Hi guys! Gosh, I can't believe this is the last chapter that follows the series! As I mentioned, I will probably upload a few more chapters showing how Ella adjusts to civilian life.
Thank you for all your kind reviews :) And thanks to Byron W.4 for helping me with the historical facts, dates and other details.
Also, a big shout-out to my dear friend Lou for slipping into the role of Mitch L. Hoyt. Thanks man, you're awesome!
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Easy Company was breaking up. Most of the guys who had enough points were getting their papers in order and travelled to England, from where they would be transported home via troop ship.
Those who didn't have the required 85 points were stuck in what felt like basic training all over again. Daily close-order drills, PT, marches, rifle drills, hand to hand combat, squad tactics, map reading and orienteering, inspections of anything and everything that could possibly be inspected. Military curtesy and discipline were enforced again, even though all the veterans knew that would fall by the wayside again as soon as they were back in the field.
Ella once again held the first aid courses, mostly for the benefit of the latest batch of fresh-faced new kids, but with mandatory attendance for the entire outfit. As the battalion's ranking medic, she did most of the lectures and supervised the practical parts of the classes, but there were always a couple of her colleagues there to help and provide additional input. The medics even presumed to deviate from the handbook when they knew from experience that a certain technique or treatment didn't work in the way the Army guidelines said they should. Often, they illustrated why something had to be done – or how it shouldn't be done – with anecdotes.
But in the end, the brunette boiled it down to one bit of advice: "You do what you can and you keep shouting for us until we show up so we can do what we can."
For the veterans, who had all these skills down pat from years of training and combat, going over everything for the umpteenth time, was unspeakably boring. And frustrating, since the newest replacements somehow struggled with things that the Toccoa guys could do with their eyes closed and their hands tied behind their backs.
.
The days went by and August neared. The company was now billeted in tents they had pitched on a vast meadow. As usual, NCOs bunked together, Toccoa men bunked together, survivors of Bastogne bunked together. Ella shared a tent with Johnny and Bull, despite having been offered her own private tent. She had discovered that sharing a bed, or a sleeping space, helped keep the nightmares – no matter if old or new – at bay.
After Grant had been shot, she had had trouble sleeping for days. She would jolt out a dream with her heart racing, terror clamping her throat and the sickening sound of the bullet penetrating Chuck's skull ringing in her ears. She had visited him in the hospital numerous times before his evacuation to an Army hospital in England and while he had been weak, tired and unable to speak, his friendly smile had assuaged her worries. He had a long road ahead of him, but he would recover. After that realisation had finally sunk in, she had been able to sleep easier again and with the stress fading, she had returned to her cheerful, amiable self.
.
The young girl had also inadvertently started a company-wide prank war when she had put quark into Perconte's toothpaste. The feisty Italian had never found out who had been behind the small practical joke and therefore, he had retaliated against the entire company by merrily switching duffel bags, causing utter confusion among the men as they tried to find the owner of the bag they had assumed to be theirs.
From then on, barely a day went by without some sort of prank. Tied shoelaces, mysteriously disappearing equipment which showed up in the most unusual places – Ella had needed almost twenty minutes to recover from her laughing fit when she had found what looked like half the companies' helmets neatly stacked in the shower stall the boys had rigged up for her – flour in the underwear, water bombs… the list went on and on.
The officers had been happy to leave the men to it since it helped alleviate their boredom and boost their morale. They were harmless pranks and it was all in good fun. But at one point, Captain Speirs had had enough. As a consequence, he ordered them to put their camp-wide feud to rest.
A second consequence was that the ranking medic was unanimously declared the winner of the prank war. The practical joke that had accomplished those two feats had been thought up and carried out by the young girl: Somehow, she had managed to short-sheet every single bed in the entire camp. Nobody had been spared, not even the officers.
And predictably, Speirs had been none too pleased to fall victim to the enlisted men's pranks.
The CO had had half a mind to storm through the tent rows and order everyone to fall in at the parade ground right this instant! But his fellow officers, who had been more amused than annoyed by the good-natured prank, had helpfully pointed out that with those things, it was pretty much impossible to tell who was getting back at whom for what.
"It's a chain reaction", Nixon had commented sagely as he took a sip from his flask.
Lipton had nodded. "Somebody swapped Frank Perconte's toothpaste for quark and because he didn't find out who did it, he just pulled a prank on everyone." Even now that he was no longer an NCO, he was still informed about the goings-on among the enlisted.
"Some of those pranks were actually really good", Welsh had remarked cheerfully, not at all bothered by the scowl Speirs had aimed at him.
"And they are good for morale", Lip had added with a smile.
.
Nevertheless, Speirs ordered the people responsible to step forward when they had all assembled on the parade ground the next morning, intending to give them a good lecture. Because virtually everyone had played at least one practical joke on someone, Easy took a step forward as one. Speirs wished he were surprised. Instead, he approved of their integrity and loyalty, even if it frustrated him a little at the moment.
When it came out that not only the officers' beds had been short-sheeted but the entire camp's, he demanded the ones responsible reveal themselves. The culprit obeyed and after a moment of stunned silence, the guys exploded with laughter.
The CO glared at the singular figure standing before him, but eventually, he just shook his head, a disbelieving chuckle escaping him. Ella grinned, glee, innocent mischief and only a dash of guilt twinkling in her eyes. Behind her, the men cheered and whistled, applauding their girl's boldness.
Speirs dismissed them without punishment, having come to the realisation that he wasn't actually angry about the prank but more at himself for having been caught off-guard. And his fellow officers had a point: The pranks had definitely kept the men's spirits high.
Shorty, he thought. Always looking out for her boys.
In the afternoon, when the brunette delivered some paperwork to the CP, he caught her and asked: "How did you do it?"
A flicker of confusion crossed her youthful features before it cleared quickly, an impish grin taking its place. "Well… let's just say the local kids had lots of fun", she replied.
.
To prevent a repeat of those entertaining, but chaotic days, Major Winters figured out a way to help those who had been with him since the beginning but still lacked the points to go home. He found reasons, usually rather useless tasks, to get them out of the Army and on their way home. Any invitation he received, be it for soldiers to visit, serve as advisors, give talks or accept awards, he gathered them all and gave them to Easy's Toccoa men. They were grateful and were reminded once again why they respected their former CO so much. He looked out for them and did all he could to keep them safe.
One sunny day in early August, the ranking medic was at the airfield, putting her language skills to good use. A German General was waiting to surrender his entire division, but understandably, he refused to surrender to a redheaded private from Philly called Babe Heffron. His soldiers, some wounded, all looking a bit battered, stood in perfect formation, patiently awaiting orders.
The General, a tall, silver-haired man with piercing blue eyes and a presence that commanded respect, had been momentarily baffled to see a "Fräulein" in ODs and jump boots. However, the only sign of his surprise had been a slight widening of his eyes.
Liebgott, who had come with her so they could split the work, had caught the look and told him in cutting German that he was looking at the first female combat medic. The general hadn't missed the message behind the words and he had respectfully smiled at her and nodded his head.
"Ich verstehe", he acknowledged, looking impressed. "Sie sind so etwas wie eine Legende bei unseren Sanitätern, Sergeant."
She grinned cheekily, the sparkling in her green orbs telling the General that there was a lot more to this young girl than met the eye.
The sound of an approaching jeep made their turn. Major Winters was at the wheel, Captain Nixon beside him. Lieutenant Lipton hopped out of the back. Ella exchanged a glance with Liebgott as they approached the jeep, the General following them. She would stay with the General and handle any communication problems that might arise while he would translate for the officers if need be.
"Lieutenant." They both greeted Lip with his rank and a salute and he returned it. While Liebgott headed over to the officers' jeep, the brunette came to a stop beside Lipton and watched as the General clicked his heels and nodded at Winters, who reciprocated the gesture of respect before motioning towards the lieutenant.
The General turned to address Lipton. "With your permission, I would like to address my men, briefly", he spoke.
Lip nodded. "That'll be fine, General", he replied, his tone calm and soothing. He didn't want to ruffle any more feathers and he saw no reason to deny the other man this curtesy.
The silver-haired officer inclined his head in quiet gratitude.
.
Following the General to the small dyke, Ella stood next to Lipton, translating in a low voice so as not to disturb the speech.
"Men", he began, letting his gaze sweep across his assembled division. "It's been a long war. It's been a tough war."
A smile twitched on her lips as she listened.
"You have fought bravely and proudly for your country. You are a very special group. Who've found in one another a bond, that exists only in combat."
Every single one of the German's words resonated within her. The small girl turned her head slightly to glance at Liebgott. Even from the distance, she could read his posture and she knew that for the first time, he realised that these soldiers, who had only been 'the enemy' to them for so long, weren't too different from them. Shifting her gaze to Lipton, she saw her own smile mirrored on his gentle features.
"Among brothers, who've shared foxholes, supported each other in dire moments, who've seen death and suffered together."
She had to swallow back the tears that prickled in her eyes, deeply moved by the speech that expressed just the way she felt about the brothers she had found in Easy Company.
"I am proud to have served with you. Each and every one of you deserves a long and happy life in peace."
The ranking medic could tell that the general was completely sincere. And she agreed whole-heartedly. They should all be allowed to go home. Homesickness washed over her and the latest letter from Joe Toye, which she hadn't had time to read, popped up in her mind. He was slowly getting used to his prosthetic leg, but he wasn't at peace yet. Nightmares, memories, feeling lost. 'I sometimes get stuck in my head', he had written, trying to describe the inner unrest that plagued him.
Taking a deep breath, she shook herself out of her musings and headed over to the jeep, where Speirs had joined his fellow officers. Liebgott was leaning against the vehicle, relaxed in a way she hadn't seen him for a long while.
.
Being dismissed with a nod and smile from Winters, the two translators strolled away, heading for the mess tent.
"Winters pulled rank on Sobel", Liebgott informed her, a satisfied smirk quirking up the corner of his mouth. "Told him that we salute the rank, not the man."
The brunette grinned. "You know", she commented lightly, "I vaguely remember you mentioning something about fumbling with grenades once."
He snorted and looped an arm around her shoulder. "Water under the bridge", he responded with a shrug.
She smiled and as they sat down to eat, the conversation turned to other topics. Mainly, the guys were speculating about who would reassigned or get out of the Army thanks to their revered former CO next.
.
Malarkey was one of those who Winters had managed to protect from getting redeployed to the Pacific. He was being sent off to Paris as a technical advisor to an exhibition. Ella was happy for him, glad that he didn't have to go through another war.
"Promise me you'll write", he said as they stood in the courtyard, the jeep that would bring him to the railway station already waiting.
The young medic nodded and took the proffered slip of paper on which he had written his address. "I promise, Malark."
He smiled and pulled her into a fierce hug. She buried her face in his shoulder and sniffled as tears gathered in her eyes.
"Don't take any shit from anyone, you hear", he told her, still holding her tightly.
The laugh that escaped her sounded more like a sob. "Got it."
Letting go, they simply looked at each other, neither wanting to say goodbye already.
"You know", Malarkey spoke up after a beat, "I never thanked you."
She frowned in confusion, head tilting in that 'curious puppy'-way of hers. "For what?"
"For everything." His expression was absolutely serious. "I don't- you've done so much for all of us. And…what you've done for me, I never thanked you for that."
The small girl smiled, touched. "I was just helping a friend", she answered modestly. "Just like you did for me."
He grinned and reached up to ruffle her hair. "I'm gonna miss you, Shorty", he professed.
"You too, Don", she responded, pouring all the emotions into the words, all the things that didn't need to be said. Her voice wavered a little, but the smile remained steady and sincere.
.
Malarkey sighed and glanced at the jeep. This was it. This was goodbye.
"When you come home, look me up, will you?", he asked.
The brunette promised. "You do the same, okay?"
"Sure", he agreed. "Gonna introduce me to your Mama?" Just like all the Toccoa men, he would love to meet the woman who had raised the girl they all loved and cherished.
She laughed. "It'll be my pleasure."
He turned serious once more, but there was a twinkle in his eyes as he straightened and stated formally: "Ella Sawyer, it has been a real honour to have served with you." And he saluted her.
Ella returned the salute, smiling widely through her tears. She wrapped him in one last, tight embrace and kissed him on the cheek. "See you, Malark", she whispered.
"See you, Shorty", he replied, dropping a kiss on the crown of her head.
Then, he climbed into the jeep and nodded at the driver. The ranking medic watched the car get smaller and smaller until it was only a dark blob on the horizon. Until we meet again.
Days blurred together in a constant back and forth between training and boredom. The men found ways to occupy themselves and the young girl was often found among them as they played sports, baked in the sun at the lake or played cards. Ella's smiles were bright as ever and her cheerful, unassuming and easy-going persona brought light and serenity to wherever she was.
"Hey Nix!"
The friendly voice made the intelligence officer look up from the pictures he was leafing through.
"Hey kid", he replied. "Don't tell me Dick infected you with his morning swim obsession."
She chuckled and shook her head, making her unruly locks dance. "You have nothing to worry about", she grinned, "I'm just hiding from the boys for a bit."
His eyebrows creased in a puzzled frown and he asked: "Huh?"
The brunette set down her towel and kicked off her unlaced boots. "Vest showed me the latest newspaper he got in this morning. Turns out, some reporter has written an article about me. Complete with pictures and all."
Nixon blinked in surprise. "Uh-huh", he made eloquently before questioning: "And why are you hiding now?"
She sighed and sending him a sidelong glance. "Because I really don't want to be present when George Luz decided to read out the article for the entire camp to hear."
He snorted in amusement. "Yeah. Makes sense."
Ella gave a hum of agreement and pulled off her PT shorts and T-shirt, revealing a simple dark blue swimsuit. "Exactly, so I'm gonna mentally prepare myself for whatever that reporter decided to write about me."
Nix shrugged. "Eh, if he wrote any crap, I'm sure people back home are gonna protest it", he assured her. "They're no longer buying the stuff the papers wrote about you at the beginning."
She didn't look convinced, but he could see that she appreciated the effort anyways. "Thanks, Nix", she said before diving headfirst into the cool lake.
.
Shaking his head in amusement, the dark-haired Captain went back to sifting through the pictures Winters had gotten from the regimental photographer. in one compartment of the accordion folder, he found a whole stack of photos showing Easy's girl. A rare fond smile blossomed on his features as he studied them, one after the other. They weren't in chronological order, but there was a date stamp on the back of each picture, some going back right to the beginning, all those years ago in Toccoa.
There were pictures of her posing with the boys, all in their dress uniforms. There were some photos from celebrations and parties where she was dancing with her friends, radiant with joy. There was one picture of her at the infirmary, sleeves rolled up as she tended to a cut on a soldier's hand.
Nixon huffed a short laugh, recognising the Look she gave the man who had obviously injured himself doing something stupid.
His favourite picture out of the pile was easily the cutest, too, and it once again drove home just how young the small medic really was. The photo was a candid, clicked at the field camp north of Utah Beach where they had awaited passage to England after the month of fighting in Normandy. It showed her together with Toye, Guarnere and Luz. Toye was giving her a piggyback ride and she was clearly asleep, her arms slack, her head nestled against the crook of Toye's neck. The three men were all smiling: Luz had a look of utter delight on his face, Guarnere was grinning from ear to ear and Toye's expression was filled with that particular affection that he had only showed towards their girl.
.
Ella only swam a small round in the lake, but it was enough to settle her over-active mind a little. Shaking herself like a dog to get rid of the excess water and towelling herself off, she slipped back into her clothes. She would change into ODs after her shower anyways so she wasn't too bothered by the fact that her T-Shirt got damp.
Smiling at Nixon, who seemed engrossed in a picture in his hand, she wished him a good day, then headed back to camp, hoping to slip into her tent unnoticed to grab her shower kit. She knew that she was trying to put off the inevitable, but she somehow dreaded what the reporter could have disclosed in his article. While she trusted her friends implicitly, there were just some aspects of her life that she didn't want blared out to the general public.
.
"Hey Shorty! Guess what Vest got in the mail today!"
Kacke.
As soon as the ranking medic walked out of the tent she shared with Johnny and Bull after getting dressed, she was met by Luz. The radioman was nearly bouncing with excitement, beaming gleefully and waving a newspaper.
Some of the apprehension that had been flitting around in her stomach like a bunch of frightened butterflies eased. He wasn't angry, so she knew the article didn't contain any thinly veiled or outright allegations to what sort of unsavoury things she supposedly did to get into the Army.
"Please tell me it's not too bad", the brunette responded, sounding a bit more pleading and worried than she had intended.
Luz, being the amazing friend he was, caught it. He patted her shoulder, his big grin taking on a reassuring note. "It's actually really good", he told her. "Here", he handed her the article, "see for yourself."
Steeling herself despite his assurances, the small medic began to read, plopping down on the grass, Luz following suit.
.
Small, but powerful
by Mitch L. Hoyt
It seems like yesterday when papers all over the country announced that the United States Army was experimenting with women in combat. Some were ecstatic, but the most part of society was shocked. "Women don't belong on the battlefield", a co-worker and friend told me as we went for a drink one evening. "I'm telling you, Mitch, whoever that broad is and wherever they put her, she's going to get good men killed."
A few weeks later, it was revealed that the first woman in combat wouldn't be a soldier but a combat medic, responsible for tending to the wounded in the field. On top of that, she would be a paratrooper, part of the distinguished Airborne Infantry. Provided that she made it through basic training. She would have to endure the same rigorous training as the men, no exceptions made. My friend laughed. "I'll give it a week, two tops", he declared. I was inclined to agree.
The newspapers jumped at the chance to write a piece about the woman who the Army had picked as their ideal candidate. Almost daily, there were new headlines about her. And the articles were filled with scandalous allusions and scathing remarks. I am ashamed to admit that I believed them. How else could a woman last this long in such a physically and mentally taxing all-male environment if not by doing somebody a special favour?
At the beginning of 1945, I began see how wrong I was in my assumptions. New footage from the front line in Belgium was brought in. Some of the it featured members of Easy Company of the 506th Regiment in the 101st Airborne. While each and every single one of those men is a true hero, they are famous for more than just their heroic actions in Normandy, Market Garden and now Bastogne: They are the only unit to have a female medic.
I haven't spoken to Ella Sawyer personally, but I didn't need to in order to realise that none of the allegations against her were true. The glimpses I caught of her on those film reels were enough to make me wonder who the woman behind the stories really was.
On the face of it, Technician 3rd Grade J.V. Sawyer seems like a delicate girl, small and wiry. But I was startled by just how well she blended in with the soldiers around her. Embarrassing as it is, I didn't recognise her as a female until someone called her name. She was just as filthy, just as tired, just as battered as the men.
And yet, there was something about her that explains how Ella (it was pointed out to me that Sergeant Sawyer only goes by her nickname and that nobody knew what her initials stood for) defied the odds time and again. An inherent strength that more than compensates for her slight build.
She works tirelessly to take care of the men, making her rounds, always a warm smile and a few friendly words ready. There is a light in her eyes that can reignite a weary soldier's fighting spirit, but there is also a determination and immense will-power inside her that I was told should not be treated lightly.
"She's always there when you need somebody and she doesn't judge you", Sergeant Don Malarkey revealed. "She has the patience of a saint and a heart of gold the size of Texas", Private Ralph Spina, who is a medic working under her, said. The list of qualities goes on and on. The men trust Ella with their lives, in every sense of the word.
Travelling to Europe, I was referred to an Army hospital in England, where I met Staff Sergeants Bill Guarnere and Joe Toye. The two men, who were severely injured during the Battle of the Bulge, have known Ella since basic training and I was eager to get more insight on the extraordinary girl. They exuded the same fierce protectiveness that their comrades had displayed in the film reels and interviews.
They had only good things to say about their female friend and it became abundantly clear how much 'their girl', as the soldiers call her, means to them and the company as a whole. "She's like everybody's little sister", Bill Guarnere explained. "Especially to us Toccoa guys."
When I asked about her flaws, they first stared at me like I had grown another head. Then, they laughed, the way one laughs about a naïve, but stupid question. "I'm not sure if it really is a flaw, but Shorty [the company's pet name for Ella] always forgets to take care of herself", Guarnere eventually offered. "She's so focused on looking after the rest of us that she disregards her own needs sometimes."
As it turned out, Joe Toye had been the one to introduce the affectionate moniker, even if it had started out as teasing. "I didn't think she could make it", he admitted freely, "None of us did. But she proved us all wrong." It is a testament to her skill that Ella is now not only the company's but also the battalion's ranking medic, having been promoted to Staff Sergeant after moving off the line in late February.
But how did the men feel about the fact that Ella was vulnerable, even more so because she isn't allowed to carry more than a pocket knife to defend herself? Again, my question was met with laughter.
"She can hold her own", Toye said. "She regularly wiped the floor with us in hand to hand."
Apart from her intelligence, her smile and her kindness, Ella's strongest weapon is what they called 'The Look'. "It's more effective than the biggest dressing-down", Guarnere elaborated. "But if you haven't seen it, it's hard to explain."
Why Ella Sawyer signed up for the Nurse Corps and later accepted the offer to become the first female combat medic in the history of the United States Army is anybody's guess, especially since next to nothing is known about her life before her enlistment. But to Easy Company, it doesn't matter. They are just glad to have the dedicated young woman with them. Lieutenant Carwood Lipton, formerly the company's First Sergeant, put it best: "She's braver and stronger than all of us put together and without her, many of us wouldn't be here now."
.
Ella set down the paper, blankly staring at it while the words blurred together. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but it hadn't been anything like this. No insults, no slurs on her reputation, no derision. She had tremendous difficulties wrapping her mind around that. Somebody had written a positive article about her, one that told the truth.
Familiar fingers snapped in her line of sight, yanking her out of the state of shock the article had thrown into. "Hey, you in there, kid?"
The brunette blinked and only just managed not to jump. She had been so engrossed in her reading that she had completely forgotten about Luz. "Oh", she made, a blush colouring her cheeks. "Dieu, tuat mr leid, George, I was a bit lost in thought."
He laughed. "Ah, don't worry about it", he waved it off. "You okay?"
She nodded, shifting and unfurling her legs. "Yeah", she smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay." It was nice to read a piece about herself that didn't try to drag her name through the mire for a change. "And you?"
Luz grinned around his ever-present cigarette and gave her a friendly bump with his shoulder. "Sure." He pointed at the photo that had been printed at the top left corner of the page. "That's your Mama, right?", he asked.
The girl confirmed with a nod, a hint of pride ringing in her voice. "Yeah."
Luz leaned over to study the picture. "Shit, talk about family resemblance", he muttered, cigarette still held between his lips, "You look just like her."
The ranking medic laughed softly. "I know. Except for the hair." While her mother's hair had been the same colour as hers when she had been young, it had darkened to a warm chestnut brown with age.
They sat in front of the tent entrance for a while, basking in the sun and simply enjoying each other's company. They bantered lightly back and forth, trading jokes and laughing together. The knowledge that they might ship out to the Pacific soon was always there, niggling at the back of their minds, but they had long since learned to ignore those worries and fear and to savour the moment.
When Easy Company rolled out of bed the morning of 15th August, they didn't know that the day would be full of surprises.
The ranking medic was at the aid station, chiding a corporal from Dog Company while simultaneously treating the black eye he had managed to get himself in a brawl the night before. She had just sent him on his way and was about to leave as well, when a booming voice she hadn't heard in months hollered: "Shorty!"
She whirled around and a huge smile lit up her face. A second later, she was swept into a bear-hug by none other than Buck Compton.
The tall, towheaded man beamed at her as he set her back down. "Missed you, kid", he said.
The small girl smiled warmly, green orbs sparkling with joy. "You too, Buck."
He looked so much like the man she had first got to know in Aldbourne, an eternity ago. His time away had done him a world of good. Gone were the lines of stress and the crease of worry. The light was back in his eyes, no trace of the thousand-yard stare he'd had before she had taken him off the line for what she had declared as a 'severe case of trench foot'.
He clapped her on the shoulder and gestured to her Staff Sergeant's stripes. "T-3, huh?", he commented, sounding mighty proud. "When did that happen?"
"Uh… March, I think. Yeah, just after we moved back to Mourmelon", she replied, waving at Doc Mampre, who had taken over now that her shift had ended. "Blank promotion from regiment. I wanted to give it to Gene." A chuckle escaped her as she remembered the situation. "He didn't want it and neither did Spina. They – and Speirs, too – insisted I deserved it more." She shrugged, the slight twitch of her eyebrow telling him that she still didn't quite understand the reasoning, but had come to accept it anyways.
Buck laughed that boisterous laugh of his and ruffled her hair. "Congratulations, kid. You really did deserve it."
She peered up at him with her sweet, trademark lopsided smile that he had missed quite a lot. "Thanks, Buck."
.
They strolled through the rows of tents, the brunette leading the way to the baseball pitch that had been set up out in the meadow. She had promised the boys that she would make it to the game and she knew Buck wouldn't miss the chance to play ball with them.
After some very enthusiastic greetings, they split up into two teams. They agreed unanimously that Buck wasn't allowed to play pitcher. He had played baseball in college, so it just wouldn't have been fair. He happily donned the catcher's gear, laughing and spurring everybody into motion. "Let's get this show on the road!"
When it was her turn, Ella stepped up to the home plate and took the bat.
"Come on, Pee Wee", Buck called, "let's get Shorty!"
She laughed and got into position, eyes riveted on the ball in Johnny's hand.
"Ready?", he asked.
The young medic nodded. "Yup."
He pitched the ball and she swung.
The bat connected with the ball, a loud whack splitting the air. Dropping the bat, she darted off towards first base, keeping half an eye on the fielders racing after the ball. She safely reached first base and, feeling bold, she continued, feet pounding on the sand as she ran for second base.
Whoops rang out across the field, both from her team and the spectators, while the opposing team cheered on the two guys who had a realistic chance to record an out against her.
The small girl successfully dodged Luz' attempt at a tag out and slid to a stop on second base only a split-second before Liebgott could force her out.
"Ooh", cried Luz, "better watch out, fellas, we have a base stealer!"
She laughed, her chest nearly bursting at the seams with happiness. It was good to see her boys so carefree. It was a luxury they had only rarely been able to enjoy ever since they had enlisted. The worries and hardships of war had always been there, an invisible weight on their shoulders, a storm cloud looming at the horizon.
.
They played round after round, their laughter, cheers and good-natured teasing filling the warm summer air. When it was their turn on the field, Ella was appointed second baseman. She liked the position, it kept her on her toes and required her to make a number of judgement calls.
She had lost track of time and she had no idea what inning they were in, but who cared? They had fun, that was all that mattered. She had just stolen another base (her fourth one so far), prompting cries of mock outrage from the fielders and shouts of triumph from her own team, when Speirs called: "Easy Company! School circle!"
Wasting no time, they fell in, gathering in a loose half-circle.
"Fast man would'a had it, Perco", Winters teased, trying to ease the tension that had automatically returned to the men. A few chuckles were heard, but none of them could hide the apprehension they felt as they waited for their former CO to deliver the inevitable news.
"Listen up", he said when they had settled, "I've got some news." He studied the guys, a smile already beginning to pull at the corners of his mouth. "This morning, President Truman received the unconditional surrender from Japanese. The war is over."
.
Stunned silence was the initial reaction. Dr Kriag ish vorbei, Ella's brain informed her again as the message hadn't really sunk in the first time. The war was over. They were all going home. Dieu saja ludà, miar kön hei.
The shock turned into wild hilarity. A radiant smile blossomed on her youthful features and she gave a shout of joy, exuberantly hugging Johnny, who happened to be the first person within reach. He laughed, wrapping his arms around her and swinging her around in a circle.
The game completely forgotten, everybody ran towards the tents to pack their gear, write their loved ones and most importantly: To celebrate. The brunette knew for a fact that there was still more than enough booze around to throw the biggest party the camp had ever seen. Practically vibrating with excitement, she looked over to the officers that were standing beside one of the jeeps.
She made her way over to Lipton, grinning widely. He gave her a smile and braced himself for whatever innocent mischief she was up to judging by the twinkle in her eyes.
Lightly whacking him on the forearm she called: "Race ya, Lip!", taking off towards the camp.
The lieutenant looked at his superiors with a shrug that said "What can you do?" and chased after her, the laughter of the officers following him.
.
He caught up to her not long after, his longer legs compensating her speed and the tiny head start she'd had. Wrapping his arms around her midriff, he easily lifted her off the ground, thinking on an unrelated note that she was still too light. She dissolved into a fit of giggles and he teased: "You should have been faster."
Breathless from laughing, she retorted: "Where's the fun in that?"
Lip laughed and set her down. The small girl peered up at him and they exchanged grins of joy, breaking into a run again. Nobody was shooting at them, nobody was screaming for a medic. There was no need to run, they just did it for the fun of it. She let out the laughter bubbling in her chest, the sound as pure as the mountain air and brighter than the sun. She couldn't stop smiling. They were finally going home.
.
That night, Easy Company had a party that rivalled, probably even surpassed the one they had held on VE-Day. Ella cherished each moment, even though she would later only remember the whirlwind of smiles and laughter, of jokes and stories, of being with her friends, of being happy and alive. One memory of the night, though, was crystal clear and she would always look back on that moment with fondness and love and a touch of pride.
She was sitting at the bar with Luz and out of the blue, she asked: "Do you still have the bets on my name?" The question had tumbled out before she'd had time to think, but surprisingly, she didn't wish to take it back.
"Of course", he grinned, producing a dog-eared, tattered notebook. "Here." The smile stayed on his face, even if his expression shifted to a mixture between curiosity, anticipation and astuteness. "Thinking about revealing the secret?", he questioned, watching as she flipped through the pages, scanning over the bets.
The ranking medic nodded. "Yeah. It's time."
George smiled, pride making his heart swell. He knew what a big effort it was for her to speak about anything related to that particularly painful part of her past. "Anybody win?", he inquired casually, reading over her shoulder.
"Uhm…", she made, turning the page. She huffed a laugh. "God, some of these are terrible!"
Luz cackled. "Judith Velma", he read out. "Has a nice ring to it."
She snorted and swatted at him. "Yes, for a forty-something housewife."
Despite there being a good 100 bets, nobody had managed to guess her full name correctly. A handful had gotten the first initial, but her middle name was apparently too outlandish.
"So, what are you gonna do?", Luz wondered. "Technically, you won the pool."
She shrugged and brushed a few stray hairs out of her face. "Hmm…" A soft smile crept onto her face. "I have an idea."
.
Deciding to let his friend surprise him, Luz gave her a big grin and squeezed her hand before clambering up onto the counter of the bar, hollering over the noise of conversations, clinking bottles and squeaking chairs: "Hey guys, listen up! Our girl's got an announcement to make!"
All heads turned towards them. With a flourish, he helped the brunette up to stand next to him.
Shifting self-consciously, she smiled at her boys. "Well, I'm sure you remember the betting pool on my initials", she began, chuckling as they voiced their affirmations. "Since we're going home soon, I thought now's a good time to settle this matter."
A hush had fallen over the room and she felt the suspense rising.
"My birth name", Ella spoke slowly, her smile widening, "is: Joelle Valentina Sawyer-Tomaschett."
The tension broken, a weight lifting off her chest that she hadn't even known was there, she couldn't help but giggle as her friends bemoaned the lost bet, complaining that their guesses had been in Liebgott's words "this close, Web! Fuck, I was so close!"
The half-serious lamenting ceased when the young girl raised her voice again to make herself heard.
"Relax boys, you can keep your money", she said. "Buy yourself a Hershey's" – those who remembered the chocolate bar debate from Haguenau snickered – "or have a drink on me."
"Hear hear!", somebody shouted over the deafening cheers of the assembled men.
.
Luz swooped her up into an embrace, right there on the countertop, and planted a smacking kiss on her hair before hopping down.
Bull offered her a hand, grinning around his cigar stump. "Down you go, kid", he drawled, easily lifting her down and setting her back onto her feet. He patted her shoulder, giving her a proud nod.
She smiled and readily accepted his warm hug.
As soon as he let go, she was swept away by the crowd, the guys patting her on the back and ruffling her hair.
"It suits you", Popeye declared, smiling and taking a sip from his beer. "It's a beautiful name."
Christenson, Tab and Skinny nodded their assent.
"But Ella suits you better", Tab added with a wink, nudging her shoulder.
The small medic laughed, her cheeks heating up at their compliments. They weren't the only ones who commented that even though her full name was beautiful, they preferred the diminutive by which they knew her. And especially the Toccoa men agreed that actually, they liked her company nickname best.
Well and truly happy, Ella collapsed into bed in the early hours of dawn, feeling lighter than she had in years. She wasn't the only one who fell asleep with a smile on her face.
It took a while until everybody had their papers in order and got their discharge. After all, they weren't the only soldiers eager to go home as quickly as possible. But by mid-September, they were all set.
Saying goodbye was hard and more than a few tears were shed. But the words exchanged were heart-felt and the promises to write and stop by if one was in the area were genuine. In the end, all that was left was saying goodbye to the officers.
"Sir."
Major Winters looked up from the paperwork he had been filling out to see the ranking medic in the doorway, uniform cap in hand.
He smiled and motioned for her to enter. "Come on in, Ella."
The young girl obliged, returning the smile. "I wanted to say goodbye, sir", she said. "And I wanted to say thank you, for everything you've done." She cleared her throat and he could see the tell-tale glistening of tears that began to gather in her eyes. "It's been an honour to serve with you, sir." She straightened and gave him an impeccable salute, meeting his gaze openly.
Winters accepted the salute, then held out his hand. "You are an extraordinary young woman, Shorty", he spoke. "Without you, Easy wouldn't have been the same." She chuckled, self-consciously scratching the back of her neck. "And I am honoured to have served with you."
Sniffling slightly, she shook his hand, a faint blush colouring her cheeks. "Thank you, sir."
.
Captain Welsh hugged her tightly and made her promise to come to his wedding. "Kitty would love to meet you", he stressed.
She smiled and replied sincerely: "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Harry."
He beamed and clapped her on the shoulder.
.
Captain Nixon studied her with an unreadable look in his eyes, almost as if he were trying to figure out a puzzle. Eventually, he shook her hand and said: "You're one hell of a girl, Ella."
She chuckled. "Thanks, sir. You're not too bad yourself."
He barked a laugh, tousling her unruly locks. As he gave her a hug, he added: "I'll miss you, kid."
Her eyes started to sting again. "I'll miss you, too, Nix", she murmured into his shoulder. He was a cynic, he was a drunkard, and he didn't really care about rules and regulations. He had sat with her in Toccoa, striking up conversation simply because he wanted to, completely ignoring the fact that the Army thought officers and enlisted couldn't - or at least shouldn't - be friends.
.
Out of all the officers, saying goodbye to Lieutenant Lipton was the hardest. Ella was closest to him, simply by virtue of him having started out as an enlisted man. There was so much she wanted to tell him, but as soon as she was wrapped in his strong arms, she realised that he already knew, like he always did.
"If I'm ever in West Virginia, I might stop by some time", she spoke, emotions making her voice slightly raw.
Lip smiled that soft, kind smile of his. "I'd like that", he answered, handing back her journal where he had written down his address. "I'll be sure to look you up if I'm in Ohio."
The brunette grinned despite the tear rolling down her cheek. She didn't bother wiping it away. "I'll never forget you, Lip", she professed.
He nodded and returned her firm handshake. "You too, Shorty. You too."
Sniffling quietly, Ella blew out a breath to compose herself before turning to head to the last of the officers.
.
Captain Speirs had moved a few steps away to allow her and Lip some privacy. He watched her approach, his expression unreadable like it often was. She looked sharp in her dress uniform, her gait was light and in her posture, he could see the quiet confidence that reflected her ability to stay calm and focused under pressure.
"Sir", she addressed him.
"Ella", he responded, inclining his head.
The ranking medic looked at him, emotions flickering across her face like the constantly changing patterns inside a kaleidoscope. Then, she fished something out of her pocket and held it out to him.
He took the object and couldn't hold back a chuckle. It was one single cigarette. "You never believed the stories", he said, only the slightest hint of a question in his tone.
She shrugged, her softly gleaming eyes alight with amusement. "Neither did you", she commented shrewdly, a cheeky smile ticking up the corner of her mouth.
Speirs took her point. "You are the heart and soul of Easy Company", he offered as an explanation.
"Thank you." She shifted, not really knowing what to say now that it came to the actual goodbye. "It's been an honour to serve under your command", she offered. "You were a great CO."
He smiled, a rare but welcome sight. "The honour is mine. I have never seen a more dedicated, more selfless and more spirited medic."
The small girl flushed right to the tips of her ears at his praise and ducked her head to hide the bashful smile spreading on her features.
"The reporter was right", he continued. Her gaze met his again, her head tilting in curiosity. "'Small but powerful'", he quoted the title. "He's right."
Overwhelmed and at a loss for words, Ella expressed her gratitude by hugging him. Blindsided by the unexpected show of affection, Speirs momentarily tensed before putting his arms around her slim frame and returning the hug.
When she pulled back, she gave him her most brilliant smile. "Thank you for everything, sir. And goodbye."
He shook her hand, her grip firm and warm. "Goodbye, Shorty. Until we meet again."
Her caramel-brown locks bounced as she nodded and with one last lopsided grin, the brunette left. She re-joined her friends, grabbed her luggage and climbed the truck that was bound for the harbour where a ship was waiting to carry them across the ocean.
They had the time of their lives on the trip back. It was like one massive sleep-over, with everybody laughing and swapping stories and coming up with ideas of what they would do when they got home.
They also put forth a whole slew of suggestions for Ella. She fondly rolled her eyes at some of them, because they were just so outrageous.
"Madonna, abr sus gots eu guat? I'm not going to be movie star!", she exclaimed in a mixture of laughter and indignation.
The men cackled and snickered and she couldn't help but laugh as well.
"You're all idiots", she chuckled, shaking her head.
"Eh, you love us anyway", Luz shrugged, gesturing with his cigarette for emphasis.
She smiled. "That I do."
The days flew by, blurring together until the young girl didn't know anymore where one ended and the next began. But eventually, the journey came to an end and the troop ship docked in New York. She disembarked, flanked by Luz and Babe, Johnny and Bull ahead of them, Christenson, Alley and Liebgott behind them.
A massive throng was at the harbour to greet the returning soldiers. Ella, never a fan of crowds, was grateful to be surrounded by her friends. They pushed their way through the people and entered the Red Cross station where they could get train tickets to their homes and contact their loved ones to let them know when they would arrive.
.
The brunette didn't even bat an eyelid when the Red Cross woman tasked with somehow getting her to Columbus, Ohio stared dumbly at her for a good minute before finally asking where she wanted to go.
It was too much of an effort to get worked up about it and if she was being honest with herself, she was too tired to kick up a fuss. The bustle of the hundreds of soldiers on the troop ship, the noise of the welcoming crowd, it was all a bit exhausting. She just bit back a sigh and pretended to be patient. Ganz ruhig, es got nid schneller wenn di ufregsh, she reminded herself.
Decked out with a ticket for the evening train, she manoeuvred through the crowd to get to Bull. The tall Arkansas man stood out in the sea of busy people and he gave her an understanding smile, putting a steady hand on her shoulder. Regret tugged at her heart as she thought about how much she was going to miss his steadfast presence and his gentle teasing.
She didn't call her mother since she didn't know the number. She knew the address by now, after almost two years of sending letters there, but she had never asked about the phone number. Instead, she sent a telegram, knowing that her Mama would receive it long before her train reached Columbus.
Mama, it read.
In New York now –(STOP)- Train in Columbus tomorrow three thirty –(STOP)-
Ella
.
New York didn't just mean home. It also spelled another round of tearful goodbyes. Some of them would stay in the city for a while, some headed out sooner than the rest because they lived in this part of the states. Ella took comfort from the fact that she would see them again someday and that they could write tons of letters in the meantime.
Luz was one of the first to leave since he only lived a few states over in Rhode Island. After bidding goodbye to the guys, he turned to the small girl, who was smiling despite the tears pooling at the rims of her eyes.
"Come here, kiddo", he said, holding out his arms.
Her laugh sounded vaguely like a sob as she launched herself at him. He caught her with ease and rested his chin on top of her head while she buried her face in his shoulder.
George closed his eyes, wanting to commit as much as he could of this moment to his memory. He felt her ribcage expand against his hand with each breath she took. Her hair was smooth between his fingers as he ran them through it. The warmth of her smaller body snuggled against his was familiar and comforting. He would miss her, a lot. Her lopsided grin, her sparkling eyes, her 'excited puppy' quirks.
He gently pushed her back a little so he could look her in the eye. The green orbs with the golden flecks in them met his gaze, sadness, happiness and a hundred other emotions swirling behind the soft light glowing in them. "Write soon, alright?", he asked.
"Of course", she nodded. "And you have to visit some time. Mama wants to meet you."
He grinned boyishly and winked at her. "I'd love to. She still loves me, right?", he joked, making her laugh.
"Yes, George, she does", Ella replied. "Just as much as I do." She gave him a peck on the cheek and he smiled softly.
"Love you too, Shorty", he said. He ruffled her hair one last time and kissed her on the forehead, then he waved at them and got aboard the train that would take him to Rhode Island.
.
The other farewells proceeded in a similar fashion. Each of the men had a short, heartfelt and personal conversation with their girl. They exchanged addresses and promises to write and visit, hugging and kissing her before boarding their trains. They all got a little teary-eyed, but none of them was bothered by it. They were family, they had lived together for three years and they had been through a lot together. They were allowed to be sad.
Eventually, the small medic was on the train towards Columbus. With her were a bunch of her friends, including Babe, Spina and Johnny. They had managed to secure a couple of adjacent compartments and they had a good time, joking and playing cards. Under the cheers of the guys, Ella broke out the remains of her stash of smokes and chocolate bars.
Their group diminished as men got off the train at each station they pulled into.
They travelled through the night, the brunette eventually falling asleep on Johnny's shoulder after saying goodbye to Babe and Spina, who had to change trains to head to Philadelphia.
"You gotta come down to Philly soon", Babe had called from the platform. "We'll show you around!"
She had laughed. "I promise!", she had shouted back over the noise of the train pulling out of the station.
Johnny shifted, careful not to disturb the slumbering girl, and repositioned her head in his lap. Resting his hand on her shoulder, he closed his eyes, letting his mind wander. He couldn't wait to see his wife again and he was looking forward to meeting Ella's mother. Pat had become extremely close to Isabel and from her letters – and the one's Ella had read out to them – she sounded like a wonderful woman. Much like her daughter.
.
The closer the train got to her destination, the more anxious the young medic got. She bounced her knee, chewed on her lip and fiddled with the hem of her uniform shirt.
Breaking the silence, she admitted: "I know I'm being ridiculous, but I'm so damn nervous." She hadn't missed Johnny's look that was a unique mixture of fond amusement, a bit of annoyance, slight worry, and understanding.
He squeezed her shoulder. "It's gonna be alright, Shorty", he told her.
She sighed. "I know. But, I mean, I don't know the city. Dieu, I'll meet Mama's boyfriend. What if…" The rush of words tumbling from her lips trailed off and she turned quiet. "What if he doesn't like me?", she asked, looking at him with those big, lost eyes.
Johnny dragged a hand through his curls and slung an arm around her shoulders. "Kid, if he doesn't like you, he's either stupid or he ain't got a heart", he said, his snarky reply oddly reassuring.
Ella heaved another sigh and he felt her relax, her body melting into his loose sideways hug.
"Besides", he added, completely sincere, "you know you can always come to our place if you need something."
A smile appeared on her face, lighting up her entire being. "Thanks, Johnny. Same goes for you, you know?"
He nodded and tousled her locks. "I know, kid."
.
At exactly 3:30 pm, the train pulled into Union Station in Columbus, Ohio. The two friends collected their luggage and stepped out onto the platform. The brunette gladly let Johnny take the lead as they weaved their way through the crowded station. They weren't the only soldiers coming home and so it was packed with reuniting families along with the usual rushing civilians, ambling visitors and busy railway employees.
"Pat said on the phone that your Mama will be home", Johnny informed her while glaring testily at a group of gawking seamen.
She acknowledged with a hum, raising an eyebrow at the same men. They interpreted her unimpressed look correctly and hurriedly found something very important to discuss with each other. Sharing a glance with Johnny, they both rolled their eyes, but shrugged it off.
.
They took a taxi. Ella spent the entire time gazing out the window, eyes wide with wonder. There were so many shops and buildings and the streets were so busy. When the taxi pulled into Highland Avenue, she couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She tugged at Johnny's sleeve and whispered excitedly: "Döt, luag! That's where I'm going to be living!" She pointed, nearly bouncing in her seat.
He chuckled, the annoyance in his expression purely for form's sake. "I know, Shorty", he retorted dryly. "I live here too, ya know."
The brunette simply grinned.
The taxi came to a halt and the two paratroopers got out. The driver vehemently refused to accept any money from them.
"No no no", he stated, "you fellas did so much for us, that's payment enough."
He helped them get their luggage from the trunk, nodded at them and drove off.
.
Ella stared at the light brown front door with the bronze door knob. Turning to Johnny, she smiled, eyes sparkling with joy.
"I'll see you around, kid", he offered, wrapping her in a hug.
"Yeah", she replied. "See you soon, Johnny."
Then, she grabbed her pack and walked up to the porch.
Johnny watched as the girl took a deep breath and raised her hand. Her shoulders moved again with another preparing breath. Her knuckles rapped on the wooden door. He smiled and turned to head down the street. She deserved to have some privacy when reuniting with her mother. And besides, he had his own reunion with his gorgeous Pat to get to.
.
The young girl chewed on her bottom lip, waiting for a sign of life from inside the building she would be calling home from now on.
She inhaled. And exhaled.
A voice she hadn't heard in over three years called: "Be right there!"
She smiled to herself, her heart swelling in anticipation.
Steps sounded against wooden floorboards.
Another breath.
The lock clicked. The door opened.
.
For a moment, Isabel Sawyer simply stared at the slim figure on her doorstep. Then, a beaming smile just like her daughter's spread on her face. "ELLA!" She opened her arms and pulled the girl close, tears of happiness already streaming down her cheeks as she hugged her beloved daughter.
Ella hugged her mother as tightly as she could, sobbing quietly, overwhelmed by all the emotions flooding her. She breathed in the familiar scent of her mother, the smell of home. I bi dahei. I bi endlich dahei.
The fluttery feeling of nervous anticipation in her stomach dissolved into the warmth of knowing that she had made it. She had survived. She was home again.
*sniffles* Our girl is home. But it won't all be smooth sailing from here on. Adjusting to civilian life, returning to a family that has functioned without her for three years, living in a city she doesn't know... those are just some of the difficulties Ella will face in the next few chapters.
Until next time :)
Translations:
Ich verstehe: I see
Sie sind so etwas wie eine Legende bei unseren Sanitätern: To our medics, you are something akin to a legend
Kacke: Shit
Dieu: God
Tuat mr leid: I'm sorry
Dieu saja ludà: Thank God; Praise the Lord
Miar kön hei: We can go home
Abr sus gohts eu guat?: Are you feeling alright?; Are you out of your mind?
Ganz ruhig, es got nid schneller wenn di ufregsh: Take it easy, it won't go any faster if you get into a fuss
Döt: There
Luag: Look
I bi dahei: I'm home
I bi endlich dahei: I'm finally home