Chapter 37: Destination - Europe
August 14, 1943.
Every soldier in Easy Company was issued a pamphlet: 'A Handbook for Overseas Movement'. Rhys, who was in charge of distributing them, repeatedly shouted his instructions, "Fellas, memorize the contents of this handbook! It'll be good for you. You'd best be able to recite it line by line when you get back to the barracks."
But it seemed the brothers weren't very interested. Many of them glanced through the pamphlet once and then tossed it aside or simply put it in their footlockers, paying it no more mind. They were more interested in when they would finally be leaving the United States. Many were filled with a mixture of nervousness and anxiety.
The next day, the entire 101st Airborne Division, organized by regiment, began to line up at the train station. A band played "Over There," and lovely Red Cross nurses were present, their eyes red, some even crying.
"Hey, ladies, I'll miss you!" Cobb shouted, waving his hand.
"Shut up, Cobb. You sound like you have no manners," Martin said from the side. "They're not faking it. I can tell. There's no point in you saying that."
Cobb shut his mouth but still glanced their way reluctantly a few more times.
"Brothers of Easy Company, prepare to board!" Rhys stood on a chair in the waiting room, shouting to the men. "Get your gear together! Don't leave anything behind!"
"Do you know where we're going?" White asked Tipper, who was beside him. "Didn't Parks say we were going to New York? Why do I feel like we're heading for California? Maybe we're being deployed to the Pacific."
"Wanna bet?" Tipper said with a grin. "I bet we're heading to New York, and then to Europe or the Mediterranean or something."
"I think it's California. We're probably going to the Pacific. I hear the Marines are getting their asses kicked by the Japs over there. Maybe we'll drop from the sky and save them from hell," Malarkey chimed in from the next line. "Fifty dollars. I'm in. Anyone else want to join?"
"New York—Europe. I'll bet fifty," Tipper said.
"California—Pacific. I'm in," Malarkey replied.
Soon, the entire column was whispering. Their bet had spread, and most of the company was eagerly wagering on whether their destination was Europe or the Pacific.
"White, where are you putting your money?" Guarnere asked from behind him.
"New York," White said with a grin. "I trust Parks. He said we were going to Europe."
Guarnere shook his head. "You're done for. Parks might have some dumb luck, but he can't win every bet. I think we're the elite of the Army, and the ones fighting us directly right now are the Japanese in the Pacific. Heh, God bless you, White. I have to say, you're screwed this time."
White refused to back down. "You've got it all wrong. It's precisely because we're the elite that we have to take on the most elite army. Do you really think the Germans who are sweeping across Europe are worse than the Japanese? The Marines are more than enough to handle the Japs. We're the elite!"
"That's right, White! I'm with you!" A chorus of voices came from the ranks. Amidst the low chatter, the brothers of Easy Company boarded the long, twenty-car train that looked like a giant monster.
With a slow, deep 'clank', the train shuddered and began to move forward. No matter where they were going, the brothers of Easy Company were departing from here, heading to an unknown battlefield to face an unknown future.
***
"Going my way?" Nixon asked with a smile, walking down the aisle. He was sitting behind Winters and had come to see if he wanted to sit with him.
"Wherever the train takes me," Winters replied with a smile. He was writing something down and seemed to be intentionally misunderstanding Nixon's question. Beside him, Harry Welsh was dozing. "I have no idea where we're really going."
"Then take a guess. Like those guys. Take a guess. Atlantic? Pacific? Atlantic?" Nixon chuckled. "Why not give it a try?"
But Winters seemed completely uninterested. He shook his head. "I'm not an intelligence officer. You'll have to find someone else to bet with."
Just then, Nixon suddenly leaned in close to Winters's ear and whispered, "I do know where we're going. But if I tell you, I'll have to kill you. It's a secret."
"Then don't tell me," Winters said with a slight smile. "I'd rather not put myself in a dangerous position."
Nixon moved and sat in the seat opposite Winters. "First to New York," he whispered mysteriously. "Then a troopship to England. We're going to invade Europe, brother." He took out a small flask and offered it to Winters. "To the siege of Europe!"
Winters looked at Nixon and smiled. "Since when do I drink?"
"If I knew you drank, I wouldn't have offered," Nixon chuckled. He unscrewed the cap and took a swig.
Winters was silent for a moment, then asked, "Nix, what will you do when you get to the battlefield?"
Nixon was taken aback for a second, then smiled. "I have every confidence in my scrounging abilities. Don't worry about me. Also, I've hidden a case of Vat 69 in your footlocker."
Winters couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Really?"
"Of course."
Just then, Harry Welsh, who was sitting next to Winters, suddenly opened his eyes. He groggily saw Nixon in front of him and gave him a smile and a nod.
"Good morning," Nixon said. He offered him the flask. "Your treat."
Harry smiled with satisfaction, took the flask, and had a drink. He smacked his lips and sighed contentedly. "This is going to be a fine trip." Watching him, Winters and Nixon exchanged a smile.
***
The train ultimately went to New York, which made White, Tipper, and the others ecstatic for a while. They had won another bet. This greatly annoyed Guarnere and Malarkey. They even said to White with envy, "Hey, buddy, don't celebrate too early. Sooner or later, you'll know what it feels like to lose."
The train finally brought them to Camp Shanks, thirty miles from New York City. Here, the men of Easy Company would wait to board their troopship. The day after their arrival was embarkation day. For that one day, Colonel Sink showed some mercy and gave all the soldiers leave to relax, with the only rule being that they couldn't spend the night outside the camp.
"I want to go see New York City. Parks, want to come? Don't you have a sweetheart in New York? Go find her," White said to Rhys. "I promise I'll just take one look. I won't be a third wheel. Or you can just pretend I'm a statue."
Rhys couldn't refuse him and finally agreed. And on the day the train arrived, Virginia had already found out he was there. She had even sent someone with a message, really just to see him one more time. Thinking that he was about to depart for Europe, Rhys couldn't bear to refuse her, and he honestly wanted to see her too.
"Alright, but you have to promise not to cause any trouble for me," Rhys said. After getting White's promise, he agreed. But when it was time to go, the group had grown by several more people. Tipper, Luz, and Christenson also insisted on coming along to see the sights.
The group was sitting by a fountain in a park, waiting for Virginia. Then they saw a small black car pull up on the side of the park. The driver opened the door, and out stepped a beautiful, elegant woman wearing a fashionable wide-brimmed hat and a long black dress. She looked their way, her face lighting up with a look of pleasant surprise, and gracefully walked toward them.
"God, she's beautiful," White said with a gasp of admiration. "Parks, you really make a guy jealous."
"Hey, guys, that's the newest model Lincoln. I know it. The streamlined design… I know it has a name, what is it? God, I can't remember. Parks, you have to ask her for me later," Christenson exclaimed.
"I'm sure Parks won't pay any attention to what you're saying, because the beautiful lady has arrived," Tipper muttered, then stood up along with Rhys.
"Let me introduce you. White, Tipper, and Christenson," Rhys said. "This is Virginia."
"Hello, miss," the three of them said, a bit awkwardly.
"Parks," Christenson whispered, nudging him. He was a very persistent person.
Rhys shrugged helplessly and smiled. "Christenson would like to know what the car that brought you here is called."
"A Continental," Virginia said with a small smile. "Brand new streamlined design, V12 engine."
"Whoa," Christenson gasped. "I remember now, yes, a Continental." He then gave Virginia a sheepish smile. "I never thought a lady would know so much about cars."
"Alright, fellas, isn't it time for you to go? Didn't you want to go shopping?" Rhys began to shoo them away. "White, remember, buy me a few packs of cigarettes."
Watching his brothers leave, laughing and with their arms around each other's shoulders, Rhys made a helpless gesture to Virginia. "They insisted on coming to see for themselves."
Virginia extended her hand and linked her arm through his. She leaned in close to his ear, her breath like an orchid. "And don't you want to see a little more?"
*****
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