Period 8: 1945-1980

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Elliot picked up a newspaper and read about the Yalta Conference that took place splitting Germany up into four zones. He read about a containment policy that was being taking on by presidents but oddly couldn't care and he found it strange since he fought alongside the Soviets through WWII but he partially saw this Cold War coming.

Elliot was over at Francis's house which they got back after WWII. Elliot and his family got it back as well.
"You hear about the Truman Doctrine? Saying that the US won't return to isolationism but stay active in foreign affairs—-or more simply help nations threatened by communism." Francis asked
"What? No." he said rather miserably running his pale hands through his blonde hair that had a golden highlight due to the sun's shine flowing through the windows.
"The Marshall plan-the one to help rebuild Europe after the war?" Francis asked wondering if he was even up to date with the Marshall plan.
"No."
"The creation of NATO? The Berlin blockade?"
"No."

Francis turned to face Elliot who was just sitting in Francis' bed. "Don't tell me you still don't care." Elliot just looked away which sort of gave him the answer.
"What's it going to take to get you outta whatever state the Great Depression put you it."
"It's not just the Great Depression..." he started trailed off a bit, "...it's everything."

"We're going to Korea right?" Elliot asked, "When I'm there I'll just get killed."
"No you won't—because I will die saving you. And me for one wants to live."
"Then don't save me."
"I will and you can't stop me. I will save you before you throw your life away."
"Francis. There's something you don't understand. I want to die."
"Well guess what," Francis started and Elliot didn't say anything but look at him. "If you ever die,...I will never mourn for you, because I would die with you."

Elliot crossed his arms and just shut his eyes in defeat since there was no point in telling him not to. "

The Arms Race between the USSR and US was getting heated ever since the US sroooed their two atomic bombs then the USSR made an atomic bomb then Truman ordered the creation of a hydrogen bomb and the USSR followed sparking the Cold War. "Are we going to all die?!" Francis said looking at the TV in his house. Elliot walked over from Francis kitchen into the living room with a glass of water and shook his head saying, "No. Both the US and USSR won't stop making them but they both know they can't use them because it Mutually Assured Destruction."
"...but the tensions have been so high." Francis said sitting down in his couch still looking at the TV. Elliot stood in the doorways between the kitchen and living room. He leaned against the doorway and said, "Yeah but they won't go to war. They know what will happen—however it does feel like it could break out at any moment."

Francis sighed and said, "Hey since you're already in the kitchen, mind making me some coffee in tired."
"It's 12pm how are you tired?"
"Long day." Francis said lying down on the couch, "My parents went out so that's why they're not here." Francis told him.
Elliot went back in the kitchen since this was practically his second house he knew where everything was. "Cuban Missile Crisis?" Francis muttered watching TV letting his brown hair get messed up as he laid his head on the pillow.
"Huh?" Elliot questioned from the kitchen before explaining, "The Soviet's in Cuba had a whole bunch of missiles aimed towards the US but it was resolved-they got ride of it."

Elliot walked back into the Living room and handed him his coffee, "Here." Francis sat up so he could drink it and took it from him saying, "Thanks." he took a sip and said, "Thank gosh for the Boston tea party letting us turn to coffee because I can't live without my coffee."
"I don't think you can live without coffee either if you're tired at 12pm." he told him sarcastically.
"..."

In Korea the US sides with South Korea under McArthur leading them. Elliot didn't purposely die because he knew Francis would sacrifice himself. At the Military Camp in South Korea Francis walked in one of the tents where Elliot was reloading his gun and said. "McArthur went to go ask Truman if we could invade China too and take out Communism."
"Huh? Then Truman must've said yes there's no way anyone would say no to McArthur."
Francis gave him a look and said, "Well~ that's what you'd think. He told him no."
"What?! He said no to McArthur?!"
"Surprisingly—he can so goodbye to any chance of reelection after that."

After McArthur was told no the American forces were pushed do the 38th parallel where an armistice was signed. The North stayed communist and the South remained democratic.

And he was right to the point Truman didn't even bother running. Eisenhower became the next president in 1952. (Eisenhower doctrine: any middle eastern could request US military assistance if being threatening.)

Mercy and her family that she had made moved out to the suburbs to get away from the city. They went to the first suburb, Levittown. There was a lot of conformity happening because of the Red Scare and McCarthyism.

Soon another war emerged in Vietnam to protect democracy, (1955-1975)
"This area—-it's...not what we use to." Elliot said with the troops look at the jungle they were in. "We've been here for so long—I just want to go home—or I'm fine with just dying here." Elliot added, Francis glanced at him and shook his head before saying, "I know I never complain about war but I'm so tired. I want to live and go home. I've watched so many of our friends we've made in the military die here—I don't want to be in this country anymore."

At home Mercy saw the horror of the Vietnam war on TV and very vivid images and everyone around her was horrified as well. Absolutely no one wanted to support this war when it looked like this. Student protest and counterculture emerged showing they had different ideas than the generations before them.

Suddenly out of no where North Vietnam troops appeared. In the jungle. A wave of bullets took them by surprise. President Lyndon Johnson (LBJ's Great Society=War on Poverty)escalated the US involvement when eveyone just eager to go home. Suddenly he noticed Francis in the corner of his eye. He noticed him limping running behind a tree for cover clutching his chest.

He shot one last time before running over to him despite the fire.
"Francis?!" He said looking at him with blood covering his chest and his mouth. "Didn't think I'd—-meet my end here." Francis said almost with a laugh. Francis float his strength to stand and sat down against the tree. Elliot quickly knelt down in front of him and wiped the blood off of Francis' forehead and said, "Come on—I'll get to you to the medical unit!" Francis shook his head and said, "You may get shot on our way there just—" before he could finish he brought his hand to his mouth as he coughed blood.

"Leave me. Go."
"I can't do that!"
"Yes you can—don't worry about bringing me back—I'm doomed Elliot..." he said clutching his chest.
"I'm not going anywhere without you!" He said trying not to cry especially because they were in battle.
Francis then said with a bit of a smile looking at his expression and actions but before he could finish he coughed blood,
"Why do...you care about me so much—? You know I—-"
"...You've been with me since the beginning-."
"Elliot, I-..." before he could finish his sentence his vision went out.
The blonde stared at him in silence before panicking. "Please you can't leave me—you're all I really have left!"
he didn't wake
"After everything we've been through you can't—-just-!" he took a breathe before shouting,
"Francis?! Francis!

Wake up!" He said shaking his body. He stopped realizing he wouldn't wake up. He pulled his body into his arms and brought him to the medical unit despite the fact he risked his life for someone who's already gone.

Eventually Richard Nixon pulled the American troops out of Vietnam in 1973 but once the Americans left south Vietnam fell to communism.

Elliot walked in his house in silence only Henry and his sister was home since he had no one else left. His sister walked downstairs and said, "What the hell did you guys do in Vietnam! We saw on TV!" He stayed silent before walking past her saying, "I'm not talking about it."

"Some kids at a university were shoot protesting against a war you guys were in!"
"I didn't have a choice." he responded blankly.
"I told you—I- don't wanna talk about it."

Mercy's husband was in the legislative branch and he come home saying. "There's been so many civil rights protests and it great. Out branch passed the Civil Rights act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act 65."
"Oh that's great dear, what about the other branches?"
"Judicial had Brown v. Board of Education and Heart of Atlanta v. US. Executive desegregated the military and escorted black children to school at Little Rock isn't that great?"
"Oh yes I'm delighted to hear that." Mercy said turning on the television.

Jospeh and other blacks were part of MLK's none violent protests while some went to Malcom X's back panters that was a violent protest and racial pride.

"Hey Elliot!" Jospeh call down the block.
"Hm?" He responded blankly














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