Hello to the Band of Brothers community! I'm Beautiful Bluebird, and this is my first foray into writing a BoB fanfic! I'm excited, but quite nervous at the same time. I am skeptical about my first submission but I hope you all will read and bear with me as I get used to writing for this community...

I'm a recently graduated history major, and I was particular on doing as much research as I possibly could when I started writing this piece (I blame my major!) I wanted the sisters to have two different careers in the army. Caroline, my main character, was to be the nurse, and her older sister, June decided to join the WAAC instead.

The ANC, it seems, during my research, was not really in full force when our Toccoa guys were already in training in 1942. Medical staff was not really necessary until it got closer for the men to actually go to war. However, they did teach medics, much like Doc Roe, about medical care and procedures while the men went through basic training.

I wanted to see if there was an actual hospital attached to the 101st Airborne. There was the 326th Airborne Medical Company, but as they were directly in the line of fire, women were not a part of this outfit! The 326th comprised solely of men.

Go figure. So that wouldn't really work out in my favor.

The 50th Field Hospital was the next possibility. It was activated at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on 10 September 1943…I believe the men were already off to Aldbourne by this time. However, as I said earlier, the hospitals formed later in the 1940s.

So, Caroline, for the time being, will teach the medics medical care until (eventually) the 50th Field Hospital is activated. They would continue to train well into 1944…and then they would head off to Hullavington, Pinkney Park Camp, Sherston, Wiltshire. I actually found the directions from here to Aldbourne…it's about thirty miles, which would put them in relatively close proximity to the men. I've also been to Aldbourne…there is nothing, err, exciting going around in that area unless one takes a train to Swindon. She will find her way to the men whilst in Hullavington.

After this, I'll probably take some liberties, as I want Caroline to follow the men throughout their campaign. The 50th Field Hospital does not cross over to Normandy; it seems they received their wounded back in England and then makes it back to the 101st in Holland, after Operation MARKET-GARDEN.

I figured I'd make the girls related to Sink. It would explain how they got prime positions in the 506th, therefore making them more accessible to the men. It's the only way I found their proximity to be made possible...I know it's Fan Fiction, but I'd very much like to stay somewhat truthful and realistic.

Mostly everything else is as historically accurate as possible, from the Geneva Connection, right down to the girls' names (pulled from the Social Security charts of popular names of children born in the 1920s.) Then I get to have my own fun…and let the romance ensue…

Clearly, this is going to be a Winters/OC fic.

The titles of each chapter are inspired from the Ambrose headings, but relevant to Caroline and June. This chapter title, "This is my war too!" comes from a WAAC recruiting poster. We will also see the name change of WAAC to WAC (this occurred on 1 July 1943.)

Yay history! Yay for (trying?) to be historically accurate! This is an attempt, and is in no way, trying to dishonor the memory of these brave and noble men.

6 June 1944-6 June 2014.

Currahee!

1

"This is my war too!"
Lexington, North Carolina, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania andNew York City, New York
May-July 1942

Lexington, North Carolina, 16 June 1942.

As Caroline and June Summers sat on the deck of their uncle's Lexington home, they took in the gorgeous North Carolinian landscapes so familiar to them after years of visits to see their mother's brother; their beloved Uncle Robert "Bob" Sink, and his wife, their Aunt Maggie. This would be the last time they'd visit their second favorite place in the world (first and foremost would always be their home in New York City), for in a matter of weeks, both would be headed to their respective training bases in order to fulfill their voluntary duties with the United States Army.

Caroline, the slightly younger (by ten minutes! she'd always say, when June insisted that she was the "older" sister) fraternal twin, had already been working as a registered nurse at the Bryn Mawr hospital right after she'd graduated from Byrn Mawr College's nursing school in May of 1941. Desperate to escape from the socialite life her parents, more specifically her mother, Evelyn, imposed on them before they left to college, Caroline immersed herself in her degree. She took classes during the summer terms, so she would have less time at home...which meant less time at pointless parties. This allowed her to get her degree one year earlier than planned.

While Caroline worked (much to Evelyn's chagrin...she'd wanted Caroline home in order to officially "enter" high society and attend the parties with her), June finished her final year at Bryn Mawr, working to complete a Bachelor's program in English Literature. As June's first semester of her senior year came to an end, the United States's stint in the Second World War met its beginning. Recruiting drives for female support came in full force at the college, and both girls felt the urge to volunteer for the war effort. Caroline, naturally, was drawn to the Army Nurse Corps, while June found herself wanting to join the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

They had enlisted, without telling their parents. They had sent a letter to their Uncle Bob; their mother's older brother and seasoned military man. "Uncle Bob" was known to the United States Army as Colonel Robert Sink. They thought they'd get only receive a letter back with his advice, so they were thoroughly taken aback when he paid them a visit in Pennsylvania at the end of March 1942.

He had taken them out to lunch, and reassured them that their decision was wise.

"You girls have made a large sacrifice, but I am proud of you for enlisting! Now, I love your ma very much. She's my sister, after all, but I never understood her desire to be a socialite in Manhattan. You all are making a commendable effort to support your country!"

Caroline took a sip of water, before speaking.

"Uncle Bob, we're aware of that. We're glad we're making an effort, but we're worried mother and father aren't going to let us go!"

"Lina's right, Uncle Bob. Mom keeps writing in her letters that we're to be going to be hosting parties for father's hospital friends and benefactors all summer long."

"And she's been hinting about marriage too! We—"

"Now girls! Calm yourselves down. It's only natural they'd be worried. I'm worried too! You're my nieces. I want you safe. So this is my plan. Caroline, you'll go back to work so you can have some experience for the ANC. June, you go back to school and finish your degree while you both let me figure out where to place you. If I can find positions with you wherever I'm going, I'll be able to keep a better eye on you and reassure your parents that all will be fine. Deal?"

"Deal!" they replied in unison.

So their Uncle Bob, soon to be Colonel Sink to them (professionally), headed home to Lexington and they went about their normal routine. He enquired about positions for his nieces, as promised. He sent them a letter that arrived at Bryn Mawr a few weeks before June's graduation.

Dear Caroline and June,

I have postings for the both of you, but I would prefer to discuss the details of the positions with you in person. I cannot make your graduation ceremony in May, Junebug, but I've talked to your mother. I've asked if you both can come to Lexington for a few weeks. She's agreed, and you'll come to Lexington directly after the graduation ceremony.

We'll have our visit; your Aunt Maggie cannot wait to see you two. When the visit is over, I'll go back to New York with you to break the news to your parents. It will all work out, and I think you'll be pleased with the positions I've acquired for you.

See you both very soon.

Regards,

Uncle Bob

Caroline placed her two week's notice at the hospital, and June graduated, but instead of going back with their parents to New York City, they got on a train to North Carolina.

They were still sitting on the aforementioned deck, now sipping freshly made lemonade when their uncle came outside to join them.

"Girls, it's time we discuss your assignments. While you all were finishing up at Bryn Mawr, I found out I am to be the commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment starting in July. I've met with some of my officers, and they are promising to be outstanding men…"

Colonel Sink wanted to have June as a candidate to the WAAC officer class. In order for this to happen, June would need to be at Fort Des Moines by 20 July for training. From there, she would rejoin her uncle, as he wanted her to be his personal secretary throughout the duration of the war.

Caroline's situation, however, put her closer into the front lines. Her situation, therefore, would be harder to explain to her parents when she would not exactly be safe from warfare. Colonel Sink thought it best for her to remain attached to the 506th's hospital unit. The problem was that the hospitals for the armed forces were still being planned out. She did not have an official post with any hospital in the United States Army…yet.

In the meantime, she would, along with other newly commissioned ANC nurses, train the appointed medics of the regiments stationed at her uncle's training camp, Toccoa, as well as teach the enlisted men basic medical skills and procedures. In return, the nurses would learn proper army protocol from the regiment's officer pool.

When their "vacation" in Lexington ended, they found themselves on a train bound for Penn Station, New York City, this time accompanied by Colonel Sink. Their parents were rather surprised to see the gruff military man with their girls.

Penn Station, New York City, 23 June 1942.

Evelyn Summers, nee Sink, happily greeted her older brother with a warm embrace, as she had not seen him since the autumn of 1939.

"Bob, what on earth are you doing here?" she asked in wonder, as the five of them exited Penn Station.

"I'm here on military business. I'll explain once we get back to your home, Evelyn."

Evelyn looked at June and Caroline with an expression of utmost confusion, but they simply shrugged at their mother, and said nothing to her on the car ride back to their beloved Park Avenue brownstone.

When it was time for dinner, Evelyn and Charles gave their attentions to their surprise guest. She asked Colonel Sink for her sister-in-law, and voiced a desire to see her nieces and nephews sometime later in the year.

"Once we get through the charity dinners we're hosting this summer, I'd very much like to take a vacation and go visit home, Bobby. That is, of course, if you'll have us."

"Well, it'd be a damn pleasure to have you both. I'm sure Margaret, my children, and your girls would appreciate the visit."

Caroline dropped her fork at Colonel Sink's immediate divulging of their secret. The girls couldn't even look at their mother, who was staring at her brother as though he'd shot her in the stomach.

"Our girls? What do you mean, Robert?" asked Charles, speaking on Evelyn's catatonic behalf.

"Charles, Evelyn, your daughters have decided to serve their country during this war. They chose to volunteer while still at Bryn Mawr, and I am damn proud of them for doing so."

Not a word was said for a few minutes. Caroline and June were beet-red, staring down at their half-eaten dinner. Colonel Sink kept looking expectantly at Charles and Evelyn, wanting a response to what he'd told them.

After a good ten minutes of silence, Caroline could not bear it anymore.

"Mother, father, we—"

"Under no circumstances are my daughters…my beautiful, refined girls, going off to fight in a war! To be amongst oversexed soldiers, to be mere objects to them! Robert, what on earth were you thinking in encouraging them to enlist?!"

"I was thinking I had two intelligent, competent women contributing to the war effort! They are capable of more than planning and attending frivolous parties all year, Evelyn!"

"And have you thought of their safety?!"

"Of course I have! June won't be on the frontlines as my personal secretary—"

"And Caroline?! Why is June the only one not on the frontlines?" Evelyn abruptly rose from her chair; her green eyes on fire. She was livid.

"Because I volunteered to be a nurse, mother! I have my nursing degree, and it'll be better used on a battlefield!"

"After all the grief you gave me about wanting to work in a civilian hospital...now you want to go to some godforsaken place who knows where, and get yourself killed? Caroline!"

"I wish you would hear us out, if only for a moment!" exclaimed Caroline.

"Evelyn. Let Caroline and June talk. Please," bade Charles, beckoning for his wife to take a breath and sit back down.

"Thank you, father," said Caroline.

"Mother, father, we love you both very much. We are so grateful that you allowed us to receive an education, and when recruitment drives began to arrive at Bryn Mawr, we thought the best way to put our degrees to use was by enlisting," said June.

"We have so much. We have been so blessed in our lives, and we want to return those blessings by making a contribution to the war effort. It took a little persuasion on June's front—"

"Caroline's right. Let's face it. I adore my make-up and heels as much as the next girl—"

"But we signed up after a few weeks of careful thought…and counsel from Uncle Bob, of course."

"It's all well and good that you want to contribute to the war effort, but can't you do that from home? Your father's a surgeon, girls! We always volunteer and donate to the Red Cross…can't you assist them here? Not on some European battlefield dodging German bullets?"

"We can, mother, but we know we have more to offer. Caroline and I are going to our new posts in about a month, whether you and father like it or not."

"Uncle Bob's going to look after us. You know you've said it yourself. There is no one else in your life, other than father, that you can trust with your life than Uncle Bob."

Evelyn sighed, and looked at Charles, who merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't tell me you agree with them, Charles!" she snapped.

"Caroline's got a point! June'll be relatively safe. Not that I won't worry about you, Junebug. Caroline may be out on the front, but your brother wouldn't place her in direct danger. She's a nurse. Isn't that part of the damn Geneva Convention, Robert?"

"I'll be straight with you, Charles. She's taking a risk. She's aware of that. According to the Geneva Convention, women are not protected if captured as a prisoner of war. Medical staff, however, cannot be attacked by an enemy during combat."

Evelyn buried her head in her hands, and looked at her girls with tears in her eyes.

"I can't say I'm in agreement with your decision, especially how you went behind our backs to enlist, but you are my daughters, and I will support you both any way I can," she said, smiling at her girls with pride, whom to her at that moment, were now fully-grown women.

New York City, New York, 10 July 1942.

"I must say…I'll miss this aspect of home," sighed June, as she smoothed out the new dress in front of Caroline's vanity. The girls were getting dressed for their graduation (and now bon voyage) party, and were enjoying every minute of getting dolled up, for it would be their last party for a long time. They would be leaving New York in just a few days.

Caroline looked at June, who looked resplendent in her red poplin dress from Bergdorf's. Caroline looked down at her old stand-by; her black crepe-de-chine dress from Barneys. She chose the black dress, but earlier, had contemplated wearing a backless, slinky satin green evening gown that she'd bought for her sophomore year sorority initiation.

She loved the green gown, but deemed it to be too risqué for the familial event. Her black one was backless too, but the boat neck neckline, full skirt and color made it more demure and appropriate for the evening.

"Me too, June."

June let out a sigh, as she began to paint her lips with a red lipstick.

"Perfect," she said, placing the lipstick back in her cosmetics bag. She turned away from the mirror and eyed up her sister.

"So…I want to know something before he arrives."

"Who is he?"

"Don't play dumb, little sister. Neil. You know. Your beau. Have you even told him about this?"

"I haven't been able to say anything to him!"

Neil Berger was Caroline's steady boyfriend. He had graduated in May, like June as well, but with a newly-minted juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania's law school. "Berger," as everyone referred to him, had met Caroline at a Bryn Mawr/U. Penn mixer, and they had been dating, as of that July, for two years. Caroline's friends were expecting a wedding announcement to be placed in the New York Times soon.

Berger appeared charming and kind in public. Her father adored him; he wanted her to marry him if he ever asked. Caroline knew better; he was a possessive, over-protective man, no, boy who seemed to think he owned her. Like Evelyn, he hated the fact that she was a working drudge, but put up with it because they were not married. He made it perfectly clear that if they did marry, she would have to quit her job. Caroline merely would agree halfheartedly with him, only to shut him up, but it still did not prevent him from making disparaging comments about her work.

She had been desperate to find a way to end the relationship, and her opportunity arrived when he began to make, this time, disparaging comments about men enlisting in the army, coincidentally, when she saw him a few weeks after she had joined the ANC.

He already hates that I work. He definitely wouldn't want to be with me anymore now that I'm in the ANC, she had thought.

So she decided to keep her secret until the summer. Caroline pretended to be Berger's doting girlfriend, and he continued to be an overly possessive and childish boyfriend.

Now that it was time to say goodbye to their friends and family, she figured she'd break the news to him there, and he'd be done with her.

"Why? Is this because of what you told me what he did when the army went to recruit at his school?"

"Oh, you mean paying his doctor to make up a fake excuse that he had a heart murmur? Partially. But, a few days ago, we were out to dinner, and we passed by a recruiting station…"

"Mm-hmm…go on…"

"There were men there, signing up, and he made a comment about how the army was too low-class for him."

June snorted.

"What a wussy. Really? He really said that to you?"

"Yes, June."

"Well, let's see…Berger wouldn't last one day in the army…but the army wouldn't even want to take him anyways…so at least you'll be rid of him once you tell him you've joined up."

Caroline slipped on her black heels, and gave herself a onceover in June's mirror.

"I hope so, June. I really hope he breaks up with me tonight."

June reached across the vanity table, and patted Caroline's hand.

"If he doesn't, then you end it. You shouldn't have to be miserable, little sister."

"Will you stop calling me that? I'm only ten minutes younger than you."

"Still younger," replied June, playfully sticking her tongue out at Caroline. They giggled, but were interrupted by Evelyn's knocking at the door.

"Come in, mother!" exclaimed June.

Evelyn, resplendent in a navy blue gown, asked if they were ready to head downstairs.

June nodded her head, and Caroline dutifully followed her mother and sister out of the room.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she muttered to herself.

Berger, much to her chagrin, had already arrived, and was having drinks with Charles. She kissed her father, before greeting Berger.

"Hello, Neil," she said, forcing a smile onto her lips.

"Carol, stunning as ever," he said, silkily, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

She hated being called Carol.

"Hi, Neil. You look nice yourself."

"I always do," he said, haughtily. "Now, will you make yourself useful and go to the bar to get me another rum and Coke?"

She scowled at him, sighed, thought this will all be over soon, and walked off to fulfill his request. Charles had witnessed the exchange, and excused himself politely from Berger. He placed a gentle hand on Caroline's arm, and she looked up at him with tearful green eyes.

"You look just like your mother when you're sad. Honey, please tell me you're not going to continue your relationship with Neil."

"But…father, I thought you liked Neil."

"I liked him, because I was made to believe you liked him. I only want you to be happy, Caroline. You and June deserve to be happy, and when you told us you joined the war effort…I saw a spark in your eyes that I had not seen in a long time. Neil makes you unhappy. It's quite obvious to me now that he does."

She squeezed Charles's hand tenderly.

"I'm glad you aren't disappointed."

"Me? Disappointed? Never," he joked. "Only in your decision to continue dating that jerk. Come on, Lina. Let's go receive your guests."

Charles offered her his arm, and they joined June and Evelyn at the foyer as their guests kept trickling inside their home.

The girls patiently waited as Charles and Evelyn prepared to welcome the guests to the party. Charles called for everyone's attention, and silence descended in the room as the guests prepared to listen to their host.

"Hello, dear friends and family! Welcome to our home! We are here to celebrate the loveliest graduates of Bryn Mawr College…my daughters, Caroline Cora Summers, and June Victoria Summers. June received a Bachelor of Arts in English with magnum cum laude honors! Caroline, last May, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with summa cum laude honors! Now that they both have earned their degrees, we can celebrate their achievements together! Evelyn and I are proud of our daughters, we've always been, and we're glad you all could be here to congratulate them for their merits…"

"Especially now that our girls have decided to lend a hand to the war effort. June will be with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, while Caroline has joined the Army Nurse Corps. We will worry about them constantly, and miss them dearly, but they are happy with the decisions they have made," continued Evelyn.

The room went silent, as all eyes set on Caroline and June. Caroline looked at Berger; he was seething.

"Evelyn's right. We will worry, but we will pray for their safe return home. Girls, we know that you will do well no matter where you end up. Please, everyone, raise your glasses! To June and Caroline!"

"June and Caroline!" they chorused.

"You enlisted and you didn't bother to tell me?!"

Berger had angrily demanded he and Caroline have a "conversation" in the library. Now he was yelling at her, as she casually sat in one of the library's armchairs.

"Yes," she flatly responded, her gaze set on the mantle.

"Why?!"

"Neil, I knew you wouldn't support the idea. That's why I didn't tell you. You constantly scorn the army…that the men enlisting are average Joes trying to get a temporary reprieve from their blue-collar lifestyles. That's so far from the truth. Have you read any of the articles the Times has published? Have you read Life lately? They're going to better themselves and to fight for the country. That's more than what you're doing."

"I'm going to be a lawyer, Caroline."

"Well, bully for you, but physically fit men are needed elsewhere, not at law firms! If you don't want to fight, fine, but I'm going. That's my decision. You're not my husband, and you can't tell me what I should do with my life."

"Carol, enough. We're as good as engaged."

"There is no ring on my finger. No, we're not engaged. I don't want to be engaged to you."

"So that's it then?" he asked, pulling her out of the armchair by grabbing her forcefully by her arm

"Let go of me!"

"Two years of courtship, and you're willing to give it all up for who knows how many years of being a nursing drudge to a group of sex-deprived soldiers?!"

Caroline met his piercing grey eyes, and pulled herself out of his tight grip. She figured that would bruise in the morning.

"Yes. I am. Goodbye, Neil, I'm sure you can see yourself out of my house."

She angrily turned on her heel and slammed the library door on her way out. Caroline paused, took a moment and inhaled a deep breath.

"That felt damn good," she thought, before regaining composure and making her way back to the party.

"And I'm starting to sound like Uncle Bob. Lord help me."

Edited, as of 18 August 2014.

-BB.