Last Time: Rebeca and Easy become official paratroopers.
"To live it to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." - Friedrich Nietzche
Now: Easy Company doubts their CO as they travel to unknown territory.
Chapter 12 - Divulge in You
Camp Mackall N.C. - 1943
Easy Company and the rest of the 506th packed up their belongings and moved out to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. The base, named after the first paratrooper who died in World War II was a marvel of wartime construction and was like moving from prison to a palace. For Rebecca, the most impressive of the 62,000-acre camp was the 1,200-bed hospital and the heated barracks that had real mattresses on the cots.
However, despite the luxurious new home Easy Company had, training picked up with a new intensity. Jumps now included rifles and small arms. Food, ammo, maps, hand grenades, high explosives, and more were attached to their bodies making some carry an extra 100 pounds.
After jumps, Easy had two- and three-day exercises in the woods to teach them troop movements and operating behind enemy lines as large forces.
This was where Easy Company was falling into some trouble. Sobel had excelled in whipping Easy Company into shape and making them the most physically fit in the 506th, however, he was terrible in field tests. He was constantly getting them lost and out of impatience, he would deploy his troops right into killing zones.
As an invasion became more of a reality in the war effort, the faith Easy had in their CO dwindled as every exercise ended in failure.
Rebecca and Roe stood in the aid station checking inventory one day, talking about the recent field exercise that left 95% of the Company "dead".
"If Sobel keeps killing 95% of our guys, pretty soon they won't need us medics anymore," Rebeca joked while counting the number of bandages.
Roe looked up from his clipboard smiling slightly at her joke. "Than I guess we can go home."
Rebecca sighed to herself as she scribbled some notes on her clipboard. She was getting increasingly more nervous about Sobel and his failures in the field exercises. How in the name of God was he supposed to make quick decisions in a real firefight if he couldn't even do it in a test?
"But in all seriousness, if that was a real combat situation, who the hell would be stuck cleaning up his mess?" Rebecca began, "Us, that's who. You saw him out there today, he walked right into a kill zone. Not only is he gonna kill a lot of our guys, but he's gonna make our jobs next to impossible."
Even though she made her complaint more selfish than she would like to admit, Rebecca was very worried about the rest of the guys too. She couldn't imagine how they must feel about their incompetent CO.
Rebecca reached down for the box of plasma and put it back on the shelf. No matter how she looked at it, rifleman or medic, having a screw-up for a CO resulted in high casualties or death for all.
"Yeah, and that's even if we're the lucky 5% who makes it," Roe chuckled as he fumbled through a box.
Rebecca knew there's always truth in jest, and many of the men began expressing their feelings towards the situation. Most of them already began thinking death was imminent and the war hadn't even started from them yet!
XXX
The next day Rebecca, Winters, and Nixon were in their barracks packing up for the train ride taking them to New York where they would then find out if they would be going to the Pacific or Europe. As they packed each talked about the current situation with Sobel. Even Dick was worried and that worried Rebecca.
"Well, what are you gonna do?" Nixon asked.
"Nothing, just keep training the men," Winters sighed.
"I don't think "just training the men will suffice anymore". The rumor mill is turning up something fierce," Rebecca said, folding up a shirt and placing it in her bag.
The three were almost done packing when a short red-headed man with the most stunning grey eyes, walked into the barracks. He nervously glanced around becoming aware of the private conversation.
"Am I interrupting?" he asked.
Dick looked up from his packing and introduced the man to Rebecca and Nix. "No, no. Lieutenant Lewis Nixon and Rebecca Clark, this is Lieutenant Harry Welsh, just in from 82nd."
Welsh walked over to Rebecca and Nix and shook both their hands. Rebecca accepted his hand warmly, smiling at him.
"Congratulations, on the promotion." He said to Nixon.
"Oh, thanks, if you wanna call it that," Nixon smirked and continued on with the introductions. "You'll learn him pretty quickly," he said, gesturing towards Dick. "No flaws, no vices, no sense of humor." He joked.
"Just like your chums up at battalion staff?" Winters asked, cockily.
Nixon brushed off Dick's weak attempt at an insult and went on. "And, Rebecca, well she's in a league of her own."
"Ah, Lt. Clark, I've heard a lot about you," Welsh said to Rebecca.
"Only good things, I hope?" Rebecca asked.
Welsh smiled a terrific smile at her. Rebecca could tell he would fit right in with the men. Welsh seemed very easy-going.
"What's up?" Winters asked Welsh.
"I'm hearing a lot of rumblings," he said.
"Sobel?" Nixon asked, "Just talking about that."
"So, he gets a little jumpy in the field?" Welsh asked.
"Mm-hmm, he gets jumpy and then you get killed," Nixon said blatantly.
"That's nice," Welsh smirked.
"Yeah, listen, if we discuss it, I think it should be amongst ourselves," Winters said cautiously.
He had a point. They could all get in a lot of trouble for speaking ill of a commanding officer. Plus, Sobel always had a habit of turning out of nowhere. He could be just around the corner for all they knew.
"Alright, absolutely," Welsh agreed.
And speaking of the devil, Sobel came marching into the door chomping away on an apple like the horse he was.
The conversation came to a surprised halt. They all snapped to attention, hoping to God he didn't hear what they had just discussed.
"2nd platoon ready?" Sobel asked, clearly oblivious.
"Ready, sir," Winters answered.
"Then get them in formation, we're moving out."
"Yes, sir," Winters responded.
Both Winters and Welsh left the barracks leaving Nixon and Rebecca in an uncomfortable silence with Sobel. He stared at them for a few minutes, but then finally left taking a huge chomp of his apple.
"Always a charmer," Rebecca joked.
XXX
The Train ride was a godsend for Easy Company and after marching 118 miles, any form of transportation was.
Rebecca was seated with Harry, Dick, and Lewis and was so thankful she wasn't sitting with Sobel like poor Roe. Being with him at a spacious camp was bad enough, but an eighteen-hour train ride was something too unbearable to think about.
The ride was peaceful and a perfect opportunity for Rebecca to rest her eyes. She laid slouched in her seat not truly asleep but still enjoying the peace nonetheless.
"Rebecca," Nix called.
She cracked open one eye to him, annoyed.
"We're invading Europe."
Rebecca sat up in her seat, now fully awake and totally floored by the news. They were off to fight Hitler.
Nixon then turned to Dick, offering him a swig from his flask in celebration.
"Since when do I drink?" Winters asked.
"If I thought you'd drink it, I wouldn't offer it to you," Nixon explained.
"What about you, Becca, you want some?" Nixon asked.
"Don't ask stupid questions," Rebecca mumbled, laying back in her seat.
Nixon took the flask back and shrugged his shoulders.
"Nix, what are you gonna do when you get into combat?" Dick trailed off.
Since the announcement of their rendezvous with Hitler, Rebecca was too excited to try and shut her eyes. Instead, she felt it best to write Michelle who was long overdue for a letter.
Dear Michelle,
First, I would like to apologize for not writing to you! I know it's been so long and I'm sure you're busy too. Training and trying to fit in with the men of Easy Company was harder than you would have believed. Trying to earn their respect came hard fought but I have made some progress. My company and I have been bounced around quite a bit for training but now I can officially say I'm a paratrooper! We just boarded a train to New York and my good friend tells me we're going to Europe. I just hope to God you're faring well and you're not worrying about me too much. Please know I can take care of myself just fine and I will be okay. I pray that you're safe and doing all you imagined as an army nurse. Please, keep safe and say "hi" to the rest of the gals for me!
With Love,
Rebecca
P.S.- I've been promoted to First Lieutenant!
After a long train ride, Easy Company finally arrived at the Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York where they would board the Samaria. The Samaria was an old India mail liner and passenger ship converted to a troop transport. It was only built for 1,000 passengers but somehow, the entire 506th consisting of 5,000 men, crammed in and to travel to Aldbourne, England.
Rebecca elbowed the through the crowd of GI's trying to find Roe so they could distribute the seasickness pills.
"So, how was you eighteen hour trip to paradise with Sobel?" Rebecca asked as she approached the medic.
Roe looked into Rebecca's eyes with such venom, she could almost feel it enter her bloodstream. If looks could kill she would be dead.
"Ooo, looks like Sobel sucked the sense of humor out of you." Rebecca joked trying to get the poisonous look off of Roe's face.
"Let's just get these out." He said bitterly.
Rebecca smirked and agreed.
It took almost an hour of waiting before Easy boarded the ship. Rebecca finally made it on the crowded deck. She loved sailing and being by the ocean. Rebecca was always down by the water during the hot summers in Rhode Island. She seldom remembered a time when she wasn't down by Oakland Beach reading or swimming in the beautiful waters in Narragansett.
Once on deck, Rebecca and Roe began handing out their pills. When Rebecca handed the last pack out, she parted with Roe and made her way to the officers quarters. As she walked down the aerated deck to the rooms of the ship, Rebecca imagined how miserable it must be in the hull of the ship for the rest of the guys.
She approached her billet and noticed her bunkmate was already there.
"Hey, roomie." She said, throwing her bag on the empty bed.
"Hey," Dick answered back, looking intently at the letter he was writing.
She looked around the room admiring the wood finish. It was equipped with two small beds and a bedside table for each, a desk, and a small sink. It reminded Rebecca of the small rooms on the boat she had as a child. She definitely felt bad for the sorry suckers sweltering downstairs while she had a furnished room.
"Are you gonna watch the ship pull away?" Rebecca asked, sitting on the bed.
"No, but that shouldn't stop you."
"I might, I haven't decided yet."
Not even a full five minutes passed before someone was informing Rebecca that her presence was needed in the aid station to patch up some guys that got into a scrap.
"I'll be there in a second," Rebecca sighed.
Dick looked at her, smirking.
This was going to be a long trip.
XXX
After a long evening of rehydrating the seasick, patching up guys who couldn't keep their hands to themselves, and those who were pretending just to get some fresh air, Rebecca found some solace on the decks of the Samaria.
Being on the decks of the Samaria reminded Rebecca of the trips that her family would take on the water. Every summer Rebecca, her mom, and dad would take their cabin cruiser, the Felicity out to Block Island, Nantucket, and Snug Harbor for two weeks. Those were Rebecca's fondest memories as a young girl. But, when her mother passed away Rebecca's father had to sell the beautiful boat in order to pay for funeral costs and medical bills. It felt like a part of her childhood was ripped away.
Standing on the deck of the Samaria made the memories come flooding back into her mind. Memories of when her mother was still alive, memories of when her father wasn't shit faced drunk, memories when her family was whole.
Tears began to well in Rebecca's eyes but she quickly wiped them away knowing this was not the time nor the place to be getting emotional.
"Becca?" The voice called.
Rebecca turned to face the voice calling out to her. It was Dick.
"Are you okay?" Dick asked, concerned.
Rebecca got up and walked passed him. She certainly didn't want him of all people to see her like this.
"I'm fine, Dick." She croaked.
Dick put his hand on her shoulder stopping her. "You don't have to have it together 24/7, you know."
He was right. Rebecca had never really been seen at a moment of weakness. She also never shared with anyone the details of her home life either. But, Dick was someone she trusted profoundly.
"I never told you about why I'm here, did I?" Rebecca asked.
"No you didn't, I figured that was for you to tell."
Rebecca sat back down on the bench. "Well, my father is dying and needs surgery and he doesn't have the money for it. So, I joined for the extra cash."
Dick sat next to her listening closely.
"He became an alcoholic when my mom died," Rebecca began,"She died when I was fifteen of ovarian cancer. I was fourteen when she was diagnosed. No had really heard of it, and by the time they found it, she was already stage four. The year she had to left live my dad was fine, and he took really good care of things. When she finally passed, that's when he turned to liquor and everything fell on me. He'd come home from the bar every night, drunk. Pretty soon he lost his job and we had to be put on welfare, which he was so embarrassed by, he drank more. I had to take care of him, the house, and myself until while I was in nursing school. The only reason that I even got to go to school was that my mom put money away for me my dad couldn't touch. If it wasn't for that it would've been blown on bills or booze. We were living from check to check. Then, a week before I'm being shipped off to Europe with the Army Nurse Corps, his liver is failed. I found out about the Airborne and the extra fifty they throw in a week in a magazine. So, here I am." Rebecca said bitterly.
Dick looked at Rebecca sadly.
"Listen, don't feel bad, I'm over it," Rebecca said.
"You don't just get over things like that, Becca." He pointed out, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, well, it's been eight years, Dick," Rebecca said wryly.
"So, what? She was your mother."
"My mother's already gone, Dick. I've come to live with that reality. She wouldn't want me wallowing over her forever. What I'm worried about is the fact I might lose my father too."
Admitting it, sucked the air out of Rebecca's lungs and the tears formed in her eyes again.
"I might be an orphan." She admitted, allowing the tears to flow.
Rebecca let the tears roll down her olive cheeks. It was the first time in a long time she allowed herself to cry. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle the sobs.
Before she could say another word, Dick pulled her into a warm hug allowing her to cry in his shoulder.
Rebecca hiccuped and shook as the sadness overtook her. Dick just rubbed the back of her head and allowed her to let it out.
After five minutes of embracing and letting out her sorrow, Rebecca revealed herself from Dick's shoulder.
"That's why I never drink or smoke, I'm afraid of becoming like him," Rebecca admitted.
She took in a deep breath, exhaled, and got herself together.
"Thanks, Dick," Rebecca said.
"For what?" He asked, confused.
"For always being so good to me." She said.
"Of course."
Dick placed an arm around her, and both gazed up at the stars before them wondering what future had in store for them.
Rebecca laid her head on Dick's shoulder wondering precisely the same thing.
- End Chapter -
A/N: Wow, look at me go! Two chapter posted in a timely manner. I hope ya'll enjoyed this one. Things are gonna start to pick up from here a lot as we enter the juicy plot of the series. Thanks to all who have been sticking around with me and following Rebecca and her journey. Please let me know how I'm doing, your support is immeasurable! :3
