Jump School was not what I had thought it was going to be. It was intense and challenging. The Commanding Officer was non other than the infamous Capt. Herbert Sobel, who I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting the first time we were in England. He was still strict and expected the best out of everyone, no matter what rank you wore. I was no exception to this rule and whilst I was thankful for not being segregated, Sobel's little digs at me being there were getting beyond a joke. I now understood completely why, both officer and enlisted alike disliked him immensely. He had no room for change. If someone made one slightest suggestion, if Sobel didn't like it, it was not sanctioned. It was only the letters from the company and the girls that kept me sane. I opened up the day's mail starting as normal with a letter from Lewis.
"Dearest Betty,
I hope that you are enjoying your time in the air. I completely understand when you describe it as having the ability to fly! We have many new faces here and some are so young. Good Luck with the rest of your time there and hurry back soon.
Lewis."
Followed by one from the girls:
"Dearest Betty,
Please come home soon. We thought that being away from you when we were in Hell was bad enough, but the very idea that you are so close to me and yet so far away, is just a miserable idea. Sophia and I miss you terribly. The boys are all in good shape (I know that they would not tell you anything!) Please come back to us soon.
Your beloved sisters
Jennifer and Sophia.
And before I closed my eyes, a letter from my beloved Joe:
"My Beautiful Elizabeth,
I hope that you are doing okay there. I know exactly what you mean when you say it's breathtaking when you learn to fly! Although if you don't watch yourself the ground will bite you hard! I hope you come back soon. I miss you more than I thought possible.
Ahava
Your Joseph.
The weeks passed by slowly, each one a step closer towards being back with the Company. Before I could grow used to hearing Captain Sobel shout from his command box that one of us was destined to break out legs, I was packing up my belongings. I was so excited that day, so happy that everything was over and it had all gone smoothly. That was until the evening. The officers that were part of the graduating class had all attended dinner together. Given the fact we would be presented with our wings the following day, a small impromptu party evolved.
"Elizabeth, you can't tell me that you actually enjoy working with the Airborne. Surely running your own ward at a field hospital would suite you well." The officer making the assumption was Capt David Jeffries, from the U.S Army Medical Corps. Whilst he was a genius in the medical profession, he was completely blinked in all other areas of the Army. "No Sir, I do not believe I would. Working with the Airborne is both exciting and rewarding in itself. To be presented with my jump wings is an honour and a privilege. The boys from the 506th are the best at what they do and Easy Company, I have to say a little biasedly is the best company in the Battalion!" The other officers laughed. They all had learnt that, as much as I was a lady and behaved in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time, I was also Airborne and could not be dissuaded from the idea. Bidding the gentlemen a good evening, I headed to bed early so that I was ready for Presentation day. Having changed ready for bed and packed away the last of my essentials. I was hit with the sharpest and mind numbing pain. I had felt it once before, when I had been in the supply closet in the hospital in England before I had left for France. Dropping to my knees, I clutched my head. Knowing what was happening didn't make the pain any easier. Memories coursed through my brain. Images flashed past my eyelids, like pictures of cine-film being sped through too quickly. The emotions that came with them made me happy and then scream and sob. The memories were in a jumble and I had no clear understanding as to why they were relevant. I felt the slightest of touches on my shoulder. The Angel was there, watching over me, making sure that I was okay from the download. "Sleep Cherie, Sleep. Everything will become clear in time." His voice whispered round my head. Picking myself up from the floor, I splashed water on my face. I looked as though I had cried the day away. Tired and exhausted from the assault on my brain, I collapsed into bed.
The memories sorted themselves out and played like a small movie in my brain as I slept. I could see the party lights wrapped around the tree, the faint voices of my parents and family laughing with friends. I was outside in the garden, sitting up high in the tree house. I knew I was safe and that I was in good company. I lay there watching the stars twinkle in the moonlight. I didn't want to be anywhere else or with anyone else. The memories changed and I felt heartbroken. I was standing in the kitchen of familiar house, the young woman in front of me smiling brightly, showing off her engagement hand. "It's so beautiful" my voice floated around the room. The ring on her finger shone in the afternoon sun. My face was smiling, but my heart was breaking. Everything I had felt before twisted and turned within me. My eyes were stinging from tears, but I wasn't going to give in. Everything that I had felt whilst I was in Aldbourne; the first time was now falling into place. I knew there had to have been a reason for his behaviour and for mine and finally I had my answer. Waking with a start, I waited for edges of the dream to fade away but they didn't. Instead they lingered inside my head. Feeling all the emotions, the betrayal and guilt, I could do nothing but cry.
The whole class was formed up and waiting the CO to present the senior officer and the Padre that would give thanks for our training and how that we were now equipped to help complete God's work in fighting the evil that ravaged Europe. The presenting officer was an Army Colonel who was visiting the area. He was shaking hands with everyone and wishing them well with their unit's future missions. I was the last person on the back rank. Standing tall, my shoulders out and my chin that little bit higher than normal, I was like a puffed up peacock, proud of myself for completing the course. The Colonel greeted me just like the others. "Congratulations Lieutenant." He pinned on my jump wings. I saluted and then he shook my hand. There I was a medic, a female one at that and I had jump wings. Sobel eyed me over with an air of distaste. He hadn't liked me from the moment I had arrived. I was from Easy which was enough of a reason. Standing on the rostrum, the Colonel expressed his honour at presenting our wings and said that we were all credits to our units as we had been selected, progressed and accomplished the training.
Leaving Chilton Foliate, I settled in for the journey back to Aldbourne. I was glad that I was leaving, not only to escape Sobel, but also the place where I had had the most disturbing of downloads to date. The download I had received about memories previous to the war had been a necessity and I had been prepared for them. But what I had received on Thursday evening had shaken me but, no one would have guessed it on the parade. That had been my time and I was determined not to let anything get in my way. I was bursting to tell the guys that I had passed, to prove to the doubters that I could pass whatever it was you put in front of me. I had once again succumbed to the humming and gentle rumble of the engine and drifted off to sleep. It was the first time in a few months that I had not seen the faces of the people I didn't know, but instead I dreamt of home and the familiarity and safety it provided.
I woke up to the familiar sight of Company Headquarters and Lewis Nixon was stood there with a smile on his face and a cigarette perched precariously in his lips.
"Well it's about time you got back! No one has attended morning sick parade for the last two weeks since they had put that crazy wacko from Able Company on duty!" I couldn't help but laugh. Able Company's chief medic was a little more partial to the Whiskey than Lewis. Leaving the driver to sort out the luggage and deal with the vehicle, I headed inside with Lewis to Officer's mess. It wasn't long before I had seen all the officers from Easy as well as being introduced to the new ones.
Lewis had insisted on walking with me to the barn that had been adopted as the Junior Ranks mess. He was unusually quiet for some reason. There was something that was brewing but with being away for the best part of a month, I had no idea what was wrong.