“You know what, Frank?” A young soldier asks, his hair covered by his helmet but with eyes as pure as the sea they are sailing on. Gazing out to sea, he rests against the side of the destroyer he is riding.
“When we get back home, I want you to come visit sometime.”
His friend leans next to him in the same manner, surveying the horizon. His eyes are the opposite; they’re as brown as the earth they will soon be standing on.
“Only as long as you come visit me and my gal, Steve.” Frank reaches inside of his jacket, pulling out a square Polaroid picture of a beautiful young lady in her finest dress posing next to an apple tree. “This is where we first kissed.”
“She’s beautiful, Frank… What’s she doing with a guy like you?” They each break out into laughter, the sound of soldiers running behind them distracts their attention for a moment, drawing them back into the real world.
Steve reaches inside of his jacket pulling out a similar sized picture.
“Well. When I get back, the first thing I’m doing is going to marry her.”
Frank looks over at the stunning blonde in Steve’s arms, her head resting against this strong chest.
“And you say I’m batting out of my league.” As they give each other a light, playful shove, laughing at each other once more, a strong wave collides with the ships bow and rains down upon them like fairy dust.
“Do you mind if I ask… Why did you join when you have a dame like that waiting for you back home?” Frank asks, trying not to sound too intrusive.
“All of my friends were going and with all the talk that this was going to be big, I just wanted to do my part and help you know. I don’t want to kill anyone… I just, don’t want to see any one I care about die. you know? What about you?” Steve says, seeing the look on his friend’s face drop from an expression of pride proud to one of emptiness, seemingly having touched upon something dark and deeply personal.
“I had a brother and uh; he was involved in a bombing in London.”
“I’m sorry… I, I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay, you never asked. It sounds strange, but I think this is what he would have done if our roles were reversed. And doing it makes me feel closer to him.”
“I understand, I think anyone I know would do the same thing.”
Out over the horizon, a long stretch of land begins to appear; it’s not much, but they each know it’s their destination.
Steve’s eyes light up as he slaps the top of Frank’s helmet – a little harder than anticipated but still grabbing his attention nonetheless. “I wouldn’t get very far to finding you after this, you’ve never told me where you live and I don’t fancy walking around Chicago shouting out your name for a day.”
“Well with that in mind,” Frank gives Steve a clout around his helmet – not as hard as he got hit but enough to knock the helmet over his eyes. “Neither have you, I don’t want to get lost in Brooklyn.”
Steve fixes his helmet back on to his head and begins patting down his pockets, searching for something. “I know I have one somewhere,” he says, searching lower down his body to his legs. Thrusting his hand inside his leg pocket, he pulls out a small pencil and begins writing on the back of his picture. Having understood his intentions, Frank rummages around for his pencil, finding it in his top pocket and begins writing on the back of his. After they each finish writing Steve holds out his picture and says, “Look after Jenny for me.” Frank takes it from him gratefully, handing his picture over in the same manner. “As long as you look after my Claire.”
“Sergeants!” A man cries out to them, causing them to spin round and immediately stand to attention. “It’s almost time, prepare your men.”
“Yes, sir.” They state in unison, receiving a salute as their caommanding officer leaves.
Lowering their hands, the reality of what they are about to attempt begins to sink in. Nothing like this has been done in the history of man and they are at the forefront of it all.
“We’re going to be all right, aren’t we?” Steve asks, looking out at the vast armada of ships behind them, each one filled with soldiers just like them; all thinking the same thing.
“We’ve trained for this, we know what we’re doing. Look after your men and they’ll look after you.” Frank responds almost robotically, without a hint of hesitation, nerves of steel. Glancing behind them at what was previously nothing more than a finger’s width a few minutes ago has almost tripled in size.
“I’ll see you there, Sargent.”
“I’ll be waiting, Sargent.” Steve reaches out and shakes Frank’s hand, for what they hope will not be the last time.
“Look out Omaha, here we come!” Steve jokes.
“They won’t know what hit them.” Frank replies as they walk off.
Both men head inside the ship, equal in terror and in pride.
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