Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 160



Only Krnovel

#160

“We are Americans.”

“Our loyalty lies solely with the American flag.”

Although not white, they were all born in the United States and raised as Americans.

However, since the start of the war with Japan, many Asian Americans have been viewed with suspicion and disapproval because of their Japanese descent or because their appearance was indistinguishable from that of Japanese descent.

Many young men wanted to enlist in the army.

“Give us a chance to prove our loyalty.”

“We want to fight too.”

In this way, they all came together and succeeded in forming the 442nd Infantry Regiment.

Of course, there were many difficulties during that process.

This was because many people expressed their opposition by sending letters to the White House, the War Department, and the Army General Staff.

“How can you trust them?”

“Would those short and small guys be able to fight properly?”

“It would be fortunate if they didn’t hold back our soldiers.”

“How about exchanging them for those captured by Japan?”

The reason they were able to form a proper solidarity was because not only Japanese but also Koreans and other Asians participated.

“We are Americans, not Japanese or Korean.”

“Give me a chance to prove my loyalty before the stars and stripes.”

Most Koreans joined the provisional government, but not all.

There were also quite a few who wanted to remain Americans rather than become Koreans.

Thanks to the participation of various Asian Americans in addition to Koreans, Asians in Japan were able to form a solidarity called the “Nisei Unit.”

However, forming a unit did not end there.

“It’s a bit much to deploy to the Pacific front…”

Everyone was against sending a force comprised predominantly of Japanese descent to the Pacific Theater.

Thus, their battlefield became Europe across the Atlantic.

They crossed the Atlantic Ocean and came to a strange foreign land, but no one wanted them.

“Where do you use those little guys?”

“You have to give them the right ones.”

“I am a bit···.”

In the early 20th century, when racial discrimination was rampant, no commander in the U.S. military would have readily accepted the 442nd Infantry Regiment, which was comprised entirely of people of color.

The Nisei unit was no different from the ugly duckling.

It was Patton who accepted them as they were being pushed around.

“Colored people? Jabs? What the heck. The guys we’re fighting are Jerrys.”

“Yes.”

“Then it doesn’t matter? Your arms and legs are intact, and you can hear, speak, and even write in English.”

“Yes. Even college graduates···.”

“Then you should get it right away. That’s absolutely top-notch. What does skin color matter?”

To Patton, skin color wasn’t what mattered.

To Patton, who shouted that skin color didn’t matter as long as you had ability, the Nisei unit was a top-class new recruit.

Thus, the 442nd Infantry Regiment joined the 7th Army, which was advancing toward Berlin.

“You must fight more bravely than anyone else.”

“Of course.”

“Here we must prove that we are Americans, that we are more loyal Americans than anyone else···.”

The Japanese believed that only then would their families remaining in Japan and their descendants be able to live with dignity.

The Joseon people were equally desperate.

“There must be a reason you came here instead of going to the Joseon army.”

“Yes.”

“You have to succeed here···.”

Because I wanted to remain American rather than Korean, because my ancestors’ records were too dirty to return to Korea, because they had a leftist history, etc.

Those who chose to join the US military rather than the North Korean military for various reasons were equally thirsty for success.

“Then I have to go back with a medal in my hand.”

“Yes. If that doesn’t work, at least give your family the honor of being a war veteran.”

One of them was Kim Young-ok.

And finally, they were given a chance to prove their existence.

The 7th Army, which had been advancing rapidly, was stopped by German resistance.

“The German resistance is formidable.”

“Yes, the Teutoburg Forest is also a problem there.”

Up to Essen and Münster, it was possible to trade firepower for mobility, as Patton said.

This was because the German army had not anticipated the 7th Army’s movements at all.

The cooperation of the Air Corps, which had gained control of the airfield there, brought frustration to Germany and victory to Patton and the Seventh Army.

However, the bad weather was a problem since we left Münster.

Not only was it unable to receive air support, but the 7th Army’s strength, mobility, was also lost.

After praying earnestly and sincerely, they finally got clear skies, but the Germans had already built a defensive line and were waiting for them.

“The forest is not that big.”

“But it’s long and stretched out, and it’s quite dense.”

Originally, forests were not particularly well suited to armored units.

In particular, the area blocking their path was small but extremely dense, and the Germans were lying in wait there in ambush.

The first thing Patton called when he was confronted by the German army in a forest, especially a winter forest, was the Air Corps.

“The Air Force has launched several air strikes, but the results have been limited.”

“Because they dug trenches and lay in wait all over the forest···.”

The German garrison had built a fortress in the forest and was preparing for defense with minefields, barbed wire, and booby traps in the snow.

The narrow paths and open spaces between the forests were where German machine-gun, mortar and artillery units were taking aim and adjusting their firing ranges in advance.

“The tanks are difficult to maneuver, but these guys are running around with anti-tank guns···”

“It’s too difficult to deal with.”

“Trees are also a problem.”

“There are many cases of injuries caused by flying pieces of wood from shells.”

In comparison, the Germans were hiding in trenches, so they suffered less casualties than the Americans.

“How about taking a detour further north?”

“Isn’t there a forest there?”

“That’s not it, but···.”

It took a long climb to get to an area where there was no forest at all.

Thanks to the gradual reclamation of forest areas into cities, large and small forests were scattered throughout the area.

“How far north do you have to go before there’s no forest? You have to be almost to the coastline.”

The staff’s mouths were shut at Patton’s words that if that was the case, wouldn’t it be better to just get on the Seals’ boats and land north of Berlin?

And above all, the shortest route to Berlin was to pass through Osnabrück, then Hanover and head west in a straight line.

In the end, the US 7th Army had no choice but to advance by deploying infantry and destroying the German defensive positions one by one.

While the 7th Army staff were clutching their heads in agony, there were those who were cheering, and they were the Nisei unit members.

“The time has finally come. Did you all hear the story?”

“yes!”

“They are sending in infantry to hunt down the Germans hiding in the forest.”

“This is our chance to prove our loyalty and ability.”

“Let’s show those who looked down on us because we were small what kind of people we are!”

“sure!”

In particular, the one with the highest morale was the 100th Infantry Battalion, and in particular, the platoon led by 2nd Lieutenant Kim Young-ok.

Most of the platoon members were from Hawaii, and the forest was a familiar place to them, having been hardened by life outdoors in the harsh volcanic environment.

“Ugh, these eyes really aren’t adjusting.”

“Yeah. It’s fucking cold.”

“What on earth is going on in this neighborhood? How trash falls from the sky.”

“So isn’t it because life is difficult that they wage war like this?”

“Is that so?”

Of course, it was difficult to adapt to the weather that was completely different from Hawaii, but even so, the platoon members’ movements were extremely nimble.

The mission of the platoon led by Kim Young-ok is to eliminate German positions hidden throughout the forest.

It was the same that day too.

At Kim Young-ok’s gesture confirming the sound of machine guns pouring down, all the platoon members crouched.

Dadada.

“I think we need to get rid of that place over there···.”

“It’s really difficult to approach.”

“What should we do?”

Thanks to their careful movements, they were not detected by the Germans who were still in the machine gun positions.

But there was no way to attack from where they were hiding.

“If you start moving, you’ll be detected immediately.”

Kim Young-ok, who was momentarily troubled by the platoon member’s question, took out a grenade and held it in her hand.

“But I have to go. I can’t hide here forever.”

“That’s true, but···.”

Kim Young-ok asked, looking at the hesitating platoon member.

“Are you scared?”

“Yes? No.”

The answer came out immediately. Kim Young-ok smiled brightly and got up.

“Yeah, that can’t be true. Then let’s go. Let’s stop there for today and then go and rest.”

“All right.”

As Kim Young-ok ran ahead, all the other platoon members began to follow her.

“Let’s follow the platoon leader.”

“let’s go.”

Dadada.

The German army’s response was somewhat slow, perhaps because they were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the American army’s charge.

Thanks to this, he was able to get closer than he had planned. Seeing the surprised expressions on the German soldiers’ faces, Kim Young-ok swung her arm to give them the grenade she was holding.

No, that’s just his imagination.

puck.

“The platoon leader has collapsed.”

“what!”

“We have to save the platoon leader.”

“Sergeant!”

As he fell, screams erupted from the mouths of the platoon members following him.

and,

“Banzai!”

One of the platoon members at the very back ran out shouting a familiar phrase. To him···.

“Banzai!”

“Banzai!!”

They all charged forward, shouting the same words as if they were infected.

A few hours later.

“It’s a clean piercing, so it’ll heal faster.”

“Ha. That’s fortunate.”

At the doctor’s words, the platoon members sighed in relief and looked at Kim Young-ok.

“Thank goodness. What’s Banzai talking about there?”

“No, I didn’t know···.”

“Ha, really.”

“No, wasn’t it you, the platoon leader, who charged first?”

“Yes. We just followed.”

And thanks to the efforts of the Nisei unit members including them, the 7th Army was able to break through the forest and arrive at Osnabrück.

And after hearing about their exploits, Patton immediately picked up his pen and wrote a document.

##

“You said you got a request for a medal of honor? What’s that?”

At the adjutant’s words, I looked up from the documents I was reading and raised my head.

Fierce fighting continued day after day, and frontline units sent in various reports every day.

Among them, there were quite a few requests to award medals to his subordinates.

Patton, in particular, was one of those who took care of his men more enthusiastically than anyone else. When I asked why he wanted to see something that was always coming up, the adjutant handed me the documents he was holding.

“This is because the content is quite unique.”

Then I put down the document I was reading and started reading what the adjutant handed me.

“What is this? It’s a Banzai Charge. Why this?”

“Is this a tactic you know?”

The adjutant asked with shining eyes at my muttering.

“Ah, ah. This is a strategy that the Japanese often use···.”

I knew Kim Young-ok because she was a famous person in the Korean military.

In particular, wasn’t the banzai charge he led with his Japanese platoon in Italy a very famous story?

But aren’t there many differences from the history of Yuan? In particular, there are many differences between Joseon during Yuan history, which was not properly treated as a country, and Joseon today.

Not only had they already been promised independence, but from the beginning of the Pacific War, the Korean Provisional Government and its Liberation Army had been participating in the war as allies of the US military. Weren’t there already Koreans in the Mitchell Special Forces?

As a result, most Korean Americans enlisted in the Korean Liberation Army rather than the US military. Thanks to this, the Korean Liberation Army was quite large.

So I thought you would have naturally gone that way, but you came here and did a banzai charge.

“It’s not ordinary that he enlisted in the US Army, not the Korean Liberation Army. He must be a truly remarkable person.”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Oh, by the way, did you inform the Jeonghoon Unit about this?”

“Huh? No, not yet.”

“Let me know right away. What a great story. You can highlight the Nisei unit members, or you can highlight their bravery in charging without sparing their lives.”

“Oh, I see.”

If it was a European Banzai assault, it would be a good story.

While I was surprised by the unexpected Banzai Charge, something amazing was happening on the other side of the globe.

“What, there are all these crazy guys?”

It was Eisenhower who was showing his displeasure with a distorted face.

What Eisenhower was holding in his hand was a report from Elliot, who was currently at Chiang Kai-shek’s side.

“Civil war? It’s true that the war is coming to an end, but it’s not over yet. But civil war….”

So, the Chinese civil war had started in 1927, long before the war with Japan. However, after Japan revealed its ambitions for China, Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang and the Communists agreed to stop the civil war and cooperate to drive out Japan first.

“The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was right when he said that the Chinese should not be trusted.”

“Yes. Let this story reach the ears of those seals. It’s obvious that we, who insisted on landing in China, would be foolish.”

After recapturing the Philippines, Eisenhower and King were at odds over their next steps. Eisenhower wanted to advance into mainland China, where the Army could play a major role, while King wanted to attack the Japanese mainland via Formosa.

In fact, that was precisely why the Chinese Communist Party broke away from cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communists.

“What would happen if the US military set foot on the continent?”

“We have to find a way to survive before that.”

“After the war is over, it’s too late, it’s too late.”

Although it joined hands with the Soviet Union and cooperated with communist nationalists in places like Burma and Vietnam, the United States was fundamentally an anti-communist country.

In particular, America’s anti-communist spirit was clearly revealed when looking at key allies such as the Philippines and the Provisional Government of Korea.

“Look at those Korean bastards. Aren’t the communist elements completely wiped out?”

“If things continue this way, it’s obvious that we too will follow in that footstep.”

Thus, Mao Zedong and other communist leaders decided to break the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communists and take an independent path.

Naturally, Chiang Kai-shek could not stand by and watch, and eventually a battle broke out between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang.

“Does that mean we should just accept those seals’ offer?”

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

“of course.”

After all the years I’ve been shitting myself in the Philippines, I can’t help but do good things for those seals.

“Well, what about Joseon?”

“shipbuilding?”

“Yes. They are much more trustworthy than those Chinese guys.”

“I know that very well.”

“We are planning to make Joseon independent anyway. So wouldn’t it be better to do it a little faster?”

The argument was that if Taiwan, China, and Japan were all stepping stones to each other, wouldn’t the closest country, Joseon, be the shortest route?