4:00 PM, June 4, 1944, Erbote Airport, United Kingdom.
"If you haven't signed your soldier's life insurance, go to Sergeant Evans at the battalion headquarters company office!" Parks shouted as he moved among his brothers who were packing their gear. "Go to Sergeant Evans at the battalion headquarters company office now! Don't let your families lose ten thousand dollars for nothing."
"Toy, stop complaining about your gear there, go sign it, I know you haven't yet!" Parks yelled at Joe Liebgott, who was complaining about his equipment being too heavy.
"Got it, Parks!" Joe Liebgott waved the tiger ring on his hand. "I'm telling Patrick Christenson how I'm going to smash the Germans' heads with this tiger ring. Look, Patrick Christenson, it's cool!"
Patrick Christenson ignored him, as he was complaining to Parks: "God knows why they have to tie these damn things to us now. Are we jumping today?"
"Sooner or later!" Parks laughed. "You just remember, the 80 pounds of equipment tied to your legs are for your combat. It's best not to lose them when you parachute."
Just then, they saw Sergeant Major Evans approaching with a stack of flyers.
"These are from Colonel Sink for all of you, one for each person!" Evans distributed one to each person.
Patrick Christenson took it and unfolded it, then heard a sound not far away. The three looked over at the same time and saw Luz enthusiastically reading the letter, mimicking Colonel Sink's tone.
"Brothers of the battalion: Tonight is a special night. As you read this letter, you are embarking on a great adventure, for which you have trained for over two years. Now the eyes of the whole world are on you… I wish you a good start. May God be with you, excellent soldiers!"
"Hey, I got this!" At this moment, White found Parks and raised the can in his hand.
Patrick Christenson looked at it, then opened the can and stirred it with his finger.
"This one is black, this one is green!" White was very excited. "I think we can have a cool look, you know the Sioux Indians of Little Bighorn? Hehe, just put this on, that's a symbol of courage and ferocity." Saying that, White dipped his finger in the paint and began to draw vertical stripes on his face.
"Yes, that's really cool!" Joe Liebgott also began to smear it with his fingers. And Patrick Christenson naturally wouldn't be outdone. In no time, the three of them had made their faces very colorful, especially Patrick Christenson, who had practically painted his entire face black.
"Hey, Parks, why don't you paint?" Patrick Christenson saw Parks just smiling and watching them busy, somewhat puzzled, "Don't you think I look much cooler after painting than you?"
Parks laughed heartily: "It's not time yet, Patrick Christenson." Then he looked up at the sky and said, "Look at the sky, with such thick clouds, do you still think we will land on the French beach tonight? I don't want to have to wash my face before dinner!"
The three stopped at once, then looked up at the sky, and indeed it was so.
"Sly fellow!" White sighed.
That day, all the brothers in the company enjoyed a delicious meal.
"Steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, white bread!" Cobb exclaimed, holding his plate, "My goodness, there's even ice cream and coffee. Most importantly, I can eat as much as I want."
"Can this be considered the British's last generosity?" Parks sat next to Cobb and laughed, "We are going to France for free-fall exercises."
"That's why they're giving us ice cream!" Malarkey also came over with his plate; he liked steak.
This dinner was very rich, and the brothers ate freely. Many people had the same mentality as Cobb: if they were going to die, they might as well eat a good meal beforehand. Who knows, maybe they would be eating bullets later.
"We can't jump tonight!" Lieutenant Mihan came out of the battalion headquarters, called Winters, and walked straight to the airport. "Dick, maybe tomorrow, but I can't be sure."
"I hope so!" Winters could only say that.
Lieutenant Mihan arrived at the gathering point for Easy Company at the airport, then climbed onto a jeep, stood on the front hood, and loudly said: "Attention, brothers of Easy Company."
All the brothers who had just finished dinner and were sitting idly waiting to board stood up. They looked at Lieutenant Mihan, their moods varied; they thought the order to board would be issued.
"The strait is covered in rain and fog, tonight's parachute jump is canceled!" Lieutenant Mihan said seriously, "The landing operation has been postponed, and we are now on 24-hour standby."
"Shit!" Guarnere muttered, feeling a surge of anger with nowhere to vent.
In the evening, Easy Company went to a square tent to watch a movie. It was "Mr. Lucky" starring Cary Grant and Laraine Day. The air was very stuffy during the screening, and many people's minds were not on the movie; they sat there lost in their own thoughts. Winters sat in the tent for a while, then slipped out; he had no interest in the movie at all now.
Night had already fallen, and the surrounding tents were hidden in the darkness.
"The weather is going to clear up!" As he passed a tent, a voice suddenly came. Winters turned his head and, by the faint light, he could see it was Nixon, holding a small liquor bottle, leaning against a supply crate.
"Do you think it will clear up?" Winters instinctively looked up; he only saw the dark, empty sky and couldn't make out anything.
Nixon walked over and strolled beside him: "Yes, the weather is about to clear up." Then he turned and looked at Winters: "How are your brothers doing?"
"They're fine!" Winters just glanced at him.
The two walked aimlessly around the camp, just wanting to stroll.
"It's five o'clock New York time, four o'clock Chicago time!" Nixon looked at his watch, and by the luminous dial, he knew where the hands were pointing.
"Your happy hour?" Winters smiled slightly. The two found a place to sit down.
"Yes, civilized people enjoying civilized time!" Nixon took a sip of his drink. "But he's also from Chicago!"
"Who?" Winters paused, then nodded, "I know, it's him, Sobel!"
"We endured him for 712 days, and we finally made it through!" Nixon smiled. At this, Winters also smiled knowingly.
The night deepened; this was Easy Company brothers' last night before heading to the battlefield.
In the afternoon of June 5, 1944, the wind gradually died down. The sky showed a faint clear patch.
At 8:30 PM, the entire company, in groups of 18, lined up according to their assigned planes and marched in unison towards the hangar. The line was silent; no one spoke. This was a path to an unknown future—either death, hardship, or glory and victory. As they passed by the British anti-aircraft artillery unit, the British quietly watched them, some even saluting. Then all the brothers quietly sat in front of the planes, waiting to board.
"Brothers, good luck, and God bless you. We'll see you at the assembly area!" Parks tried to keep his voice calm, though his own heart was pounding. He was the jumpmaster for this plane, and he decided to personally see these brothers onto the aircraft.
He nodded to his brothers, then walked to the front of Joe Liebgott, extended his hand and pulled him up, watching him walk towards the cabin door. Then he walked to the second soldier and pulled him up.
Parks pulled up every brother and then saw them board the plane. The brothers' eyes looked deeply at him the moment they stood up. Parks knew they were showing their gratitude and trust.
No one spoke throughout the entire process; they just completed their unspoken understanding in a momentary gaze, then boarded. Perhaps they were too nervous, as Medical Officer Cooper missed a step on the gangway.
But he immediately felt his back being supported, several hands simultaneously reaching out, steadying him, and then pushing him towards the cabin door.
Parks was the last to board the plane. As his hand gripped the cabin door, several hands also reached out. Parks nodded to them, then grabbed the outstretched hands, and with a push, boarded the plane.
The plane's engines roared. The ground crew below raised their hands high towards them, expressing their blessings with "V" signs.
The C-47 began to taxi down the runway, gaining speed, then its nose lifted, and the plane soared into the sky. It flew higher and higher, one after another piercing the night sky. The entire sky was filled with a massive "V" formation.
Operation Overlord began!