I own nothing from Hearts of Iron nor the Kaiserriech Mod.
Private Bedros Sahakian
Journal Entry 8
June 11, 1932, Saturday
Felt so good to sleep in a bed on land again. While our billets are hardly the Beverly Hills Hotel it's much better than those cramped quarters we had to share on the tube out at sea until yesterday.
Now as for our accommodations it turns out every four men in the regiment gets a "roomboy". Basically a manservant who does most of what we normally did back in boot camp. From pressing our clothes, blancoing our packs, shining our shoes and even shaving us. They also do mess duty. Needless to say I was surprised last night when we were introduced to Mr. Guo, who would be taking care of Robert, Gad, me, and Mordecai.
Gunny explained to us that Guo and his fellows are making their living so we can't refuse their services. I can understand that. Of course as the scriptures state "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."
In our case, we marines will clean and maintain our guns ourselves, no exceptions. Furthermore we will do extra non-mess duties and drill and exercise more. The Corps is going to get their money's worth out of us.
While on my way to breakfast I accidentally ran into a Chinese kid. He was no more than ten or eleven years old. At first I thought he had snuck into our barracks somehow and detained him but the boy insisted he belonged there much to my disbelief. It turns out he was speaking the truth when Lieutenant Anderson intervened.
His name is Yi Shang. Two years ago he was an orphan living in the streets alone stealing what he could to get by with before he helped some of our guys escape the Krauts during an alley brawl between them. Since Shang has no relatives and no home the Fourth Marines adopted him. Unofficially that is.
He runs messages and does various errands for the regiment in the city, knowing it like the back of his hand.
Shang does have a marine's attitude. Once the misunderstanding was cleared He actually read me the riot act because I interfered with his duties. Getting scolded by an eleven year old while the lieutenant watched was really embarrassing. It didn't take long for the whole unit to find out and they all found it quite amusing. I was actually grateful to be put on sentry detail away from the barracks.
Spent the rest of the day there at my new post with Gad Powell. We kept watch as the traffic of rickshaws, cars, trucks and the occasional ox cart went by on the road between our checkpoint and the exiled Brits on the opposite side from their post. Hours on watch can be tedious but at least I got a new look of the city and its people. Powell is not much of a talker but he is a solid guy.
Think he's not overly fond of city life but I suppose that comes from his upbringing. From what little I learned during training together Gad grew up on a small ranch and that he is half Navajo on his mom's side. He really enjoys the outdoors and knows how to live off the land. In fact Powell actually did best in the field exercises, competing with the Greek Michail.
Anyway we just stood guard and I did most of the talking while Gad listened and occasionally made a remark here and there. Finally Modercai and Robert took over from us. Following some other tasks back at the barracks I'm resting in the billet. Hope my folks are making it back in the States. Gonna write them a letter soon, let them know that I'm fine.