Pitschen ma en gamba - Small, but powerful [A Band of Brothers Story]

Camp Mackall and the S.S. Samaria

A few months later, the company was sent to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. Now, the focus was on manoeuvres. Unfortunately for everybody, Sobel proved to be thoroughly incompetent in the field.

Ella was squatting next to Gene and watched the Captain as he beckoned Petty over to consult the map. She traded a frustrated glance with her fellow medic and rolled her eyes.

"We're in the wrong position!", she heard Sobel hiss. Great. Fantastic. They looked on as Winters came up to their CO and discussed the situation quietly.

Apparently, Sobel gave him a direct order, because he then whispered: "2nd Platoon, move out! Tactical column!"

"He can't be serious", Ella muttered to Gene as they got up. He shrugged, just as lost.

They didn't get too far. After only a few steps, the 'enemy' team popped up from the ground, weapons trained on them.

The drill leader came up to Easy company, announcing gravely: "Captain, you have just been killed, along with 95 % of your company." His pencil hovered above the clipboard in his hand. "Your outfit?"

Sobel gave him the information, after which the instructor ordered: "Leave three wounded men on the ground and report back to the assembly area."

As Sobel picked out the three men, the two medics traded another glance, this time filled with unease. What if this happened in the field?

Ella shared her worry with Gene that evening. "There isn't much we can do about it", he said, toying absent-mindedly with his fork. "We do our job, that's all there is."

The girl nodded, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. She would have to cut it again soon, it kept growing like crazy. "I know. And I know we can't stop the guys from getting hurt. But I'm afraid if he stays our CO, it won't be long till there's nobody left who needs us."

Gene sighed deeply. He was thinking the same thing.

***

Soon, they were moving out again. 1st Platoon had gotten a new leader after Nixon had transferred to Battalion Intelligence; Lieutenant Harry Welsh.

Ella wasn't entirely sure what she thought of the man, but he seemed nice enough. And he didn't give her any trouble for being a woman. When he'd first been introduced to the men, he had walked up to her and shaken her hand.

"Nice to finally put a face to the name. I've read a lot about you, Sergeant Sawyer", he'd said.

"Sir?", she had questioned, unsure what he was referring to.

"Oh, your name has been in the papers quite a few times now. But don't worry, they have no idea what they are talking about."

Ella had nodded and watched him go. She knew she'd been in the papers a few times, but she'd figured that they had lost interest by now. Were they still saying the same things about her? She would have to find out.

And find out she did. The same day, when Vest was doing mail call, she received a letter from her mother. Filled with the most recent newspaper articles about her. Because they were in a hurry to pack and leave, Ella tucked the letter into her pocket to read later on.

They were loading their bags onto the trucks and waiting to leave. Ella was chatting to Martin and Guarnere, fiddling with her now shorter hair. It was still long enough so that she could put it up in a ponytail or bun, but as it reached just past her chin, she could even wear it down without getting yelled at by Sobel. It didn't touch her collar, after all.