A Fight for Survival

A week of fun

Thought that it would be fun to show what they did and learned  for the week they were in Iowa

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September 2nd, 1942 - Fort Des Moines, Iowa (Wednesday)

Dawn broke over Fort Des Moines, painting the sky in hues of rose and gold. Inside the mess hall, a lone figure stirred. Dick Winters, his brow furrowed in thought, cradled a steaming mug of coffee. He glanced up, startled, as a soft voice broke the silence.

"Couldn't sleep either, huh?"

Molly, one of the elite "Hunters," stood before him, her presence a quiet surprise in the pre-dawn light.

Dick, momentarily flustered, offered a rare smile. "Just enjoying the quiet before the storm," he replied, gesturing to the empty benches.

Their quiet conversation was soon interrupted by the arrival of David Webster and Carwood Lipton, followed by a boisterous Andrew DeYoung. The day had begun.

The morning air vibrated with the energy of anticipation as Easy Company assembled at the stables. Molly, her movements as graceful and assured as the horses themselves, introduced the men to the fundamentals of horsemanship. Dick, his usual stoicism momentarily forgotten, watched with quiet intensity as Molly demonstrated the art of riding. Lipton, a natural athlete, took to the saddle with ease, while Doc Roe and Drew provided moments of comic relief with their less-than-graceful attempts. Sobel, however, remained stiff and apprehensive, his usual air of authority seemingly diminished in the presence of the powerful animals.

As the day wore on, a sense of camaraderie, unexpected and tentative, began to blossom between the battle-hardened soldiers and the elite female operatives. This fragile bond was solidified as evening descended, and the mess hall came alive with music.

Drew's, his face flushed with good humor, launched into a rousing rendition of "Drunken Sailor." LB baritone blended seamlessly with Andrew's tenor, and soon Alexis, her soprano voice clear and bright, joined the impromptu chorus. Then, Molly, her alto as smooth and captivating as ever, added the final layer of harmony.

The effect was electrifying. The entire mess hall, captivated by the music and the unexpected camaraderie, fell silent, every eye on the quartet. As the last notes faded, a smattering of applause broke out, followed by a wave of laughter and conversation. Dick, observing the scene with an uncharacteristic intensity, felt a pang of longing, a yearning for the easy camaraderie that seemed to bind the four singers.

September 3rd, 1942 - Fort Des Moines (Thursday)

The mood shifted as Alexis, her petite frame radiating an aura of quiet authority, took command of the training. Gone was the playful atmosphere of the previous day, replaced by the grim reality of the task at hand.

"Gentlemen," Alexis's voice, sharp and clear, cut through the morning air, "forget everything you think you know about fighting."

What followed was a grueling crash course in unconventional warfare. Molly, a master of stealth and cunning, schooled the men in the art of silent movement, camouflage, and ambush. She demonstrated how to exploit terrain, how to turn an enemy's strength against them, how to become invisible, leaving only chaos in their wake.

Most of the men, their respect for Alexis and Molly growing with each passing hour, embraced these new tactics. Sobel, however, remained stubbornly resistant, clinging to his outdated, by-the-book approach.

September 4th, 1942 - Fort Des Moines (Friday)

"The smell of gunpowder. One of my favorite smells," Molly remarked, her voice laced with a hint of dark humor, as they approached the shooting range.  Lipton chuckled. "You're one crazy woman."