Five days into the maneuvers and I was dirty, stinky and ready to kill for a goodnights sleep.
The regimental runners came back from the HQ with the news that, the Navy had shot down twenty three parachute transports of the 504th in skies over Sicily. Which brought a new perspective to the fact, they were going to war and could they avoid fratricide?
First platoon, with Shifty as lead scout, was walking through the Tennessee Mountains; the maneuver had taken the regiment from Kentucky to Indiana and Tennessee.
Shifty held up a hand and I motioned for the platoon to take a knee, up a head was a small cabin, perfect place for an ambush.
Welsh send out a scout, who returned and told Welsh that the family, who lived there, had seen the blue army, leave this morning and if the men wanted something to eat, there was plenty of fried chicken, so the platoon feasted on chicken and that night slept in the hay shed.
For me it was a welcome break, the food and the cabin, sleeping in door seemed like a luxury at this point.
I slept in front of the fireplace, I just fell asleep, when someone gently kicked my side I groaned and looked. I noticed Welsh looking down at me "You sleeping?" he asked. I felt like telling him that I wasn't sleeping I dancing foxtrot.
"Almost, what do you need lieutenant?" I asked
"Nothing, I just wanted to talk" Welsh sat down and leaned back against the wall; he sighed and closed his eyes.
The only light in the room, was the fire in the fireplace and the shadow danced over Harry's face. I noticed he looked tired and filthy, but I still like what I saw. He was a handsome Irish devil
I sat up and pulled my blanket close around me. I looked at Welsh "About what?"
"Hell, I don't know, I just wanted some company?" Welsh said.
I walked over and sat down next to Harry "So Limey?"
Welsh looked at me "Limey?" he asked
"Yeah, that's what the men call you, Harry "Limey" Welsh"
"Must be my Irish roots they are referring to" Welsh smiled and lit a cigarette
"Well, I guess it's better than what Guarnere calls Malarkey, I believe he refers to him as stupid Mick" I snuggled deeper into her blanket.
Welsh looked at me, all snuggled up in my blanket. "You look like you are about to fall asleep on the spot" Harry said and put an arm around me I leaned into him and put my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, it felt very natural and I could stay like this with him for the rest of the war.
"Tell me about home, tell me about Pennsylvania" Chris mumbled
Welsh told her about the small mining town where he grew up and about his friends and family, after ten minutes he heard a light snore.
For about a minute Welsh sat and contemplated going back out in the shed with Winters and the men or stay inside with me, I could feel what he was thinking the silence and the way his body stiffened gave it away. Winters would probably chew him out if he stayed, but when he looked he looked at me I could see him decide it was worth it. Harry Laid us down and, put an arm around my waist and fell asleep.
The next morning I woke up, there was a warm body behind me. I turned around and there were Welsh snoring. All I could think about was, how much trouble I would be in if we got caught.
I slid out from under Welsh arm, grabbed my jacket and rolled up my blanket, grabbed my M1 and hurried out.
Winters and most of the platoon was gathered eating breakfast "Sergeant Christenson, so nice of you to join us, have you by any chance seen lieutenant Welsh?"
"No sir, not since yesterday" I fibbed and hurried over to my brother.
Pat looked at my "I know you are lying, I saw the two of this morning, and what are you doing?" Pat worried about his sister.
"Nothing, I fell asleep, he must have decided to stay" I sat down and waited for the order to move out.
"Ok first platoon on your feet, we are marching back to the airfield, this part of the exercise is over" Winters moved out the platoon in perfect formation and they joined the rest of the company 2 miles up the road.
July 15th
It was in the middle of July and hot as hell. I was once again placed in Welsh's plane and was the second trooper to jump. Once again the plane bobbed and weaved and the serial vomiting started once again. Welsh noticed me turning green and tried to move away from her mumbling "No, No not again, fuck noooo" he said when I managed to vomit on his jump boots.
The green light came on and Welsh got out of the plane as quick as he could. I jumped and felt a sense of relieve, as soon as I got out of the C47.
I hit the ground butt first and swore, quickly collected my gear and found my CO. I decided it would be best if I stuck around Winters for awhile and avoided Welsh.
The company marched several miles to the Cumberland River and crossed it in boats, I still stayed close to Winters, but at one point I was ordered into Welsh boat.
I lingered for a moment, I wanted to be last soldier in the boat to avoid being close Welsh, so I let the other men assigned to boat on first and then got on. I thought I had escaped Welsh, but he was waiting for me when she got off the boat "You aren't safe just yet" he whispered to her and I felt my cheeks blush.
The maneuver came to its completion just outside of Camp Breckinridge; I thought I was in heaven hot showers and Barracks. that only lasted until I realized, I was sharing a barrack with the nurses. I hated the girly frilly nurses, most of them just wanted to flirt with the men.
When I entered the Barrack, I searched for a room with my name on the door. I was of course sharing a room with the hed nurse. Karen was a spirited girl from Kentucky, she was 25 years old, and she had grown up on a farm and was the very definition of the farmer's daughter.
Karen had been stationed at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. Her fiancé, who had been a fighter pilot, was killed during the attack.
Karen had been rotated back to the states and was now in charge of a bunch of scared, flirty, frilly nurses. Karen showed me around the camp and by the time we reached Barrack, I knew everything about Karen and the Camp.
When I found out my cot actually madras on it, I dropped my gear on the floor, fell face first on the cot and passed out like a light.
…..
I woke up and peeled my dirty dirty uniform, wrapped a towel around me and went in search of the showers.
I stepped into the shower room, I wasn't alone in there, and there were three other girls in there. I looked at them; they all were feminine and soft in all the right places.
I on the other hand was all muscle and no soft spots, my arms, legs and stomach was toned, it made me uncomfortable and self conscious to look at the other girls who didn't even acknowledged me. I took a quick shower and went back to her room.
I was sitting on my cot drying my shoulder length hair, when Karen walked into the room "Good, you're awake, now there is a dance at one of the service clubs and we decided you are coming, you can borrow one of my dresses"
"I don't know, I don't think I want to go" I said and pulled my dirty uniform back on, I needed to go to the post laundry to get my uniform cleaned and ready for inspection.
"Come on, it will be fun, besides the girls want you to introduce them to your men" Karen said and winked.
"Really, cause I don't know if I want them to be swarmed by a bunch of girly nurses" I told Karen
"Why Miss Christenson, you jealous or is there a man, you don't want my girls to meet" Karen joked
"No" I said and blushed.
"There is, isn't there?" Karen nudged me with her elbow
"Sort of, but I am not going to do anything about it" I tried to get Karen of her back
"Well, let's just get you dressed and see how it goes" Karen walked over to her closet and picked out a dress for me.
Two hours later and several fights over what I should wear, we were dressed, Karen in her dress and me in my Class-A's.
….
After dinner we walked over to the service club. Easy Company's privates and NCO's were already there, but there was no sign of the officers.
I found Talbert, Grant, Luz, Guarnere and Toye and introduced them to Karen.
Guarnere decided to try his luck, but Karen shot him down pretty quick, and Guarnere took some heat for it.
I was talking to Talbert, I had her back against the door and hadn't noticed Nixon, Matheson, Hester and Welsh walking in, until the men got on their feet and saluted the officers.
I got on my feet and saluted the officers and then sat back down and continued to talk to Talbert, ignoring Welsh completely.
The other officers found a table and sat down; Welsh lingered for a second and then joined Nixon and the other officers.
Nixon slapped Welsh on the back "She still not talking to you?" I heard Nix tease Welsh
"Nope, not a word since Sturgis" Welsh looked over at me, I quickly turned my head so he wouldn't notice me.
Talbert nudged I "You know, you are allowed to talk to him"
"Yeah, I know, but I better not" I said and asked Talbert to dance.
Talbert escorted me out onto the dance floor and pulled me into his arms. Moonlight serenade came on. Talbert pulled me closer and I put my arms around his neck, we were talking and laughing, as soon as the song ended, someone put a hand on Talbert's shoulder "Mind if I cut in?" Welsh asked
Talbert stepped back and smiled "Not at all sir"
I'll be seeing you came on and Welsh pulled me close, he leaned in and whispered in my ear "I told you we weren't done"
I blushed and felt had shivers running down my spine, I leaned in and put my head on his chest and enjoyed being close to him. Welsh ran his hand up and down my back. I sighed and looked up at, Welsh who leaned in ready to kiss me, for a moment I wanted him to kiss me, but at last moment I pushed him away.
"No, don't, just…no" I pulled out of Welsh arms and walked back to the table, I put on a big smile and sat down. Some of the nurses had joined the men and I looked at them "So what did I miss?"
Welsh hadn't moved from his spot on the dance floor, he just watched me walk back to the table and joined the other NCO's, I know he could see the fake smile I put on my face.
Nix, who had been to the bar and gotten a few more drinks for the table, passed Welsh on his way back "Come on, let it go for now"
Welsh joined the rest of the officers and a few drinks later, a blond bombshell of a nurse was sitting in Welsh's lap, He was drunk, so was she, and when she leaned in and kissed him, he just kissed her back; at least someone wanted him he thought.
I was also less than sober, turned and looked at the officers table. I noticed the blonde in Welsh's lap, and the passionate kiss. I turned and tried to listen to the conversation going on between Grant and Luz, they were discussing who was the better shot in the company, of course both of agreed it was Shifty. Grant was convinced Hoob would give him a run for his money, but Luz was convinced it was me.
"Didn't you see her shoot the point three at the range, I am telling yah Chuck, it's the sarge" Luz slurred
Grant turned and looked at me "I don't know, but she sure is the prettiest shooter in the company" Grant gave me a sideways hug
I smiled "I sure am, well guys it's been real nice, but this trooper is ready for bed" I put on my jacket and left the service club.
When I got outside, I walked towards my room, but I never got that far, a large sob ran thru my body. I slid down the side of a barrack, pulled my knees up to my chest and sobbed. I knew I was stupid, I shouldn't let Welsh get to me. I was tougher than that, I had run Currahee in full gear and beat several of the men on the obstacle course, but one look from the officer and I was a mess.
I pulled myself together and shook my head, a shadow fell over me and I looked up into the eyes of Nixon "You know… this is your own doing" Nixon said and sat down next to me.
I sobbed "I know, I just wish things were different sometimes"
"I sure as hell don't, because then you wouldn't be here and how much fun would that be?" Nixon play fully nudged me.
"Well, you got a point" I smiled and took the hand Nixon offered me.
Welsh had walked out of the service club, he wanted to find Chris and talk to her, he watched the encounter between Nixon and Chris, and how she took his hand smiled at him. So that was why she kept turning him down.
