" Sometimes a little thing you do gives happiness to someone. So never stop doing little things."
- Anurag Prakash Ray
***
Charlotte wrote Ron later that day, pouring her heart out to him. She missed him so much, but she tried not to let that sadness inflict inside her home with her family. She wrote Ron a 4 page letter, but she felt better as she sent it in the mail the following day, knowing he'd receive the letter and it'd almost be like they were together.
By dinner, her entire family knew of the letter and the Medal of Honor and were buzzing with excitement. Her father couldn't express how proud he felt of his oldest daughter. He had seen her grow from such a small child, to a mature, intelligent and independent young woman who could take care of herself. When her grandparents arrived on Saturday, they found out about the Medal of Honor as well, and had just about hugged the life out of Charlotte seeing her returned home. There were tears and hugs, but Charlotte had missed her grandparents so much. They'd come over with her parents, and they'd seen the war, and what their children had gone through, now seeing what their granddaughter had gone through. But Charlotte tried to diverge the conversation from the topic of herself as she knew Louis was sweating bullets waiting to propose to Caroline.
The dinner was delicious, everyone noticing how little Charlotte ate, but she had told hilarious stories of her times with the boys from the past 3 years, yet she had avoided the ones mostly where they were in combat. Those were too real for her to think back on, she still had difficulty remembering and trying to explain what she went through. But Caroline, who had belted out laughing at some of them, had made Charlotte feel better about mostly everything. The two got along great. Caroline, you wouldn't think of it, was drop dead hilarious. She was funny, and some of her jokes were so clever that when you got them, you'd be laughing for 20 seconds after. Louis asked if Caroline wanted to see the horses outside, and she agreed, as the rest of the family decided to clean up, but Charlotte snuck away and watched as her brother got down, and ask Caroline the very question.
As Charlotte was going upstairs to bed that night, she saw the two in the dark, just staring at each other with small smiles on their faces, as Louis ran a hand through her hair softly and she giggled a few times. Charlotte smiled to herself, seeing her brother happy, happy and alive and in a relationship with someone who loved him back and cared for him no matter what happened. She wrote to Gene the following morning, having the need to talk to a friend.
Gene,
It's been weird not waking up in a foxhole, or not having to reach for a medic satchel or boots. It's weird not seeing you or the rest of the guys either. I miss being able to talk to you about everything, but letter form does just fine. My brother, Louis, proposed to a girl he had loved for a long time, and helped him after the war a lot. The weddings in early December, and it's not going to be anything too big, but I think a few of the men from my brother's platoon are invited. Watching my brother marry the love of his life, I feel is an amazing opportunity by God himself. But then I remember the love of Easy Company, and the bond it brought and that security is brought as well. I haven't gone a day yet where I haven't thought about all the men, alive and those who have sacrificed, thanking God for what they've all done for me, good and bad. My family, they really are appreciative of every man in Easy and what they've done for me, and I hope you're able to visit in the future. I hope you've been settling into normal life. It's been hard, but I'd expect it. I hope you have a great beginning of October, Gene. I really do.
Love,
Charlie
Charlotte had been outside with Micky, brushing his fur, as she was dressed in boots, her overalls, and maroon collared shirt with a braid crown when she heard a name call to her from the gate by the house. She turned and saw two figures.
" Charlie!" the voice called. Charlotte nearly fell over. She began sprinting over to the gate, the figure becoming clearer and clearer.
" Charlie!" the voice came again as she neared.
" MJ!" Charlotte screamed, pushing open the gate and completely launching herself into her best friend's arms. Tears rolled down her face freely. Charlotte pulled away and placed her hands on MJ's shoulders, smiling wide.
" You're back!" she cried hugging her again.
" I missed you so much, Charlie." cried out MJ clutching her friend tightly to her chest, like she'd never let go. Charlotte pulled away and looked at her friend. She'd grown so much and matured as well. MJ looked at Charlotte, skinnier, put more toned in general, the same smile on her lips. Charlotte pulled back and grabbed her hand, looking at the engagement ring on her finger.
" The ring is beautiful MJ." she gasped, fawning over the beautiful, simplistic crystal on the silver band. MJ blushed, glancing back at the man behind her. Charlotte looked behind MJ and saw a handsome man, dressed completely in his Marine uniform.
" You must be Clyde!" Charlotte said, wiping a tear from her cheek as she stepped forward. Clyde smiled, and MJ was right, he had a great smile.
" I am, you got that right, it's so nice to finally meet you, Charlotte." he said, holding out his hand to shake. She noticed the Lieutenant symbol on his uniform, and immediately saluted. Clyde smiled, saluting back.
" Sergeant Tarvers, the Sunshine Soldier." he said as she smiled wide, holding out his hand again.
" Forget the handshake, give me a hug." she said, pushing away the formalities, and walking forward to hug him. She pulled back and smiled.
" Forgot to warn you Clyde, she's a hugger." MJ laughed stepping forward and wrapping an arm over the young girl's shoulders. Charlotte smirked.
" You guy's have to come inside, my mom would love to see you." Charlotte said, leading the engaged couple forward up the porch and into the home.
" Mom!" she called through the house.
" Yes, cherie!" she called back stepping through the kitchen doorway stopping.
" MJ!" she practically yelled, racing forward to wrap the girl that was like her daughter in her arms tightly. She pulled away.
" You must be Clyde, I'm Mrs Tarvers." my mother said holding out a hand to which Clyde gently kissed it's surface.
" It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." he said with a nod her way.
" Please, I'm Anna to you, come on in, have some tea." she said, walking past her daughter with a smile. Charlotte smiled wide following the 3 into the kitchen. She had missed her best friend, and was happy when she saw her best friend so happy, and engaged. The trip to Washington DC was right around the corner, signaling that October 12th was too. She was starting school the following Monday. Charlotte's family sat in the midst of the crowd of people that had gathered on the White House lawn to witness the monumental moment. Charlotte was seated next to another man, receiving the award, PFC Desmond T. Doss, who was a medic for the Marines in the Pacific during the war. When she walked over in her A-Class uniform, the former medic had stood to greet her with a handshake and a smile.
" You must be Sergeant Tarvers. I'm PFC Doss." he said, shaking her hand gently. She smiled wide, her dimples appearing. She'd heard about the medic Desmond Doss and his story had made her smile wide, representing the true fight in a combat medic.
" It's a honor to meet you." she said, as the two released hands.
" As it is to meet you. You're the Sunshine Soldier that the one reporter wrote an article on in July right?" he asked her softly, in a gentle tone.
" Yes, actually, I'm Charlotte. Just Charlotte." she said smiling softly. The two talked in length as they sat in chairs waiting for the formal ceremony to start. President Eisenhower stood at the podium, tapping the mic and clearing his throat.
" We've gathered here today on this beautiful Friday, October the 12th, 1945 to celebrate two courageous combat medics that went above the acts of valor and call of duty, risking their lives, or willing to risk their health for the lives of others, allied or enemy. The Medal of Honor distinguishes those great acts of bravery that represent America as a country." President Eisenhower spoke clearly into the microphone. " A combat medic in any situation, runs into enemy fire, without any weapon, only their hands and the ability to heal others. Sergeant Charlotte Tarvers and Private First Class Desmond Doss, are two examples of the heroics of what it means to be a combat medic. To you, the public, I'd like to present Sergeant Tarvers and PFC Doss." The crowd cheered as Charlotte and Desmond got to their feet and stood side by side in front of Eisenhower. As Doss stood in front of Eisenhower, to receive the Medal of Honor, she couldn't help but feel pride and joy in the fact that she had become a combat medic for Easy Company.
" Now, I would like to introduce to you, Sergeant Charlotte Tarvers, the Sunshine Soldier." Eisenhower said, as Charlotte stood, a wide smile on her face, in her Class-A uniform. She walked up to the podium in front of the White House, smiling wider by the minute, saluting Eisenhower once she stood in front of him. The crowd consisting of older veterans, generals, colonels, and majors, clapped for the girl as she walked up. After saluting, the two turned towards the camera for a picture, Charlotte smiling wide and gleefully. Then she turned to Eisenhower, as he pulled the Medal of Honor up and gently placed it around her neck. She felt happy tears spike the corners of eyes, because she knew deep down, this wasn't for her, even on paper it was, it was for every man that fought for Easy and sacrificed themselves for Easy. She stepped back and saluted the General, and he gladly shook her hand. As she turned from the front and walked back down to her chair, she couldn't push the smile from her face, as everyone clapped. She couldn't believe still that the Medal of Honor was around her neck, the cool medal sitting there, adoring the attention it was getting. It was amazing really. After a few other heroic soldiers received the Medal of Honor, Charlotte was asked to the front again to give a speech. She had prepared one, short and sweet, but meaningful in all ways.
" I was a combat medic in the 506th, 101st Airborne, 2nd Battalion, Easy Company, 2nd Platoon. As a combat medic, I would run into open fire, without any weapon to protect me, and save as many lives as I could while doing so. I was told I was a hero, in all the papers back home, when I was simply doing my job. On the battlefield, you see many things. You are there, in the present, with your friends, some of them your best friends, who you've grown a deep bond that will never break. And you have to face certain realizations that some of them may die in your hands, and you can't prevent that, and neither can God. But you can let them live in your heart. As a member of Easy, every man we lost, I still remember in my heart everyday. And I'm proud to say, that I was a member of Easy Company. We held each other in dire moments of need, in foxholes in the middle of nowhere, we laughed, when times were fun, because there were some funny times, we stood up for each other, we operated as a single unit, and we made sure of it. I don't think I could've done it without those men in my unit. And that's why, when I received this Medal of Honor, I feel it's not only mine, but Easy Company's. Every man fought for our country's freedom on foreign soil, hoping that the guy next to them would be the one to make it home. Shakespeare once said," From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remember'd; we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother;". Those men were my band of brothers. They were there for me, as I was for them. And if they weren't there for me, I don't think I would've ever been deserving of this medal. The notion I went by, was always, " Happiness is the best medicine." as my mother always would say, and I feel that's why I was always happy, because those men made me feel happy, that I was able to instill it back in them." She got choked up suddenly, remembering the men she served with.
" Those men never let me out of their sight. They knew everything about me, or when I was upset, or I needed some cheering up. I could tell you everyone's favorite color or their dog's name. That's just a bond you get when you live too many scary experiences at once, and that bond for Easy Company will never be broken. Those men have helped me get through some of my toughest times while fighting that war with the world or my own personal war. Every single one of them were so important to me in their own ways, and I can't help but be so thankful for what they did on me and the impact they made. They always said that I was this great medic, and how I saved all the men, but truth is I showed that I would help anyone. I was a combat medic, not just for Easy, but for the human population. No matter where I was, I was going to get down on my knees and perform my duty as a combat medic. And as a combat medic, that's what I did. I helped people. Some like to say I helped win the war, or that I helped the world. I like to say I did my job, and helped people. That was my duty." Cheers and claps erupted immediately, everyone getting to their feet and clapping for the sunshine soldier, as she stood back a bit, tears squeaking out of her eyes as the reception she received.
She smiled wide as cameras flashed and the video recorders continued rolling the Medal of Honor ceremony, where almost every man of Easy Company saw the young girl get rewarded the medal and speak the words of the speech, and they sat smiling, and proud that they'd served in Easy Company too.
They always had.
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