"After Henderson Airfield, the 2nd Battalion spent time on jungle patrols, division's aim was to route the remaining Japs from their hidey-holes and get them off this fuckin' hellhole.
But we suffered too much, both me and Jameson suffered so much, weeks ago, the Marines were ordered off Guadalcanal, a long and bloody battle that we endured so much in.
Headed back to Australia once more, it'd be good to see home away from home once again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Australia, the main base for the United States Army and the Marine Corps to launch attacks against the Imperial Japan.
When I first got to Australia after months in the Philippines, I was somewhat hoping I stayed to fight back against the Jap bastards. I find myself still remembering that I wasn't a hero for what I did, all I did was sleep, 'sleep' if I could and just try to remember that I was in Australia and not sleeping in the Jungle.
Me and Jameson, I don't know if we're gonna sleep or not, I know I ain't fuckin' sleepin' a wink, Jameson came down with chills a few nights ago, only I've been there for him because I owe him one for what we've been through on the 'Canal.
I don't know if I can sleep on a good bed, still find a helmet to be comfortable enough, I don't know if sleep is a good idea at all considering I've been through everything.
I don't know what else to say now. I'm at a loss for words, at the moment."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chapter 8:
Late January 1943
Melbourne, Australia
Pulling into Melbourne Harbour in Australia, the big boat filled with the battle-weary Marines of the 1st Marine Division, slowly moored into place of the loading ramps, that could allow the Marines off the boat.
Looking out towards the billets where there were countless civilians waiting to welcome the Marines to Australia.
Joe and Jameson soon enough saw the banners and the flags and hearing the cheering and hollering of the Australian civilians.
Asking himself the question, Joe had said, "What the hell is all of this?"
"I have no idea, buddy. I've got no fuckin' idea." Jameson said holding his helmet in his hand before putting it back on his head.
When the boat moored into place, the loading ramps attached to the ship. Joe and many other Marines got into trucks and headed off for a nearby cricket stadium that was converted into a billet for the 1st Marine Division.
Jameson kept his rain coat wrapped round his body as Joe helped him onto the truck before saying, "I got you buddy."
Joe stood up on the truck as he looked down at his boots, that had still been tucked into his pants as he said to himself, "Still as I remember."
"What's as you remember, Sarge?" one of the Marines asked. Joe shook his head, "I got no idea."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Arriving at the cricket stadium, the Marines got themselves situated as Jameson said, "I don't know 'bout you, but I need to lie down before I fall down." "I got you buddy, quit your bitchin'!" Joe said grabbing his gear and Jameson's gear slinging it over his shoulders.
Heading to two bunks that were next to each other's, Joe dropped the gear down on the bunk before getting Jameson down on the bunk as he said, "Give me a minute, I'll grab some blankets."
Grabbing two blankets off some of the bunks, Joe unfolded them and wrapped them tightly around Jameson who said, "Thank…. Thanks, thanks Joe." "You'll be alright, yeah?" Joe said concerned for his old friend.
"Yeah, I should be fine, just gotta keep warm." Jameson said. Joe nodded as he spotted several Marines leaving the bunks and walking MPs who were doing nothing to stop them.
Taking the opportunity, he then said, "Fuck it, I need to get drunk!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Getting out of the barracks alongside other Marines, Joe went to a nearby bar that he and many of his buddies including his brother Tommaso had gone to when they had gotten back from the Philippines.
Walking in, the place was as if Joe had never forgotten it. The place was silent, despite a few men sitting inside, a few girls were in as well, he even found the old booth where he, his brother and their buddies were on their first night back.
He took to the bar first and said, "11 beers, please. Just on that table behind me."
Taking a seat at the table, Joe took a look at the picture of himself, his brother and the other 4 of their buddies, there were several others in the picture but they didn't care that their photo was being taken.
They were all laughing and sat by each other, Joe and Tommaso had 5 o'clock shadow forming around their faces, as well as the other soldiers too. Their clothes looked to be falling apart, but no one couldn't tell the brave soldiers what to do out of retribution for what they'd do next.
Another picture had Joe laughing quietly. This picture was of him, Henry O'Malley, Matthew Donarelli and Tommaso even Donnie Lynn punching some Australian soldiers. Joe had kicked off the fight between the Australians and the Americans leading to several chairs broken and 2 Australians put into the hospital as a result of Joe and Tommaso's ass-kicking penchant.
Soon enough the beers were brought over to the table as Joe sat silently as he arranged the beers with the help of the waitress. The waitress looked at him and said, "So why so many beers?"
"This is for the ones who aren't here anymore. The ones who gave their all for a future's tomorrow." Joe had said softly with a downcast look in his eyes.
The waitress let out a sad smile as she nodded getting back to work.
Eyeing the tall glass left behind, Joe took the first beer and poured it into the glass and the did the same with the other 2 glasses of beer and then said, "Here you go, fellas, 2/5, retreat? Hell!"
Knocking the glasses together, Joe then downed the tall glass of beer, looking about ready to stop, but he still kept going, until it was empty. He groaned in pain as he said, "Worth it."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Didn't think you would be able to down that all, mate."
Looking up, he saw an Australian soldier standing with his buddies, as Joe then said, "For now, I think anything's possible."
Looking at the three soldiers, he then said, "Aren't you supposed to be in Africa taking out the trash?" "By trash, you mean Rommel?" one of the soldiers said.
Joe's silence said everything for the soldier as he said, "Somebody's got to keep the peace at home."
"Let you Yanks, get the proper R&R, lotta you boys arrived today. Tens of thousands it must have been." One soldier said with a laugh.
Joe rolled his eyes as he said, "Enough for a rugby team."
Bringing a laugh out from some of the Australian soldiers, one of the soldiers ranted, "Enough to make the beers run dry, girls run loose, Christ knows we'd have to fuck the good King himself to get taxi you warriors haven't commandeered."
"I do my walking; you lot look like you could do some right about now." Joe said with sarcasm in his tone of voice.
The soldier on the right then said, "More like you need to do some more walking, you Yanks are like a gang of roaches, every step we take, fuckin' hell there's another Yank under our boot."
The soldier then pointed to the lot of beers as he said, "I'm guessing that this lot of beers there are the ones we don't have to worry about."
"You touch that lot of beers and I'll snap your fingers like the branches they are." Joe snarled with his blue eyes flashing in anger.
The soldier soon felt his own anger rise as he said, "What you gonna do, fight me?" "Buddy, at this point, fighting me will be one of your worst mistakes yet." Joe had said with a deadly tone in his voice.
"Four of us and one of you, you really want to do this?" the soldier said. Joe smirked, "I plan on dying and getting drunk, what are your plans?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
One of the soldiers rose to hit Joe who barely flinched and took the punch, soon enough, the other soldiers took their turn in beating the crap out of Joe who looked even worse for wear, but stood with a smile, before spitting out some blood, he then took one of the beers as he said, "Sorry fellas, but I think I'll need this."
He downed the beer before setting it down and he said, "You wanted this."
The same soldier who started the beat down on Joe took another swing, but Joe deflected the fist and punched the soldier in the side before punching him square in the face, and just an added bonus, Joe decided to kick him in the balls as a special touch.
The other soldiers were stunned as they moved towards Joe and took it upon themselves to fight Joe, but Joe's battle-hardened skill and superiority in hand-to-hand combat was well renowned amongst Marines.
He took them all on single-handedly and left quite the damage as 6 Australian soldiers found themselves on the ground in obvious pain and holding parts of their bodies.
Joe shook his head as he said, "I'm disappointed, but impressed. Capelli rule No.1: Capelli's talk smack all night long, outsiders talk smack, there's gonna be a fight."
"Bartender, my apologies for the fight, any damages are on me, and while I am at it, next round on me." Joe said to the barman.
Soon enough a rowdy bunch of Marines walked in drunk off their asses as Joe said, "And while I am at it."
"You boys in D Company, 2/5!?" Joe asked. One of the Marines slurringly asked, "What's it to ya?"
Joe decked the man who fell flat and said, "Just that, and I'm getting started." The other Marines were stunned as Joe mockingly waved his hand at them and they fought against him.
This time it was a bigger mess as Joe easily found himself bleeding pretty badly and two of his ribs busted, he was then tossed out a window into the streets of Melbourne.
One girl approached as she said, "Are you alright, yank?"
Joe looked up at the woman and noticed her sky dark hair and deep ocean blue eyes as he said, "Wow, I'm okay for the moment, just gotta finish what I started."
The girl blushed as he said, "Friends of yours?"
"More like competition, Marines are never down, not yet anyway!" Joe said with a flirtatious wink to the girl.
Heading back into the bar, he then shouted, "Alright assholes, I ain't finished yet!"
One Marine charged towards him, but ended up getting tossed into the downed group of Marines that Joe knocked the crap out of.
With enough beer in him and fighting attitude, Joe still went with a fight, every time a punch was thrown, Joe threw one back that stung hard.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Joe was practically unstoppable that even the MP's were called upon the scene as he escaped onto the street with the same dark haired girl who spoke to him, "Come on, cowboy, or is too much being rescued by a girl?"
Joe laughed as he said, "Don't suppose I could go with you, could I?"
"What took you so long?" the same girl asked sassily. Joe said, "Take a walk with me and we'll see how the night ends, darlin'."
The brunette rolled her eyes as she said, "Come on then, yank let's go."
The pair headed across the street and escaped onto a tram, as Joe said, "Where's this go to?" "Don't worry, we'll be at next stop in 20 minutes, plenty of time to avoid those MPs of yours." The girl said.
Joe looked up at the girl from where he stood as he said, "Not that I'm grateful, but thanks for the save."
"No problem, What's your name?" the brunette asked. Joe smiled, "Joe. Joe Capelli, Sergeant in the Marine Corps."
"Vittoria, Vittoria Bonacelli, I'm from Sicily." Vittoria said. Joe has a wide smile on his face as he says, "I had a feeling you were Italian, which part of Sicily?"
"Palermo, I live near the Santuario di Santa Rosalia." Vittoria replied. Joe laughed, "My Dad was from Palermo, he grew up in Addaura and moved to the States in 1909."
Vittoria laughed and smiled before saying, "Small world, So what brings you in the war?"
"Something I had to do. My Dad was a Marine in the last war, my Uncle too. My brother and I joined up to follow in their footsteps and they were proud of us calling us brave and without a doubt good men." Joe said.
Vittoria smiled, "Had to wait to make a living." "Yea', I guess so." Joe smiled.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vittoria stared at the Marine in front of her and admired his handsome good looks, she even admired all his muscle and that smirk that was boyish, cheeky and flirty. Beneath all the hardened glaze and the torment within him, there was a man who wanted to be in love.
Joe stared at Vittoria, she looked like a model, long dark brown hair and a set of beautiful blue eyes that made his heart skip beats, she was roughly the same height as him and she was adorably beautiful, but her curves made Joe's fantasies come to mind, but he minded his eyes and just smiled at her which made her smile in return and fully to let Joe's knees weaken.
He then said, "What's a Sicilian like you doin' here?" "R&R, just getting some peace and quiet. I'm a freedom fighter for a free Italia." Vittoria whispered to Joe.
"You're a soldier?" Joe said with awe in his voice. Vittoria smiled blushing, "Yes I am, Joseph."
"Where have you been all my life?" Joe said without thinking. Vittoria smiled laughing, "Where have you been all of mine, handsome?"
Joe smiled chuckling as he felt her touch on his cheek, on instinct his fingertips lightly touched her cheek as he smiled and he kissed her on the lips to which she took to his lips with the same instinct.
The kiss between them was soft, sweet and very petite, but Joe loved feeling Vittoria's strawberry-coloured lips on his as he saw a vision in which he saw a future, a world without war, but a future of family.
The woman with him recognised those beautiful blue eyes that haunted his dreams as a child, long, soft and shiny black hair that accented in the moonlight that reminded him of his mother's dark locks.
In his vision, he heard only one word, "Vittoria."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Letting go from the kiss, he leant his forehead on Vittoria's as he whispered, "Where have you been all my life, Angel?"
Vittoria smiled with laughter as she said, "Waiting for you, Joseph Capelli."
That very smile that had Joe weak in the knees kept him holding on for dear life and he was grateful for the chance he finally got to meet the most beautiful woman in the world that would be his heaven, his hell and the one to hold his heart.
Wondering about the time, Joe then said, "Let me take you to Dinner, maybe we go dancing?"
"I'd want nothing less, tomorrow?" Vittoria asked. Joe smiled, "It's a date, beautiful."
"Are you hurting?" Vittoria concerned for his wounds. Joe shook his head, "I'll be okay, I got knocked around worse on Lafayette Street as a kid."
He then reached for her hand and kissed it as Vittoria laughed with blush still flooding her cheeks as she said, "Are you that much of a gentleman?"
"Always, my darling." Joe laughed. Vittoria kissed Joe on the lips as he bowed to her before leaving the apartment.
Watching as he left Vittoria sighed longingly for the incredibly handsome Marine who got through to her heart in three hours of meeting her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Walking back to the billets that the 1st Marine Division occupied, Joe walked up to his bunk bed with a smile on his face, a bandage across his bloodied knuckles, his face still had cuts from a glass that had been smashed into his face.
But the blood had been cleaned, Joe declined any anaesthetic or any stitches instead preferring the old way of cleaning wounds.
Lying down on his bunk, he felt part of his body ache from the pain that he suffered during the bar fight and he had started to think about the beautiful Vittoria, even asking himself if it was worth it.
Was it worth it killing himself in bar fights and fighting recklessly? Was it reckless to kill himself before he actually started to know Vittoria?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning, Joe woke up still feeling the drunkenness of his actions, heading down to the running track, he did some light stretching before taking off for a run, throughout the running session, Joe's thoughts drifted back to Vittoria who had haunted his dreams very much.
Seeing the MPs setting up loudspeakers, Joe increased his running as he raced back to his bunk, but soon enough, the bugles started to play very loudly leading for Joe to realise why the MPs let them all go so willingly to get drunk.
Every Marine was groaning and either covering their ears with their pillows.
Assembling on the field, Joe and Jameson's platoons stood side by side just as several of the men dropped to the floor from exhaustion. The commander dismissed them after 20 minutes.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Soon enough, Joe found himself in the Battalion Commander's office standing at attention, he was being dressed down as a result of his rowdy actions last night during the bar fight.
"Sergeant, it's a good reason to get drunk, but to start a fight with Allied soldiers and even your fellow Marines is no excuse even if you haven't got one."
"Just burning some anger off, sir. I'm sorry that it happened and I hold no regrets over my actions." Joe had said.
The Battalion CO sighed as he said, "Regardless, I know you've learned your lesson even if you don't think so."
He continued on with his speech and laid out some paper in front of Joe as he said, "Sergeant Capelli, you're about to awarded the Navy Cross, General Alexander and President Roosevelt heard of your extraordinary heroism and found you worthy for the Navy Cross, under other circumstances, you'd be awarded the Medal of Honor, but you lost out to Sergeant John Basilone from the 7th Marines."
"Congratulations, Sergeant Capelli, you've done a fine job." The commander finished.
Joe's blue eyes looked over the paper as he stood to attention and he saluted before saying, "Permission to get some hot chow, sir?"
"Permission granted, Sergeant, get it done." The commander had said. Joe then left the office and headed towards the showers as he threw up in one of the rest rooms.
It was for sure that those beers had gotten to him and now he paid the price for drinking too much and fighting hard last night.
After throwing up and showering, he took a few breath mints and grabbed some hot chow and a pot of black coffee. Eating the food slowly, Jameson joined him feeling very much refreshed as he said, "Nothing like steaming hot chow to start your day well."
"You look better, buddy." Joe said. Jameson said, "I look better. How'd your barfight go?"
Joe looked abashed as he asked, "You know about that?" "I know everything, I even know you went home with some pretty skirt, by the name of Vittoria." Jameson smirked.
Joe rolled his eyes as he said, "I oughta knock your teeth out, you rat bastard."
Jameson laughed as he said, "Come on, I just like watching you squirm, besides, she's pretty cute."
"For your information, I have a dinner date with her tonight. Besides, she's the prettiest dame I've ever met in my life." Joe smirked.
Jameson rolled his eyes as he replied, "I thought you had a thing for blondes?" "Not blondes, I have a thing for brunettes though." Joe said as he then said, "So does my brother too."
Simply smiling, Jameson then said, "You two really are alike, used to hear all kinda stories about two Italian kids who ran around Mott Street like they were princes." "That was us alright." Joe lamented softly.
Joe thought back to when he was a kid as he said, "We weren't princes, but we were the devils of Mott Street, always causing trouble and being the boys that any girl desired."
Jameson smirked to himself and rolled his eyes before saying, "Wiseass."