Last Time: Sobel gets reassigned and Meehan becomes the new CO.
"True success requires sacrifice." - Rick Riordan
Now: Easy Company arrives in England and prepares for the invasion.
Chapter 13 - Overlord
After thirteen days on the Samaria, Easy Company finally docked in Aldbourne, England. Rebecca was excited, to say the least. She had never been outside of the United States and couldn't wait to explore Aldbourne!
Rebecca instantly fell in love with the quaint little town they were staying in. It was a small uphill village with the most adorable shops and houses you ever saw, mostly made of brick with ivy vines specked with flowers growing over it.
After getting off the ship and taking the trucks over to the town, Rebecca learned she would be quartering with an English family, like the other officers. She was thrilled that she would be able to feel some normalcy in a home with clean sheets and a real mattress. Rebecca couldn't wait to meet the family.
Rebecca approached the small brick home with her duffel bag slung over her shoulder. She looked at it for a moment, taking it all in. There was a lovely picket fence surrounding the perimeter of the home with beautiful flower beds behind it and around the house. Rebecca loved that the person who lived here gardened.
Rebecca opened the gate door and approached the door, ringing the bell.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" The woman inside the house yelled.
Rebecca smiled feeling like she would get along swimmingly with the boisterous woman heading to get the door.
"Ah, you must be Lt. Clark. Please come in." The woman said, swinging the door open.
She was a small, stout, middle-aged woman with kind brown eyes and a very welcoming smile. The woman wiped the straggling graying, blonde hairs away from her eyes and wiped her hands on her flower patterned dress.
Rebecca stepped into the house and was welcomed to the sound of a boiling teapot.
"My name is Theresa Abbott. I'm sorry for the chaos, love. The pot had just come to boil when you rang and I couldn't possibly keep you standing out there all day," Theresa explained, turning off the stove and pulling out two teacups from the cabinet.
Rebecca approached the woman and shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am, thank you for allowing me to stay in your home."
"Oh, it's my pleasure, anything I can do to help the Yanks with the war is an honor." She smiled, "Would you care for a cup of tea?"
"Oh, no thank you, ma'am. I'm awfully tired and would love to see my room."
Theresa set down the pot and put away the extra cup. "Of course! I'm sure you're quite tired after your long trip. Come with me!"
Theresa leads Rebecca up the stairs to a room on the right side of the hall. When Rebecca saw it, she almost started sobbing. The room had a bed, freshly made and there was even a writing desk and window overlooking the town. It was the closest thing she had to a normal living space since before she left for training for the Army Nurse Corps.
"I just put down the sheets and you're welcome to anything in the house."
Rebecca set her duffel down on the bed, so excited to sleep on the comfy bed.
"The bathroom is down the hall, to the left. I've got soaps and such that you're free to use. I'll be downstairs, holler if you need anything, love."
"Thank you, Theresa. This is wonderful!" Rebecca exclaimed so happy to be staying with her.
"You're quite welcome, Lieutenant."
Once Theresa left the room, Rebecca had the overpowering urge to shower. Having access to one and with soap, at that, was an uncommon virtue that wouldn't miss out on while here in England.
Rebecca entered the bathroom and opened the curtain to the shower. She was pleasantly surprised to find not only soap but also shampoo, conditioner. Rebecca almost started to sob at such a glorious sight. She hadn't had the luxuries of different soaps since she arrived at Camp Toccoa.
Rebecca turned on the water, letting it heat up to just the right temperature and stepped under the water sighing. It had been forever since a proper shower.
Rebecca let the filth and stress wash out of her body before scrubbing her head with the sweet smelling shampoo Theresa. Rebecca made to diligently scrub her scalp to ensure that all the sweat and dirt accumulated over the last thirteen days was out. Next, she conditioned. Her once beautiful, brown, curly hair had become very dried out from just using bar soap. Rebecca let the conditioner stay in her hair to soak up the nutrients and scrubbed her dirty skin with a bar of flowery smelling soap. Once she felt satisfied, she hopped out of the shower, feeling reborn.
In no time at all, Rebecca was dried off, changed and soundly sleeping in the beautiful bedspread Theresa laid down for her.
XXX
It took Rebecca no time at all to fall in love with Aldbourne. The people were kind, Theresa was wonderful, and the town was so aesthetically pleasing to Rebecca. When she wasn't busy training with the men, she had grown to love walking around the small town, window shopping, and even buying a few items she hadn't had the luxury accessing in the States. Whatever back pay Rebecca had left over from sending it home, she often used it on small items like deodorant, different shower supplies, and some feminine necessities. It was important to build up her personal supplies before they invaded Europe.
Soon, training intensity began to pick up as the coming invasion got closer and closer. Rebecca and Roe were constantly occupied with classroom instruction and hands-on learning for the other medics. Being a ranking officer, Rebecca began to teach some of these classes.
One day, when Rebecca was through teaching, Roe intercepted her on her way back to her quarters.
"Hey, Becca, I got a guy here who's still confused on today's lesson," Roe began.
That day in class, they had been learning about the veins and how to insert an IV into a patient.
Rebecca sighed and walked back to the classroom, it had been a long lesson. Many of the men in her class were too nervous to ask questions and participation was next to none. The confused Private was standing in the front of the classroom where she normally taught and was waiting for instruction.
"It's easier to find a vein when the patient's fist is clenched and their arm is tied with a tourniquet," Rebecca began, "But, in a battle scenario that most likely won't be an option. You'll be able to find the vein easiest by using the tips of your finger and pressing gently. Once you've found an area that feels spongy to the touch, you've found your vein." She explained.
Rebecca took the privates hand and brought it to his own vein so he could feel what she was talking about.
Roe watched Rebecca explain to the private with much interest. He noticed how well she commanded the situation, as well as the attention of the young private and the class.
"There it is. Now, you try, Rebecca said.
Rebecca clenched a fist and let the private feel her arm. The private found what he thought was the vein and gently pressed a few times.
"Right there, ma'am?" He asked.
Rebecca smiled gently up at the private. "You see, you got it, good job!"
The young private smiled bashfully. "Thank you, ma'am."
"No problem. Always feel free to ask." She told him.
The private smiled, saluted Rebecca, and left. Both Rebecca and Roe started walking out of the tent.
"You're really good at that, you know," Roe began.
"What teaching? Nah." Rebecca snorted.
"Sure you are; you're patient and you explain in a way that's easily understood"
Rebecca thought for a moment. "Maybe, I'll teach when I get home."
She did like showing the new guys the ropes. Maybe teaching future nurses and medics for the Airborne would be her career when the war was over.
XXX
As the months went by, training got more and more intense for not only Rebecca and Roe but the other men too.
Soon, training was becoming less of preparation for war and more proof that their CO was an incompetent fool.
Now, his incompetence was reaching new heights. Sobel had Winters court-martialed. Everything had now come to head. And, like a cyst ready to pop, things were about to explode. Many of the men - Rebecca included - didn't want to follow Sobel into combat as it was, and certainly didn't want to when Dick was "scrambling eggs while the rest of the men made the big jump with Sobel" as Harris put it.
XXX
Finally, the men had enough; all the NCO's in Winter's platoon turned in their stripes in mutiny despite the consequences.
Rebecca was relieved to hear Sobel was leaving but not so thrilled when she learned how the NCO's got Col. Sink to boot Sobel.
"I cannot believe you would such a stupid, stupid thing!" Rebecca raged.
"Lieutenant, it was the only way. There was no way we were going to let our guys follow him into combat," Lipton reasoned.
Colonel Sink was shocked and outraged but spared all their lives since the invasion was rapidly approaching.
Rebecca soon heard that Sobel would be reassigned to Chilton Foliat. She was both greatly relieved but also very upset that Lipton, Guarnere, Bull, and Martin would do such a stupid thing like turn in their stripes.
Rebecca was heading back home when she saw Sobel driving away in a jeep with his bags. He passed by Dick who saluted him. Sobel didn't return the salute but gave Dick an icy stare, leaving him hanging with his hand still up.
Rebecca quickened her pace and made it over to Dick.
"Brrr, you see that look he gave. God, I can almost see the ice forming on your shoulder," Rebecca joked.
Dick looked at Rebecca confused, clearly not informed on what happened.
"Dick, The NCO's turned in their stripes after you got court-martialed. Sink had to reassign Sobel." She said.
Dick was shocked.
"Easy is undyingly loyal to you."
She smiled at Dick before heading back to her quarters.
XXX
Dick spent the rest of the day walking around the town thinking. He thought about the men, he thought about leading them into combat, and he thought about Rebecca and what she said. Those words struck a chord within him. He felt so lucky the men in his company trusted him enough that they would face execution.
XXX
After nine months of further training and preparation, Easy Company and the rest of the 506th would be moving to Upottery, England. The Company was introduced to their new CO, Lt. Meehan as well as the assistant platoon leader of the second platoon, Lt. Buck Compton.
Meehan was a good leader and very smart. He had been there for a little while and he was already ten times better than Sobel. Meehan could read a map like second nature, unlike Sobel, and proved he could think on his feet in combat situations.
Buck Compton, a stunningly handsome college football player with bright blue eyes and the blondest hair you ever saw, fit in very well with the other guys despite being there for such a short time. He actually spent more time with the enlisted guys more than the officers and was very friendly to Rebecca. Buck treated her with the utmost respect but also treated her like she was just another one of the guys and they joke around with each other often. He would often drag her from her tent to go socialize with the other guys.
XXX
One night alone, Rebecca laid in her tent writing letters home. The invasion was in a few days and she needed something to occupy her anxious mind with, plus she hadn't written home in a long time.
As she scribbled away nervously to Michelle and to her father, she didn't even notice Buck entering her tent, waving a deck of cards in her face.
"Come on, we're going to shoot craps with some of the guys." He said.
Rebecca sat up in her cot shaking her head. "Sorry, I don't know how to play."
"Well, I'll teach ya. Come on, Becca you've been shut in this tent since we got here," Buck whined.
He had a point. Rebecca had been becoming more and more recluse as the invasion got closer. She spent her time in her tent, reading her medical textbooks and going over her supplies. If it weren't for Buck dragging her around, Rebecca would have next to no socialization.
"Fine, just for a bit," Rebecca sighed.
"Atta girl!" Buck exclaimed, throwing an arm over her shoulder.
Buck and Rebecca arrived at Guarnere tent where Toye, Malarkey, Martin, Luz and a few others were all gathered around a tiny wooden crate, waiting for the game start.
"Hey, Becca, ain't you a sight for sore eyes." Guarnere greeted, "Feels like we haven't seen ya in forever! You never leave that tent of yours."
"Grab a seat, Lieutenant," Toye said.
As Rebecca sat down next to Toye and Guarnere, immediately feeling her anxious mood life, she felt a little grateful Buck dragged her out of her tent. Rebecca was starting to feel a little stir crazy.
"Where the hell you been, Becca?" Martin asked.
"Just preparing for the jump, that's all," Rebecca said.
All of the men shared amusing glances with each other.
"I've been nervous, okay! I wanna make I know what I'm doing." Rebecca said, crossing her arms.
Toye chuckled. "If anyone knows what they're doing, it's you, Becca."
As Toye shuffled the deck and passed the cards around, the group nodded in agreement. Rebecca hoped they were right.
"Alright, enough chatter, let's play," Guarnere yakked.
XXX
In the time period before the big jump, Winters, Nixon, and Meehan took the time to go over Operation Overlord. The men and Rebecca learned that the objective of the airborne was to take the town of Carentan to link Omaha and Utah beach to a single beachhead.
Rebecca made sure she memorized the plan to the exact detail. Between going over medical basics in combat and mastering Operation Overlord, Rebecca was up to her eyeballs in work. The men saw even less of her.
Soon, the men found out what platoons and planes they would be in. Rebecca was not only lucky enough to be in the same plane as Dick but the same squad as well.
The night of June 3, Rebecca went over the plan for the thousandth time. When her eyes felt like they were going to fall out of her head and her brain was going to ooze out from her ears, Rebecca decided to call it quits for the night and get some shut-eye.
XXX
Finally, June 4, arrived. The invasion was upon them. All the men were out in the airfield packing up their supplies as well as mentally and physically preparing for the jump.
Rebecca was with her platoon getting oil smeared on her face. The majority of her supplies were packed up and on her. For the most part, the men were ready, but anyone who wasn't was receiving help from Rebecca. The gear they had to carry weighed more than most of the men's weight. Not to mention the leg bags, they were just introduced to that morning.
Rebecca was helping Guarnere tie his leg bag when Lt. Meehan jumped on top of a jeep gathered Easy around for an announcement.
"Easy Company, listen up. Gather up around me," He yelled, "Let's move it up. Come on gentlemen, let's go!"
The entire company gathered around the jeep Meehan was standing on.
"Now," He began, "The channel coast is socked in with rain and fog. High winds on the drop zone. No jump tonight."
Everyone was pissed evident by the collective moans and groans that emitted from the group. They had just taken the time to camouflage themselves and strap their gear on.
"The invasion has been postponed, we're on a twenty-four-hour stand-down. Drill sergeants take charge," Meehan ordered.
Rebecca didn't know whether to be happy or pissed off. On one hand, she was happy they weren't making them jump in bad conditions, but on the other, they just got all geared up and prepared for nothing.
The men all filed into the movie house to get their minds off of the invasion. Rebecca was a row behind Guarnere and company. She wasn't really paying attention to the film, just fidgeting in her seat and looking around when she saw Guarnere take out a letter, read it, and abruptly get up and storm out of the tent.
Rebecca could tell he was upset about something, judging by the way he left. Rebecca decided to follow him.
She stepped out of the theatre and into the fog. After walking around the vicinity of the tent, she found Bill.
"Bill, hey, Bill you alright?" Rebecca asked.
Bill quickly turned to face the voice calling out to him. Seeing it was Rebecca, he eased up.
He didn't answer Rebecca, just handed her the letter.
Rebecca panned over the words and when she read that Bill's brother had been killed, her heart sank.
"Shit, Bill, I'm so sor-."
Bill raised his hand, stopping her. "Don't." He said plainly.
Rebecca sighed and pulled Bill into a warm embrace. There they remained until Bill pulled apart.
"Thank you," Bill said.
He left her in the coolness of the fog and went back into the tent. Rebecca knew that he needed to deal with this his way.
Rebecca began walking around, kicking rocks up on the gravel road, when she saw Dick wandering around the airfield. She sprinted over to where he was.
"Hey, Dick," Rebecca said breathlessly.
He looked at Rebecca with a smile. "What's up?" Dick asked her.
"Nothing, I was gonna ask you the same thing." She admitted.
They walked in a silence until Rebecca broke the ice. "I'm just nervous I guess; maybe a little scared."
"If you weren't, I'd either say you were a fool or lying," Dick smiled
Rebecca sighed.
"Just hang tough, Becca." He spoke again.
Dick took an arm and draped it over Rebecca's shoulders. They walked in silence again appreciating the calm before the storm.
Rebecca arrived back to her tent and sat down on her cot. She felt a sudden weight fall on her chest. Tomorrow, the invasion was coming. No delays, no more avoiding it.
She was scared. What the hell was she getting herself into?
XXXXXXXXXX
The next day on June 5, Easy Company prepared for the jump again. They entered the airfield where some British troops wished them luck on their way towards the planes.
Rebecca greased up again and strapped on her gear with the help of Guarnere and Toye. Finally, the second platoon made it over to their plane and sat down before it. Roe passed out air sickness pills, which they were ordered to take one now and another thirty minutes in the air.
This is it. She thought. The sudden dread she felt was enough to make her vomit, despite the air sickness pills she just downed.
Lieutenant Meehan shook Dick's hand and walked to his plane. He absentmindedly looked down at the air sickness pills he was holding, probably realizing what Rebecca did.
Dick looked up and began talking. "Second platoon, listen up. Good luck. God bless you. I'll see you in the assembly area."
His words were short but Rebecca knew how he felt about each and every one of them. It sufficed to say the least.
After giving his words to the platoon, Dick helped every man up, one by one into the plane. When it was Rebecca's turn he whispered into her ear.
"I'll see you down there."
Rebecca trudged over to the stairs of the plane and entered. She needed help from a few of the guys since her gear weighed almost as much as she did. Rebecca sat down and felt the giant beast startup.
After two years of training, she was finally doing this. Rebecca had trained hard and made it. Now she would have to show the fruits of her training.
After waiting in line for the others to take off, Rebecca's plane did too.
Soon darkness befell the land and it became closer and closer to jumping time. Rebecca closed her eyes and tried to relax before it was time, but her mind kept wandering. She wondered if all the men who sat with her in the plane would make it. She wondered if she would make it. After a futile attempt to shut her brain up and sleep, Rebecca stood up and walked over to where Dick was at the entrance of the plain.
She looked down in amazement at the sight before her. The entire invasion force lay below. Rebecca realized that what she was apart of, was bigger than her and bigger than anyone in the plane. It dawned on her that the freedom of the world or it's destruction was planted on her's and everyone else's shoulders.
- End of Chapter -
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The war has begun for Rebecca and co. and things are going to pick up a lot from here. Now that college has started again for me, I'm going to try my hardest to upload, but I make no promises. If you enjoyed, please let me know. Much love! :3
