In the year 1942 the US army officials opened up ot the public about a new regiment within the army, the paratroopers, they were said to be the men who would be dropped behind enemy lines from a plane and only the bravest men would sign up to take p...
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"It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." – J. K Rowling
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So far the women had been training for roughly 10 months since March of 1942. Meaning it was now 1943, January. All the women were preparing to finally earn their wings and be dubbed as true paratroopers as they will be jumping from the planes for the first time. Five times. It was safe to say all the girls were excited to start ending their training, they were excited to see where they ended up and where they would be fighting. Joyce sat on her bed combing through her hair with her legs cross.
Her fingers softly touched her blonde hair as she braided it before wrapping it round into a small bun on the lower back of her hair before she used bobby pins to keep her hair in place. Once she was done her hands grabbed onto the bottom of her pants and she smoothed them. It was a little habit she had, smoothing her hands on fabrics. A large smile was on her place as she watched the other girls get ready.
Within an hour they were sat on the floor, legs crossed in front of a man who was taking to them. Joyce stared at him with glee in her eyes as the huge grin never failed to leave her face. Her hands stroked over the strands of grass to help her pay attention to the guy who was talking over what they'd be doing.
"There will be a lot of women jumping from the sky today ladies, hopefully all under deployed canopies. You'll be jumping from 1,000 feet. It will be sticks of 12 in each aircraft. All you have to do is remember what you have been training for and what you've been taught. I guarantee gravity will take care of the rest. Ladies, rest assured, any refusals in the aircraft or at the door and I guarantee you will be out of the Airborne. Is that clear ?" His voice was stern.
"Yes sir." The girls all chorused.
The girls had packed their chutes the day before and were helping each other get strapped up together. Joyce helped Judith who seemed nervous, slightly biting her fingers as she looked at the two planes there. Joyce kept the large smile on her face and placed a comforting hand on Judiths shoulder.
"Don't be scared. We will be there. Right with you." Her words seemed to wash comfort through Judith who stopped biting at her fingers.
"Thank you Joy." Judith nodded.
As they sat in the planes Judith's leg began to bounce from the nerves, Joyce was sat next to her and softly placed a hand on her leg in comfort. Monique and Eileen sat across from the two and exchanged glances. It seemed everyone was completely riddled with nerves but yet they had been so so excited to do these jumps.
It was loud in the aircraft. The engines rumbled loudly making it hard to hear the person next to you without yelling as loud as your vocal chords would allow it. Air pushed through the aircraft from the open door as the plane sped through the sky.
"Get ready !" With that the girls grabbed hold of the hook and prepared to stand from their seats.
Joyce grabbed Judiths hand with a small squeeze.
"Stand up! Hook up!" The ladies and Lieutenant Kurn all stood up and attached their wires.
Joyce's eyes were wide as she clung to the rope attached to the hook to prevent her from falling flat on her arse in the plane. The short woman stood in front of her and the ginger behind her. She practically was almost jumping up and down in excitement as her giddiness began to take over her.
All her life she wanted to know what if felt like to fly, to feel the wind brush against your body as you rush through the sky. Finally she would get to feel it all. All the cool hair pushing at her body, wrapping itself around her skin and through her hair. Her mind was telling her to just push everyone out the door but she didn't listen.
"Equipment check!"
Any moment now.
"Sound off for equipment check."
Numbers began from the back of the line.
"Seven okay !" Eileen yelled from behind her before tapping her shoulder.
"Six okay !" Joyce almost squealed before roughly shaking Judiths shoulder.
"Five okay !" Judith carried it on.
Joyce's eyes scanned for the green light, finally it came on. Her eyes watched Lieutenant Kurn jump out. One by one the girls began jumping out. Judith stood in the door now waiting for the all clear and Joyce offered her one last squeeze on her arm before she was given the all clear. Then Judith jumped off. Joyce could feel the adrenaline pulsating through her. Then her all clear was given too, so she jumped.
Free falling for what seemed like forever but it was only a few seconds, it felt like a complete dream to the woman.
Within a few more days the five jumps had been completed and the girls had been awarded their parachutist badges. Joyce was over the moon excited.
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Their days at the camp were coming to an end so Lieutenant Kurn wanted to give the girls individual training one last time. He was currently with Judith in a field with her chosen gun. He was proud to see the small woman come so far in their 12 months of training hard together and him pushing her to her limits at some times. Now the small girl who didn't even rise above his shoulders was kicking his ass in hand to hand combat. Someone so much smaller than him was taking his whole body weight and flipping it over herself.
He felt the determination dripping off of her with every bullet she shot into the dummies set up for her. Aaron couldn't help but smile as he admired the work and effort she put into this training and how hard she was willing to work for it. On the dummies she could hit all the areas which would hurt most which was truly impressive. Though her shooting wasn't what made her entirely good, she was fast. That girl could run as fast as any of the other girls, even in her full equipment and she was sneaky too which would come in handy.
Next was Joyce, she was given hand to hand combat training too but damn was she a good medic. He was impressed with how quick she could diagnose an injury to be able to tend to a wound. It seemed like her mind raced with the different types of wounds and how to help tend to them. He also saw a fire in her eyes, like she was willing to risk her life to save those soldiers with wounds.
Monique was a highly skilled woman. Aaron was so impressed with how she was so sharp with her eyes. No other woman was as skilled as her, she was the only woman trained with a sniper. He had taught her to camouflage in any terrain. He had taught her she can hit any shot she tries to if she wants to, she just has to put her best into it.
Lastly was Eileen, she too was skilled with her aim. She never missed a shot, never hesitated and was willing to put herself in danger to save others around her. The girl had her walls up with a fire protecting them, he hoped whatever it was kept burning through out the war because it made her such a strong fighter. Aaron had a fear that if it went out she wouldn't be as good as she is.
