" Accomplishment will prove to be a journey, not a destination."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

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When Joe finally got Hazel resting, or at least attempting rest, he saw the letter that she had dropped to the side. But Joe held himself and closed the letter up and placed it beside the girl's boots. It was for her eyes only and he respected that.

The following morning, was pretty similar to last night, except that this time they knew it was the last time they'd be sleeping in those beds for a long time. It was like the calm before the storm. Everyone woke up, a few heys or hellos were given to each other, before everyone ate their fill of their meal.

The morning was then spent preparing again for the invasion with their gear and supplies and suiting up, and they were given a late lunch to hold them over until the dropped in behind enemy lines.

It was late afternoon, the sun the hazy color shining brightly as it did on the airfield. Hazel walked just behind Winters with the rest of Second Platoon. Her eyes were alert yet calm, and her mood was calm as well. Her sniper on her shoulder gently bumped against her leg as they walked across the airfield toward Plane 67, and her helmet slid from side to side on her head. No one was speaking; it was oddly quiet, but it felt impactful for not having to speak about anything.

The company knew what they were doing, and in that moment they felt as prepared as they could be. Men from all over could be seen making way with their platoons to the planes, heads held high at the initiative at hand. The face paint was sticky on her face, Joe had helped her out.

When 2nd platoon reached their plane, everyone worked together to help pull their gear on, and webbing and parachute. It was a slightly odd atmosphere as everyone pulled their gear on, preparing for the initial invasion, but preparing themselves. But how does anyone mentally do that and come out on the other side, completely fine.

Hazel was receiving help from Tab with her gear as he had finished, pulling on straps and different flaps, tucking them in.

She told herself she was ready for this, after everything that had happened from Virago Company to England, to then Easy Company and their training under Sobel to now Upottery Airfield, she had to convince herself she was ready. That they all were and they were deserving to do this and to succeed in the end.

She thought of Catherine and her confidence and her intelligence. It was intimidating but for a woman of her stature, she was admirable for each and every aspect she withheld.

Hazel thought of Lizzie, the genuine and truthful medic who never left until she cracked a joke and you smiled and made sure you were included no matter what, managing to completely amaze you and make you wonder what her other capabilities were as a medic, but as a strong woman.

Hazel was thankful to have both those women in her life.

She was so thankful for their officers and for their CO. They each were leaders in their own ways and they each would lead with pride for Easy Company.

And Hazel couldn't forget Joe Liebgott, the man who had become one of her best friends and become someone she looked to, knowing she could trust, even as opposites.

But then there was Bill and Joe Toye, and then Malarkey and Skip and Penkala, as well as George Luz. Then there was Shifty, whom was one of the people she felt closest too. He never failed to make her smile or amaze her. Each man int he company held a special place in her heart and had helped her so much through this part of the war more than she could ever imagine and thank them for.

" Alright, you're good." Tab said patting her shoulder and she turned to move but almost fell over from the heavy weight. It was heavy on her, all of it, especially with her tiny body, but she'd grown used to a weight on her shoulders by that point. Hazel knew though, she had to go and find Lizzie before she got on the plane. She needed to find Lizzie.

" Hazel!" Lizzie called as she noticed Hazel making her way over. Lizzie herself was about to head over to find the tiny sniper. The minute Hazel reached Lizzie the two were enveloped in a tight hug. It was comforting and warm and Hazel felt like she were hugging a blood-related sister. Hazel pulled back with a smile looking up at Lizzie.

" I wish you luck, Lizzie." Hazel told the girl. Over the past 2 years, Hazel couldn't help but think about what a great combat medic Lizzie would be.

" Hey!" a voice said and the two women turned to see Catherine coming towards them.

" Was wondering where you two were." Catherine said with a bright smile.

" You guys helped me so much these past 2 years, and I hope that all we've done helps you in the war. " Hazel said.

" You're gonna do great out there, Tiny. Everyone knows that. You might've not known that on that first day back in Athene, but we did. We all did." Catherine said looking at the young sniper.

" You guys are like my sisters, you know that right." Hazel said with a smile at the group.

" I love you both." Hazel said smiling and looking at the group and smiles filled their faces. They knew how much that word meant to Hazel and it made them feel so happy to know Hazel felt the way she did.

" I know both of you are going to do so well, I've admired you both so much and I adore you both." Lizzie said with a smile.

" You've both prepared so much in your own ways for this, and you all know that." Catherine said," You've both just made such an impact on me and everyone here, I don't know what I would've done if you 2 weren't there ones that I met on that day in Athene." Hazel smiled widely.

" I wish you the best, ladies." Lizzie said smiling before hugging each other once more before going their separate ways. Catherine and Hazel arrived back at Plane 67, and continued pulling on their gear. Joe glanced at Hazel as he sat down behind Petty and she gave him a nod and a smile. He smirked at her, a twinkle like the stars, in his eye. She then moved and sat down comfortably behind Chuck where 2nd platoon and a few others from different platoons sat in the 2 lines.

" Gentlemen and ladies, Doc Roe is handing these out for air sickness. Orders are every man and woman takes one now, another 30 minutes in the air. " Meehan said to the group before turning to Winters. Gene carefully placed the air sickness pack into Hazel's hand and then gave her hand a squeeze before moving on down the line.

" Lieutenant." Meehan said and shook Winters hand. Meehan nodded to the Lieutenant before moving and walking away toward his own plane.

" 2nd platoon, listen up." Winters said and every man and woman's eyes in the platoon looked up towards Winters who stood calm and collected.

" Good luck. God bless you. I'll see you in the assembly area." Winters said, as suddenly everything became real.

They were doing this.

They were going to drop behind enemy lines and face the enemy after 5 years of waiting and seeing what they did to other people. Winters nodded to the group before stepping forward to lift each man himself to their feet and let them go to plane.

Man after man stood up as Winters helped them to their feet and each was a silent conversation or moment of recognition of the task Easy Company and the rest of the Airborne were to be taking on.

Winters helped up Catherine and the minute she stood, maybe a second or two longer than the rest looking at Winters with pride before nodding and walking past him towards the plane with high hopes for success.

Winter moved to Hazel.

She grasped his hand that he lent out to her and slowly stood to her feet with the rifle securely on her shoulder and eyes on Winters. She grasped his hand tightly, as the two watched each other's eyes.

" Thank you, sir." she whispered softly, before stepping past him as tears filled her vision.

Winters understood that the thank you was for more than just helping her to her feet.

Hazel climbed into the plane and then took a seat next to Chuck as she did so. Her heart raced as she looked at Catherine across from her getting situated. Liebgott was a few people down from her, and Gene was down the other way. Joe Toye and Bill Guarnere sat close together with Alex, Don and Skip, and she could also see that Tab was next to Catherine. Hazel looked over to watch Winters be helped up into the plane with his bag and glance towards the group of soldiers.

Slowly the engine of the plane started and the propellers on the wings ramped up, signaling that soon the plane would be off and into the sky. The plane began to rattle and shake as it slowly started moving and Hazel felt her heart race quicken.

She slowly reached down and grabbed Chuck's hand next to her as fear mounted her body as she gently let looked around the room. Chuck let her hold his hand as it was a comfort it what was about to happen.

Hazel thought about everyone here with her, but she also thought about her mother and her babcia and her dziadek, and the people on the other planes who had helped her get where she currently was. She couldn't thank each and everyone of them enough in this moment, as she silently prayed to whatever God there was above them.

It was quiet on the plane except for the rattling as it seemed power and pride filled the empty space as people recognized what they'd be doing and the impact it would have on the war.

Everyone was anticipating the moment they'd feel themselves flying through the air on their first real mission, the moment they've trained years for. it was like waiting for a pin to drop in the silence of it all, as the engine whirred and their stomachs filled with some fear. Before they knew it, they were moving, picking up increasing and powerful speed towards the end of the runway and towards the sky, towards their fate and destiny as a company.

They were flying right through the air, upwards and further towards the clouds that looked down at them everyday. And each plane followed after just like that as one big force that would penetrate another. Plane after plane took off towards the sky, banding together as it grew with each daunting plane filled with paratroopers.

Pride filled each paratrooper's stomach as they lifted off towards the sky, looking down on the training that had guided them and looking toward the war they would soon enter and be truly tested. The setting sun shone brightly against the armada of flying planes propelling their way towards the war and Normandy.

Hazel gripped Chuck's hand tighter before she felt the smoothness of the flying slowly level out and realize that it was finally night time so no one below could see them. She stared forward, unfocused and unfazed toward the ground, pale and emotionless as she thought about what she would encounter, what her brothers and sisters in arms would encounter and what this entire operation would soon mean back home.

Her stomach hurt from thinking about it in general, and she had to lean back against the sides of the plane to calm herself from getting emotionally sick from it all. No one spoke as they sat in the planes, but they were all thinking about the same thing; about this great crusade they would embark on after all these years of tough training that had been so mentally challenging.

Hazel looked at Catherine and then to Tab and then every man on the plane. The men she would fight with until the war's over and they were winning.

The men who had taken a chance on the group of females that joined the company.

The men who would do anything to protect their country and the men and women they would soon fight alongside with.

Chuck looked over at her and sent her a smile, and she found the strength to smile, hopeful, back to him. They didn't have to say anything to each, but that smile sent a wave of reassurance through her entire being.

Winters stood and moved through the rows of men and 2 women until he reached the end, where he finally sat at the resting ground of the plane and looked out at the wide world from the tiny piece of metal that flew through the sky.

She knew what he was feeling.

They were just one small part of this war, one small part that would hopefully and very soon make a difference, as they flew through the night sky towards the ever looming empire of the Nazis. She was going to fight until the death for her country and the men and women she trained with, and for peace and freedom and democracy and happiness.

She would fight for everyone, no matter what it may take and she knew every man in Easy would do the exact same for their country and its citizens. No one knew what would happen in the early hours of June 6th, 1944.

No one will know what it will feel like or what they have to encounter.

Whatever it may be soldier, sailor, and airmen alike would know they were making a difference for the war and America and the people of the world.

They were a band of brothers and sisters.

They were going to be the difference in the entire war, in these measly 24 hours that awaited the convoy that approached Normandy.

So off into the unknown they went, flying through the sky or sailing through the sea, ready to fight the enemy and bring freedom. They would never surrender to the power of the Nazis, for freedom was the only thing they wanted to believe.

Every plane, ship, boat and man wanted good to come from this; this operation they trained so tirelessly for. They were important each one of them, they might've not known that or accepted that, but each man and woman would make a difference for humanity.

And they were all willing to risk their lives for that.

This war was no longer about a manpower taking over the world, it was about coming together to defeat that manpower and bring liberation and peace to a world at war.

This would be the day that lead the world to the edge of their seats and paved the way for victory and freedom.

This would be the day where the tide-turned and for the better. They couldn't comprehend how large this operation was, but ti was huge, and they would soon learn that. The unknown was a terrifying thing, but in that moment every man and woman were willing to face that. This would be the day where the course of war and victory changed forever in the hands of a large, man-made, covert operation.

They were all ready to face that, no matter how scared they possibly were.

This would alter the future of the world, and for the better.

" Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you... Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander

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hey! so, this is the official end of episode 1, but that means episode 2 will get it's first update tomorrow. this part of the truly was truly so much fun to write and so much fun to be a part of and i'm glad i could take you all on this journey. but until next time with episode 2 and d-day, thank you for everything, all your votes, all your comments, all your reads, i appreciate each and every one, they are so important to me! you've all been so wonderful and supportive, so stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy and stay hydrated. :)