Hello everyone :) Thanks for reading and reviewing the last chapter, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I have to admit, I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I couldn't figure out how to fix it. Well, by the time I revise this story after it's finished, I hopefully have a solution. Anyways, I hope you like it nonetheless.
In order to become certified paratrooper, each man and woman had to complete five training jumps out of a C-47. For that, the regiment moved to Fort Benning. This relocation proved to be the most gruelling exercise of their time in Toccoa.
Colonel Sink had read an article about a Japanese unit that had completed a forced march of 100 miles in 72 hours and since he was determined to prove that his regiment could do better, he sent 2nd Battalion on a 118-mile field march from Camp Toccoa to Atlanta.
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The general consensus among the troops was that this was the most miserable experience they'd ever had. Setting off on 1st December 1942, they marched over rough and muddy roads in cold, rainy weather. The temperatures hovered around the freezing point, the rain sometimes turning to sleet or snow.
But, as much as they suffered over the four days it took them to reach Atlanta, the troopers' determination prevailed. Even when their limbs were numb from the cold, when they could hardly move from exhaustion or when they were practically delirious with pain, they kept moving.
And after 75 hours and 15 minutes, with an actual marching time of 33 hours and 30 minutes, the battalion reached their destination.
In the last two weeks of December, Easy Company qualified as paratroopers. In sticks of 12 people, they sat in the C-47s, waiting for their jump master's command when they reached the drop zone.
"Get ready!", their instructor yelled over the rattling and droning of the plane. "Stand up!"
Elizabeth got to her feet, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Her heart beat was loud in her own ears.
"Hook up!"
Following the command, Irene reached up and attached herself to the static line, watching the men in front of her do the same.
"Check equipment!"
With shaky fingers, Helen checked her own gear before making sure Lipton's webbing was okay.
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"Sound off for equipment check!"
With all the noise on the plane, it was impossible to hear more than the person behind and in front of oneself.
"Six okay!", Maxine heard from behind, accompanied by a slap on her arm to indicate all was in order.
"Five okay!", she shouted, giving Malarkey a clap on the shoulder.
"Four okay!", he continued the sound-off.
"Stand in the door!"
Ana María hurriedly whispered a prayer, crossing herself as their line moved forward with each person that jumped.
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"Go!"
Talbert stepped out into the air and disappeared. Louise took his spot, hands braced on the outside of the door. Her body was buzzing with adrenaline. She didn't have time to think of all the things that could go wrong, of how crazy this was. The jump master gave the signal and she jumped.
Air whistled in her ears as she fell. Just barely, she held back a whoop of excitement. The prop blast tore at her, flinging her around like a ragdoll. Then, her canopy deployed, her fall slowing with an abrupt jerk.
Am I glad not to be a man, she thought to herself, giggling quietly as she grabbed the risers. That surely can't be too comfortable.
Landing safely and just like she had been taught to, Louise wrestled with her parachute for a moment before it could drag her across the field. Turning around, she saw two familiar figures coming towards her. She waved at them, laughing when she heard shouts of exhilaration and excitement.
"Oh, this is so much fun!", Jessica crowed, smoothing her hair back down after it had been left in a bit of a state by her helmet.
Frances grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "The jumping part is easy, it's the waiting beforehand that drives me crazy."
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For one woman, the jumping part hadn't been easy.
Catherine had frozen in the door and had been forced to step back and watch the rest of her stick leave the aircraft. Her heart was pounding in her throat as the line grew shorter and shorter. Come on, Catherine, she told herself, you've come this far. You can do this.
So the mother of two asked the jump master if she could try again.
The pilot turned the aircraft around and flew across the field for a second time. Catherine stood in the doorway, her stomach doing somersaults.
"Takes a lot more guts to do it on the second try!", the jump master called to her.
She nodded, jaw set and lips pursed in a grim line. Her eyes were firmly glued to the horizon.
Breathe.
The light turned green.
"Go!", the jump master shouted.
And she jumped.
Even though the women had been successfully integrated into the company months ago, they still shared a special bond which the men accepted and respected. After all, in the beginning, the women had only had each other.
So, nobody was surprised when the women of Easy quickly gathered in an exuberant group hug as soon as they saw each other after completing the last jump.
Easy's men took pride in the fact that there were still 12 women in their company, a number which hadn't changed since the earliest days in Toccoa.
While two or three of their original female members had dropped out or left, others had requested to be in Easy Company. Meanwhile, Fox Company's share of women was at 9, while Dog Company unfortunately only had 3 women in its ranks now.
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Getting their jump wings and some of them receiving promotions of course called for a celebration. There was plenty of alcohol to go around and everyone was in a great mood.
Theresa sat at the bar, letting her gaze roam across the room. In the room full of men, her fellow women somehow stood out and yet, at the same time, blended right in.
Kathleen was in deep conversation with David Webster and Maxine. They had all had a privileged upbringing in the wealthier circles of society, so it was understandable that they gravitated towards each other when they were in need of more sophisticated company.
Elizabeth and Jessica were right in the middle of the excitement, cheering with the other men as they watched Bill Guarnere down his drink with his jump wings between his teeth. They were both very sociable and had a similar sarcastic wit, though occasionally, their sharp-tongued barbs turned hurtful.
Scanning the crowds, Theresa spotted Irene at a table, laughing and talking with Alley, Skinny and Popeye.
Across the room, Frances appeared to be making a bet with Malarkey over something.
She caught glimpses of Ana María dancing and Catherine on the other side of the bar, speaking with Lipton. The only ones she didn't see were Louise, Mia and Helen, but they were surely around somewhere, enjoying the party.
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"Corporal Toye."
Theresa turned around at the sound of Sobel's voice, even though she knew that it was only Luz impersonating the man.
"There will be no leaning in my company", he said.
Toye lazily pulled himself more upright while Theresa grinned. She shifted in her seat and watched as Luz went on to ask: "Are those dusty jump wings? How do you expect to slay the Huns with dust on your jump wings?"
Joe rolled his eyes, grabbed Luz by the lapel of his dress jacket and pulled him closer. "Luz", he told him in a slow growl, "just give me a drink."
Theresa smiled, draping an arm across Joe's back and leaning forward. "That is a fantastic idea, Joe", she declared, exaggeratedly batting her eyelashes at Luz. "Mind getting me one, too?"
Luz grinned at them. "Hell of an idea", he said, setting two full glasses of beer in front of them before reaching for his own. He raised it for a toast. "Three miles up, three miles down."
They clinked their glasses together.
"Ten-hut!"
Everyone shot to their feet and stood at attention. Colonel Sink strode in, followed by Major Horton and other regimental staff officers. "Well, at ease, paratroopers", he said, smiling congenially at the company.
They relaxed, turning so that they were all facing their regimental commander.
"Good evening, Easy Company!", Sink greeted.
"Evening, sir!"
He let his gaze roam over them and spoke: "Now, Parachute Infantry is a brand-new concept in American military history. But by God, the 506 is gonna forge that brand-new concept into victory!"
The company voiced their agreements.
The colonel nodded. "I want you to know that I'm damn proud of each and every one of you", he continued. "Now, you deserve this party." He paused to thank Chuck, who had stepped forward to hand him a beer.
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Looking at the assembled company, his eyes landed on the faces of the women that had now become certified paratroopers along with the men. "Another concept that is brand-new to American military history is the introduction of women in combat", he said.
The men turned their heads to glance at their female comrades, who were looking embarrassed and proud to varying degrees.
"You have probably worked harder than any man in this room to be where you are today", Sink told them, "you have shown remarkable determination in the face of adversity. And I think I can speak for everyone here in saying that I am damn proud to have such dedicated and fine women in this regiment."
Cheers and hoots rang out as the men applauded them.
Colonel Sink finished his speech by addressing everyone and saying: "So, I want you to have fun, and remember our motto: Currahee!"
"Currahee!", the company responded as one.
The music was back on and people were back to drinking, dancing and having a good time.
Luz was talking with Toye and Frances when suddenly, he trailed off, his bright expression turning downcast.
"What's going on?", Frances asked, twisting around to see what or who the cheerful radioman was looking at.
Toye followed suit and frowned when all he saw was Mia making her way towards them, smiling and exchanging a few words with people as she went. He turned back to Luz, who was watching the young woman with sadness and – was that guilt? – in his eyes.
"Luz?", he pressed.
He might not be the most perceptive person in the world, but anyone with eyes had noticed how Luz and Mia, who had been well on their way to becoming close friends, had suddenly drifted apart. And if it hadn't been obvious before that at least Luz was extremely unhappy with that, it was now.
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Luz didn't have time to explain because Mia reached them. "Hey", she greeted them with a smile before her gaze fell on Luz. Her smile didn't slip, but her mien softened. "Hi George."
"Hi Mia", he replied, his tone an odd mixture of guilty and hopeful that left Frances and Toye looking at each other in confusion.
She rounded the counter of the bar, Luz moving to meet her. "I miss you", the young medic confessed quietly.
His expression turned possibly even sadder. "I miss you, too", he admitted.
"Can we-", she shifted from one foot onto the other, "can we be friends again? I want us to be friends again."
A massive grin split Luz' face and he wrapped Mia in a huge hug. "I want us to be friends again, too! Because you're a really great gal and I'm an idiot. And I know it's not worth much, but I'm still sorry."
He felt her chuckles vibrate in her torso.
"So...", he asked after they pulled back, "we're good?"
Mia laughed softly, nodding her head. "Yes, George. We're good."
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Later, after Mia had practically been dragged away by an excited Ana María, Toye and Frances demanded an explanation.
"What was that about, Luz?", Toye wanted to know.
Luz sighed and told them how he had nearly destroyed their friendship with a thoughtless comment.
Frances, normally one of the most light-hearted and easy-going members of the company, fixed him with a dead serious look and said: "You say something stupid like that again about her, I'm gonna punch you."
"Please do", Luz requested without hesitation. He never wanted to see that look of heartbroken disappointment and betrayal on Mia's features again. Especially not when he was the one to put it there.
Out of all the women, Maxine probably took the most pride in her new rank. As they were getting ready for bed later that night, she brushed her fingers over the chevrons on the sleeves of her ODs.
"Staff Sergeant Maxine Lloyd", she said, savouring each syllable like a particularly delicious drop of wine.
"Does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?", Louise agreed, smiling at her. She was quite happy with her own position as well, now not only the company's sniper, but also a Sergeant.
Maxine grinned. "Oh yes! That'll show my family that I'm more than just pretty." She spat the word out, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
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Growing up in an upper-class family in Washington D.C., Maxine had always been praised for her stunning looks and her elegance. The older she got, however, the more the young woman had come to loathe being called pretty or variations thereof.
The other women had discovered that already during the first week of their month-long training and evaluation period.
"I want people to see that I'm more than just a pretty face!", Maxine had explained to them one night, years' worth of frustration in her voice. "Why does nobody tell me I'm intelligent? Or nice? Or anything other than pretty?"
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Elizabeth smiled at her and said: "Well, and if they don't believe it, we sure know it."
"That's right", Jessica chimed in, nodding her head decidedly. "You're smart and strong and a good leader."
The other women emphatically voiced their agreement, making the newly appointed Staff Sergeant smile, touched by their support. "Thank you, ladies. Really."
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The women were all proud of their achievements. Irene had a pair of Sergeant's chevrons on her uniform just like Louise. Catherine, thanks to her promotion to Technician 4th Grade, now also held the title of ranking medic. Mia was a T-5, as was Ana María, who had been assigned as one of the company's radio operators.
Theresa had advanced to the rank of Corporal while Frances, Jessica and Kathleen had been made Privates First Class. Helen and Elizabeth hadn't been promoted, but neither of them minded.
They were fully-fledged paratroopers and part of the best company in the regiment, that was all that counted for them.