Chapter Text
June 6, 1942
Camp Toccoa, Georgia
6 p.m. Eastern Time
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Claire let out a deep sigh as she put her luggage on top of her bed and began to unpack. She felt a sense of unease settle over her. The stares from the other soldiers became more intense, and whispers followed her every move. She knew that being the only woman in their midst would draw attention, but the hostility in their eyes was unnerving. She tried to ignore it, focusing instead on organizing her belongings and settling into her new surroundings.
Back outside, as Grant walked away, the reality of his vulnerability set in. He had never felt such a strong connection with someone before, and it scared him.
"I can't believe I actually did that," he groaned, "I must've sounded so stupid to her!"
Grant's mind was filled with self-doubt as he replayed his conversation with Claire over and over again. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had put himself out there too much, revealing more of himself than he had ever intended. It was a side of him that he rarely showed to anyone, let alone a stranger.
As he made his way back to his group of friends, the weight of his decisions and actions settled heavily on his shoulders. He cringed at the memory of his clumsy attempt at humor, wondering if it had fallen flat or made her think less of him. Maybe he had come across as too eager, too desperate to make a connection.
"I barely know her," he muttered to himself, frustration etched on his face. "What was I thinking, opening up to her like that?" He ran a hand through his sweaty hair in exasperation.
Grant rejoined his friends, hoping their camaraderie would distract him from the doubts swirling in his mind. They were still huddled in a group near the edge of the camp. As soon as they saw him approaching, they broke out into raucous laughter.
"There he is, Romeo himself!" Luz shouted.
"Looks like Grant found himself a lady friend," Malarkey teased.
"Well, well, well, Grant, you sly dog. I didn't know you had it in you!" Talbert exclaimed, throwing his arm around Grant's shoulders.
Liebgott, always quick with a witty remark, chimed in, "So, Grant, when's the wedding?"
The group erupted into laughter again, causing Grant's cheeks to turn a shade of crimson. He rolled his eyes but couldn't help but chuckle along with them.
"Yeah, yeah, very funny," Grant replied, shaking his head.
"He's giving Tab, here, a run for his money," Guarnere joked, nudging Talbert in the side.
"Never, I'm the real ladies' man," Talbert quipped back, shoving Guarnere.
"Alright, enough already," Toye chimed in, sensing Grant's discomfort. "Let the poor guy breathe."
"Thank you, Toye," Grant said, "See, this is why Toye is my favorite out of all of you."
Grant's friends erupted into playful protests, each vying for the title of his favorite.
Talbert chimed in again, nudging Grant with a smirk. "You've got it pretty bad, huh?"
"Tab..." Grant rolled his eyes, "What are you talking about? I just met her today. It's not like that."
Liebgott raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, come on, Grant. You practically sprinted after her. Don't try to deny it."
Grant tried to play off his feelings, "Maybe I was just being a good Samaritan. We're all new here; we don't know each other. I was just tryna help. No need to read too much into it."
Guarnere elbowed Luz, "Are you hearing this guy?"
Luz nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Who? Hollywood over here? California's finest? Yeah, Golden Boy's fooling no one."
"So," Talbert piped up once more, "When are you gonna introduce us to her?" he asked flirtatiously.
"Jesus, the girl just got here. She doesn't need you Neanderthals harassing her," Grant snapped back defensively, "Besides, I'd be afraid of what you'd say to her."
"I'll try and behave myself," Talbert winked," But, I can't make any promises."
In the meantime, Claire focused on unpacking her belongings and making herself at home. Yet, despite her best efforts to ignore the intense gazes from others, she couldn't shake off the discomfort. She could practically feel their eyes scanning her body, inspecting every detail of her appearance.
She turned her attention next to her to see Roe quickly setting up his bed and organizing his belongings.
He appeared to be a quiet, reserved man with fair skin and jet-black hair. As Claire watched him, she noticed that he, too, seemed uneasy. She tried to gauge his reaction to her arrival, but his face remained neutral. Roe glanced over at Claire, his eyes flickering between her and their adjacent beds. He seemed to be considering something before finally approaching her.
He stood up from his bed and walked over to Claire, a hesitant smile on his face. "I'm Eugene. Eugene Roe," he said, extending a hand towards her. He had a thick Cajun accent, which added a touch of charm to his introduction.
Claire returned his handshake, noting the softness of his grip. "Nice to meet you, Eugene. I'm Claire," she replied with a warm smile.
Eugene's eyes sparkled with relief as he let out a small sigh. "Pleasure to meet you, Claire," he replied in the softest of whispers.
"I heard you're also a medic," Claire began, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Yes, that's right," Eugene replied, "I must admit, it's a bit of a relief to finally meet another medic."
Claire smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as well. "How long have you been here?" she asked.
"I only got here a couple of hours ago, not long after Grant," Eugene admitted, his eyes glancing around the room nervously.
Claire sighed in relief, "Okay, so at least I'm not the only one who got here today."
"No, you're definitely not alone," he reassured her, "Basic training starts tomorrow, so most people actually got here this morning."
Claire nodded, a bond forming between her and Eugene; he reminded her of herself. She could tell that he was genuine, kind-hearted, and just as nervous as she was about the challenges that lay ahead. There was something undeniably attractive about his modesty and the way he carried himself with quiet confidence, "I think you and I will make a great team. We'll stick together and help each other out."
Claire was surprised by her own admission; she had made a vow to stay closed off, to protect herself from getting hurt. But, there was something about Eugene that made her want to trust him, to let down her walls.
As the words left her lips, a genuine smile spread across Eugene's face. His eyes lit up with gratitude, and he nodded in agreement. "I couldn't have said it better myself. We'll make quite the team, you and I."
"Do you wanna go for a walk with me? You know, find everything, get familiar with the camp." Claire asked.
Eugene's eyes lit up with enthusiasm at the suggestion. "I'd love to," he replied, eager to explore their new surroundings. Together, they ventured out of the crowded barracks and into the open air.
The air was still humid in the early evening, the sun casting a golden glow over the camp.
As they walked side by side, Claire noticed her once black heels were now dusty gray from the dirt paths. "My mom's not gonna be happy when I send these back home," Claire laughed.
Eugene chuckled, his soft Cajun drawl adding a musical quality to his laughter. "Well, Claire, I reckon your mom will just have to forgive you for getting a little dirt on those fancy shoes of yours."
"Changing out this skirt and blouse combo for PT gear, I suppose." Claire shrugged.
The pair kept walking along the paths, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Claire found herself opening up to Eugene, sharing stories from her life back home, while he listened attentively and shared snippets of his own experiences growing up in Louisiana. She could tell they were going to be inseparable already.
"You know," Claire began, "I feel like I've known you my whole life. And we've known each other what? Twenty minutes, if that?"
Eugene smiled, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. "It's funny how some people just have that effect on you, isn't it? It's like we were destined to meet here at this very moment."
But, much to Claire's dismay, they soon came upon the group of boys she had a run-in with earlier. "Don't make eye contact, Eugene. Just keep walking." Claire whispered urgently, pulling him along with a tight grip on his arm.
"Why? What happened?" Eugene asked, sensing Claire's uneasiness.
Her eyes darted around nervously as she spoke, and she unconsciously picked up her pace, her feet pounding against the ground in a hurried rhythm. "It's a long story. I'll explain later," she managed to say between breaths.
"You know, for being in heels, you sure can move in them," Eugene chuckled as he tried to keep up with her.
"Yeah, and I won't be afraid to use them as a weapon," She mumbled under her breath, drawing a small laugh from Eugene.
"Hey, is that her?" Talbert shouted.
Claire rolled her eyes and groaned. She instinctively clutched Eugene's arm, her grip tightening.
"No, Tab. She's one of the five hundred other girls here," Guarnere sneered.
"No need to be a smartass, Bill," Talbert replied. "But, is that her?" he asked again.
Grant sighed in defeat, "Uh...yeah, that's her."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Introduce us!" Luz bellowed, clapping Grant on the back.
Grant shook his head, "I'm not gonna bother her. She's talking with someone."
"Well, if you don't, then I will!" Talbert yelled back as he ran off towards Claire.
"Tab!" Grant shouted.
"You know, you can't hide us from her. We're gonna meet her anyways." Malarkey pointed out to Grant.
Grant rolled his eyes, "Yeah, obviously, but Tab hitting on her isn't going to help, that's for sure," he replied as he sprinted after Talbert.
Claire was practically running away by now, with Eugene hot on her heels. They heard running footsteps behind them and Claire sighed in defeat, knowing it was inevitable that the boys would catch up to them. Eugene and Claire shared a knowing glance before turning to watch Talbert and Grant approaching them. Grant looked at Claire sympathetically, bracing himself for whatever Talbert had to say.
"You know, I was feeling a little off today, but you've turned me on again!" Talbert exclaimed, a smirk on his face.
Claire, amused, tried to stifle a laugh, putting her hands on her hips, while Eugene winced at Talbert's attempt at a pick-up line.
"Oh my God..." Grant muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"The name's Floyd Talbert," he continued on, "You must be Claire. Grant, here, hasn't shut up about you. And from what I see, he's not wrong; you ARE gorgeous!
Claire couldn't help but blush slightly under Talbert's compliment, especially at the mention of Grant. To think that Grant had already been talking about her to his friends was surprising, yet oddly endearing. Floyd Talbert was good-looking, no doubt about it, and she found herself flattered by his words, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. It wasn't every day that someone approached her with such confidence and admiration.
"NO. CLAIRE, STOP. THIS IS NOT WHY YOU'RE HERE!" she internally screamed at herself.
Grant, on the other hand, could feel his face growing warm with embarrassment. "Please ignore him, Claire," Grant said apologetically. "Apparently, he's always like this."
Her eyes lingered on Grant as he spoke. There was something charming about Grant's blushing cheeks and his genuine concern for her. She noticed the way his brow furrowed as he tried to distance himself from Talbert's antics and the way his eyes softened when he looked back at her.
"Nice to meet you, Floyd," she replied, extending her hand for a handshake. "But I think Grant exaggerated a bit. I'm just an ordinary girl."
Talbert took Claire's hand and brought it to his lips, placing a light kiss on her knuckles. "Oh, I highly doubt that," he said with a wink.
Grant's jaw dropped as he observed Talbert laying on the charm. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, knowing that this was just Talbert's way of getting to know Claire. Grant had learned to expect the unexpected from his friend, and it seemed that everyone else was finding out the same thing.
"You know, Floyd," Claire said, a small smile playing on her lips, "I must say, your confidence is quite impressive. I am truly flattered. I guess meeting people like you three is a good start to my new life here."
"Well, Claire, I think we'll get along just fine. Talbert grinned widely, clearly pleased with his own charms. "And, with that, I'll be seeing you around." he winked at Claire once more and walked away, leaving Grant with her and Eugene.
Claire voiced her thoughts, "What the hell was that?" she laughed. Eugene raised an eyebrow and exchanged a concerned glance with Claire.
"I am so sorry about him, Claire," Grant apologized, "He can be a...character."
Claire's expression softened as she reached out and placed her hand on Grant's arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. "He's harmless." she smiled, "Besides, it's refreshing to meet someone like Talbert. He adds a certain...color to this place."
I'm glad you see it that way," Grant replied, a twinkle in his eyes. "Though I can't promise that he won't try to charm you again at some point," he grinned before walking away.
"You okay?" Eugene asked, placing a hand on Claire's shoulder.
"That was...something else, wasn't it?" Claire replied, still laughing slightly, "Let's keep walking."
"And that's how it's done!" Talbert's chest puffed out with pride as he strode towards the rest of their group, a smug smile on his face. Guarnere gave Talbert a playful shove, teasing him about his attempt at wooing Claire.
"I swear, Tab, you're something else," Grant chuckled, shaking his head.
"I like it when they play hard to get," Talbert said with a flirtatious tone in his voice, "I'm gonna get that girl by the time we go to war."
"You know she has a name, right?" Grant quipped, rolling his eyes.
Talbert paused for a moment, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Of course, I know her name, Grant. Claire. A name as beautiful as she is."
As Grant watched Claire and Eugene walking away, he smiled to himself, feeling his affection for her grow with each passing moment. He knew that he wanted to get to know her better, to understand her thoughts, her fears, her dreams. But, for now, he kept his feelings to himself, knowing that he had a long way to go before he could truly earn her trust.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed when Luz approached him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sweat it, Grant," Luz said with a knowing smile. "Tab might have made quite the impression on Claire, but she'll see through all of that eventually."
Grant sighed, trying to hide the turmoil within him. "I hope so," he murmured softly.
Luz leaned closer, his voice filled with wisdom beyond his years. "You've got something different, my friend. Talbert may know how to turn on the charm, but you...you've got the kind of genuine, steady presence that's rare to find," he said. "And I think that matters more than any flashy antics. You're the kind of guy that Claire will trust and rely on when the going gets tough. Talbert might be the life of the party, but it's people like you who make the party worth attending."
Grant couldn't help but smile at Luz's words, although he was still uncertain about his own feelings towards Claire. He knew that he had a lot to learn about her and that he needed to be patient.
Later on that day, Easy Company had their first meal together in the mess hall. Claire was sitting at a table with Eugene, Alley, Shifty Powers, and Skinny Sisk.
Claire was trying to reconcile her feelings as well. Although she felt flattered by the attention and compliments from both Talbert and Grant, she couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the situation. And, of course, her table was right across from them.
"Great," she thought, "This oughta be fun."
It also didn't help that Talbert kept winking at her. She glanced around the mess hall, taking in the sea of males who were seemingly gazing at her from across the room. Some looked more interested than others, but she couldn't shake off that feeling of unease.
"What? Have they not seen a female before?" she thought.
Claire was glad that the boys she was sitting with didn't seem to mind her presence and were even engaging her in conversation, making her feel a bit more comfortable in the male-dominated environment. But, her eyes were drawn to Grant. His presence seemed to radiate a warmth that was inviting and comforting.
Eugene leaned closer to her, "You okay?"
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm fine," Claire replied, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness, "Just overwhelmed, I suppose."
"You sure? You seem really uncomfortable," Eugene asked, concern etched on his face.
Claire sighed, "Well, I mean, look around, Eugene. It's a bit of a sausage fest."
Eugene chuckled, "Yeah, you've got a point there. But, don't worry, Claire. I'll protect you from the horde of testosterone," he winked at her.
Claire smiled gratefully at Eugene, "My hero." His lightheartedness eased her tension, even if only for a moment. The mess hall buzzed with the clatter of trays and the boisterous chatter of soldiers, but amidst the chaos, she found solace in his presence beside her.
Alley nudged Claire's shoulder, "Hey, don't worry about those horned-up fools across from us. Roe's right, we've got your back."
The rest of dinner was uneventful, as the conversation at their table flowed easily. Eugene and the others made Claire feel like an equal, not just a girl in a sea of boys—until she heard a rather unpleasant conversation from the table across from her.
"How much do you want to bet that she slept with some higher-up in order to get here?" Guarnere asked his companions at the table.
Grant looked up at him, surprised and disapproving, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and protectiveness. "What?" he asked.
"I mean, come on, Chuck." Guarnere continued, "Do you really think the army just let her join? She must've spread her legs for someone important."
Claire almost wanted to bust out laughing at Guarnere's absurd accusation, "That's funny," She thought, "Considering you're talking about a girl who hasn't even had her first kiss yet."
"What are you talking about?" Toye interjected. Liebgott and Talbert started laughing, but the rest of the table remained silent.
"Jesus, Bill, she could hear you!" Grant hissed at him.
"So?" Guarnere shrugged, "Why do you care anyways?"
"Because she's one of us, that's why. We're all here fighting the same damn war," Grant's voice was steady, but there was an undeniable intensity behind his words. The atmosphere at the table grew heavy as Grant's words hung in the air. "She volunteered to be here, just like we all did. She left behind everything she knew, just like we all did. She's not a plaything for someone's twisted fantasies. She's a soldier, just like we all will be."
Toye, Liebgott, Talbert, Malarkey, Luz, and even Guarnere all went silent. The weight of Grant's words settled over the table, each man reflecting on their own thoughts.
Eugene placed his hand on Claire's shoulder, "See, Claire, we've got your back."
She nodded as she placed her hand on top of Eugene's on her shoulder. She met Grant's gaze and mouthed a 'thank you' to him. Grant nodded in response, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After dinner, Claire and Eugene returned to Second Platoon's barracks, their steps in sync and casually bumping shoulders with each other, already inseparable on their first day together. Claire had given up on trying to keep her heels clean and was now carrying them, walking barefoot in the soft grass of the field.
"You doing okay, Claire?" he asked softly, "Dinner was a little rough."
Claire paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to collect her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm alright," she replied with a grateful smile. "Thanks to you, Alley and Grant, I feel like I have a support system here. It means a lot to me."
Eugene smiled warmly. "Always, Claire. We're a team now, remember? We look out for each other."
As they approached the barracks, the voices of their fellow soldiers grew louder, blending together into a chaotic symphony of laughter and banter. Claire slipped her heels back on as Eugene held the door for her, "After you, mademoiselle," he said with a playful smile.
Claire made her way to her bed between Grant's and Eugene's, her footsteps echoing across the room as she moved through the space. Soldiers were scattered about, some huddled together playing cards, others polishing their boots or lazily flipping through magazines.
Grant was lying on his stomach, reading some sort of sports magazine, deeply engrossed in the baseball section. His brows furrowed in concentration as he scanned the pages. It was almost as if he was back home, with the warm summer breeze rustling through the leaves and the crack of the bat echoing through the air.
"It just goes to show," Claire thought, "How much we all leave behind when we join this fight. How young we really are."
"Whatcha reading? Joe DiMaggio's winning home runs?" Claire teased.
Grant looked over at her, laughing, "God, no. Not since he left the Seals and went to the Yankees. Only the LA Angels for me."
"Ooh, touchy subject," Claire muttered, settling down on her bed, instinctively tucking her legs under her as she kicked off her heels again. "You know, my home city is the home of one of the best teams, in my opinion," she grinned mischievously, "The Tigers."
"Ooh, Claire, those are some fightin' words," Skip Muck called out from across the room.
"Actually," Claire piped up, "None of the boys are playing baseball these days. The ladies are taking charge."
Grant raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ladies taking charge? What are you talking about?"
Claire leaned back against her bed, crossing her arms. "Oh, you haven't heard? I'm quite surprised. Supposedly, while the men are at war, we ladies are playing in their place. There's an all-girl league in the making, my friend."
Grant's curiosity piqued as he leaned in closer, setting his magazine aside. "An all-girl league? You mean, like a professional baseball league?" he asked, his eyes wide with interest.
"Now, you've got it!" Claire exclaimed.
"So, when does this league start?" Grant asked.
"They're still in the early stages of planning, but from what I've heard, it won't be long before they start recruiting players. Probably next year."
"So, are you a baseball fanatic or something?" Grant quipped back.
"Me? Oh, God, no, I don't even know how to play!" Claire laughed, shaking her head. "But, I am a fan of breaking rules and boundaries. Hell, that's why I'm here with all of you." Claire reached into her footlocker, got a pad of paper, and began writing a letter to her mother about her arrival at Camp Toccoa.
Dear Mom,
I finally arrived at Camp Toccoa today after the long-as-hell train ride, and let me tell you, it is unlike anything I have ever seen before. The camp is situated in the heart of the Georgia woods, surrounded by a majestic forest that stretches as far as the eye can see and a large hill, nearly as tall as a mountain.
When I first arrived, I met a boy my age named James Alley right outside the entrance. He's tall and lean with dark brown hair and brown eyes; he's handsome. He and I walked in together after both voicing our nervousness about the future.
Once inside, I encountered a group of rowdy boys and knew they would be trouble. They started causing a raucous, whistling, cat-calling, immature foolishness if you ask me. There were seven in the group, to be exact. So, knowing me, I walked over and stood up for myself. I figured I'm on my own here. Who's going to stand up for me? Anyway, after I told them off, I walked away with Alley. But, much to our dismay, one of the boys, Joe Liebgott, called him back to the group, I guess to ask about me or something.
As I kept walking, I suddenly heard footsteps running toward me, and I thought, "Oh, great. Now what?" But when I turned around, it was one of the boys that wasn't acting like a fool. His name is Charles Grant and he's from California. He's got these bright blue eyes, sandy-brown hair neatly side-parted, not a hair out of place. I will be frank with you, Mom, my immediate reaction was, "Oh my God! He's drop-dead gorgeous!" He looks like a movie star right out of a magazine! I think you'd like him.
Claire couldn't contain her laughter as she wrote the last sentence.
"What's so funny?" Grant asked, lying on his stomach, propping himself up on his elbows.
Claire's attention snapped to him, but unable to look him in the eyes, "Oh, nothing, just writing a letter to my parents. We're very close."
But, I had to remind myself that this isn't why I'm here. I didn't give in and asked what he wanted. And he told me, "I just wanted to apologize on behalf of my friends. They're idiots and shouldn't have acted that way. I wasn't impressed, though, and I asked him why they weren't apologizing. He said that he felt his apology would be more sincere. He offered to show me where check-in was. As we walked along, we talked about where we were from. Once he showed me the office to check in, I walked in, leaving him outside. But, guess what, Mom? He waited for me.
In the office, I met two of my commanding officers, Lieutenants Winters and Nixon. Lieutenant Nixon seems like a fun time, a good person to go out partying with. When I left the office, I now had a stack of gear piled high above my head. Grant offered to help, and, at first, I told him I could handle it. But, something about him made me give in and eventually let him help me.
I thanked him and explained my reasoning for saying 'no' at first. He asked me what platoon I was in, and it turns out we're both in second. He and I walked along over to the barracks, casually talking. He had gotten here just this morning and was still as lost as I was. I told him he didn't need to wait for me back at check-in and that I could have made it around myself, but he told me he wanted to. That was shocking. I don't think any boy has shown me that kindness before.
Inside the barracks, there was one bed left, ironically between his and another medic's. After he left, I noticed the other medic and he introduced himself to me. His name is Eugene Roe. He's half Cajun, from Louisiana, a true southern boy. He has jet-black hair and dark blue eyes; he's very cute. I felt a real connection starting right there. I could tell we would be inseparable. I offered him to go on a walk with me to get familiar with the area. I have to say, Mom, our conversation flowed effortlessly, like we had known each other for years.
On our walk, we ran back into Grant and his group, much to my dismay. One of the boys, Floyd Talbert, used this horrible pick-up line that made me want to bust out laughing right there. He even kissed my hand after introducing himself! I noticed, though, that it made Grant a tad uncomfortable.
Later on that day at dinner, I was sitting with Eugene and Alley when I heard an unpleasant conversation across from our table at Grant and his friend's. One of the men, Bill Guarnere, suggested that I had slept my way to the top in order to get here. Can you believe that? I nearly fell off the bench! And the best part was that Grant stood up for me and told him off. Again, I was in shock!
After dinner, we all returned to our barracks, and here I am writing to you. Grant and I just finished a riveting conversation about the all-girls baseball league that's starting soon. He's supposedly a baseball fanatic, but never heard about it? Anyway, tell Dad we've got an LA Angels fan on our hands!
Tomorrow basic training starts. I'm nervous, but I knew what I was getting into. I'll write to you again tomorrow night and tell you how it went. Wish me luck!
Love always,
Claire
With a heavy sigh, Claire meticulously folded the letter and slipped it into a plain white envelope. She quickly stashed the envelope in her footlocker, hiding it away from anyone who might try to snoop.
She tiptoed to the cramped bathroom, to change into her sleepwear and clean her makeup off. She then climbed the small bunk, laying her head down on the pillow, hoping for a peaceful night's sleep despite the unknowns of the next morning. Just as she was about to close her eyes, Claire heard a sleepy voice coming from the adjacent bed.
"Goodnight, Claire."
And that first 'goodnight' would be one of many said to Claire for years to come.
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