything felt simpler like things were about to turn around. What could possibly be thrown at her that she couldn't handle now? She felt invincible. Rebecca eventually drifted off into sleep, feeling the happiest she had felt in a long time.
A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I just started a new job that's taking up most of my time at the moment. I'll try to be better. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please let me know how I'm doing! :3