UPDATED 05/11/2022.

* * *

The train ride was a long and lonely one to Georgia. Madison had sat by herself, no man daring enough to sit next to her. Either they were scared of her (which she highly doubted), or maybe it was because she was a woman (girl, she mentally corrected herself). She had no clue.

Throughout the ride to Georgia, Madison stared out the window to watch the scenery. Before being relocated to Toccoa, Madison had rarely been out of Ohio. The only time she would leave the state was when she would go down to Alabama to see her father's brother and his family. The last time that happened was probably two, almost three, years ago. Her father would drive (nonstop, of course. If you're a Klein you never stop to rest. You kept on going until you arrived at your destination.) the family down to the southern state and the only thing Madison could really remember was either she was talking to her sister or she slept the whole way down to Alabama. This time, though, she decided to stop and smell the roses. Who knew if she'll ever get the chance to do so again.

Madison also took the time to write. Madison had gone to visit her grandparents the day before she had left. Madison's grandfather had given her a journal to write in. He had told her that whenever she would write in it, she would feel much better about it afterwards. She really wouldn't know what he meant by that until she was deployed to Europe, facing the horrors of war.

Madison got off the train in Toccoa and hopped on a bus that would take her to basic training, Camp Toccoa. As Madison came closer to her designation, she grew more anxious. She had never been separated from her family like this before. Would the company she was assigned to like her? What if they didn't want a girl to travel around with them? Would they try to do something to her?

That was the moment when Madison understood why her father was upset that she was leaving to be with a bunch of men. Oh, God, what was going to happen to her?

* * *

"You're Klein?" Colonel Sink asked her.

"Yes, sir," Madison replied, her voice somewhat wavering. She was really hoping that the Colonel couldn't tell that she was scared shitless, because she was terrified.

"You're Madison E. Klein?" the colonel repeated.

"Yes, sir, I am." Madison repeated.

"Do you know why I am asking you this, Klein?"

Madison took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, sir, I do."

It was that the people who had her papers switched up. It turns out that she just wouldn't be Easy Company's nurse. It seemed to be that she signed up to be a part of the paratroopers and be the in the field. She would be a combat medic. They would put her directly out in the field, which was something that she didn't sign up for! How in the hell could this ever happen? Damn her parents for giving her a boy's name.

"Now, I'm not sure how we can handle this, but we do have options," Colonel Sink started, shuffling through papers, scanning them. "It says here that you are Madison E. Klein. Why did your parents give you that name? Don't they know that it's a boy name?"

"They really wanted a boy, sir," Madison told him mock sincerity. She always did when someone asked her this question. "My sister is named Morgan, too. They just really wanted boys."

"Do you have any brothers?"

"Yes, sir, I do. I have an older one who signed up to be with the Marines as soon as he could. He's named after our father, Matthew. Morgan is my twin sister and she is younger than me. Then we have a little brother named Michael, who will turn seven in August."

"I see. Well, it says here that you're eighteen years old. Hell, you look like you're twelve!" he joked. If he only knew. "How tall are you?"

"Four foot ten, sir."

"Jesus," the Colonel muttered under his breath, unaware that Madison had heard him. "Well, in here it says that you were one of the best in your class, which is good. I'm looking for the best. Do you think you can be a part of the best?" Colonel Sink asked the young girl.

Madison nodded. "Yes, sir, I do."

"Good. Now, this rarely ever happens but based on your records, here, I'll tell you what we can do."

* * *

Madison ignored the whispers and stares as she settled down in her bunk. The colonel had given her two options: one was that she could get the extra fifty dollars a month and become an official medic for Easy Company or it was that she could still be a nurse and be what she had signed up for initially. Madison just had to go for the first option. First off, extra fifty dollars a month? She could use that for anything! She also chose to do this because she had thought of her older brother. What if he was hurt badly while in combat? Who would have helped him? It was almost a gut feeling instinct on what she felt like what she had to do, even if that meant becoming a paratrooper.

Madison found herself bunked in between a lanky man with dark hair and eyes while the other man was a redhead and undoubtedly Irish.

"Say, what's a girl like you doing here with guys like us?" the tall, lanky man asked her.

"I'm your medic," Madison answered him because honestly, what else was she going to say? My mother sent me to get married to one of you? As if! That was far from the truth, anyway. Her parents despised the idea of her being in Toccoa in the first place!

"You're one of our medics? Oh Jesus, you're going to get killed out there!" the lanky man continued. "Look at you, you're ten!"

"I'm eighteen, actually," Madison "corrected" him. (Of course she couldn't say she was--now--fifteen, what would happen then?) "And if you get hurt out there, I guess you shouldn't expect me to come save you."

The lanky man stared at her for a long moment before he started laughing. "You got an attitude to ya," he told Madison. "I think we'll get along just fine. I'm Joe Liebgott." Joe offered her his hand and she took it, shaking it. "Damn, you got a good grip too."

"Thank you, my father advised me you should have a good, firm grip. I'm Madison Klein, in case you were wondering."

"Madison?" the redhead that had the bunk next to perked up. "Isn't that..."

"A boy's name? Yes. My parents really wanted a boy."

"That's nice. I'm Donald Malarkey, but most call me Don."

"Malarkey?" Joe asked. "Isn't that a slang for..."

"Get dressed! We're lining up!"

* * *

The first day wasn't the worst day Madison had, but it wasn't the best either. She decided that her Commanding Officer, Captain Herbert Sobel, did not want her there. In fact, it seemed that a lot of men did not want her there. She got looks from many of the men there. Some were curious while others didn't look too happy. Many made her uncomfortable.

Easy Company lined up. Madison stood in between two men that she didn't know. One was small with dark, mischievous eyes. The other was taller and bigger than Madison and the man on her other side. He had a somewhat rounded, somewhat not well defined square face. Overall, he wasn't bad looking.

Easy Company waited for their CO to appear. The longer they had to wait, the more Madison became anxious. She knew by the looks of the men around her, they were wondering why she was there with them.

Well, you see, there was a switch up and the sign up...

"You people are at the position of attention!"

At once, everyone straightened up their backs, gazing into the distance in front of them. Their commanding officer was standing in front, as well as the two platoon leaders, Lewis Nixon and Richard Winters. Lewis Nixon had dark bold features to him (what really stood out the most was his dark eyebrows, in Madison's opinion) while Richard Winters was redheaded. For some reason, Madison thought of a trout. Morgan had once said that all people who had red hair like Winters were fish and that had stuck with Madison ever since.

She had to hold in her laughter while she thought about that.

"I am your commanding officer," the man who had yelled stood at front. Madison couldn't really see him due to being shorter than the men and she didn't have the best eyesight in the world. "My name is Sobel. While you are here I will be training you. While I know that the company is named Easy, let it be known now that your time here is not. Is that clear?" No one responded. "I said, 'is that clear'?"

"Yes, sir," Easy Company answered.

Sobel walked around, inspecting his men. Already, he was criticizing almost everyone for anything and revoking their weekend passes, and it was only the first day! Madison could tell that he was a perfectionist to the max, and she didn't know how to feel about that. On one hand, that meant the company would be whipped into shape. On the other hand...this guy was going to be a hardass, she just knew it.

While Madison was deep in her thoughts, her commanding officer stopped in front of her. It seemed that all eyes were on her.

"And who may you be?" Sobel asked the small girl.

"Klein, Madison E., sir," Madison told him, her voice almost wavering. She didn't want him to scare her.

"And why are you here, Klein?" Sobel asked.

"Colonel Sink placed me here, sir. I told him I wanted to be with the best, so he put me in your company," Madison explained.

Sobel seemed to be taken aback by this. He studied her, looking up and down. It was like a predator focused on its prey. "You're not very tall. How tall are you, Klein?"

"Four foot ten, sir."

"And your age?"

"Eighteen," Madison lied.

"What is your position in my company?"

"I'm here to serve as a medic for Easy Company, sir."

Sobel regarded the young girl with his dark eyes. She stared right into them.

"Your hair is too long. Do something with it. Put it up higher or get it cut, I don't care. And grow a couple inches, for Christ's sake. Your weekend pass is revoked."

Madison nodded her head. She could do something with her hair, she didn't mind. It was too long and too dense for her liking. "I understand, sir."

"Good. And may I tell you while you are in my company that I will not slow down for the likes of one girl. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir, it is. I will make sure to keep up."

* * *

The day was full of intense training. After Sobel's inspection, they were given two minutes (but honestly, it was to be less than that) to change into their PT gear, which was simply enough since the white shirt and the dark navy shorts were already on. Madison felt somewhat bashful as she shredded her green uniform off and the men were able to see more of her skin, but it was something that she would have to get used to.

After they got dressed, Easy Company was sent to run Currahee. They had to run three miles up and three miles down, six miles in total. Even though her lungs were burning and her legs were not loving it, Madison felt as if it wasn't so bad. Except Sobel ran with them and he was an ass.

Madison ran next to a man who was a big broad with black hair, olive skin, and a loud, brash accent. He seemed to be mocking her at times, noticing her struggles. She wasn't the only one who was having a hard time, but she had not doubt in mind that many—if not all—of them thought of her as an easy target.

"What's the matter, doll? Can't keep up?"

Madison stared ahead as she ran. "Oh, I can. I would ask the same of you, but it turns out that we're running the same pace."

Behind her, she heard the man that stood next to her earlier laugh. "It looks like she got you there!"

Madison couldn't help but wonder what her brother was doing at the moment.

* * *

After a long, hot afternoon of intense training, it was time for supper. Now, Madison was always hungry, but at this moment, she was starving.

Madison stood in line with Bill Guarnere, the man who she was running next to on Currahee. After the few remarks that she had made to him and some of the other men, Bill took her under his wing, as Joe Liebgott had, who was standing in front of the two blooming friends.

"Say, where are you from Madison?" Joe Liebgott asked they all sat down, Madison in the middle of him and Bill.

"I'm from Ohio," Madison answered as she took a bite of food. She wasn't going to lie, this was not her mother's cooking, but she would eat anything at this point.

The man that sat across from her looked up from his plate and stared at her. "Did you say you were from Ohio?"

Madison looked at him with a wary look in her eyes. "Yes..." she trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.

"No shit! I'm from Ohio!" the man cried. At this, Madison perked up. Someone else was from Ohio too? That was amazing! "Where do you come from?"

"I'm from Dayton."

"That's nice. I'm from Manchester," the man informed her.

"Where's that at?" Madison inquired.

"It's at the border of the Ohio River," the man answered her. "It's a real beauty down there. I'm Donald Hoobler. You're Madison, right?"

"You're correct. It's nice to meet you, Donald," Madison shook his hand. "Great, there's two Donalds now."

"Yeah, Malarkey and Hoobler," Bill said as he stuffed his mouth full. "We're gonna have to come up with something if we want to tell the two apart."

"Why not just call them by their last names?" Madison asked.

"Smart idea," Bill nodded. Madison couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Either way, she rolled her eyes and told him to can it.

* * *

The first week wasn't too bad. Madison had met more men and surprisingly, they weren't too bad. Sure, they had their doubts about her, but most of them seemed nice enough to her. Madison had a few friends, such as Joe Liebgott, Bill Guarnere, Donald Malarkey and Donald Hoobler. She also made friends with Warren Muck, Alex Penkala, and a few others. Sobel, however, was a different story. He didn't just dislike her, no, he hated her. He didn't want her to be there. He would get on her case the most, nitpicking every single thing she did. She didn't mind the criticism but geez, would it kill Sobel to give some sort of encouragement?

Every morning Easy Company lined up. They were always called out for something. After that, they would run Currahee. Then they would either have breakfast. After they ate, they would train. Sometimes it was physical, but sometimes there were classes. The medics had plenty of those, so they didn't always have to suffer the brutal training.

Madison had found the time to talk to Eugene Roe and Ralph Spina, two fellow medics from Easy. Madison found that they were easy to talk to, even if Eugene liked to stay quiet and keep to himself. He did seem to open up when Madison was around, which was hopefully a good thing.

After their long day of work, it was dinner. Madison found herself sitting with Joe and Bill a lot. She had sat next to George Luz once, and she had regretted it ever since. That man was annoying. More annoying than her father, and that was saying something.

Today was no other special day. They all stood in line waiting for Sobel, as usual. Madison stood next to Denver Randleman, a big man from Arkansas. Randleman was possibly the biggest, nicest person Madison had ever known.

"You people are at the position of attention!" Herbert Sobel barked out. He's been saying the same goddamn phrase ever since day one. Couldn't he switch it up just a bit?

Madison watched as he stalked around, looking for someone to chew out. His first victim was Frank Perconte, one of the shortest men in the company. That was how Frank and Madison became friends, because they were the shortest people in Easy.

Perconte prepped himself as Sobel stopped in front of him.

"Private Perconte have you been blousing your trousers over your boots like a paratrooper?" Sobel asked.

"No, sir," Frank answered.

"Then explain the creases at the bottom," Sobel demanded.

Frank paused for a moment before he answered. "No excuse, sir."

"Volunteering for the Parachuting Infantry is one thing, Perconte, but you got a long way to prove that you belong here. Your weekend pass is revoked."

Madison had to hold in her sigh. Of course, Sobel always revoked the weekend passes. Madison could never recall a time that he hasn't.

Sobel stopped in front of George Luz next. "Name."

"Luz, George," George answered as Sobel took his weapon and inspected it.

"There's dirt in the side rear. Pass revoked." Sobel tossed Luz's rifle back and continued to walk around.

It was Madison's turn to get picked on. Again.

"Name," Sobel commanded.

"Klein, Madison, E." Madison replied.

"And you are still here, Klein. Why are you still here?" Sobel demanded.

"To be trained, sir."

"To be trained to do what?"

"To help give aid, sir. I'm here as a medic."

Sobel inspected Madison.

"Your hair is still too long. Get it cut," Sobel advised. "Your pass is revoked."

"Yes, sir."

Sobel moved from her and towards Carwood Lipton. Madison thought Lipton was a nice man; he never picked on her, whether he did it to tease her or to provoke her. Warren—or Skip—Muck and George Luz were the ones who picked on her the most. They did it out of friendliness though. At least, that's what Madison liked to think.

"When did you sew on these chevrons, Sergeant Lipton?"

"Yesterday, sir."

"Long enough to notice this," Sobel held up something to Lipton that Madison couldn't see. It might have been hair or thread. "Revoked."

"Name," Sobel went up to Don Malarkey. Madison liked Malarkey. When they were in their bunks, that was when Madison and Don talked the most. He was the first person that she told why she had signed up. She told him about her parents and her siblings. Donald Malarkey couldn't imagine two Madisons existing when she had told him that she had an identical twin sister.

"Malarkey, Donald G."

"Malarkey. Malarkey's a slang for "bullshit", isn't it?" Sobel inquired as he ripped the rifle out of Don's hands.

"Yes, sir."

"Rust on the butt plate handspring, Private Bullshit. Revoked."

Sobel walked away and Madison could see that someone quickly turned around to look at Don before going back to stand attention. Madison's best guess was that it was Skip Muck that glanced back. Those two seemed to get along just fine.

Madison watched as Sobel stalked towards Joe Liebgott.

"Name."

"Liebgott, Joseph D., sir."

Sobel inspected him real quickly before pulling Joe's bayonet off of him. "Rusty bayonet, Liebgott. You want to kill Germans?"

"Yes, sir."

Sobel tapped Joe on the helmet with his bayonet. "Not with this." It was a no brainer that Joe's pass was revoked too.

"I wouldn't want to take this rusty of piece of shit to war!" Sobel hollered, holding Joe's bayonet up. He turned to face second battalion. "And I will not take you to war in your condition." He threw the bayonet down, which cut into the earth. "Now thanks to these men" (he never said "woman" or anything of that sort) "and their infractions, every man in the company who had a weekend pass has lost it." There was a pause before Sobel continued. "Change into your PT gear, we're running Currahee."

As Sobel walked off, Richard Winters turned to face them. "Second platoon fallout. You have two minutes."

* * *

Joe Liebgott led Easy Company as they