Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 104



Only Noblemtl

#104

“Doug.”

I was reading a storybook to Arthur IV while holding the youngest Malcolm in my arms.

My heart sank when I saw Anna calling me with a serious expression.

“dad?”

“Sorry. I have to finish reading the book with Mom today. I think Dad has to go.”

I left a kiss on the forehead of the children who were looking at me with regretful expressions and quickly headed to my room.

After changing into neatly ironed clothes, I got into the prepared vehicle.

“somewhere?”

“It’s the Philippines.”

“Hawaii?”

The secretary shook her head and handed me a piece of paper.

“This is Japan’s declaration of war.”

When I saw the declaration of war, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“What the hell.”

Because Pearl Harbor was lost.

Even unlike the history of the original country that I know, they even sent a declaration of war in advance before the attack.

Of course, it was a surprise attack, considering it was only 20 minutes ago.

“To root out the organization of the Unruly Shipbuilding Institution that helps China from behind the scenes and carries out various terrorist attacks, including assassinations of key figures in the Japanese Empire…”

There was no attack on Pearl Harbor, nor on any of the American islands in the South Pacific, such as Guam or Palawan, that Japan attacked on December 8th in the history of the world.

“They said they would stop their attacks on the Philippines if they arrested and handed over the illegal immigrants they demanded, if the stationed US troops withdrew, and if they declared neutrality···.”

“I guess so.”

It was the worst case scenario.

If Pearl Harbor had been attacked, it would not have been difficult to create public opinion in favor of going to war.

It didn’t matter how much damage was done.

No matter how well you respond to a surprise attack, it is impossible to avoid any damage.

But they left Hawaii alone and only pounded the Philippines…

‘shit.’

I knew full well that my actions had brought about countless butterfly effects and would continue to do so in the future.

Still, this was too much of a blow.

When I arrived at the White House, there was no greater chaos than this.

“Are you saying we have to go to war because of the Philippines?”

“Then do you give up?”

“Do you really think the Japanese will just leave the Philippines alone?”

“but···.”

Marshall noticed me and quickly approached me.

“They say that the Japanese air raid has been stopped for now. But···.”

How long can the Philippines last without additional support?

“Any other news?”

“The British territory on the Malay Peninsula is under attack. They are requesting our assistance…”

At the moment, we had neither the capacity nor the intention to help protect our homeland nor our colony, which was only three feet from our nose.

“Tell him to do it himself.”

“All right.”

After taking a quick look at Marshall, I walked towards Roosevelt.

“Are you here?”

“We must declare war.”

“We have conveyed our intention not to attack if American troops withdraw from the Philippines within 48 hours.”

It was Secretary of State Hull who interrupted me and answered.

“Where to?”

“Guam is nearby, and Palau is also nearby…”

“What did Japan say when it first took over Manchuria and established the puppet state of Manchukuo?”

“···”

“Is that too long ago? Then let me tell you a story you know a little better. Do you know how the Nazis took over Czechoslovakia? What has become of Poland, which instead of helping the Czechs, happily intervened and sided with them? Oh, is that too long ago? Then what about France?”

Hull sighed heavily in response to my sarcasm.

“Who among us here doesn’t know that? It’s just that we need to consider what’s important. The two-front war is…”

“Why not?”

Hull’s eyes widened at my words.

“Don’t underestimate our American capabilities. Two-front warfare? Those Nazis and those fucking Tommys are the ones who can’t do it. We can do it.”

“Who said it couldn’t be done? Is war something that can be fought with just money and weapons?”

I was shocked by Hull’s words that people should not talk so easily about something that requires shedding blood.

“What on earth do you think I am···.”

“Enough. If you want to have an emotional fight instead of a discussion, get out.”

I also kept my mouth shut at Roosevelt’s request.

“I know what the Secretary of War says is right, and so do the Secretary of State. But, you know, the issue is public opinion and public sentiment.”

Roosevelt was not wrong when he said that if a declaration of war were brought up as an agenda item in the current situation, it would be difficult for it to pass in Congress.

Republicans weren’t the only ones who opposed the war.

Although Roosevelt won an overwhelming victory in the presidential election last year, he had lost a lot of support from diehard Democratic Party members in the United States as he had been implementing New Deal policies for the past eight years.

“We cannot abandon the Philippines.”

“Yeah, so we need a solution.”

“Is it true that there were really no attacks anywhere else except the Philippines?”

It was Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox who answered my question.

“There have been reports of Japanese troops being spotted at several naval bases, including Guam, but no reports of attacks.”

The Japs I know weren’t this smart…

What on earth have I been doing for the past ten years?

I even felt a sense of self-loathing, wondering if it might have been better to just stay still.

The problem was that I couldn’t think of a good method.

And that was the moment.

“In the Philippines···.”

The person who came running in a hurry gave me unexpected news.

##

Dear citizens of the United States,

I have long argued that air power is more important than anything else in the coming war.

The first time I made such a claim, right after the Great War, the military leaders who were very tight-lipped about it did not listen to me properly.

It’s not just me.

Lieutenant General Eisenhower, the commander of the Far East Army who had proposed the idea of ​​speed-oriented offensive tank warfare more than a decade earlier, was even threatened with a court-martial.

And now it has been proven that Eisenhower and I were not wrong.

I and my colleagues are not Nostradamus or Fu Manchu. We simply predict the future based on our experience and knowledge.

They say history always repeats itself. That’s why we learn history.

When Czechoslovakia collapsed, Poland simply watched, watching its ally fall for its own benefit rather than helping to save them.

As a result, when Poland was invaded by Germany, no one came to their aid. Even their ally, France, merely made a show of it.

And you know what happened in France.

Now all that’s left in Europe is Britain. If they fall, who’s next?

The Philippines, where I am now, is facing a huge threat.

Japan, Germany’s ally, has swallowed up the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, and China, and is now reaching out to Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

With clever wordplay, Japan is asking us whether war, a two-front war, isn’t dangerous.

They are casually lying that they will not fight with the United States if we just give up the Philippines.

Folks, we in the United States are not that weak. We have the power to finish off Japan in one fell swoop at any time.

I will prove it to you.

How strong we are, and how weak those wicked Japs are who try to deceive us with lies.

The volunteers from all over the world, including myself and the Filipinos and the Flying Tigers from the United States, will never give up.

So, my friends, do not underestimate your own strength and do not hide and tremble.

Please rise up and join us in the fight for freedom and justice.

Show the world that great and brave citizens of America still live on.

The heroes who will protect freedom and justice on this earth are none other than America, and you.

##

The video footage he was supposedly filming before leaving the Philippines never arrived, but the transcript of Mitchell’s speech was enough to astonish not only me but everyone else.

“What the hell is the Army···.”

“You all know that those guys in the Air Force are out of their minds, right?”

There was no one who did not know that the best among them was Mitchell.

While everyone was distracted, Roosevelt hit the nail on the head.

“Does this operation really have a chance of success?”

At Roosevelt’s question, I looked at Arnold.

Arnold, who caught my eye, stood up, pointed to the map, and began to explain.

“It is true that Tokyo, Japan is within the operational radius of the B-17 bomber, but···.”

Thinking about coming back was thrilling. If I made just one wrong turn on the way…

“So, it’s not a problem until you get there, but if you make a mistake, you might not be able to come back?”

“Ha. This is it, okay.”

Although Arnold couldn’t bring himself to say it, the quality of Japan’s mainland air defenses was also important.

Although the B-17 was a sturdy machine for its size, it was not invincible.

Moreover, since it was a bomber, not a fighter, and had no proper escort, there was a possibility that in the worst case scenario it would be shot down without even being able to bomb.

But knowing the kind of people Mitchell is with, I decided to believe in success, not failure.

“Is prayer all we have to do here?”

I shook my head at Roosevelt’s words and opened my mouth.

“No. We have to make the board properly.”

Praying and worrying about failure was not something Mitchell, or anyone else who had gone with him, wanted to do.

“We must make Mitchell and the volunteers and Filipino soldiers who fought with him heroes. And we must let people know that, as Mitchell said in his last words, America is the last hero to save the world.”

I knew better than anyone how much 21st century Hollywood and Americans loved their heroes.

“Shouldn’t we Americans be the heroes who save humanity from the brutal and evil Nazis and Japanese?”

What words could make a 20th century macho’s heart beat faster than the words, “You are the hero who will save the Earth?”

It was time to form the Earth Defense Force.

##

“I guess a day like this really does come.”

At the sight of his wife with tears in her eyes, Ahn Chang-nam also nodded with reddened eyes.

“I can now really bring down a thunderbolt on their heads.”

When I first heard that the giant B-17 was arriving and that its operational radius was over three thousand kilometers,

“I want to ride.”

“If I can’t be a pilot, I’ll be fine as a machine gunner.”

“please···.”

I don’t know how fierce the competition was among Koreans.

Seeing that, Mitchell even posted a guard in front of the hangar, fearing that those bastards might steal it and drive off to cause trouble.

Ahn Chang-nam and his wife, who had won the B-17 pilot position with their skills amidst such fierce competition, could not hide their excitement at the news that the time they had been waiting for had finally come.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so jealous my stomach hurts.”

“haha.”

And looking at these people, including the Ahn Chang-nam couple, other Koreans could not hide their envy.

“Captain Kwon heard the sound of a goddess in Spain and then he did something like this···.”

“What the hell is a goddess? I envy you guys more for being able to bring down lightning on those bastards.”

After saying that, Kwon Ki-ok slowly looked at the special forces and greeted them with a determined face.

“My comrades and I will do our best here, so you will definitely succeed and return.”

“yes.”

“Of course.”

A total of nine B-17s participated in this bombing of Tokyo.

It was decided that three would be operated by the Philippine Air Force, including Mitchell, two by the volunteer Flying Tigers, and the remaining three by Koreans, including Ahn Chang-nam.

Although we had been receiving operational training for the B-17 since its arrival, the furthest we had been was to the nearby Malay Peninsula.

“We take off after the sun has completely set and initially take a course toward the southeast.”

“Are you trying to fool the Japanese?”

“Yeah. There’s still a deadline they gave us to withdraw US troops, right?”

“All right.”

“Navigators need to be alert.”

“yes.”

A route I’ve never been on before, and if I’m not careful…

“If you take the wrong road and get lost, you might not be able to come back because you’ll run out of gas.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just drop bombs on the Japanese guys’ heads…”

Then Mitchell screamed at someone who said he was okay with dying.

“If you feel that way, then give up.”

“yes?”

At Mitchell’s shout, all the agents looked at him with wide eyes.

“I know how much you hate Japan. But let me be clear: This operation is not just about dropping a few bombs on those guys.”

“Then what is it?”

“Heroes. We need heroes to show those cowards crouching across the Pacific that they don’t have to be so scared. We need heroes who are alive and moving, not dead corpses.”

Mitchell’s joke that he might as well go across the Pacific and promote the draft was met with laughter.

As the laughter died down, Mitchell looked around at the gathered special forces and spoke in a serious tone.

“Let’s all live and enjoy the glory instead of dying. Do you understand?”

“Old story.”

So, in the middle of the night, when blackout control was in effect and pitch darkness had descended, nine B-17s took off from Luzon Island.

What you see isn’t everything.