Private Bedros Sahakian

Journal Entry 38

July 22, 1932, Friday

We're taking back more of our sector piece by piece. It certainly isn't a walk in the park.

For example, the other day, our foes played a game of cat and mouse at one of the lanes. Machine gunfire would be unleashed on us and when some of the other marines move to outmaneuver them they get sniped at.

Soon enough the machine gun crew stopped shooting at us and by the time we figured it out they had relocated. Then the whole thing repeats but from a different building.

After the third time we gave Allen a diversion so he got close enough to take out the crew with his grenade launcher. He saved a lot of marines.

Many of these buildings are stacked together. All the rebels have to do is break down the walls and move to the next spot.

We found plenty of man sized holes to go through when we search. So we adapted to spreading out in separate units.

Someone would lay down suppressing fire while others go through buildings to flank our foes from different directions. All to box them in before finishing the job.

Most of the time it works but on occasion a few Reds escaped.

The advantage we have is we have more close quarters weapons than the Reds do. They suffer from a lack of submachine guns and often are armed only with single bolt rifles, blades and pistols.

Of course some of the latter were machine pistols of nice quality but I prefer my shotgun in this type of fighting.

Not to mention the Browning Automatics do wonders in suppression.

Their French model grenades are the most dangerous weapon we dealt with in clearing these places. One time yesterday this one Red girl played dead before springing up and exploded, killing and wounding several marines in one shop.

From then on we have taken to shooting any Red corpse we find as a precaution.

The crazy thing is more of them had started to surrender to us than before. Not all want to fight to the death.

Like last evening we cornered in a bunch of Reds into what had been both a home and barber shop. Must admit I thought it was going to be a rough one but after the initial exchange of lead our side saw a makeshift white flag coming from the top window.

It took us a little bit but we stopped shooting long enough for the first rebel to come out with his hands in the air. He was scared stiff, shaking all over as Michail yell for him to lay on the ground away from the joint.

Soon more popped out, hands in the air and we directed them to do the same as their pal. Keeping most of us in position just in case the Gunny took two marines with him and searched the place.

The next few minutes were tense to say the least with all of us hearing the chaos still engulfing the city. Finally Gunny showed himself from the same top window where the white flag flew.

Then we took the rebels into custody, searching them thoroughly and found no bomb or any other hidden weapons. Just some cards, a pocket watch and a bit of Qing cash.

They were dirty and exhausted like we are. The main difference being they lost hope in their struggle and so called it quits.

I saw it in their eyes. All the sacrifice they gave and misery endured had been for nothing.

All that remained was bitter despair.

We didn't have enough room in our stockade and so we locked them in a warehouse the Corps had on loan near our barracks till we knew what to do with this bunch.

You know there was a time my kin considered me for priesthood in our people's Aposoltic Church. Unlike with the Catholics I would've been allowed to marry and raise my own family if I joined and didn't take a vow of celibacy.

I do love to write and read as well as cherish our faith in God, however imperfect I am. In the end though being a priest wasn't my path forward.

Felt the call to be a protector instead. Originally I thought about joining the Los Angeles police force but I wasn't wanted due to my Armenian heritage.

I had dealt with trouble in boot camp from a certain few who don't think someone of Middle Eastern roots like me belongs in the Corps. But it wasn't anything I couldn't handle with time and effort.

Plus the occasional fistfight behind the barracks.

What helped a great deal during that time was that guys like Hector, Michail, Gad and Modercai were in the same boat. Robert's friendship certainly did too despite how different we were to one another.

Corporal John Felton didn't care where we were from or what we were before the Corps. He only saw marines and did everything he can to make us to be the best ones we can be.

Now they're both gone and it tears me up inside, no matter how many days pass by. I have to keep doing stuff just to delay this mountain of guilt from crushing me.

Sachi is out there, I know it. She is not one to give up, always a scrapper in her own sort of way.

Still remember how she used to have a hard time hitting the baseball but Sachi didn't let that stop her, no matter how many times she struck out. She kept trying over and over again until she learned enough to be one of the best hitters in our neighborhood.

Sachi finds a way to survive and I'll find her, somehow, some way. Don't know if she'll love me the same but what matters now is making sure she is safe.

Whatever she does afterwards is her choice and I'll accept that, whatever it be.