David Masterson Application

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Username: Masterson
Character Name: David Masterson
Rank: Captain
What Army Will You Serve Beneath? : US(American)
Nationality: American
Character History:

Born in 1919 to Irish-English-American immigrants in the Hell's Kitchen section of New York. His mother, Laura, grew up a poor famer's child outside Dublin, Ireland. His father William, an orphaned child who came to America with nothing but his clothes on his back. He made an attempt to make something of himself, and eventually worked hard enough to own his own textile factory.

Though never striking Masterson, William was a raging alcoholic, and would often not come home some nights. Eventually in 1930, when David was eleven years old, his father lost his job due to his alcoholism, and later killed himself. From then on his mother had rarely spoke, but still provided by working as an operator for the new Bell PAC Telephone company.

David Masterson grew up as a silent but intelligent child during all of this. He attended the local PS 118 where he had honors in math, chemistry, and shop. In 1938, Masterson graduated from PS 118 and was valedictorian of his class consisting of 213 students.

With his diploma in hand, it was now David's turn to make something of himself, like his father. But hopefully without the same fate.

Masterson considered many occupations. He had offers from colleges to learn chemistry, and even medical school to become a doctor. But Masterson was not attracted to such things. He craved adventure and working with people. Thus he ultimately decided to join the Army.

In 1940, Masterson volunteered for the U.S. Army and was shipped to San Diego, California, where he recieved basic training and his secondary speciality training. He learned small weapons and tactics as a specialty, and, after scoring over-average on all test, was thus promoted to Sergeant and put in command of a rifle squad within his platoon. After graduating basic training, Masterson was shipped to Shreveport, Louisiana where his division, the 1st Infantry Division was being garrisoned.

For the rest of 1940, and the most of 1941, Masterson spent his time in close order drills, leading his men in training, and at night, would spend the time he could be sleeping for studying offciers' handbooks.

As 1941 progressed, Masterson kept up with the situations around the world. Germany had invaded Poland, Warsaw, an Russia. Japan had taken most of the Pacific, China, the Philippines.

In December of 1941, Masterson and his squad were entering their barracks when they heard over the radio about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It angered Masterson. He knew he'd not only finally go to war, but he'd be able to avenge his fallen brothers in arms. Wanting to be with the best in combat, and the first, he looked for options.

He read about the Paratroopers in a newspaper article, and decided he wanted to transfer to the newly established 506th Regiment.

He filed for transfer under the title of First Sergeant, the rank he was promoted to with the 1st ID because of his excelled leadership and combat sense. He recieved reccomendations from both his platoon leader, and the company commander, and was soon on his way to Camp Mackall for paratrooper school, where the 506th had just arrived, after finishing their own basic training in Camp Taccoa, Georgia. Upon arriving there, Masterson was placed in First Battalion's Able Company. He was designated the company's First Sergeant given his rank. He quickly made friends, as he was an easy going, open minded, and relax man. He was given a rifle squad of eight men, but the training mostly focused on parachute and jump procedures.

In June of 1943, and the Americans well underway to the Second World War, Masterson made and completed his five qualifying jumps. He recived his jump wins, and was ultimately comissioned as a Second Lieutenant. In 1944, Masterson and his new platoon of men arrived in Uppottery, England, the last place they'd be before the night of nights. It would also where they'd suffer their first casualty. Lieutenant Jones, the company's Executive Officer, was killed when his parachute failed to deply on a rehearsal jump. It was a hell of a way to die. And it put Masterson in line for another promotion. He was now the XO and a First Lieutenant. On the evening of June 5, 1944, Masterson, like the rest of his men, were quiet. They had spent so much time training and preparing, and the day had finally arrived. Masterson and his men loaded into their C-47s and flew off for Nazi Occupied France. Their target was the town of St. Com-du Mont. They'd then move south to Carentan and link the causeways from Omaha and Utah Beach.

As the C-47s leveled into the air, Masterson leaned his head out the door. He looked down and saw the amazing sight of an armade of ships all sizes and shapes. Masterson knew right then and there, this was his finest hour...

Writing Sample:

Masterson hit the ground hard. He sat on his rear and removed his helmet. He then removed his parachute and life vest and threw them away from him. As he put his helmet back on he could hear sporadic gunfire from all directions. Small arms and anti-aircraft. He leaned foward and picked up his M1 Garand that he set down and stood up and gathered his bearings. He could tell by which way the planes were flying that he was currently facing north. The problem was he had no idea how far or in which direction was his objective, St. Com-du Mont. He looked around and then decided to move.

He came to a serious of hedgerows that ran parallel to a small road, big enough for a single car. Masterson cut through the hedgerow and ended up falling into a ditch. He got up and collected himself. Before he continued to move, he heard a noise. A "click-clack" sort of sound. Realizing it could be another American using the cricket signal, he decided to try and respond. "Flash!" he called out. No response. However down the road to his right, he could see the sillhouette of a man coming down the road with a gun at his waist. As the figure came closer and more clear, Masterson could see it was a German soldier. Master dove into the ditch and buried his head and waited. Minutes went by before he picked his head up again. Then his mind begin to run...

Did that German see me? Why aren't I dead? I'm sure he saw me! What if he's coming back? I better move!

Masterson gathered himself and started to walk down the ditch next to the road. He walked for roughly eight minutes before coming up on a thick set of hedgerows, cutting off the road, a dead end. Masterson decided to peak on the otherside. He crawled into the hedgerow and looked out on the other end. There he saw more hedgerows running opposite of him on the right, and a small farmhouse on the left with an old broken down fence. Masterson sensed something wasn't right, as if he was being watched. He decided to roll out of the hedgerow and crawl under the old fence and into the farmhouse yard. Upon reaching the yard, he knelt up and pulled himself up against the brickwall of the farmhouse. He sat with his back against it and looked around.

To his left was open field, his right was the hedgerow, and infront of him the new road that lead down into what appeared to be a town.

Masterson got up and walked over to the road. There, to his right, was a sign with an arrow under it. On the sign read "St. Com-du Mont, 1km." Masterson now knew where he was.

All of a sudden, he hear noise from within the farmhouse. It sounded like cursing. He knew this because the cursing was in English. Masterson peered over into the window. He saw four men and a man who appeared wounded. It looked as if the other four were trying to help the fallen man. They were all paratroopers, with the mark of the 506th on their helmets. Masterson gently knocked on the window. On man turned around from inside with his pistol drawn. Masterson recognized the man, as the man recognized Masterson. He signaled for Masterson to enter the building. Masterson did so, and when he walked in, the man who was wounded passed. The man who was working on him, the company medic, sat back and pulled his hand away revealing the face of Masterson's own company commander.

He was in shock. He did not believe that that was his Captain, already dead. But he knew better, it was true. And it was now time for him to take charge. Just as he realized this, one of the men, a Sergeant, looked up to Masterson and asked, "What do we do now, "Captain?'"

Masterson's thought of being followed quickly left him as more important things came into his mind. He looked down at the men and said, "Follow me. We're taking St. Com-du Mont."

Approved/Denied?: Approved
Staff Notes:

Great application! Welcome aboard captain!

~Austin!