"Hey asshole! Wake up already! You free load'n son of a bitch!"

"Take it easy there bud!" The private chuckled, scratching his head. Private Jon Thomas bounced along with the other men in the back of the truck. It made it's way down a twisted cobble road, into some back countryside town in France. Names of these places were never remembered unless it was clear to a man that it marked something important to him.

"Hey Thomas you've been pretty quiet lately." One of the soldiers chuckled, adjusting his rifle in his lap.

"I'm just deep in thought, don't worry your pretty little head Cooper." Jon gave a wink and chuckled with the other men that had seen him. In truth… Jon couldn't stop thinking about battle. The trouble of war was seemingly jabbing him with horrible thoughts of encountering the enemy. Basic training was a breeze for the private, he actually enjoyed all the physical work that was required of them, and being that he worked on the farm all day before he joined the Airborne forces it had seemed to of helped him in the long run.

"You? In deep thought? Did ya hit your head hard enough when you jumped?" The men bursted into a roar of laughter and Jon couldn't help but break into a toothy grin.

"You know Cooper, I think you're right!" The second eldest Thomas brother stood up and threw his arms up in the air. Which caused another fit of laughter to explode from the truck.

"SIT YOUR ASS DOWN PRIVATE!" A voice boomed from the truck behind their own. An angry officer scowled towards private Jon. Within that instant Jon's face turned white and he sat right back down, folding his hands into his lap.

"Damn. Renners is some ass." Cooper replied under his breath as he watched Officer Renners still glaring towards their truck. "Can't he see that you were entertaining us?" The blonde chuckled and smiled towards Jon. "Don't worry about that old ass man." Cooper reached a hand forward, patting him on the shoulder.

--

Dear Ma,

I hate it. This whole being a soldier thing is worse than I could of ever of imagined. The officers are sure tight around here, the food stinks, and the weather is never anything you could count on. At least back at home the food was great and the weather was beautiful, just like you Ma. I want this war 

to be over with, so I can return home and work on the farm with dad, and like he said I would… I do regret dropping out of high school. Maybe one of the worst things I ever did.

Did I mention that I'm being transferred to another company? I'm no longer part of Charlie company, but they are going to send me to Easy Co. Good news though, that's where Rick is! Ha, that son of a gun got scattered in the wind just like the rest of us! Can you imagine? Well tell Pa and Liz I say Hello!

P.S.- I got something for ya!

Love,
Jon

"Shit! Shit! Oh god… Oh fu-"

"Would you quit fucking around and call for a damn medic already!"

'Medic! Medic!'

Cooper ran towards Jon Thomas, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him away from the scene. The private was still in awe at what had unfolded before them, at what he had done. The blonde private sat his friend down, holding him down by his shoulders.

"Jonny! Get a hold of yourself dammit! It's not your fault!"

Though, Jon thought otherwise.

"I-I shot him! F-fucking shot… Renners… oh god…" The private was reaching towards Cooper, pulling at his uniform. Cooper leaned into towards his friend, pulling the shaking soldier into his embrace.

"It's okay."

Later that evening Captin Renners died from his wound to the back of his neck. Even though it was friendly fire from Jon Thomas that had killed Renners, no one had blamed him at all. Well, not Cooper at least.