For those who haven't read the book, I think you'll appreciate this excerpt about Babe
In the foxholes, the men tried to get some sleep, difficult to impossible given the cramped conditions. At least lying together allowed the men to exchange body heat. Heffron and Pvt. Al Vittore did manage to get to sleep the second night out. Heffron woke when Vittore threw his heavy leg over his body. When Vittore started to rub Heffron's chest, Heffron gave him a shot with his elbow in his belly. Vittore woke and demanded to know what the hell was going on. Heffron started to give him hell in return; Vittore grinned and said he had been dreaming about his wife.
"Al," Heffron said, "I can't help you, as I got combat boots, jump pants, and my trench coat on, and they are not coming off."
there’s something really poetic about how gene is a medic that saves other people but he needs someone to save him. the way gene was internalizing all of his pain and kept it all inside because he knew he needed to be strong for the other men and couldn’t lose his shit. the way babe notices this and refuses to let gene do this. babe starts getting food for him and starts looking out for him. and of course gene doesn’t want the attention at first, he can’t get close to anyone—he’s a medic. but babe is a stubborn bastard if anything and he’s persistent and he’s so so nice but then julian happens. and gene watches how the talkative and happy babe goes from that to something sadder and refuses to let that happen. gene knows he’ll do anything to put that smile back on his face, he gets him chocolate and makes sure he eats it. and then reńee dies but gene has babe now, and babe is there for him—he always will be. the way the both of them just wanna give give and give to each other and would do anything to help each other. the way they love each other with everything inside of them.
there’s something so soft about baberoe. like ughhhh, like yes i chose you out of everyone to find comfort in. yes, you’re the person i’m looking for after anything happens.
thinking about them after bastogne. like you know the two of them were sharing a foxhole after everything happened. they probably never grew out of the habit, sleeping together after bastogne too. thinking about gene obsessively checking babe’s scar on his hand to calm himself down. it reminds him that babe’s still in front of him breathing, alive. thinking about babe always getting two servings of food even if gene’s right next to him because he’s gotten used to it. half of the time gene’s overworking himself in the aid station and babe brings him food so they can eat together. thinking about how if babe or gene can’t be found, easy goes to the other person to ask if they know where he is (most of the time they’ll find them together). thinking about how all the other nurses/medics know babe very well because he refuses to leave gene’s side. and how gene becomes closer with the other easy men because babe is always dragging him along. thinking about them being so in sync that they’re basically one person.
just something so very soft about them knowing they’re in a war but still choosing to love each other regardless of the fact they can die. choosing to love in spite of the war. (can you guys tell how much i love baberoe)