Once inside, Alfred shrugged out of his coat and tried to distract himself. He went into the kitchen and fixed himself a sandwich. Repressing memories was easier on a full stomach. For an hour Alfred went into the study and prepared his papers for tomorrow. The work passed quickly as Alfred reviewed the latest import and export figures. He tried to outline a new plan for generating domestic revenue, but ran off on a tangent about mining and alternative energy. After two hours the young nation felt as if he had absorbed all the data his mind could hold and that he had accomplished enough for the next day's meeting. Stretching, Alfred got up to go distract himself with television or videogames. It was then that he noticed the framed photo over his mantel. It was a picture of him and ten other men dressed in uniform standing in a lush jungle. He walked toward the mantel and picked up the photo. Staring at his younger self the memories he had been trying to ignore came flooding back.
*******************Burma 1944*************
Snap! The camera whirred as the photograph was taken, and the flash popped. The men who had been posing blinked away the dots in their eyes.
"Okay back to work boys!" The commander ordered.
The men separated and returned to their various chores and amusements around the camp. Alfred's job had been to guard the building holding the supplies and luckily he was relieved in an hour. With nothing in particular to do he went back to his tent to catch up on sleep. Alfred was grateful for the shade of the tent. It was so warm and humid. He hung up his helmet and placed his gun beside his cot. He sighed as flopped into his bunk. Despite the seemingly casual atmosphere of the camp, everyone knew the solemn truth. Everyday he and his regiment waited, knowing one day they would be asked to fight and die. The buzzing of flies lulled him to sleep.
Alfred was awakened two hours later by the other men shuffling around in the tent.
"What's going on?" He wondered.
"The General called a meeting," Alfred's bunkmate explained.
Alfred could sense it. This was a briefing, they were moving sooner than they expected. He pulled on his boots and finished dressing. Then he made his way to the tent. Their General stood before a blackboard with a basic map of the area.
"Alright men, listen up because this is important. In a few days Chinese troops from the north will reach our camp. After a week of preparation we are going to commence a strike on Myitkyina. Our objective is to take the city and secure it against further attacks by the Japanese. Any questions?"
A few officers raised their hands. When their questions were answered the General continued to explain the plan, detailing positions and important capture points. When the soldiers were released it was fairly late in the evening. Once more the men split off to their respective duties. Alfred went to his post in front of the supply shed and tried to prepare himself for the coming battle.
As the general promised Chinese troops arrived two days later. There was much hustle and anxiety as the day of the operation loomed closer. However, among the troops Alfred spotted a familiar face.
"Yao!" He called out.
"Alfred!" The Chinese man answered.
The young American pushed his way up to Yao.
"It's good to see you," Alfred smiled.
"Yes. I am glad to see an old friend as well," Yao replied.
"How have you been?" Alfred asked.
"It has been difficult. There is nothing but chaos and conflict inside and out," Yao replied.
Alfred could only nod. It was obvious from the bags under Yao's eyes and his sunken cheeks that the war was taking its toll on him.
"I am grateful for all the help you've given me throughout this ordeal," Yao added.
"It's not a problem. We're in this together remember?" Alfred smiled.
"I know. Though, sometimes I think that a great upheaval is underway. When this war is over we will have changed significantly. I wonder if we will still be friends in the end," Yao explained.
"Well as long as you don't double cross me, I think we'll be fine," Alfred answered
"Let us leave it at that then," Yao smiled.
Yao walked off to his camp. Alfred watched him until the clouds obscured the moon and made it too dark to see.
The operation began a week later. Alfred's division was the second to advance. At first it was quiet, but then the air crackled with gunfire. Alfred's troops quickly returned fire. There was a rhythmic volley of attack and counterattack broken by the occasional grenade blast. Alfred's unit managed a steady advance, but continued to take fire. The firefight seemed to go for hours until a blast ripped through the air. Alfred peered through his binoculars in the direction the blast had come from. He spotted the source just as another blast ripped through the air. It was heavy fire from the tanks. Then a second unit of infantry arrived to join Alfred's division. With the extra numbers and the support of the tanks they managed to make the final push into the city. That night as they prepared to defend the newly won territory, Alfred heard that Yao's regiment had secured the airfield. Alfred was grateful for the victory and hoped that soon they could bring an end to this terrible bloody war.
Alfred placed the picture back on the mantle. He went upstairs and took a shower hoping it would clear his head. Those days seemed so far away yet, so vivid at the same time. Yao's prediction had proved true and the war had changed both them in irrevocable ways.
To Be Continued
This Chapter deals specifically with the Burma Campaign. Chinese, American and British troops captured the city of Myitkyina. Specifically the airfield was important as it provided a means of getting supplies to Chinese and American troops. China handled much of fighting on the mainland, while the United States concentrated on an island hoping strategy in the Pacific. It was understood that China would be key to launching an attack on the Japanese home islands, but naturally the atomic bomb made an invasion of Japan unnecessary.
The anime often shows the allies in meetings; I wanted to do something slightly different and actually show one of the battles. Ofcourse I think this chapter was the hardest to write because it feels unnecessary. However it is an important part of the United States and China's relationship. Thanks for reading!