Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 63



Only Noblemtl

##063

We knew that the Great Depression would begin this fall.

But I couldn’t remember exactly whether it was October or November.

Unlike me, who had been nervously watching the stock market all summer, wondering when the panic would start, most Americans assumed this crazy boom would never end.

“The stock market has reached a permanent high from which it will not decline.”

Even Irving Fisher, the most famous economist of the early 20th century, said this.

Of course, there were those like me who were concerned about the over-inflated stock market, but most were ignored.

“Being timid”

“Isn’t it because they can’t make money by not investing in their own stocks?”

“You can invest now, don’t you dare talk badly.”

But objective indicators were already clearly showing that the situation was not good.

Since the end of the last Great War, America has been the world’s factory and farm.

France and Germany, whose entire country had been devastated by the war, as well as European countries that were still suffering from minor conflicts, eagerly imported food and various manufactured goods produced in the United States.

But it’s already been ten years since the war ended.

Now they could produce enough of their own food and other necessities, and the price of the excess food production was gradually falling.

Meanwhile,

“Is it a good harvest?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

What was originally a bumper crop that should have been a cause for celebration ended up becoming a cause for concern.

And finally, Thursday, October 24th.

“no!!!”

“This, this can’t be happening”

“This is a dream.”

The sudden stock market crash threw Wall Street into chaos.

bang.

“Oh, someone fell.”

“Here, too.”

Those who lost all their assets and ended up with huge debts that they could never repay gave up their lives without any regrets.

“The stock market should be closed.”

“but···.”

“We need to buy time until we find a way.”

In the end, the authorities went to great lengths to prevent the situation, even resorting to the drastic measure of early closure.

Financial titans including William C. Durant and the Rockefellers also rolled up their sleeves.

“Thursday’s crash was just a temporary blip, similar to what happened in March.”

“you’re right.”

After the weekend, things seemed to be stabilizing on Monday, but…

“Can’t stop it.”

“The decline is too much···.”

“Bank runs are occurring everywhere…”

On Tuesday, the stock market was out of control.

And the stock market crash had a cascading effect, hitting the economy hard.

It wasn’t just individuals who took on debt and jumped into the investment frenzy.

Companies that were doing well began to go bankrupt one after another.

Naturally, workers who had lost their jobs poured into the streets.

They say that falling things have no wings.

A dark tunnel with no end in sight has begun.

But the government’s response was insufficient to overcome the crisis.

“This is a temporary problem.”

“That’s right. The problem is the people who borrowed money and invested excessively in the first place.”

“The market will soon stabilize and recover.”

Hoover frowned as he watched those who were rushing to present rosy predictions.

“Are you sure?”

At a meeting held at the White House ahead of the national address, attendees had similar views.

“How could Adam Smith’s economic theory be wrong?”

“Yes, it’s confusing now, but soon the invisible hand will···.”

“This is an opportunity to liquidate and restructure stocks, companies, workers, and farmers.”

Andrew Mallon, who served as Treasury Secretary under three presidents—Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover—did not take the crisis too seriously.

But somehow Hoover had a feeling that the current situation would not end easily.

That made Hoover frown and asked again firmly.

“Are you sure that this situation will calm down soon?”

“Mr. President, even if that is not the case, you must say so.”

“What?”

Hoover could only nod in agreement when asked if it would be more difficult to resolve the market’s confusion if it did not even give a positive signal about the future.

So on December 3rd.

“This recession will be over in two months.”

Hoover delivered his address to the nation in a confident voice.

##

“That guy is completely finished now.”

Manuel clicked his tongue as he heard Hoover’s voice coming from the radio.

“yes.”

“Isn’t this a good thing for you?”

I let out a long sigh at Manuel’s expression.

“Is that so? But I don’t necessarily want to step on other people’s misfortunes to get to the top.”

It is true that a crisis is an opportunity.

For people like me who prepared in advance, as Manuel said, the crisis was a great opportunity.

But how can we, when it is so obvious how many people are having a hard time…

“I always thought this, but you are too delicate and kind.”

“I?”

“If you’re so concerned about something that’s not even your fault, isn’t that a sign of being kind?”

“haha.”

“And thanks to you, there are people who can dream of a better future. So don’t look back and keep moving forward.”

What Manuel was talking about was the Philippines.

Throughout history, the Philippines was one of the countries hit hard by the Great Depression.

That’s understandable, as the Philippine economy is closely tied to the United States.

In particular, the Philippines’ main export was a commodity that was greatly affected by economic conditions, such as sugar made from sugarcane.

But unlike the original history, my intervention and the subsequent economic reforms of Wood and Quezon shone through.

In particular, the fact that the Governor-General and the administration played a leading role in the process, creating and maintaining a system close to a so-called planned economy, was effective.

It was similar to how the Soviet Union and other socialist countries avoided the depression in the 1930s by running the economy under the leadership of the Communist Party.

“There are many construction projects on each island, and the impact has been less severe because export items have been diversified. The Chinese market is also playing a part.”

While we lost some things by taking a stand against Japan, we also gained some things, namely the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

Among them, China was not greatly affected by the Great Depression thanks to maintaining the silver standard.

“Of course, if the panic continues, it will be difficult to not be affected.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“That’s right. It’s all thanks to you.”

I was able to regain my smile at Manuel’s words. However, contrary to me, Manuel’s face soon began to darken.

Because the topic of conversation changed.

“How’s Brigadier General Mitchell doing these days? How’s the flight school going?”

“Haa. Really···.”

Manuel sighed deeply and began to complain about Mitchell.

“Do you know how much of a fuss I made over buying a decent aircraft manufacturer this time? I···.”

“I guess that gentleman is still the same.”

Mitchell, whose lifelong goal was to create the U.S. Air Force, is now long gone.

When I first arrived in the Philippines

“Once I finish my work here, I will return to my homeland and definitely establish an air force. Then, you must help me.”

But life in the Philippines changed him.

Instead of creating a U.S. Air Force, his target was none other than the Philippines.

“You said you could never protect it? That seal guy who was either King or Bob said that?”

“It’s not absolute, but it’s not easy···.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Why don’t I show you?”

Mitchell, who was more convinced than I was that Japan would be the enemy, intended to prove his claim correct by defending the Philippines.

“So, it’s good to be passionate about various things, but···.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Those Koreans are the ones who are the problem.”

Among the Koreans who came to the Philippines after the Great Kanto Earthquake, there were quite a few who entered flight school under my sponsorship.

“It’s good, it’s good to fight Japan while joining hands with the Chinese. But···”

Those who learned flying skills in this way were divided into several groups.

The first were those like Ahn Chan-soo who stayed at the flight school and worked hard to train future students.

The second group were those who joined Philippine Airlines.

Finally, they were the ones who decided to go to China.

And Mitchell falls into that last category.

“You’re going to China?”

The Koreans answered Mitchell’s question with a snicker.

“If you go there, you can fight those little brats.”

“That’s why I became a pilot.”

At first, Mitchell and other American soldiers did not understand their decision.

“Isn’t it too early? No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the Chinese can beat Japan.”

But the Korean people’s determination was firm.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as I can kill one more of those bastards as soon as possible….”

“Yes, aren’t there many people like me who are preparing for the future? Now, we also need people who can show the spirit of these Joseon people.”

The activities of those who headed to China were tremendous.

Although aviation schools were being established all over China to train pilots, they were like fireflies in the sun compared to the Philippines.

It was a natural thing.

What Chinese school can come close to the standards of the American military, especially the Manila Aviation School, which Mitchell is supporting?

Thanks to this, Koreans who graduated from the Manila Aviation School were able to become the most preferred instructors at Chinese aviation schools and aces of the Chinese military aviation corps.

And they fully demonstrated the unique characteristics of the Korean people.

“This is a letter sent by those who went to China.”

“Really? But why this?”

“If you look at the translation here···”

There was one more thing besides rice that the Korean people were crazy about, and that was records.

Can’t you tell just by looking at the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty or the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat?

Koreans enjoyed and loved recording everything, and took it for granted.

Such nationality did not disappear just because it existed in China.

“You recorded in great detail what happened while fighting the Japanese army.”

“Yes. Wouldn’t that be useful?”

Every time there is one.

Although aviation technology is advancing by the day, as always, the skill of the people piloting the aircraft was just as important as the performance of the machine.

No matter how much training you do to resemble real combat, will you only do real combat where your life is at stake?

And the records sent by the Joseon people who experienced the actual battle…

“This is a treasure.”

“yes?”

“Contact those who have been to China and ask them to send me every single record of this kind.”

Of course, Billy Mitchell couldn’t have failed to recognize its value.

The problem is,

“It’s definitely not something that only involves actual combat.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“So what I’m saying is···”

The point was that Billy Mitchell, who was hooked on the real thing, was making a fuss because he wanted to give the same opportunity to other pilots.

So, to be exact, he wanted to get the opportunity.

“Why are you saying you’re taking a short vacation…”

“Because I don’t know what you’re going to do after taking a vacation.”

“Commander.”

I wonder if Mitchell, with his personality, would just sit back and watch the battlefield while he takes his vacation.

It was only natural that the commander in chief of the Philippine garrison, who was well aware of his condition, cut off all of Mitchell’s leave.

“Aha. So···.”

“Yes. I took a vacation to attend your wedding, but the commander said he couldn’t trust me and even denied me that vacation.”

Mitchell, whose vacation was cut short, grabbed Manuel and made a fuss, and because of that, Manuel couldn’t attend my wedding and came to the US late.

But unlike Manuel, who was serious, I laughed.

“What a hasty person you are. If I wait, will he take care of it on his own?”

Manuel looked like he didn’t understand my reaction.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“If he really wanted to go so badly, he would have found another way instead of a vacation. Like a spectator’s license.”

After the Great Kanto Earthquake, relations between Japan and the United States were considerably strained, unlike their original history.

But that didn’t mean they were enemies.

Regardless of each other’s true intentions, Japan and the United States continued to trade on a seemingly friendly basis.

“If we make a formal request, will Japan refuse?”

Manuel looked as if he had been slapped in the face by my words.

“I see. Damn it. My head has hardened after seeing the chaos right next to me…”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Manuel’s words that he hadn’t thought of that.

“This is a message to me.”

“To you? Ah.”

It’s been a few months since he became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, so he was complaining that he had forgotten about him and that he wasn’t taking care of him.

And it was clear that the Philippine military commander who knew him did not report this because he was jealous. In fact, cutting off a subordinate’s vacation was not something that could be reported to a superior.

“Wait, wait. You’re not, are you?”

“Why not?”

Manuel sighed at my words.

“I can’t do this anymore. If you plan on keeping that guy in the Philippines, you’ll need to give him a leash.”

“Don’t worry. I have a nice person.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“What about Eisenhower?”

If he had the ability to stand by MacArthur’s side for nearly a decade in the history of the world, wouldn’t Mitchell be able to control him as well?