I own nothing from Hearts of Iron nor the Kaiserriech Mod.
Private Bedros Sahakian
Journal Entry 25
July 4, 1932, Monday
Happy Independence Day. The whole regiment was assembled for the occasion at the parade grounds and listened to our colonel make his speech. He's no politician about it but we sure got the message. Still remember the first time I took part in the holiday. It was a few months after first coming to America as a refugee.
It was all new and profound to me back then. Even today with the ongoing depression and political troubles back home the Fourth of July means a great deal, something I will never take for granted. When you lose a home and are given a new one you would understand why. Now being part of the corps even more so.
Well after the colonel's speech we were allowed liberty from the CO himself. Fortunately we made preparations way beforehand. Mr. Guo really pulled through, helping us to find a dealer who had a stash of fireworks. He haggled the price with said merchant and they loudly went back and forth in Shanghainese until they came to a reasonable compromise. We really owe a great deal to him.
"Besides making my living I want to give at least a bit of joy in this world with whomever I can."
He said that to me after the purchase last Saturday when I asked why he was doing all besides getting paid. I can tell for a moment he hid a mountain of grief behind that wisdom. Wager there is a story behind it but I'm not going to pry. Guo is a good man and his past is his own business.
Well to start our celebration the squad headed for the Dragon's Well. Old Harp and his girl were waiting for us. Good food and drinks followed. We made sure to toast our country then to the Corps before going wild. Harp insisted Modercai play at least one number on the piano and after some urging from us he finally did. We all sat and listened as Modercai played the song, my country tis of thee.
There was no singing this time and frankly no need to because our musician played with such passion that we didn't want to interrupt. Then Modercai went further playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic and he got himself a new round of applause in the house. I couldn't help but wonder if Mordecai played so in an effort to prove something. Whatever the case he performed magnificently. On that high note we left the Dragon's Well.
We stayed together as a squad during our walk back to base but on the way back something happened. We came across a few folks who just exited from a western styled restaurant. Upon seeing that some were beautiful women Allen excitedly waved, wishing a happy Independence Day. But they glared at him and the rest of us, one who clearly had too much to drink even demanded we stay away from them because they wouldn't associate with 'uniformed mongrels' no more than they would with rats.
After the initial shock of that insult most of us were angered, none more so than our squad leader Felton. He politely yet coldly reminded the gentlemen and ladies that we marines actually help protect them and the rest of the legation. That didn't seem to sway those supposedly high class people and they just went on their way. Al stood there, speechless and looking more hurt than I ever saw him before. Like if his heart was ripped out and burned before his eyes.
Michail bitterly murmured that perhaps syndicalists had a point after all but Felton told him to stow it and ordered us to get going and we did.
I and Robert tried to talk with Al but he barely responded other than nodding or shaking his head. Don't get me wrong I always thought his scheme to hook up with some rich lady was a ridiculous fantasy but I didn't want him to learn the truth in that vicious manner. The rest of our walk was awkward and sombering. It's infuriating to think that we could be protecting a whole settlement of ungrateful citizens who are living up as royalty while hiding behind us. We were finally glad to make it home when we did.
The Fourth of July celebrations went on ahead and it sure was a blast. Those fireworks Mr. Guo bought really paid off. With Shang's help Corporal Felton got us to focus on the festivities instead of that crap we were thrown with earlier. We watched the raising of the flag with more fireworks and our squad got to perform the gun salute for the occasion.
Then we played baseball for a little bit amidst the light show up in the sky. Then we ate the special dinner given out to the whole regiment at the mess hall. That cheered us up a lot though Al still wasn't really into it. In spite of the trouble that happened I'm actually proud to be with the Fourth Marines, no rich brats and snobs will ever change that. To quote Shakespeare, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers. This Independence Day reminded me why.