The Undying Marine 5 - (CoD/BlackOpsverse, PvtMiller!SI)
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'Absolute Resolve'
Charan Kanoa, Saipan
January 10th, 1943
LCpl. Charlie Miller
1st Marine Division
New year, new resolves.
The US Navy definitely felt emboldened by what had happened with the Yamato, and the demoralized defense of Rabaul reinforced that aggressive mindset: in a rather limited speech at the end of 1942, Nimitz professed the hope that we could wrap the war up against Japan around the first months of 1944.
I intended to break that resolve by actually getting it done earlier.
Operation Stalemate was my first real return in the field, with the 1st Marine Division assigned under the V Amphibious Corps as our landing strip was designated as Blue Beach.
Our first target was going to be Charan Kanoa, the village considered the main settlement all over Saipan, but ill-built for defenses. An invasion through that flank meant outright shattering any hope of the Japanese to mount a defense, and we were going to exploit that to the very end.
We weren't alone as the 4th Marine Division was to tear into the Eastern coast while we moved up with the 27th Infantry Division braved the so-called 'Death Valley', a treacherous mountain pass crossing the middle section of the island itself.
Our goals after landing were to trek through Garapan, Tanapag, Makunsha and then stop at the Marpi Airfield.
The first day confirmed the confidence of the high command, with the Japanese resistance crumbling in Charan Kanoa the moment flamethrowers were used.
The fact that the Japanese didn't get the chance to fortify this area as they didn't expect the war to turn in a way it would allow this landing meant that their only covers were the wooden flammable huts that I made a point of never entering unless necessary.
Like hell I was testing my resilience by getting my ass grilled in literal friendly fire.
The battle was still a fresh return to 'normality'. More Japanese dead, more POWs claimed as there was a large amount of Japs that really shat their pants when they realized I was around at hearing my name from what Sullivan was keen to hear around the radio.
I even learned that IJA had given me a fucking nickname. The 'Second Shuten Douji'. And I felt my blood go cold at the thought of what this implied in the distant future.
Nasu, don't you fucking dare in turning me in a genderswapped brat! I refuse!
With Charan Kanoa fallen, we would be moving to get the rest of the objectives the very next day, but while that meant I could catch a bit of a break before going for another hours-long 'walk' through the Western Coast of Saipan, I was taken to the side by Sullivan himself.
"Miller, I wouldn't wish to give this burden to anyone, but the fucking OSS knows how to yank on people's asses," The Captain announced, and I really felt nervous about that premise. "They want you to help them with some 'propaganda shit' involving some of our prisoners."
And I was very very confused end even more worried on what this was all about.
All I knew was that some guy from the OSS were trying to recruit folks from the Japanese POWs from this battle.
The Japs there had been stripped to their underwears and their hats. They all appeared puzzled as I got taken to the interpreter trying to convince these pricks to either speak or at least give some signs of 'understanding' what he was uttering.
I had studied some Japanese in my previous life, but like hell I could entertain a proper conversation of this kind.
Still, the guy told me what was up. The OSS wanted to try and get something close to 'Japanese Partisans' started to try and pull a Free France.
Something very interesting if not dumb on the notion that 1) the US High Command knew shit of the Japanese government at this point, they just thought them as Fascists from the get-go and 2) The Japanese Army was a stubborn bunch. You can't just expect to preach liberty and freedom as the carrot to convince them to fight for you.
"How long have you gone at this?"
"Three hours-"
"And what does it shows you? Is this working?"
"...No, but-"
"Just act as my translator. Let me show you how to fire up some Japs."
Well, in a not-flamethrowery way at least.
I turned to the Japs, they all looked at me and I spoke up.
"Introduce me, please."
The OSS agent frowned, mildly annoyed by the disrespect I was giving him, but he complied as I could tell he gave them my rank, my name, and my affiliation. The name was just enough to get the pricks standing up tense and worried. Panicked whispers ensued, and I caught them giving me side-glances in the process.
"Let's start now with the translation," I signalled before I turned to the prisoners. "You know me, I know you. I know you have families, and I know you think you fought for the Emperor."
After a slight delay, the interpreter got to translate what I just said. Their attention was split between me and the OSS guy.
Once the agent was done, I spoke up again. "However, I have a few words in regard to your situation. This war of yours that you believe is sanctioned by your Emperor."
Another pause, the OSS guy goes moon-speak, and the prisoners listen.
"Was the Emperor involved for what happened in Manchuria back in 1931? No. Was the Emperor aware of the War in China started in that damn bridge? No. Was the Emperor supportive of Pearl Harbor? Fucking no. How do I know? Because your Emperor is not a war conqueror and would do other things than be holed up in the palace and be used as an excuse for the bullshit your military is doing."
The prisoners started to whisper to each other again as the translator relayed my message. They were all eyeing me with weird looks and, one of the oldest in the group spoke in Japanese.
The OSS guy turned to me confused. "He says that the Emperor's will is unquestionable."
I scowled, but the next word that came from my mouth.
"Shiroyama."
The guy that shot back at me appeared surprised I was aware of that event.
"Samurai made a stand against the Imperial Will, deeming it unacceptable of the path it was taking. The Satsuma Rebellion worried of the damn consequences of letting too much of the West in their country. Let me ask you this, how much did it help to do what Germany and Italy did in letting the fucking fascists take over? How many people of yours have died at home for 'thinking stuff wrong' or 'defying the Military'? Where is the honor in killing unarmed civilians? Where the fucking hell is the honor in standing here, proudly accepting you have done shit worse than the Mongols back in Tsushima?!"
The OSS guy took a while to relay what I just said, mostly because I was shitting some stuff that not many standard Marines were familiar with. I bet I was going to be asked on how I knew all this stuff, but the guy found the reaction we got from the soldiers somewhat of a 'positive distraction'.
There was more glancing around, then the same guy that spoke against me said some new shit.
"He says... that you may have a point."
I scoffed, and then I hard-pressed on the matter.
"Minamoto no Yorimitsu," I spoke back, causing the entire cadre of Japs to turn back to me with renewed surprised. "Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, and Usui Sadamitsu. They were heroes, yes?"
I was staring at the old guy and as the translator was done, he nodded.
"Hai."
"Did they fight by Imperial Will, or did they fight by Popular Will?"
I waited and the answer was...
"He said 'they fought for the people first and foremost'."
"Are you meant to uphold the ideals of the Shitennou or of the Oni of Mount Ooe?"
The question had the guy burn red in his face and he snapped with a 'Shitennou!'
"Then why are you behaving like the damn Oni of the situation. You and the rest of the Army?"
This question led to no response. I had struck the sore spot that none of the lower ranks could justify. Why are you behaving less like a human and more like an Oni?
"So, here's the point. We can give you the tools to reclaim your honor and redeem yourself for your horrible deeds. Instead of 'killing yourself', you shall put your lives on good use to actually save your country and prevent the annihilation of the Imperial House by the Military. It doesn't take a genius to see how they actually want to restore the Shogunate."
Once again my words seemed to truly drill the point and I was told by the OSS guy that he could 'take over for me'.
Thank God because I needed a break. I felt my throat so sore after yelling so frequently that I bet I was going to need to have a throatache for the next day.
Which was the case as the ensuing few days saw us clean up Saipan and bring the Japanese resistance to an end by January 17th.
With Saipan captured, it was time to plan for the next steps of Operation Stalemate... but not before a promotion. A big jump at that as I was given the rank of Sergeant and... moved out of Sullivan's main squad.
The USMC wanted me in charge of a new initiative sponsored by the OSS and... I was looking at the same Japs I had glanced at a week ago, now wearing US-mandated uniforms.
The 1st Mixed Marine Squad was thus created and I knew I was so going to exploit this opportunity to screw the Imperial Army some more.
First the IJN with the Yamato, now the IJA with their own conscripts.
AN
NTR this, NTR that. Miller is whooping the Japs' Military's booty!
With Saipan taken, and some serious efforts from the OSS to convert former IJA troops into the US Military for the time being, Japan's war situation is deteriorating twice as faster than anyone would have expected.