We'll Meet Again (Babe Heffron x OC)

3

CAMP TOCCOA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 27, 1941

***

"Whelan, I presume?"

I snapped to attention and saluted who could only be Colonel Sink and stood at ease when he gave the order.

"You're the only female to make it this far. How do you feel?" he asked, looking at my file.

"Good, sir. I know I earned it."

"Good, good. Because of your extensive aviation knowledge, I'd like to send you to Fort Benning. While there I recommended you to learn how to fly various other aircraft for the Airborne. With that, I have promoted you to Sergeant. Following that training, you will come back to Toccoa in July 1942 for paratroop training. I leave today for Fort Benning, and you're coming with me. Any questions?"

"Two questions, sir. The first, are we flying?"

"Yes. What's your second question?"

"Can I fly the plane?"

Colonel Sink chuckled and led me to the transport.

"Welcome to the Airborne, Sergeant Whelan."

***

FORT BENNING GEORGIA. JANUARY 5TH 1942

***

Dear Maggie,

I miss you a whole bunch and I wish I could be with you on your birthday. Maybe when you graduate training and you get leave you can visit? We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Your papa misses you terribly and often speaks to everyone he meets about you, even if they already know who you are. There have been many news articles written about you. A lot I've read are very scathing and say the nastiest things about you, but I know they aren't true. The ones in our neighborhood love you! You're famous, Maggie.

I love you with all my heart. We'll meet again.

Yours truly,

Edward Heffron.

***

I finished reading Ed's letter and began folding it back together when one of my roommates, Lewis Nixon, snatched it from my hands. I laughed at his antics; His personality would be nice when we made it to training at Toccoa. Nixon, along with Dick Winters were here in Benning attending officer candidate school. Since we were going to be headed to the same unit after leaving here they housed us together. Both of them were a little surprised I wasn't recommended for OCS, but I chalked it all up to being the first female in the airborne. Nixon came from NYC, the son of wealthy parents who owned a nitration works place in New Jersey. Despite his upbringing, Nix was a personable and good young man, often keeping other male officers off my back. Both were good officer candidates and were already helping me excel in the classes I was taking.

"Nixon, give it back!" I shouted, trying to snatch the paper from him.

"No, that's LIEUTENANT Nixon to you!" he laughed, running around the barracks to evade me.

"You're not an officer yet, CANDIDATE Nixon."

"Dick, our girl over here has a boyfriend! You have a picture of him?" he asked, jogging back to my bunk and plopping down across from me.

"Really? Nothing about the fact that it's my birthday?" I replied, withdrawing the picture of Ed and I from my breast pocket.

"Happy Birthday!" Lew pounced on me, giving me a huge hug.