Forgotten Memories (Closed: Tiandi)

[Toishima]

Forgotten Memories
Eulhae War 1934 - 1941

The Eulhae War, also known as the Great War, was a global war that lasted from 1935 to 1941, though related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations - including all of the great powers - forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Contingents. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, the strategic bombing of industrial and population centres (during which approximately two to three million people were killed, including the only use of a nuclear weapon in combat), it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made the Eulhae War the deadliest conflict in human history.

Heroes and criminals existed on both sides. Atrocities and acts of great kindness came from both sides in every theatre. In the death and destruction of the war, the common man was too often reduced to nothing but a number on the maps and charts of those in command, and when the war was over those individual actions were forgotten in the post-war nationalistic fervour that prosecuted entire races based on their political leaders' actions. But while numerous criminals would be tried and executed and numerous heroes would rise and give great inspiration to their peoples, those that truly bled and died for their nation are too often forgotten in the annals of the destructive conflict.

These are their stories.

---

Revered Father,

I go now to fulfil my mission and my destiny.

I hope it is a destiny that will bring honour to our family.

And if it requires my life, I will sacrifice it gladly to be a good servant of our nation.

Ichiro

-Akitsukunese fighter pilot Ichiro Kunisaki's final letter. He was 18 years old when he presumably died in the Western Front. Controversially, this letter's text would later be used in the poorly-received Meisaani film Burning Sky.

[Mingwok]

Meisaan
The Hasukwok Provisional Area

To: Kiruji Hamase
From: Hanako Makogara

Kojima is dead. I'm sorry.

---

It was a shock to the family. The slow reading of each character, it's ending has brought the Kiruji household to tears. Their son, Kojima was a brave man. Righteous. Honorable. Respected and respectful. Worthy of the birthright his father is to give. His death ensured the end of the male line of the Kiruji clan, and of the hopes of Hamase. Everyone was weeping in the main hall, fighting to defend the last reaches of the Imperial Palace.

There was also weeping in the other homes.

The second day on the week of tears.

To: Yu Kanghwak
From: Sri Vase

Hold up high.

---

The buddhist monastery died soon after. They held it high. Sri Vase was silent. Repression and removal of his distraughtly emotions. He must detach himself. He wishes to meet them in their next lives.

He must enlighten.

[Arumdaum]

An excerpt of a letter, along with a few traces of wool, were found preserved near the skeleton of a fallen Jeongmian soldier in Jeopseon.

-ne's been missing you, and that includes your father too. He really does.

Da-hui's family visited the other day so her father could fix our radio. Da-hui's such a sweet girl, she's still waiting for you to come back. She made a very funny joke when she was over, and it was really funny son, and your father and I thought of you immediately. I wish you could have been there. I know you would have laughed yourself silly! I miss hearing your laugh.

Every day we've been tuning in to see how things go on where you are. They say things have been going well, but I'm still so worried about you. I heard from your aunt that one of her friends lost a son, and they just can't get over it. It's been very cold here lately and I know that it is colder where you are. I got your father to send you his warm coat, the one you liked to wear sometimes when it was very cold outside. You looked very dashing in it, just like your father! Send us a photo of you wearing it. Your father and I would love to see it. I hope that it keeps you warm and reminds you of us.

Are they feeding you enough in the army? I heard they're going to let you back with us for a while before your 19th birthday. When you come back, I'm going to make you your favorite... galbijjim! We're going to have a big party with all the neighbors, and your father's already planning the barbeque.

Well, I'll close now. We're supposed to be visiting Cheol-su's family for dinner tonight. I just didn't want to let another day go by without sending you our love. I was so disappointed that you weren't able to come back in time for the New Years holidays. You're such a smart, healthy young boy.

We love you, Hong-su. Please take care of yourself and don't be a hero. We don't need a Medal of Honor, we need a son.

All our love,
Mom and Dad

[Toishima]

Dearest Ayano,

We landed on the island this morning. We first went on these little boats that have a big ramp at the front. When the boats arrive at the shore, the ramp opens and we rush out to fight the enemy. On the way I saw two Type-32 planes fly past. Do they still fly around the airfield near our house? I also saw the battleship Senbonzakura firing its cannons. It was very loud even though the ship was so far away!

When we got to the shore, the ramp opened and we rushed out, but there were no Meisaani there. It was a really beautiful sight, the beaches had nice, clean white sand. When we reached the trees, however, the Meisaani appeared and started shooting at us! They were hiding in little holes in the ground. We managed to defeat them and moved in deeper into the island. There was lots of wildlife, I saw a little red bird and a monkey. The Meisaani commander was hiding in a cave. We managed to capture him and they surrendered without a fight. You must never surrender, Ayano! Always do your best in everything you do!

That is all from me. This island is very nice, and we are resting here for now. We will move on to a bigger island in two days. You can find it on the map, it's called Gwaimo.

I think the war will be over soon, so I can come home. I will see you and your mother soon. Excel in your studies and take care of your mother for me!

Capt. Arata Sato
1st Northern Army, 14th Infantry Division, 3rd Regiment

Chizuru,

We took the island today. We hit the beach and everything was calm. Mori wanted to scout ahead, so I let his element move forward. Suddenly the Meisaani came out of these concealed foxholes that were just beyond the treeline. The beach bombardment did not do anything because they were not on the beach, but they were so few in number we cut through them easily. We did get some casualties. Mori got shot in the belly, and Hayato took a bullet through his head. Masahiro then threw a grenade and the Meisaani scattered. Pathetic. They surrendered shortly after. Mori survived. I'm putting all three men up for the Imperial Service Medal.

We then got a radio that the other beach had been taken. So we moved into the forest, watching for traps. Suddenly Daichi cried out. We turned, and his throat was being cut by this Meisaani soldier. That western barbarian's body was so shredded by our fire that I doubt they would be able to identify him after this nonsense is over. By evening we had combed the whole area and found this cave complex at the side of the mountain. Masahiro entered and got shot point-blank by a Meisaani, so we dumped all our grenades in there and blew the place to hell.

We went in and found two Meisaani officers begging for their lives. It was such a ridiculous sight, but we captured them both as well as a crazy Meisaani major that appeared trying to kill those two. Apparently the other unit to the north captured a general or something, but I highly doubt it. The whole attack took around five hours, and we had the whole island just like that.

We're stopping here for two days, then loading back up and moving on to join the offensive on Gwaimo. If the Meisaani are this weak we'll wrap up this war in months, or even weeks. I'll be home soon. Also, I located Munakata, he's in the New Territories preparing defences. We'll all get together one day.

Stay strong and keep our daughter safe for me.

Capt. Arata Sato
1st Northern Army, 14th Infantry Division, 3rd Regiment

Letters found alongside the remains of a Captain Arata Sato, on the island of Gwaimo. Reports indicate Captain Sato was 32 at the time of death.

[Senkaku]

Dearest sister,


I don't know when this will reach you, but I'm alright. We're heading towards Shuzhou to rally around the black banner there. We got out of Songchen, Chao is also fine except for a little scratch on his wrist. Send our love to everyone back home.

By the way, the cherry blossoms are really lovely here this time of year.

-Liu

A letter, found on the corpse of First Lieutenant Ren Liu, who appeared to have perished in the initial wave of fighting during the Siege of Shuzhou.

---

Day 212

We launched another attack today. Since they didn't send enough opium, we had to use some cocaine to get them ready to fight too, which cost an arm and a leg- literally. The first man we sent out to buy it from the black market in the Ratway tunnels got his limbs blown off by an Allied shell. Halfway through the assault the enemy dropped a napalm bomb right onto one of the ramps we had leading up from one of the tunnels, and I will never forget the screams of those men. The goldshirts had to shoot a whole bunch after that- they sicken me, shooting boys they forced into service in the back when they flee from horrors even I flinch at.
The attack completed, anyways. I had to go over to the other side to inspect and two of my guards stepped on mines, but that wasn't even the worst. Every foxhole had at least four corpses in it, and the trenches were unspeakable- blood everywhere.
Still raining. Even the Ratway is leaking.

Diary of an unidentified captain, recovered from a destroyed tunnel. The captain's remains were never found, it is probable he was disassembled by the shell that destroyed the tunnel his diary was found in.

---

ENCRYPTED--- CATEGORY: ASSAULT, EXECUTE---

HMS Angelfish and her rocket technician team are ordered to make the necessary preparations for an immediate strike against the city of Minghoi with all rockets on board and all warhead types. Execute by May 2.

The last order ever sent to the HMS Angelfish. Ten rockets of the type she carried did fall on Minghoi on May 2, carrying various warhead types, but the Angelfish never returned.

[Kibland]

It was a cold February morning. Engines purred and buzzed. There was the general noise and clamor of humanity all around. The intoxicating scent of oil permeated the air, and ever so occasionally, the sound of artillery would rumble in the distance.

This was a wartime airfield.

Kjeld had signed up with the Luftvåben in the earlier portion of 1936, before the embassy bombing that dragged Kibland into the war. He wasn't a draftee, unlike most of his fellow pilots, and while he didn't have a sense of superiority over them, he did like to feel he was a little more experienced. Back in Kibland, he'd run air mail routes from east to west. Sure, flying a fighter plane was nothing like spending hours slowly puttering along above the steppe, but he already had four kills to his name; three fighters and a dive bomber. Kjeld had something going for him. Perhaps it was skill; perhaps it was the Gods, perhaps it was luck.

His long walk across the grassy aerodrome ended as he arrived at the hangar where his squadron's planes were kept. They still hadn't received new fighters from back home; he was still flying an old J3C, not his first choice by any means. He supposed he should count his blessings. Some squadrons were flying planes even older. As they'd gotten further along Mejsån it seems the supply lines had gotten less and less efficient. He would know. He'd been on the front from the moment Kibland got involved.

Kjeld singled out his specific fighter and smiled as he neared it. It was old and beaten up; the green camouflage was fading to a nasty shade of olive, the blue and white roundels were suffering a similar fate, and the noseart he'd gotten painted on it was chipping away. It depicted- or, at least, it was supposed to depict- a shield-maiden in the vein of the old Sagas, gripping a round shield and bringing an axe down in front of her, pointing towards the plane's nose. Above the art was written 'Fritja', the name of his fiancee. She had signed up, too, months after him; from what he knew she was part of a women's bombardment squadron now, as a navigator. It made him nervous. He always half-hoped that he was protecting her when they were sent up on escort missions. He hoped that was remained of the besiegers at Minkhøj would be broken soon and the bombers could have a rest.

He turned and walked away from the fighter solemnly, his mind wandering to breakfast. Kjeld hadn't gotten three meters away when the flak guns started to rumble. The air raid sirens blared.

Then the bombs hit.

[Senkaku]

Shuzhou
June 6, 1940
Front District 17, Sector 5

---

The stink of death was strong here. Xilai nearly gagged at the stench- blood, shit, urine, sweat, the appalling scent of scorched hair and flesh where the napalm bomblets had been scattered indiscriminately over the line. There were still fires burning, fires everywhere, where napalm was still raging over piles of unidentifiable corpses. Here and there one could make out a uniform in the veritable ocean of blood that covered the shattered concrete "floor", such as it was, but for the most part these dead were stateless, anonymous, most of them young, fresh to the front with no business being anywhere near such this place. It didn't matter how they died- napalm, shrapnel, grenades, bullets, bayonets, a solid blow from a shovel that split open their face from jaw to forehead- but these boys were dead now, under a distant and unforgiving sky stained with smoke from a burning city.
He looked down at his feet, to the nearest corpse. A fresh-faced boy with the faintest wisp of a mustache, with the tone and structure of an Emerald Delta native. Xilai found himself wondering at his story- a rice farmer, more like than not, fleeing before the Allied advance, caught up by the goldshirts' draft gangs and handed a rifle and sent here to die for the emperor. His uniform was half scorched off, his side badly burnt- he'd probably been hit with napalm splash, but the bullets had done the real damage. His throat was a ruin, his ID tags smashed into his spine by a pistol round.

Xilai sighed, looking around. There was no one alive down here.
"All clear!", he called up to the surface.

[Nakhon]

Tagggggg, I will place a post here tonight .-.

[Sabara]

十一月六日

Dear Li,

I suppose today is special. Maybe I should feel cheated? I don't know. Birthdays are never a big deal on normal days, let alone what's going on right now. There's no noodle, no thousand-layer cake, no friends, no family. Not even food. Well, good food. Every day Ma comes back from the ration center, it's always very disappointing. All we get to eat nowadays is Zuk, and thin Zuk at that. But you probably don't want to hear my complaining, do you?

I wish my friends were here. My old school is probably burnt to the ground now. My mother heard from another refugee who used to live in town that the Akitsukunese were using Meisaani children for blood transfusions. I don't know what to think about that, the woman was talking funny and looked dazed. But who knows? Everyone who's running from the East looks that way.

It's really strange. This whole thing was so exciting at first, but now that I'm living in a tent in the middle of late autumn.. well, things are different. Everyone's so confused, the refugees, even the soldiers. The young are pessimistic about our future in the city, saying it'll fall by December. Strange, they say that we young people are supposed to be the optimistic ones - but now its the old who are giving us spirit.

But one thing that doesn't change is the news, the horrible, horrible news. Yesterday, Papa came into the tent looking really worn (well moreso than usual) - he said that it was time to move, this time farther west. Even though he tried to whisper to Ma, I heard everything he said. Apparently, the Akitsukunese are about to break through the defenses in Hapse, he says they're going to reach the heart of Minghoi by nightfall-

Oh, and here come the sirens. It sounds like.. yes, an air-raid warning. Well, I won't have much time to write anymore so excuse me Li. I'm much too old to even imagine you existing anymore, s-[The rest of the paper is burned.]

The journal entry is on display in the National War Memorial in Minghoi. It was found in the bombed wreckage of Cifaa Park, next to the mandible of an unidentified woman, who appeared to be 15 years of age.

[Toishima]

You were wrong.

You said that my life was over, right? Dropped out of school, stuck in a dead-end factory job, then chosen for the damned draft. I thought of killing myself thanks to you, you bastard. Really great older brother. But you were wrong. I'm having so much fun over here, you wouldn't believe it. Women? We've got plenty. Excitement? I'm shooting people every other day. Money? Who the hell needs it, I'm getting free food and enough of it is lying around the ruins of this town to grab at.

So maybe you had a goal in life, you wanted to make our parents proud, you wanted to move up in society. I wonder where you are now, definitely not somewhere as interesting as this. I've seen all the things on those shitty postcards you used to send home. The Meisaani women are so easy, they'll do anything for food, and the funny thing is that we use the food we took from them to lure them in. Some old people and kids keep trying to fight us with whatever crap they pick off the streets, so we actually get to use our guns. We don't even see the enemy, so we're in no danger of dying or anything. Sure, there are occasional air raids, but all those idiots do is bust some of their own water pipes or screw up their own roads.

This is the last time I am writing to you or the family. I'm staying here forever.

Toji

Letter found following the Jeongmian bombing of a small occupied Meisaani town. The author was never identified but was possibly in his late teens.

[Arumdaum]

An excerpt of the diary of Pvt. Shin San-yeong, who survived the war. It was published in Voices of Eulhae, Vol. II in 1971. At the time of publication, he was working as a doctor at a local hospital in Miryang province.

It was yesterday that I first killed a man with my own hands. It was a completely different experience from just shooting from afar. When you shoot from far away, they... they are not men.

During the fighting I was separated from the rest of my unit and fell into a shell hole. I couldn't think straight for a few minutes and before I knew it an Akitsunese soldier had fallen in as well. I had been separated from my gun and immediately lunged at him with my knife, stabbing him multiple times wherever I could in a rabid craze. I only stopped because I was so tired that I could no longer raise my knife to continue.

He had survived, but he was bleeding profusely from his torso and I knew that he would not make it. Both of simply lay there, unable to get out.

Okaa-san...

Okaa-san...

A grown man, crying for his mother like a child. I had come to the front thinking that war turned children into men - I realized only yesterday that it was precisely the opposite. War turned proud, grown men into frightened, little children, little children who could do no more than to cry out for their mothers.

I looked at him in the eyes and I could tell that he was afraid of death, that he had not yet come to terms with his situation. Why did I do that? How did I turn into such an animal?

No - why was I even thinking this? He would have done the same to me if he had the chance.

After a while I went up to him, whispering "tomo, tomo." He seemed more afraid, but could not resist due to his wounds. Why should he have trusted me, after I had just tried to kill him? I tried to remove part of his uniform to wrap his wounds, but pulled back immediately when I saw that his guts, his insides, were beginning to come slowly out of his body.

I gagged a little, and could not do more.

A small photograph fell out of his uniform, partly ripped by my knife. A photo of him, a woman, and two little girls. A few characters, probably his name; 山田健二. I began to yell in a mad panic,

Help! Help! Someone please help me! Saram sallyeo!

But no one heard me. Out in the barren, destroyed fields of rural Meisaan were just me and 山田健二.

He died soon after.

I had killed a father and a husband. I had killed 山田健二. Perhaps he made clocks, or perhaps he made a living selling bread at a bakery. I had killed a man useful to society.

I decided to keep the photo. Once the war is over I will find them. I will beg forgiveness to his wife, to his two young daughters. Will they ever forgive me for what I have done to him, to them? No, they never will. I will work as their dog, as their slave, making clocks until I die. I will never be able to pay for what I have done to them.

I found my way to where our forces had set up camp. I had to careful in order to not be seen as the enemy, but was still nearly shot at. I told what had happened to Dong-hyeon and Cheol-hui, but they told that what had happened was not unusual.

Your first experience with close combat, eh? That happens to everyone...

[Sabara]

Sun Tak-Wah Hospital
Tai Song, Meisaan
June 12th, 2015

The bare hospital room is decorated with strings of lanterns, projecting a warm glow on the sterile atmosphere. An old, weathered man lies on his bed, hands clenched around an ancient photo. His kindly face is wrinkled with all kinds of lines -- smiles, frowns, and grief. He can hear the commotion of his family outside the sliding glass door. The weeping, the hushed muttering. The old man sighs, his breath slowly filtering through the tar encasing his lungs. It was difficult, to be alone like this. But it was necessary. He had to do it.

---

Jingdei Province, Meisaan
January 12, 1936

A low wind howls through the pine branches. The young soldier grips his rifle tightly to his chest, watching the mesmerizing waves lap onto the beach below. He sits in a concrete bunker projecting halfway over a tall bluff, waiting for the enemy to approach. It is a cold night, and the boy shivers. He thinks of his mother and two sisters, only two kilometers inland.

Suddenly, a shout breaks out.The distant whistle of a bomb is heard, and a brilliant explosion of red and orange is sighted to the north. Another shout. The spotlight above the boy swivels a couple miles out to sea, where a huge armada of amphibious ships along with their escorts are seen. The Imperial flag, so hated in Meisaan, flies in disdainful color.

This is so much more than they told us.

The young man curses as he watches the transports attach to the beach, spilling out Akitsukunese fighters hidden with night-camouflage. He checks on his friend, a fellow sniper, one level to the right. They nod with grim determination. Without hesitating, they open fire on the invaders below.

His feelings of savage pleasure soon turn to disgust as he witnesses the blossoming of blood on the beach. Soon, he's just shooting to survive, as more continue on to the beach. He turns to his left and yells. There is his friend, terrified - fighting for his life with a single knife against the Akitsunese man. Both equally scared, equally determined to survive.

"天皇陛下万歳!"

It all flashes away as a blinding explosion sends the whole fortification into the chaotic battle below.

He would never forget the moment he saw his comrade's broken carcass hit the desecrated sands. And the price it would take to forget.

[Senkaku]

Mother and Father,

We've stopped in Jingnan and they say we'll be here for a few days, before the next train takes us to Luhai to get on our ship. There are so many men moving, I'm shocked it'll be that soon. We saw some Tiger Soldier brigades marching through as well, on parade, which was very impressive. I enclosed some pictures I took when I visited the Garden of the Azure Dragon with some friends, because I know Mother loved it the time she went and always loves gardening so much. It was absolutely beautiful, and surprisingly empty given how many soldiers are pouring through here right now.
Anyways, I love you all! Tell Meilin I love her- from what I hear, I doubt we'll see much fighting. The Meisaani are collapsing so fast we could be home for White Moon!

Love, Chao

Letter sent home by a Private Dong Chao prior to his deployment to Meisaan, in 1935.

---

Dear Chao,

Thank the gods you're alright! We got the telegram you'd been wounded and we were all worried sick, but Meilin went to the Army offices by herself to get in touch with the officer who we were told might be able to tell us more about your condition. She said she wasn't allowed to see you, but we love you and we're so relieved you're going to be alright. Actually, Meilin and your mother (and me, in truth), are a little bit glad- we've heard awful things about the front, so being granted sick leave for a wound at least gets you away from there. Anyways, we all love you and we're glad you're okay.

Love,
Father

Letter from Private Dong's father, Dong Enlai, sent to the front in 1940.

---

Dear Meilin,

We had an air raid three days ago, which, one way or another, means I'm coming home. I got hit with shrapnel- they didn't need to amputate or anything, but I am going to have some scars to tell my children about when I'm older on my right leg. I know you'll probably be worrying now but I'm okay, I just need to take it easy for a while. I've been temporarily discharged, though.

I went to the Garden of the Azure Dragon, to see if what I'd heard was really true- it's terrible. The Allies are barbarian savages, to destroy something so beautiful, but at least we have pictures of it.

I love you.
-Chao

Letter sent to by Sergeant Dong to his fiancée in 1940.

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Dong,

The Imperial Army regrets to inform you your son Chao has been killed in action outside of Jingnan. For his valor in helping to save the medical convoy he was traveling in while injured when it came under air attack, he has been awarded the Imperial Star, and posthumously inducted into the Order of the Golden Peony. Qinyue will forever remember him among its bravest sons. I speak for the nation and the Army when I say I truly am sorry for your loss.

Yours,
General Wu Haishen