June 5, 1944
A knock rattled the door to Anna’s bedroom at the Wisdoms’. She cracked her eyes but couldn’t see anything. She groaned and rolled over. Why would anyone pound on their door in the middle of the night?
Dottie elbowed Anna when the door shook again. “Go see what’s up.”
Anna stifled a yawn. “Why me? You’re the night owl; you get it.”
“Oh no. It can’t be good news.” Dottie’s voice sounded strangled.
Reaching for her robe, Anna slid out of bed. “Who is it?”
“Mr. Wisdom. I think you’ll want to come downstairs, ladies. There’s news on the radio.”
Anna tied her belt and hurried to open the door. She cracked it. “Thank you. We’ll be right there.” What could be so important after FDR’s fireside chat earlier that day about the fall of Rome?
Hot cups of peppermint tea sat on the kitchen table when Anna and Dottie shuffled into the room. Anna wrapped her arms around her stomach, desperate to still the tremor. The Wisdoms and other boarders sat huddled around the kitchen table and the radio.
“Someone tell me what’s happening.” Dottie’s voice cracked on the words.
Mr. Wisdom motioned her to a chair. “General Eisenhower launched the invasion of France.”
Anna relaxed. “Probably another false alarm. You know how the rumors have flown.”
“No, the reports sound real, but we’re only hearing random details.” Jessica Ferguson hunched in a chair. Anna wondered if Jessica’s thoughts focused on her fiancé, who’d shipped to Britain months ago. As part of the infantry, he’d surely participate in the real invasion.
Anna glanced at the wall clock. Almost two a.m. She wished an announcement, any announcement, would come. Was the invasion real? How was it going? Were the casualties high?
The murmur of voices soon overshadowed the radio broadcast.
“Shh.” Mrs. Wisdom smiled as she waved everyone down. “I know we’re all anxious, but no one can hear if we’re all talking.”
Uncomfortable silence settled on the room. The strains of an orchestra flowed from NBC. While it sounded nice, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“In a few seconds, we will take you to London for the first eyewitness account of the actual invasion of France by sea—of the landing of Allied troops on a French beachhead. War correspondent George Hicks saw those landings from the bridge of an Allied warship, and thru the ingenuity of radio wire recording, the National Broadcasting Company is able to give you the story as witnessed by George Hicks in a pool broadcast. So, now, NBC takes you to London for the first eyewitness account of the actual invasion of Europe!”
Anna held her breath as nothing but static came across. The seconds ticked by while Dottie chewed on a fingernail. The subdued voice of George Hicks filled the room. Anna released a breath as the noise of planes passing overhead served as a backdrop to his narrative. In mid-sentence, static again interrupted, and everyone groaned.
The group stayed glued to the radio through the early morning hours, no one able to tear themselves away from the sporadic updates. Yet the musical interludes drove Anna crazy. It didn’t seem right to have swing music playing when the infantry attacked the beaches of France.
“It’s really started.” Anna’s heart constricted. Where was Brent? Did he man one of the bombers paving the way for the infantry? She tried to pray for him and all the other boys she knew fighting somewhere around the world.
God, help them. Help them all.
The next morning dawned much too early. Anna buried her head under the pillow, wishing for the oblivion of dreams. There war didn’t exist, Mama still lived, and life felt normal. Reality intruded with the sun’s rays.
“Do you think anyone will work today?” Dottie’s sleepy voice tugged at Anna.
“Until we know, we have to treat it like every other day.”
Dottie propped herself up on her elbows. “Are you kidding? We’re finally doing something offensive in Europe. That doesn’t make today like yesterday or last week.”
The image of American boys scrambling to reclaim French soil from the German Army flooded her mind. Anna tried to block out the accompanying sight of bombs exploding and bullets flying. “What else do you want to do? Curl up here and pretend nothing happened? Or get back to work and do something that will help all those soldiers? Maybe today some of the men are wearing the parachutes we packed.” She sighed and wiped her hands across her face. “We have to go to work until they tell us to go home. There’s too much left to do.”
“I hate this feeling.” Dottie threw back the covers. “It’s like I’m sitting on pins and needles, waiting to see if the assault worked.”
“We won’t learn anything staying in bed.”
When the bus reached the air base, a buzz filled the air, this one not caused by the B-17s flying overhead. Instead, nervous energy seemed to consume everyone, as if they couldn’t decide whether to work harder than ever for the boys invading the beaches of France or run to the nearest church and pray.
Sid examined his group of men. In the aftermath of the Normandy invasion beginning, Commander Moss had each group running through their paces. They’d be well-oiled units either to avoid a repeat of a prisoner disappearing or to join the battle overseas. Each time Sid thought about the fiasco, he wanted to head straight to the nearest battle. France would suit him just fine.
“Ten-hut! To the lecture hall.” Commander Moss wanted the rank and file to hear more about the escape, disappearance, loss, whatever you wanted to call it. Sid called it embarrassing.
An hour later, Sid was more than ready to get away from Camp Atlanta for awhile. He accepted the assignment to deliver a load of prisoners to the Kearney air base with a grin. Trent joined him for backup, and they rounded up the skilled carpenters from among the prisoners.
The wind whistled through the truck’s lowered windows as miles rolled along. The drive took a little over an hour, then Sid popped the truck in neutral and presented the paperwork at the guard station.
“Do you know where you’re headed?” The baby-faced soldier hardly looked old enough to carry a gun, and he served as the first line of defense? Guess sabotage wasn’t a big concern.
Sid glanced at the papers. “Nope. Want to point us in the right direction?”
“Head down this road and turn left at your first chance. Follow that road till you see the signs.”
“Thanks.” Sid put the truck in gear. “We’ll be there in no time.”
Trent eased lower in the seat and leaned against the backrest. “So what do we do while the prisoners work?”
“Keep an eye on them.”
“And any pretty girls we spot?” Trent let out a wolf whistle. “Those girls look like they could use some new friends.”
“Focus. We’ve got a job to do.”
“Babysit a few prisoners who’d stand out like a sore thumb if they tried anything? Give me a real job.” A sour frown sagged Trent’s face. “Days like today I want to join the fight overseas.”
“You and me both. But Uncle Sam, in his wisdom, has us stationed here. So let’s complete the assignment. Our day could still come, but only if we do what’s needed now. Besides, someone has to take care of all the prisoners.”
“Not what I signed up for.”
“Maybe, but you get to follow orders.”
“Can’t blame a guy for wishing.”
Sid thought about the guys trying to gain a foothold on the beaches of France. When would Camp Atlanta know more? The world was too big at times like this. The snatches of radio broadcasts Sid had heard only let him know the fight was real.
“Hey, isn’t that the girl from Goodman’s farm?” Trent poked Sid in the ribs.
Sid swerved to keep the truck on the road. “Watch it.” Once he knew the truck wouldn’t roll, he looked in the direction Trent pointed. “Looks like it. Let’s get these prisoners dropped off.”
“Then you can track her down and take her to lunch. You’d have better luck if you stopped and asked her now, while you know where she is.”
Sid watched her walk the direction the truck had come from. For once Trent had a good idea. Finding her later could be impossible since he didn’t know which building she worked in. And the idea of asking around for her did not appeal to him. He eased the truck into an open space on the side of the street. “Watch the boys.”
“Yes, sir.” Trent winked as he saluted. “Good luck, sir.”
Sid slapped him with his cap before pushing it back on his head and hopping out of the truck. He glanced down the street and saw her about a block behind the truck. He hustled after her. “Anna.”
She stopped, then eased toward him. A frown creased her face like she didn’t like being stopped then the light of recognition dawned. “What are you doing here, Sid?”
“Wondering if you’d like to have lunch with me in a bit.” He stood at ease while he waited. The seconds ticked by as she considered him.
“I still don’t understand why you’re here.”
“Delivering some prisoners. Thought if you had time we could grab a bite.”
A smile started in her eyes and spread to her lips. “I’d like that.”
“Where can I meet you?”
“The mess hall is fine. I need to finish this errand. Can you meet me there in thirty minutes?”
Sid had no idea where the mess hall stood, but could find it if it meant spending time with the woman in front of him.
As if reading his mind, she stepped back. “See you then.”
A honk interrupted his thoughts as he watched her walk away. After one more glance , he hurried back to the truck. Time to get the prisoners delivered.
After a few wrong turns, Sid pulled the truck in front of the building housing the post engineer. He and Trent turned the prisoners over to the corporal on duty and were told not to come back until five p.m.
They returned to the truck, and Trent leaned against it. “Guess you have plans for lunch.”
“Want to join us?”
“And be the third wheel? No thanks. I’ll find someone else to entertain with my charm. Meet you here at five.” Trent walked away, whistling with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Sid left the truck and headed in the general direction of the mess hall. He asked for directions a couple of times before finally locating the correct building. Like so many structures on base, the engineers had built it quickly and it already showed signs of wear from the harsh Nebraska weather. He didn’t care what it looked like as long as the food was decent and he shared it with Anna.
She stood inside the door, foot tapping.
“Have you waited long?” He swiped his hat off and shoved it in his back pocket.
“No.” Circles he hadn’t noticed earlier shadowed her eyes. Even with her canvas work coveralls and fatigue, she carried herself like royalty.
He offered her his arm. “Let’s feed you before you have to get back to work.”
“I don’t know that there’s a rush today.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Everyone seems distracted by the news, or lack of it, about the invasion. Have you heard anything?”
“Only what’s on the radio.”
“You’d think we’d have access to better information, working at military installations.” She shrugged.
They traveled the cafeteria line, loading their trays with food, and then he led the way to a table. Time passed quickly as he told her stories of growing up in St. Louis. Their backgrounds were so different. Big city versus small-town farm. Large family versus small. Yet, as he watched her laugh at an indicent, he knew they could build a solid friendship. And if he could keep her laughing, maybe it could turn into something much more.