Ray enters the barn and hollers "Luzy, I'm hoommee. Get your sexy Portuguese bronze ass over here and unlace ma boo…..HOLY FUCK… I mean… Shit…Sorry Sir. Captain Winters, Sir. I didn't see you."

Ray mentally slaps his head. Some Recon is he. Okay..next time, before publicly expressing domesticality with Luz, check the surroundings for any officer. Why the fuck Captain Winters must clean his weapon in this barn anyway? Officers have their own room unlike the enlisted, for fuck's sake. Damn him and his humble character.

The results? The whole barn occupant laugh at him, replacements included. Luz looks like he got Christmas early. Fuck!

Ray swallows his embarrassment and graciously tries to retreat, "Glad to entertain you gents. Allow me to retreat myself and find Malarkey to woo him with my rendition of Moonlight Serenade." and salutes the Captain. The Captain nods and still chuckling.

Before he can turn his back, George manages to talk between his laugh "You're going to cheat on me, Ray?"

Ray gives George the middle finger salute, turn his back and walk toward Malarkey in the back of the barn. He's playing poker with his minions, Warren 'Skip' Muck & Alex Penkala. The red-headed-Irish is still laughing when Ray comes.

"You're one fucked up hicks, Person."

"Shut the fuck up, you Mick! Or I really butcher your fucking favorite song!" and Rays slumps his ass in the floor.

Thank goodness, the said Mick resumes his poker on the fear his favorite songs being slaughtered with dirty lyrics from Ray.

Ray busies himself by cleaning his M1 rifle. After a full month of spending night in muddy foxhole, he really appreciates the warm and dryness the barn provide. The barn occupants back to their own business and no one doing crazy stunts since the Captain still there sits beside George. George tinker with his radio and sometimes feeding crackers to Talbert's new found German Shepherd dog, Trigger.

George jinxes the peaceful ambiance by saying that his radio is quiet.

The barn door slams open. Liebgott and Lesniewski are carrying a bloodied soldier. It's Alley. His face and left side of his body covered with blood. He still conscious but looked like he doesn't know what happened. Talbert rushes to get Doc Roe, while Lieb and Les bickering about whose fault Alley got wounded. Very mature. Apparently, they have been attacked during their patrol by a group of Krauts at the cross road. Easy Company immediately spring to action; bring only weapon and ammo. Like a well-oiled machine, everyone knows what to do.

Minutes later, at around zero-ass- hour (well, officially it's 0400 hours), Ray found himself crouching in the dike, waiting Winters' order to attack a cluster of German soldier in the said crossroad, shooting their MG-42 to God knows where. Kinda looks stupid, actually. It's like the Krauts say "Here we are gossiping and whatnot in the middle of crossroad, shooting our MG to somewhere out there. Care to shoot us?"

Winters is a certified natural strategist. He efficiently delegating job between mortar ("Don Malarkey & His Minions"), machine gun ("Smokey Gordon & friend") and rifle ("Ray Person & the Motherfuckers") squad. And when Easy brings down the party, The Krauts will be fucking sorry. Ooo-rah!

Needless to say, no gossiping Krauts in the crossroad anymore.

It's morning now. They now crouching in the ditch, planning to attack a mass of land called the Island. It's assumed that there is a platoon of Krauts there. Easy must attack them, before they attack Easy. The earlier attack in the crossroad was somewhat successful, but they lost Dukeman. Ray never close to him, but he was a Toccoa man. Another loyal comrade has fallen in this godforsaken war.

Winters divides the men into 3 groups. Ray will lead the center. Winters orders to fix bayonet. Everyone tensed. Winters grab the smoke grenade, says "Go on the red smoke", inhales, throw the grenade, and runs across the ditch. Alone.

Fuck! The Captain runs alone in front of them. The seconds they spend waiting for the red smoke appears feels like hours. Frank cannot hold himself and almost runs following Winters if Peacock not shouts to wait.

Finally the red smoke comes out. They run to follow the Captain that already starts shooting. When Ray arrives beside Winters, he can see that the Krauts waiting for them are not the Wehrmacht, the regular army. They are the infamous Schutzstaffel. The SS. The elite. The one that burn Jews for fun. Holy fuck!

Ray flats his belly to the ground and starts shooting. Everything feels like slow motion. Hoobler besides him; shoots and counts his kills.

One down…two down… three down…

Winters contacts HQ using George's radio to order artillery attack. And when the artillery starts, the Krauts had no hope. Their once-proud black coat shredded along with its owner. It's almost dreadful to watch.

Easy has been so fucking lucky. With only 35 men, it turned out they're facing two companies of 300 SS soldier. Their casualty "only" one dead and 22 wounded, while the Krauts casualties were fifty killed, eleven captured, about 100 wounded. Statistically, this is impressive. Solid proof of Winter's strategic and leadership ability.

But Ray can see that Winters was stunned. The Captain sits alone watching a dead SS soldier that looked so young, Ray sure that he was only a teenager. A teenage SS. How fucked up is that?!

"Sir, do you need something?"

"No, Sergeant Person. But thank you"

"Permission to speak, Sir?"

"Granted"

"You did a hell of a good job, Sir. You took more risk than any of us. That running alone across the field, Sir? That was pretty fucking nin… I mean…That's a true leader, in my opinion."

Winters smiles a little and replies solemnly "Thank you…Ray. I really appreciate it. I can't do it either without my competent NCOs"

Ray sighs. The Captain always too humble to take the credits for his own. Ray sees Nixon walks toward them so Ray salutes and leaves the Captain alone again.

If Ray feels like a pig shit during the Normandy campaign, he feels a lot worse this time, he can't describe it himself. When Easy finally recalled from the frontline and reached Mourmelon, it's been 70 days since their jump in Holland. That's three time longer than his time in Afghanistan, Iraq or Normandy. The dirt and grime has become his second skin. He's so filthy, he won't be surprised if he mutated into Swamp Thing. He wants to marry the shower and clean uniform after that.

They're supposed to get rest after more than two months grueling their sorry asses in Holland. But they also need physical outlet for their energy and some nonsensical way to release the built-up tension. Ray fully embraces the abovementioned "nonsensical way" by compose dirty poetry or songs with Smokey, rearrange Grab-fanny rules and scoring system with George and Frank, persuade Bill to not visiting Lulu's (some kind of shitty titty bar) to no avail, pick fight with the 82nd, and annoy people in the movie hall. Life is fucking great.

More sensical (but absolutely no fun) way to spend their energy is by doing marching drill and inspections, led by their new Easy CO, Lt. Norman Dike. This asshole…is the only cloud in the bright blue sky.

See…after the successful attack of the Island, Capt. Winters was promoted into Col. Sink's XO, so it means Winters will be responsible for whole battalion. Easy lose their dearly beloved Papa Winters. And the feeling is mutual. Winters feels trapped in desk jobs and Ray often sees Winters eyeing Easy men longingly.

Winters' replacement is Lt. Heyliger. At first, Easy was glad that Heyliger is as near competent as Winters. He's like the cool uncle for Easy. But, apparently, the universe wants to fuck up with Easy. One nervous replacement baby shoot Heyliger, thought he was a Kraut.

Ergo, Easy stuck with kiss-ass, shit-brained, lazy-ass Dike. On second thought, Ray thinks Dike is actually a genius. Not everyone can make a whole company want to piss in his coffee with only just two weeks leading them. Only Dike can. Just like Sobel and Encino Man, Dike has a permanent "stupid, asshole and proud" written in his forehead.

Maybe this is Ray's karma for hanging up with Brad. That Giant Hebrew Viking loves to piss off God in the name of his pure-warrior-spirit bullshit. And now, Ray is stuck under fucked-up officer in past and future life.

"Thus, gentlemen…I think we should throw Hitler some pussy. Because the lack of decent pussy in Germany that motivate them to occupy their neighboring country in the first place. Hitler gets laid, he's happy as a motherfucker, and before you know it, the war is over."

They're cleaning their rifle while Ray explains his theory of why Hitler started the war and how to finish it. He repeats, and modified a little, his theory about the cause of US invasion of Iraq he told Brad that feels like ages ago.

"It's lack of pussy that fucks countries up. Lack of pussy is the root fucking cause of all global instability. If more haj…I mean.. Krauts were getting quality pussy, there'd be no reason for us to come over here and fuck 'em up! Cause a nut-bustin' Kraut is a happy Kraut."

Frank and George slap him in the head.

Bill throws boots at him.

Liebgott tries to burn him with cigarette.

Malarkey and Skip repeatedly making cross across their chest and Ray's face.

Ray shrugs. Well, it's worth trying.

"Are you finished with your retarded theory, Ray? I'm fucking sure your Ma drop you right in the head when you were baby."

"Well…not exactly…she did bump me in the head sometime. At least she feed me the best roadkill in the states." Ray is satisfied when his friend's faces looked green.

"Argh I can't stand it anymore!" Liebgott throws his hands to the air. Only Webster can rival his 'Drama Queen'-ness. "George! Bring this fucked up hicks to the movie hall. I'm sick of his fucking bullshit! I need to pee."

"Why me?!"

"Because…I need to pee" Liebgott said that as if pee is the answer of all problems.

"You have to check your goddam bladder before they send us to the front again." George grumbles and pulls Ray's collar "Come on, smartass. They're playing Seven Sinners again. I'll do John, you'll do Marlene. Join us, midget?"

"I'm not a midget!" Frank yells while keep brushing his teeth. How? It's beyond Ray.

George and Ray have seen the movie countless time (due to the Army is not creative in providing entertainment for them), so they know every dialogue. So obviously, tonight's objective is to annoy other people. In the movie hall, they 'strategically' position themselves behind Toye and Lipton who never watch the movie.

And when George and Ray join forces, behold, even the ever patience Mama Lipton can be pissed. That sort of goes in the "win" column, along with a successful 40 points of Grab-fanny to one respectable officer (long story). Toye is looked murderous, but that's his default look, so it's not a big deal. As long as Toye is not using his brass knuckles, they are safe.

However, two officers, that their main job is to ruin all the fun, are entering the hall. The movie stopped and Easy is instructed to move out for their next mission. Apparently, the 1st and the 6th SS Panzer Divisions broke through in Ardennes, a forest in Bastogne, Belgium that's a strategic crossroad town. They overran America's 28th lnfantry and the 4th. All passes are canceled. Say goodbye to weekend in Paris and Christmas football game.

Ray vaguely remembers this. In the future, this battle is called the Battle of the Bulge. Hittler's last offensive strike. He cannot remember the details, such as Easy' involvement in this battle, but he knows this will be one hell of a battle. He knows a lot of men will be dead. At this point, Ray feels that knowing the future is terrifying. Ray doesn't want to think which Easy men… which brother will be dead in this battle.

No winter clothing, no waterproofed boots, not enough ammo, limited rations and lead by a stupid ass CO. Easy heading to hold the line in some European forest, during winter, with the abovementioned "support". Easy is under strength, inadequately clothed, and insufficiently armed. They are also going out blind. They only knew that the Germans had blasted a big hole in the line, that American forces were in full retreat, that someone had to plug the gap, and that particular someone is…drum roll please…the Airborne Corps. Ooo-fucking-rah!

There was a huge commotion in the barrack before they left Mourmelon. They scrounged and packed anything they can. They even take all canvas of the entire base for additional protection from the winter. Cigarettes, coats, and scarf are most wanted items. Gloves are rare. Ray saw Doc Roe trade his own gloves and scarf for bandages and morphine. That man is seriously never thought of himself.

Instead of plane jump, they're gonna make tailgate jump tonight. Ray is crammed in a truck with his mates. Skip is explaining the importance of extra socks to a replacement baby ("You need four, minimum. Feet, hands, neck, and balls, extra socks warms them all! Good! We all remember that, but we didn't remember the socks!"). Liebgott wants to pee again.

George sits beside him, shivering "Ray, I can't feel my finger. The fuck I supposed to pull my trigger if I can't feel my finger?"

"Put your arms in your armpit. It's the warmest place in your body. Right, Doc?" Ray feels grateful for his SERE training. At least it's more useful here than in the desert.

Doc Roe just nods. He's searching something in his bag and mumbling something sounds like "goddam sizzuh", whatever that means.

As usual, George still has doubt of Ray's competency.

"And you know that because?"

"Do you want to put your arms in your crotch? That's another warmest place. But it will not be practical."

"Asshole"

"Goddamit...It's fucking cold. I don't think even my dick is still warm." This is Frank speaking or more like squeaking, actually.

"I don't know you still have one, Frank. I thought its raisin. Shriveled up from the cold like that."

Ray survived Frank's wrath due to the said midget shivering so hard, he cannot move.

Easy is officially and colossally fucked up. When they arrived in Bastogne, Ray feels like he's in some kind of zombie movies. Hundreds of American soldiers in various states, or what's left of it, retreating from the forest. The smell, the sight, the soldiers' voices. It's like he's watching Night of the Living Dead in super real 3D.

The retreating soldiers keep telling them to turn around. But not one Easy man gives a fuck to hear that. They start to grabs any ammo from the retreating soldiers. Anything they can scrounge.

They know Winters cannot join them in the front line. He now leads a Battalion. But Winters makes his time to address Easy before they're heading to their post.

"Gentlemen. We're going to be surrounded by the Germans and they are hitting hard. But we're Paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded. Farthest from your mind is the thought of falling back. In fact it isn't there at all. And so…you will dig your hole carefully and deep, and wait, not for that mythical Superman, but for the enemy you had beaten twice before and will again. Besides you, your buddies…you brothers…will also preparing. You know you can depend on them. God bless you. Currahee."

That night, Ray is one of 145 of Easy Company's men and Officers entering the forest of Ardennes. Nobody knows how many men will get out.

A/N: Capt. Winter's speech was modified from Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers that quoted The Curahee scrapbook