Camp Mackall in North Carolina was evidence of the American war-machine gaining momentum. It had only taken four months for three 5,000ft runways and 1,750 buildings to be constructed; the home of the American airborne. For Easy Company this was the business end of an elite training programme. They would make jumps with full kit, including machine-guns, mortars, high explosives, grenades, maps, ammunition and rations. And it was at Mackall that the men of Easy Company were supplied with new rifles and weapons, new clothes and new jump equipment.

In August 1943 the men of Easy Co. left Mackall and America altogether for deployment in Europe, although they didn't know this at the time. Plans had been made to use the American airborne to spearhead a second front against Hitler and the Third Reich.

We knew we were going somewhere, but at that point we didn't know whether it would be Europe or the Pacific.
JB Stokes