A/N: This will be the start of extra chapters showing notable combat diaries from Takeshi Aiza, Kousei and Emi's friend and fellow-pianist, as a soldier in the JGSDF, later JNA (Japanese National Army) 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in the first-person point of view.
The video above is titled "The Horrible Things North Korean Soldiers Have To Go Through". In this story, the KPA (and North Korea in general) might have avoided malnutrition, less isolation, had slightly better state of healthcare and higher-quality weaponry and gear than in real life presented in this video, but the long-service requirement, harsh living conditions (including bullying, abuse, and sexual violence), punishment for defection, and ideological brainwashing are still the same.
July 3rd, 2018
My regiment, had expanded from its peacetime standard of battalion-strength, is one of the first Japanese unit to deploy to Korea. Our heavy equipments are already being delivered in advance to Busan.
The crossing took three hours to complete as the JAL plane we are riding is taking several detour on the way to avoid potential enemy aircraft on the way, despite the 777 has escorts already in a form of four F-2s. The 777 itself has 550 people on board, a full battalion, in this case, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry. As we're crossing the Strait of Korea at nightime, some of us use the time to obtain a good sleep.
On board, I start to be closer to my squad, the 3rd squad, D Coy, 2nd Battalion.
First, the squad leader and the commander of the Type 18 APC (1) that I am already assigned to, Sergeant First Class Koizumi Junikata. Before the war he works in a bank.
The fireteam leaders are Sergeant Takeshima Noboru and Sergeant Mo Jae-Sun. Noboru originally want to be in the armored force but after some time, he accepted his subsequent assignment in the Infantry. Sergeant Mo, a Korean Japanese and the sole NCOs in the squad which isn't a draftee, told us that he experienced several cases of bullying during training five years ago, but the high command immediately put the end of it by dishonorably discharged the perpetrators.
I was assigned to Noboru's fireteam as a grenadier. Two more riflemen making the team are Lance Corporal Maeda Kakuzo, a professional soldier from Hokkaido, and Private Fujii Katai, used to work in an auto part shop in Hiroshima before the draft came.
The other fireteam consist of Sergeant Mo, Corporal Eri Machikawa, Private Seiki Seo, and Private Arisu Tanikawa.
Our crossing went without any hitch. I never thought of leaving Japan in other circumstances than holiday, or studying and compete in Europe. Well, Kousei had said to me that if we don't serve we won't have audience to watch us play, anyway... Mum, Dad, Nagi, stay safe.
July 12th, 2018
This is the first taste of combat of the 16th, after we had our stuffs and other things together. The contact begin 4 miles north a town called Jecheon. Along with us is the 3rd "Lightning" Armored Brigade of the South Koreans, had suffered heavy losses as they are one of the first South Korean unit to engage the Communist's mass formation of infantry and armor in that day and after almost a week of engagement, forced to retreat while inflicting heavy damage to the North Koreans first echelon formations thrown against them. The way they fight is just like the 300 Spartans, I said.
We're tasked to reinforce them with our own to enable the Koreans to consolidate before being refitted.
Back on basic the drill sergeant has reminded us that what we'll see is not like in the video games. That word rings true as tracers fly and some hit the APC. The condition? It's almost summer so its start to going hot for us literally.
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