Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 67



Only Noblemtl

#067

President Hoover burst into laughter at the news that Major Patton’s tank division had begun its maneuvers.

“Good, good. Patton, you said? I like how quick that guy is.”

“MacArthur is finished now.”

“Yes. Isn’t it a dilemma?”

Not only Hoover, but everyone else in the conference room had bright faces.

It didn’t matter to them whether the Bonus Army were real communists or not. After all, what people believe becomes the truth.

And the ignorant masses tend to believe what they see.

So they ran articles in the newspapers every day for days about how the Bonus Army was definitely instigated by the commies.

In fact, some of Washington’s Bonus Army members were communists or had criminal backgrounds.

With ten thousand people gathered, who wouldn’t be there?

It is difficult to make up something that is not true at all, but it is not that difficult to exaggerate something that exists, no matter how small.

There was a lot that Edgar Hoover’s capable FBI friends knew.

Thanks to this, Hoover and other Republicans were able to set an elaborate trap for MacArthur.

“The President’s order is clear, but at the same time ambiguous: disperse the communist-sponsored protesters.”

“That’s right. The order I gave was only to disperse the protesters, but I didn’t give any specific instructions on how to do so.”

“Yes. Isn’t it true that the specifics are left to the judgment of the field commander?”

If he had disobeyed the president’s orders and continued to support the red paradise of the Bonus Army, MacArthur could have been attacked as a red as well as accused of disobeying orders.

Well, if the protesters were to disperse on their own, saying, “Wow, how hot is the tank?” that would be fine too.

The point is that the fucking Bonus Army is reducing the political pressure they face.

And they say dead men don’t speak. It wasn’t a problem to package the scattered protesters to suit their tastes.

“Patton, did you say that guy’s personality was that fiery?”

“yes.”

If by any chance an accident were to occur, that would be the best.

“Not everyone is a communist? Doesn’t the fact that you fell for the communist propaganda mean you’re a potential communist?”

“That’s right. If he had been a good citizen, he wouldn’t have fallen for the instigation of the communists next to him.”

So I didn’t care if a few fucking commies died.

No, what death could be more worthwhile than one that could bring great benefit to this country through their death?

“Why don’t you give him a reasonable amount of consolation money and give him a place to rest in Arlington since he did such a great thing?”

MacArthur, who launched an attack on innocent civilians, would become the biggest scumbag in America that day.

Isn’t the basic rule of responding to the riots of communists by firing machine guns? Even so, even a seven-year-old knows that machine guns and tanks are different.

Above all, MacArthur’s image as a friend of the Queen, a hero of the Great War, and a true soldier who never forgets his comrades will be thrown into the abyss.

It was clear that the higher I flew, the harder I would fall and the more I would get hurt.

Where else can you blow up MacArthur? You can also blow up his father-in-law, that damn Roosevelt.

“That bastard said that since ancient times, there has been nothing like a marriage alliance. Since we are so close, we should share the fruit together.”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t public opinion bad these days? You could probably pass on some of that discontent to MacArthur.”

Anyone with common sense would know that MacArthur had done nothing wrong in the panic.

But in an era where life became tough and difficult, people needed something to express their anger on.

It didn’t really matter whether he had committed a mortal sin or not. He just needed something to vent all his negative emotions about his hard life, his anxiety about the future, his fears.

And to this day, that swearing doll is none other than Hoover.

Isn’t that the kind of person a president is supposed to be?

But if MacArthur shares his burden,

“It’s the best.”

So they believed that their plan was absolutely perfect.

##

“Even if you arrive at the dwelling, you will not do anything until you forget it.”

“All right.”

“And have the car ready. We’re going to the White House.”

Those following me stopped and froze when I told them I was going to the White House.

“Okay, just a moment. Where are you going, Mr. President?”

“Are you talking about the White House?”

“Yes, there is a conspiracy in Moscow to overthrow this country. Should we just let this continue?”

“Ha, but···.”

A pale Bradley muttered that there would be no coup.

“under.”

I was so angry that I hit the back of the guy’s head.

“What the hell are you thinking? The President is being fooled by those fucking commies.”

“yes?”

I stopped for a moment at the sight of people looking at me as if they had no idea what I was talking about.

“You know, the Bonus Army you see over there has nothing to do with the Reds.”

“Yes.”

“But then all of a sudden, they started talking about communists, and today, look. What did the president say to do about them?”

Yes, you can bring in the military. Wasn’t it 20th century America that brought in state troops to fire machine guns at miners on strike?

“But don’t you think the tank went too far?”

“Well, Colonel Lanza’s report doesn’t make any sense either…”

“What if it was all a communist conspiracy?”

“What do you mean?”

It’s not a new thing that the communists have been planting spies here and there and using them to plot all sorts of conspiracies.

“Our United States of America is not like the monarchies of Europe. For them, birthright and bloodline determine everything. What about us?”

What’s different about America? Legally, everyone is equal, but that’s not possible.

But in any case, isn’t America a dream country where there are no social statuses, everyone is equal, and anyone can rise to fame based on their abilities?

“that···.”

I clicked my tongue as I looked at Bradley, who hesitated because he was too honest, and answered.

“It’s different.”

“Oh, yes. It’s different.”

“Unlike those who are born holding onto the umbilical cord and call themselves Kaiser or Czar, the President of the United States of America was elected by the people. So, don’t you think that the commies should use different methods than before?”

Only after I explained this far did someone understand what I was trying to say.

“Are you saying, Mr. President, that this attempt to forcibly suppress the protesters by military force is itself a conspiracy?”

“Neat arrangement, Ridgeway.”

“You are too kind.”

“Then they want us to attack the innocent protesters.”

“Yes. Now listen. If I were under orders from Moscow, I would spread propaganda like this instead of holding protests that always fail.”

“A propaganda leaflet? What kind of···.”

I cleared my throat and chuckled for a moment as I watched those who looked at me with curiosity.

And only after telling Bradley to prepare to write it down did he open his mouth.

“Look, they are running over the good citizens with their trams.

You guys are the masters of this country?

Everyone is being deceived. Election? That’s a rigged scam.

From the president to the capitalists, they are all in this together.

We are on the verge of starving to death, but they are eating well and living well.

What difference do the capitalists who live a life of luxury and the politicians in Washington make from the corrupt aristocrats?

What kind of country is this that throws away even those who risked their lives fighting for their country like old shoes?

“Workers, rise up and fight.”

Before I could finish speaking, I saw Marshall and Bradley flinch.

“Mr. President.”

“What do you think?”

Everyone who heard the story I recited in an instant had a pale face.

“Which sounds more like a conspiracy: the rumor that the Bonus Army protesters are taking over the Capitol at the behest of the Reds, and that protests will follow across the country, or the rumor that the President and I, fooled by that rumor, mobilize the military to attack innocent civilians and mislead people by claiming that this is the nature of our country?”

Above all, my claim was supported by strong evidence.

“Please look at this report.”

Marshall’s eyes widened as he waved the report that Colonel Lanza had brought earlier.

“If a report full of such lies was sent to the White House, isn’t it natural for the President to make poor decisions?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

I guess they made it to trap me, but I don’t know.

Who on earth would be caught in this report? At least it wasn’t me.

“Aren’t you saying that the real red conspiracy is not to protest, but to suppress the protests with blood and attack the government through them?”

“Yes, especially if it is later discovered that those killed by the US military were not communists, but innocent civilians…”

“It will further solidify their argument.”

“So we have to go to the White House and let them know. We have to stop the president before he goes down the wrong path. We have to track down those damned communist spies.”

“That is a valid point.”

##

So, after MacArthur left for the White House, Marshall, who was left in the staff to handle the aftermath, muttered with a tired face.

“He is a really scary person.”

Ridgeway nodded as he heard Marshall’s muttering.

“Yes. How can you come up with such an idea in an instant?”

Especially the provocative phrases that are spit out without an inch of hesitation…

If the person in front of me hadn’t been MacArthur, I would have really believed he was a spy working under orders from Moscow.

“I thought it was a no-brainer when Colonel Lanza was pushing out ridiculous reports and Secretary Hurley was spouting nonsense.”

“Now Hoover is going to be a complete idiot.”

“That’s right. That author and the Republican Party should be thankful that MacArthur is the current Chief of Staff.”

“Yes.”

With patriotism for this country,

With pride in democracy,

And if it weren’t for MacArthur, who was obsessed with honor and duty as a soldier, the banner of civilian control that had lasted for over a hundred years would have been left on the ground.

“By the way, Major Patton should have stopped in time.”

“Yeah. That’s what worries me.”

General MacArthur, heading to the White House, had no worries at all.

Didn’t you see his abilities a little while ago?

The thing I was worried about was the mad dog Patton.

“Anyway, once this is over, that kid deserves a good beating.”

“Perhaps the spies stole the president’s name or something?”

“Even so, if such an absurd order is given, we must double-check.”

“That’s true.”

Ridgeway shook his head at Marshall’s growl that he was definitely going to kick that little brat’s ass.

##

“Open the door.”

“That, that···.”

I got to the White House, but that bloody Hoover wouldn’t see me.

“No, General MacArthur, why on earth are you here?”

“Why? Have I come to a place I shouldn’t be?”

“Isn’t Washington, D.C., right now, the United States of America in danger? You never know what the communist mob might do…”

“Oh, so that’s what you know?”

“yes?”

“Who on earth reported that story?”

Instead of President Hoover, whose nose was nowhere to be seen, I was greeted by FBI Director Edgar Hoover.

“If the information that the Bonus Army is trying to start a riot at the behest of the Reds is coming from you, then hmm. I guess you’ll have to start over with organizational management.”

“What?”

“This is our Colonel Lanza’s report.”

“Same content···.”

“Yes. That’s a lie. Our Army General Staff has discovered a conspiracy by spies under orders from Moscow. They are disrupting the intelligence network of the Army General Staff and the executive branch, and spreading false information in order to throw the United States into chaos.”

As a result, Edgar Hoover’s face hardened when I told him that the President had made a bad decision.

“Where is that thing from earlier? Give it to me.”

At my words, Bradley held out his notebook.

“This, this is···.”

Edgar Hoover, who first encountered the touching inflammatory slogan, was so moved that he trembled.

I approached Edgar Hoover, who was barely able to speak, and whispered in his ear.

“What do you think? If it’s a conspiracy, wouldn’t it have to be at least this much for people to accept it?”

“General MacArthur.”

“Do you think people out there are more likely to believe this nonsense about MacArthur being a communist or that he manipulated information and fooled the President into sending tanks to innocent civilians?”

Whoosh.

I snatched the notebook from Hoover’s hands and handed it to the presidential secretary, who was looking around anxiously behind him.

The secretary, who was anxious and had no idea what was written and why Edgar Hoover was doing that, quickly moved her eyes.

And, as expected, I couldn’t hide my intense emotions and trembled.

“So, where on earth is our President?”

Edgar Hoover screamed at the sight of his secretary turning around with a bewildered look on her face.

“But it’s already too late.”

“What does that mean?”

A bewildered Bradley countered with Edgar Hoover’s words.

“How do you think the Bonus Army will react when they see tanks and cavalry? And would Major Patton remain silent when he sees demonstrators who are aggressive toward them first?”

“Hmm. I see.”

“The message from the General Staff is···.”

“He either didn’t arrive or was accused of being a spy or something.”

Hoover looked visibly taken aback by my interruption and absentminded mumbling.

Seeing things like this, I could tell that they had definitely calculated all possible scenarios before setting the trap.

The moment Patton pushed back the demonstrators with his tanks, regardless of the reason, it was my unconditional defeat.

For one reason or another, I’m not at fault, and Patton is not at fault either? Will that work?

Then, are you going to blame it on Patton for not being able to properly assess the situation like an idiot and start cutting off the tail?

At that moment, I would have lost all the support of the young officers. Everyone knows that Patton is a mad dog, but he was my subordinate anyway. Who would trust and follow a superior who does not cover up the mistakes of his subordinates?

In the end, what he meant was that if Patton caused an accident, I would have to take responsibility.

But there was something they never thought of,

“But you know, there’s someone I trust more than anyone else.”

It wasn’t my intention, but heaven help me, there was someone there who could stop Patton.

A person with the ability to stop even Grandpa Patton, not just Patton.