The Way Back

War Stories

This chapter is to highlight some men outside of Easy Company and their heroic stances they took during the war. This is not made to disrespect or take credit from the men involved, but this idea just came to me randomly and I had to write it! Basically, Lia will be discussing war stories with the boys and the stories are pulled from three men who fought during WWII (although one story is from WWI). Instead, they will be written like Lia did it. After each story I will add a little blurb about who the men were that actually did the things. So let's dive into a little history lesson! 

The small pub was filled to the brim with American soldiers; loud American soldiers. Nearly every single one had a beer held tightly in their  hand, and the lyrics to a tune spilling out each of their mouths. Lia Creed sat at a booth towards the back, flanked by Speirs, Winters, and Welsh, and listened intently to Harry Welsh tell the group about his girl Kitty back home. 

The four lieutenants picked up on the large group of Easy Company boys quickly making their way across the room towards their booth. They all glanced at each other, worried about what was to come from their men. 

Luz grabbed a chair, dragging it from its respective spot and placed it in front of the lieutenants. He dropped himself into it, a look on his face that showed he knew he was going to get punched for whatever he was about to say. Lia narrowed his eyes and leaned back away from the table in preparation for the outspoken soldier. 

"Sorry to disrupt you conversation sir's and ma'am, but the boys and I," Luz spoke, turning to wave at the group behind him, "We were wondering if you'd indulge us in a little questionnaire, Lieutenant Creed."

The three lieutenants surrounding Lia turned to face her with raised eyebrows. "Depends what you're going to ask." She replied, her voice skeptical as she eyed each of the men. 

"Oh just a little true or false, that's all." Luz smiled broadly at the girl, hoping she wouldn't shoot him on the spot. "We just talked to some of the boy's in Vitale and they were saying some pretty crazy things." 

Lia took a deep breath, cursing her boys for entertaining the Easy Company soldiers with stories about herself. "Oh did they now?" She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head slightly. "You mind telling me their names?" 

Luz's eyes widened a fraction and spun around to glance at the men surrounding him. He turned back with a sly smile plastered across his face. "You know, I never did quite catch their names."

The boys fell into laughter, knowing exactly who they spoke to. Luz only shrugged his shoulders at Lia's raised eyebrows. "Alright, get on with it." She said, allowing the soldier ask his questions. 

"True or false." Luz began, leaning slightly across the table. "Did you really capture fourty-two Germans and a mortar crew with only a broad sword?" 

Speirs, Winters, and Welsh nearly fell out of their seats at the incredulous question. They turned and looked at her, half expecting Lia to say it was false. 

Lia closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip. She wasn't expecting her boys in Vitale to spill these kind of secrets. There were some things she did when she was young that were seen as 'crazy', and her beloved sword was at the top of the list. 

"It's true." 

"Okay, okay what was the line you said when Bailey asked how you captured them. They said you remember it word for word." Malarkey asked, leaning closer to the table. The Vitale boys did really tell them everything.  

Lia drew in a deep breath, recalling her exact words to Captain Bailey. "I maintain that, as long as you tell a German loudly and clearly what to do, if you are senior to him he will cry 'jawohl' and get on with it enthusiastically and efficiently whatever the situation."