CHAPTER 16 "The Ticket Home"

Weeks later…

My world was a blur. Cutting the crap of it all; I realized that I was back in England. How I got here was pretty simple enough to explain. But when; I don't know. I was in a hospital, I assumed. The bright pallid walls were further illuminated by the setting sun; I realized that it was dusk. Soon, everything slid into focus.

I rose up; try to get a clearer view of everything. I was lying flat on my back. I turned to my arm. My Rolex was still there. Covering me was a white blanket. Army doctors and nurses are walking around, holding trays and such. Chatters were kept at a low voice. Some where sneezing. Some were coughing. And I was in an infirmary bed.

So I was right…

I am in a hospital.

The bandages around strewn across my chest and my neck gave me a further confirmation.

"…being wounded in the line of duty while facing an opposing armed force and for being steadfast in participating in the decisive operations around Normandy Campaign, June of 1944. You, Private Howard Dewey of 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st is hereby awarded the Purple Heart."

Sounds like…

I turned at my left. 5 beds across me was a colonel, accompanied by an officer, shaking hands with a man lying in bed. Wounded like myself. He was smiling. He was handed a small box.

"Congratulations, son. You deserve it."

"Thank you…sir." He smiled back weekly.

I frowned. I must have been away for a few weeks. Missing all the happenings around me for a long time. Around me were wounded servicemen. Infantry, Air Force or Airborne. But I turned to one side. Damn. I wanted to spit on what is going on.

Facing the facts; I was indeed wounded. I was sent back. I don't when but why was pretty straightforward.

It was weird though.

I don't recall how the hell I ended up in here. How did I get shot?

Footsteps…

"Good to see you up, Turner."

That voice…

Familiar. I turned around. And I was surprised to see him.

"Captain…Collins…?" I quivered.

I rose up. He was clad in the casual officer's uniform; his cap tucked under his arm. I smiled a bit. It was the second time I saw him without anything on his head. The last time I saw his hair was when I got into the briefing room with the rest of the Company; when D-Day was filled in to us personally by him.

"How're you feeling?" He asked.

"Well…fine…I guess."

"That ain't good to hear, Private. Quite unsure of yourself again, eh?" He smiled.

"When did I…get here sir?"

"June 15. We sent you to the meds at the beaches. They insisted that you be shipped back here in England to be treated. You were in a pretty bad shape."

"How long…was I out?" I asked him.

"5 weeks."

I was out for 5 weeks!

"The nurse says that you came in and out of consciousness at that time. Because of the wounds you had. Must have been one hell of a bullet you took back in Carentan."

I lay back to the pillow. Now I remembered. When I fired that second rocket…something just hit me after that. I recalled their voices, calling me. Captain Collins was the one who called for help, as I recollected. Then it all went black…

"Anyways. I only came here to see if you're fine now. Glad to know that you are."

"How about the others?"

"They're still back there in France. But soon they'll be sent back here in England for their R&R."

"I see…"

"We won Carentan when you were out. Able Company took the charge of holding out those Germans from retaking the town just a day after you got wounded. Much of the 506th was put on hold by then; ever since we all got transferred from the VII Corps and all…" The Captain elaborated.

So, I did miss a lot of action back at the front. I felt ashamed. I didn't deserve this. O'Shea and McCarran were left out there. As well as Rosenbaum. Damn. God knows what's going to happen to them without me. I hated it. I wanted to plead to the Captain to send me back…

But that wouldn't do any good.

What good left can I do?

"I came here to give you this, Turner." He spoke.

I turned around.

It was a small box.

"Hope you wouldn't mind if I refuse myself into reciting the proper congratulations to you."

I opened it.

My eyes gleamed with awe as I saw; a Purple Heart.

"My God…"

"You took out a tank. You got our asses saved, because of that. You saved a lot of paratroopers, Turner. I guess you deserve this."

I was speechless.

"That's your ticket home."

"Sir? But why?"

"Doctor's said that you need a year of rehab. You got hit by twice; in case you don't remember it much. You were lucky that what injured you were just pistol rounds from an SMG."

So I was hit twice. The Germans were falling back; yet some of them were still shooting at us. Their shots crossed to me.

I felt down. All these years of training and ambition. They all just ended up in 6 days. Then just like that; the Captain told me that I was going home…

"You are lucky, Turner. Believe me. A lot of guys back there in Normandy dream of having the chance you have right now."

"But I think I don't deserve this, sir." I replied.

"You do."

"…"

"You were to do your job. Instead, you did a lot more than that."

"But why me? The others also fought as hard as I did."

"Well, the world is not nice. You just got lucky."

"…"

Funny. That what O'Shea used to say. There are no good guys. It's all about fate and luck.

"Listen. Smile and be proud. You're a hero now."

"I don't feel like one, sir."

"That's your problem, Turner. Well. I guess I should be going."

He then left. It was odd. I don't feel like a hero. I don't think I deserve to go home. No. My friends need me. I can't abandon them. After all they did for me? After all we've all been through even if it just spanned 6 days. I couldn't understand. But everything's done.

I just realized that it was over.

The war was over for me.

"Sir!" I called out.

He turned around.

"Could you give this back, to Lieutenant Speyer?"

It was his pencil. The one I forgot to return to him. Captain Collins went back to me; seemed dumbfounded that I still have it.

"I guess it was long overdue." I smirked.

"Don't worry. It'll get to him."

I handed it to him.

"Sir. Take care of my buddies, would you? I don't want them to end up worse than me."

"Yeah."

"And it was a pleasure being at your command, sir." I saluted.

"Cut the crap, Turner. Go back to rest." He laughed.

It was already night. Captain Collins then left. I don't know where the hell he is going. Some official stuff I think. I sighed into sleep. I was about to go home soon.

Do I deserve it?

After all I did and didn't do?

I don't know. But life is weird. You get rewards; even if they don't fit you. I know I didn't deserve to go home.

But I smiled. I did keep my promise. I'll be going home to Kansas; to Mom, to Dad, to Gretchen. I think to have the chance to see them again was the one think I am worthy of.

Finally; something right for once in my life…

I dreamt of the party; of myself returning home.

They looked happy. Especially Gretchen.

"I told you, I am different." I hugged her.

I made it back…

-END-