A Soldier of No Importance [ Band of Brothers ] 1

FORTY FOUR

June 4th, 1944

RAF Airfield, Upottery, England

The past five days had been endless meetings and briefings. The days of physical training gone, instead the focus remained on memorizing the plan for the invasion. Nixon had been the one to outline the plan, called Operation Overlord, for the officers of the 506th. Alice had then helped Meehan explain it to Easy. Simply put, the American paratroopers would jump into Normandy.

Normandy. Ever since learning that Normandy had been confirmed officially as the invasion point, she'd been in a state of general displeasure. It got to the point where very few people willingly approached her. Speirs didn't care at all, and spent two nights joining her for a smoking break at the end of the day of work. Nixon, too, sought her out when he could. Of the enlisted, George and Gene were least intimidated by her sour mood.

But as the morning dawned on June 4th, her snappy edge only increased. They'd be getting in the airplanes to jump that night, at 2300 hours. No more waiting, no more hesitation. No more chances to apologize, to change her actions. That last realization hit her hardest.

Though she and Bill Guarnere had returned to being friends, to laughing and joking, Alice had never quite been able to shake her hesitation, her borderline fear, of letting Guarnere get close again. Friends, but not family, she reasoned with herself. And as she looked over the massive tarmac airfield of the Royal Air Force, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon, she knew that needed to change. And, as much as it terrified her, the only way she saw it changing was if she told Guarnere exactly what she'd been feeling.

The men had the day off until noon, when they'd begin jump preparations. Even as Alice walked through the rows of C-47 aircraft, their massive frames casting shadows that stretched almost endlessly, she tried to calm her jittering nerves. How she felt more scared to talk to Bill Guarnere about how hurt she'd been than she felt jumping into enemy occupied Normandy almost made her laugh. But she didn't.

Easy Company had been grouped by squads and platoons. They each had a tent, some sleeping bags, and that was about it. Her feet hit the mushy grass as she left the air strip. Rows upon rows of endless tents loomed in front of her. She steered in the direction of Second Platoon.

A mixture of relief and fear crashed over her as she found Guarnere standing outside his tent, smoking with Johnny Martin and George Luz. Johnny just shook his head as the other two snickered over something.

"Good morning," Alice said, voice shaking ever so slightly.

"Hey, morning Lieutenant," teased George. "Thought we'd go another day with you holed up with the other officers."

Alice huffed. Shaking her head, she shuffled in place a few feet from them. "How are you feeling?"

"Ready to shoot some krauts," Guarnere joked.

Johnny rolled his eyes. Nevertheless, the tiniest of smiles betrayed his amusement. "The men are ready, Alice. Are you happy to be going home?"

"Only took you two years," said George.

She hummed for a moment. "I'm not sure, to be honest. We won't find France the way I'd like to find it, I'm sure." Then she hesitated. "I don't mean to interrupt your early morning chat. But, Bill, I need you to come with me."

They all looked at her in confusion. But he didn't object, just shrugged. Alice led the way back towards the air strip. As soon as her feet hit the tarmac, she paused. The sun had risen a bit more, and soldiers had started meandering about.