Chapter 8:
February 25th 1944
Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire
England
After combat and occupation duty in Italy, the 505th Parachute Regiment had been returned to England. They had to refit and absorb replacements to replace the men that were lost in battle during Operation Avalanche.
Alex despite leaving his home city, he wanted to get back to the war and liberate Europe from the Nazis. Naples was of the past now; he would forever hold Naples in his heart.
Before he left, he had paid a visit to the graves of his parents. Going to see them stirred up the wounds of what he had done, stuff he never wanted to see the light of day.
Thinking back to when he visited his parents' grave, he was deep in thought ignoring the conversations of his fellow paratroopers.
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Flashback Scene
November 1943
Naples, Italy
It was a cloudy yet rainy day in Naples, Alex had finished a patrol of occupation duty whilst near the cemetery.
Cutting through the gravestones, he finds the gravestone that was adorned with flowers and many envelopes next to the stone.
There was an American flag as well with a picture of Alex Galzetti with some children, Alex had even been invited to several Italian feasts by some old family acquaintances. The families wished to give Alex a chance to know the girls of the families.
It was something that had given Alex a startling worry, what if he didn't make it back from the war to make one of the girls happy?
Taking a knee to see the stone, he touched it slightly, there was a slight chip on the stone but other than that everything else had remained untouched.
He softly spoke, "Hi Mama, Dad, hope you're okay. I'm okay though, you're probably lookin' down on this city, you probably see me… Don't worry though, Dad, we ridded the fascists from this city, we'll rid them from here all the way back to the hellhole that they came from. I know you'll be with me… you'll be beside me in my heart, you'll guide me to the best of your ability, Mama as well."
Alex shakenly took a breath as he said, "I'll be with you again, when this war's over, I'm gonna stay as a protector, fight for the people that can't fight, fight for freedom of others and for the new generation."
He began to turn, but one other question rested in on his mind. Mustering the courage to ask the question, he spoke, "Have I been righteous? Have I been just? I will meet my maker for every soldier I've killed, for failing to save many of my soldiers."
Alex began to do the sign of the cross, he kissed three of his fingers and pressed them against the stone as he said in his native Italian, "Finché non ci rivedremo, mamma, papà."
Alex's blue eyes let loose tears as he breathed heavily before sobbing, it turned to full blown crying. Alex's pain justifiably spoke volumes on his face, he remembered something his father had told him as a child.
"It's okay to cry, son. People cry not because they are at their weakest, but it's because they have been strong for so long."
End Flashback
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Present Day
Alex sat on the edge of his bed, soon enough a runner approached as he said, "Sergeant Galzetti, Company Commander wants you."
Raising an eyebrow, Alex got up and picked up his garrison cap, he walked to company commander's office as Alex stood at the desk.
Alex stood to attention as he said, "Sir, you requested to see me?"
"Yes, I did. Stand to ease, take a seat if you wish to do so." The commander had said. Alex shook his head, "I'll stand for this one, sir. I gotta bad feelin' that this is somethin' bad."
"Your choice, reason I called you here is because of your service record, out of the entire 505th, you've seen quite a lot of action." The commander said.
Alex rose an eyebrow as he asked, "Begging the Captain's pardon, but what in the blue blazes is goin' on?"
"You started your service in the Philippines, 31st Infantry. Served behind enemy lines after the occupation and fought guerrilla warfare until you retreated. Promoted to Sergeant for leadership and courage. Sicily with the 504th, fought at Piano Lupo and stemmed the advance of the German counterattack. You fought with bravery and courage throughout the campaign, even in Operation Avalanche." The Captain had said.
Alex nodded, "That is entirely true, I did my duty like any other American serviceman had done, probably more. I'll have more blood on my hands for the things I've done. I won't be able to wash the blood of my friends of my hands either, but I am prepared to fight to the death for redemption, for the sins of the past."
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The commander nodded as he interlocked his fingers, the man was nervous and undoubtedly so, Alex even sensed this as he said, "What's goin' on, sir?"
"Sergeant Galzetti, you've been relieved of duty with the 82nd Airborne Division." The commander had said with a heavy tone in his voice.
Alex's eyes widened in surprise and shock as he asked to be sure, "I'm relieved of my duties? You mean, transferred away from the 82nd Airborne Division for good?"
"Operation Avalanche will be the last ever action you'll have with the Airborne." The commander said solemnly.
Alex felt his hands shake a bit as he said, "I'm leavin' the men?" "I didn't want to give you the order, but I kind of had no choice but to follow in with it. I fought hard and so did the Division on this, but we had no choice."
Alex groaned inwardly as he said, "What in the name of the fuckin' almighty?"
"I know, I know. It hurts and it stinks at the same time. Instead of being sent home, you're being transferred to the 4th Infantry." The Captain had said before continuing, "An officer in the 4th, noted your explicit talents, said you were one of the best to have gained those talents."
"Who was the officer?" Alex asked. The captain smirked, "An old friend of yours, a Captain Steven Dempsey."
Alex was surprised to hear Steve Dempsey offered to give him a chance at fighting the enemy, he then said, "I heard Steve Dempsey got hit at the Volturno Line, but I wasn't aware he was back so soon."
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The Captain smiled replying, "He held you in high regards, said that you had been one of the best soldiers he had the privilege of training under his command. He holds you in high regards, Sergeant."
Alex nods, but part of him is still at odds at wanting to leave the 82nd Airborne Division and join his old Sergeant in the 4th Division.
The captain senses the conflict and says, "I would have wanted you to stay with this division. Sometimes, there are sacrifices to be made for the sake of one's country. I know you'll do fine wherever you are, but if the show is soon to start, you'll need someone to show you where the krauts are."
Alex looked up and into his captain's eyes as he says, "I don't exactly want to leave. But if I've been given no choice, then so be it. I'll leave the Airborne, don't ask me to come back though."
Alex stands to attention and salutes as the captain nods and salutes him before giving Alex a silent nod to leave.
Upon returning to the bunk, Alex gathered his gear. He stared at the parachutist's badge on his dress uniform jacket, two stars adorned it.
He contemplated taking the badge off, but something stopped him, he had been proud of being a paratrooper, he wasn't scared at all, but knowing that he wouldn't even jump out of an airplane ever again that had eaten at Alex knowing he never jump from an airplane ever again.
It was something that he had to live with for the rest of his life.
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By the morning's rise, Alex had silently said a farewell to his brothers in arms in his head, they continued light training which they had been up to since they had gotten back from Italy.
Speaking with the CO last night, Alex found out that the transfer request had gone through and that he would rejoin an old friend in his former leader Steve Dempsey.
He also wondered who else would join in on the fun.
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English to Italian Translation:
Until we meet again, Mama, Dad. - Finché non ci rivedremo, Mamma, Papà.