...
Shortly after 0600 hours, Easy Company led 2nd Battalion along the road toward the village of Vierville. Nora stayed close to Lipton, who was third Platoon's Sergeant. Up ahead, Rousch took the lead with 1st squad. Shifty, along with several other men, was still missing, Nora couldn't tell him about Popeye being wounded. She wondered how Popeye was getting on in the hospital…
"GET DOWN!" Someone roared, just after small firearms cracked from ahead.
Easy Company had just discovered Vierville had been re-occupied by Colonel Frederick von der Heydte's 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment, and they had taken up a strong position directly in front of the 506th Regiment. Grabbing a hold of her arm, Lipton pulled Nora down into a grassy ditch by the road. And when she was securely ducked down in cover, Lipton began firing back at the enemy with the rest of Easy Company. Behind her, Nora could just make out Guarnere barking out ranges as the Company's 60mm mortars prepared to fire. On her belly, she crawled toward Guarnere and the mortar squads, figuring it would be best if she stayed out of the way. Looking up ahead, Nora could spot Winters moving between squads and Platoons, encouraging his men to keep firing and to move forward. And inch by inch, Easy did move forward, drawing closer to the occupied village ahead. Major Strayer had Fox on Easy's left and Dog on Fox's left. Soon, Dog managed to work around the German flank and get inside Vierville. Under pressure from front and flank, the firing began to dwindle, as the battered Germans pulled back, leaving the village to the Americans…
With the rest of 2nd Battalion keeping hold of Vierville, Colonel Sink pulled Easy off the line and had them provide security around the hamlet of Angoville-au-Plaine, which was essentially a small row of houses close to the sea. There was only one road. It truly was, the smallest village Nora had ever stepped in. But despite being so small, there was so much blood and death around them. Bloated bodies littered the road, animals and soldiers. Corpses hadn't been buried and the church housed as an aid station, with lifeless bodies piled up outside like open graves. It stunk to the high heavens; as Guarnere had complained. But there was nothing they could do about the smell, they could only hope the French would bury their own livestock – the Grave Registration Officers would take care of the fallen American soldiers, as for the Germans, they would likely be buried in mass graves…
"I hope you're not drinking…". Joe Lesniewski snuck up behind Nora, by accident. She was sitting on the steps leading up toward a partially destroyed house. Joe sat next to her and asked, "How have you been, Nora?"
She shrugged. "Can't complain…you?"
A tiny smile lifted Joe's lips at her response. "Can't complain". He copied.
"Did your friends show up?" Nora asked, referring to Skip and Penkala.
"They did". Joe responded. "I heard Malarkey caught some hell from Winters for trying to grab himself a luger at the manor".
Frowning, Nora stared up at her friend. "He did?"
Joe nodded with a tiny chuckle. "He's an idiot…a determined one…but an idiot".
"Did he get the luger?"
Joe cast Nora a grin. "It wasn't even a luger".
Nora huffed out a faint laugh and faced the front. She said, "Poor Malarkey".
Joe sighed. After lighting himself a cigarette, he vaguely gestured around him. "Poor France". He said, "Look at this fucking country now…it's wasted. I never thought I'd see the dead lying out in the streets – not in my lifetime, anyway".
Nora said, "You get used to it".
Joe continued to stare at the girl, soon frowning at her response. "Yeah, I guess you would, huh? If you saw shit like this every day".
"It's a part of life…death". Nora said, "We're just not used to staring it in the face all the time".
"What do you think happens when you die?"
Nora sighed. "Oh, I don't know, Joe…". Her tone indicated that she didn't want to continue with the topic of the afterlife. "We won't know until we're dead".
"That's such a boring answer…". Joe tried to joke. "I was hoping you'd say something interesting – like a Heaven or someplace cool in the sky".
Nora's eyebrows furrowed slightly. She shook her head. "It's not me, Joe". Nora's eyes began to take in the scenery around her. Joe was right, France was wasted. The country was battered and bruised, where they left the dead to rot. It was like being inside a large coffin…
"Welsh found a barrel of cognac ". Joe said, "And some of the fella's found crates of wine. I don't think Winters is 'gonna be too cheerful when he finds out".
"Is that why you asked if I was drinking?"
Joe smiled. "I knew you weren't…you'd never go against dad, would you?"
Nora warned him with a tiny smile, "I'm learning how to cuss…be careful, Joe".
He chuckled. "I was being genuine, Nora – it's good that you don't go over Winters's head and break the rules".
Lips rubbing together, Nora drew her eyes away from the dead. She could remember seeing the dead back in Poland, where they died with angst and terror drawn on their face. No one looked peaceful when they died, they always looked so terrified and sad. When the discussion ended with Joe, Nora began making her way back to Winters and their foxhole. True to Joe's word, she did end up seeing men drinking wine…
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you". Nora told a group of men off. "Lieutenant Winters won't be happy".
"Get lost, Clopper". One of the men, Everett Gray, grumbled.
His buddy, William Dukeman, gave his side a nudge. "Come on, Ev. Nora's cool".
"Yeah?" Everett scoffed. "Has she seen what we're living with? Alcohol is needed".
Nora looked over at Frank Perconte, who shrugged in response. Perconte wasn't drinking. He didn't drink. And Nora was hoping to have the older man on her side. She decided to take matters into her own hands. Nora grabbed the bottle of wine from Everett's clutch and threw it away. It smashed, and red wine splattered across the ground.
"Alcohol is not needed…". Nora pressed her finger against Everett's forehead. "This is needed".
A tiny smile met Perconte's face, and he voiced his agreement with Nora. "She's right, Everett. You can't do much thinking with a belly full of wine".
Everett looked toward his smashed bottle of wine and then faced Nora. "I hope you'll get me a new one, Clopper".
Nora promised him, "When we get back to England, I'll buy you two bottles".
"I don't drink…". Perconte began to say. "But how are we supposed to live like this and not open a bottle of booze?"
Dukeman looked at Nora, interested in what she had to say. But judging by the look on her face, Nora wasn't willing to share. He said, "It's fine…it won't be like this for much longer. I hear the French are 'gonna start burying the animals".
Nora cast Dukeman a tiny smile before addressing them all, "So long…stay away from the wine".
"See 'ya around, Nora". Perconte said.
…
The smell didn't get any better as the day turned into night. If anything, it got worse. Everything got worse at night. Men couldn't sleep, they complained of being hungry or wet. They talked a lot about home because they were homesick. And there was no cure for homesickness, the men just had to keep themselves busy and hope the feeling would dwindle. But longing for home would never leave them, it would always stay in the back of their minds or like a lump in their throats...
"You're making coffee…". Nora noticed. "Sir, it should be bedtime".
Winters raised his eyes from the pot of coffee he was currently boiling. "It's not for me". He gave a gesture with his head toward Welsh, who was sleeping next to him. "Cognac". He said with a sigh. "I dragged him from the middle of the road…he passed out".
Nora sent Welsh a frown before sliding into the foxhole and sitting next to Winters. Bringing her pack forward, she placed it on her lap and opened it up. Digging around inside, Nora brought out a ration can and a can opener. "Is Lieutenant Welsh going to be okay, sir?"
Winters huffed and said, "Well…he'll have a headache tomorrow, that's for sure".
Nora began taking the lip of her ration can, using its opener. She said, "Not that, sir…the reason why he drank so much".
Winters stilled his stirring for a moment, processing Nora's question. He asked, "Do you doubt Lieutenant Welsh's resilience?"
Nora stared up at Winters, frowning. "Are you mad, sir?"
His features softened. "No, Nora". Winters assured her. "I'm not mad at all".
Once the lid was off, Nora put it aside and grabbed a metal spoon from her jacket pocket. She gave it a wipe on her trousers before digging it inside the canned meat. Shoving a spoonful into her mouth, Nora shuddered while quickly chewing it before swallowing…
Winters appeared amused. He asked, "What? No crackers first, kiddo?"
"No time, sir". Nora replied. She asked, "Did you get rid of all the wine, sir?"
"I did, yes". Winters confirmed. Grabbing a metal cup, he poured the coffee inside. "The men complied and followed orders…but I don't think they're very happy with me right now. But it's for their own good. And it puts my mind at ease, knowing I've not got a bunch of drunk troopers roaming around carelessly".
Nora said, "The smell…it gets to them, sir".
"Yeah". Winters drew out a sigh and admitted, "It's not pleasant to be around".
Nora stopped eating. She faced the muddy sides of their foxhole, a distant look reaching her eyes. The smell was so sickeningly familiar, it reminded Nora of being back in Poland, where they sometimes left corpses to rot in the sun for days. Suddenly, she lost her appetite. Nora put down her can of meat and confessed, "It's hard to eat, sir".
"I won't pester you tonight". Winters promised her gently.
"It's not right, is it, sir? Leaving dead soldiers lying around".
Giving his head a shake, Winters faced Nora. "No, it doesn't feel right, Nora. But we can't do anything about it tonight".
Nora asked after a spell of silence, "Is Hoobs on first watch, sir?"
"Yeah, with Radar". Winters replied. Turning to attend to Welsh, Winters gave the sleeping man's shoulder a shake. Welsh slowly opened his eyes with a grunt of protest. "Coffee. Drink it. Now". Came Winters's order.
"Jesus…where's the fire?" Welsh slurred while a hot cup of coffee was placed into his hands.
"You're lucky there isn't one, Harry". Winters said, "I need you sober. So, drink your coffee and then tend to your Platoon".
"Shit…". Welsh sighed. He asked, "I'm drunk?"
Winters huffed out a faint laugh. "You're stinking drunk, Welshy".
"Shit…". Welsh sighed again before taking a sip of his coffee.
Winters gave Welsh's shoulder a clap. "There, that's better". He said, "Just stay here until you've finished that coffee, buddy".
Nora stayed quiet and didn't acknowledge Welsh's drunkenness. She didn't think it was a good idea, to get drunk during combat – especially an Officer, who had a Platoon of men to lead. Welsh was a good man, but Nora thought he wasn't making the best choices. When Welsh finished his coffee, he left the foxhole to tend to his men. He was slightly less drunk than he was when first waking up, which was an improvement…
"I hope that won't become a problem". Winters mumbled, referring to Welsh getting drunk.
Nora was certain Welsh would do it again, however, she didn't tell Winters that, "It'll be fine, sir. I'm sure Lieutenant Welsh has learned his lesson, sir".
Winters was about to make a comment on the matter, but they soon both smelt something burning in the distance. Getting out of their foxholes and looking behind them, a roaring fire was seen in one of the fields, as the French locals lobbed dead animal parts into the orange flames. In the field and heading for the fire, one of Sink's staff yelled for the French to snuff it. He gave his order in broken French and Nora watched, as the locals yelled angrily back at him. It was clear the French wanted to keep the fire ablaze, Nora assumed the smell was beginning to madden them…
"Sir?" Nora asked Winters, "Should we do something?"
Winters thought for a moment before giving a reply. "I don't think they're 'gonna take orders from us tonight, Nora".
Nora raised an important question, "What if the Germans see our position?"
However, Winters slightly assured the girl, "They already know we're here".
Nora felt her stomach knot, at the thought of Germans watching them from a distance. Taking in a shaky breath, she moved closer to Winters, until she was practically pressed up against him…
"Don't worry, Nora". Winters told the girl. "We've got men on watch, they'll keep an eye on things". He stared down at Nora, casting her a kind and reassuring smile…
Whenever Winters smiled, Nora knew everything was going to be okay. She smiled back and felt her shoulders drop, while she let some of the tension and fear go. Nora faced the blazing fire again, her eyes lightened against the bright flames. Dark waves of smoke travelled up toward the night sky, aiding the clouds and covering the stars…
"GET DOWN!" Someone roared.
Immediately, Nora and Winters hit the earth as a shell from a mortar screeched overhead, soon exploding near the field…
"Shit". Winters cursed.
Nora's eyes went as wide as plates. She was more shocked by her Lieutenant cussing than the chaos around them. "You said a bad word, sir". Nora accused. "Are we in trouble?"
Winters sighed and admitted, "It took me by surprise". Pushing himself off the ground, Winters was soon on his feet, searching the immediate area. "Hold your fire!" He ordered his men.
Nora was soon standing next to him. "We shouldn't attack, sir?"
"Not yet…". Winters set his hand on Nora's shoulder. "Follow me".
Between their position and Sainte-Come-du-Mont, there was a Battalion of Germans trying to cross a swampy field. On Winters's command, the machine-guns opened fire, as did the riflemen. Watching the fleeing Germans from afar, Nora could see a few of the enemy turning back from the field. They moved between a thicket of trees, and she lost sight of them…
"Nora, get me more MG rounds!" Came Liebgott's request.
"Okay!" Nora called back. Turning around, she began sprinting toward Winters's command post, where he kept the ammo. The ammo was tucked away inside a wooden shed. However, on the way to retrieve the ammo, Nora spotted Everett Gray standing in the road. He was heading for the same place because men from 1st Platoon called for more ammo. It was dark, and Nora didn't see one lone German exiting a thicket of trees behind Everett…
A single shot was fired out, a bullet went through Everett's chest, and he dropped to the ground. Nora took up her rifle, staring through her sight in the darkness. She could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest, which caused her breathing to sharpen. From the ground, Everett made a noise. Keeping her rifle up, Nora moved toward the wounded man and dropped to her knees in front of him…
"Be still, be still…". Nora whispered to Everett while pressing her hands against his chest. She could feel warm blood soak through his clothes and onto her skin. Everett was choking, gasping for his next breath. He was going to die. Another shot was fired, and Nora cried out, "Lieutenant Winters!"
"N…". Everett tried speaking but a mouthful of blood spluttered out of him instead.
Hands leaving Everett's chest, Nora placed them on the side of his face. "It's okay". She told him softly. "Don't be scared…it's going to be okay…".
Another shot was fired out, but it came from Winters this time, not the enemy. With the German taken care of, Winters rushed to the scene and took over. Everett died shortly after Winters's arrival.