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1937 Name: Richard King Age: 39 Gender: Male Occupation: Career Military Aviator Appearance: Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, swimmer's build. Personalities: Valiant and outgoing. Family: Mother, Father, two younger sisters, Wife, Two sons: Clarance King, Sam King(deceased) Education: Embry-Riddle Flying School Languages: English and French Your main concerns at this time and in life: Buildup to World War II, concern for family members.

December 20, 1937
 * Diary Entry #1**

My name is Richard King, and as of today, I'm an official pilot of America's most extensively built fighter plane, the P-40 Warhawk of the United States Air Force. I stand 6' 2" (188cm) tall with a swimmer's build. For years, I've studied the different portions of a plane, the interior, the exterior, the different types, and the kind of ammunition they fire. Before I acquired my P-40 Warhawk, I've been training with the two-seat primary trainer, the Ryan PT-22 Recruit, with no armament whatsoever. Why did I choose to enlist in the Air Force? Well, back home, I was a nobody. I had friends, I finished school, my life was fair. However, I wanted more in life, I wanted action, I wanted to stick out from the bunch. I also wanted to fight for my country and my two sons Clarence and Sam, whom I love very much. Their mother passed away when they were both very young, and although I didn’t want to leave them on their own, I wanted to protect from harm outside of our country. Both my sons and my country has been so generous to me. That's why I enrolled at the age of 28 in 1935, and until now, I agree that life has been a bit more exciting. The two years of training has made me a fairly good pilot, but I wouldn't consider myself a professional. If I were to go against my superior, I would be shot down in a matter of seconds...I would need more training. Anyways, back on topic. Recently, in Germany, the National Socialist German Workers' Party, a political fascist party, has been gaining power by the day, primarily through sheer force, but also through manipulation. Also, there has been news referring to Japanese prewar expansions and the buildup to a possible war between the the Soviet Union, France, British Empire, Germany, and Italy. I'm pretty positive that in the nearby future, there will be an outbreak of conflicts between major countries of Europe, perhaps another World War. And although we have our protectionism beliefs, I'm afraid we might be joining allies with the British when war does break out.

Later on that day, I received a telegram from the United States Army informing me about the status of my eldest son, Sam King. Apparently, he had been killed after the Japanese air attack on the USS Panay while she was anchored in the Yangtze River just outside of Nanking. I cannot describe the state of sorrow I'm currently in...it's an event too much for words to describe. He was a good son, and I can only say that I've always been proud of him and that I love him. He will be missed dearly, but what's happened has happened. May Sam King rest in peace.

January 27, 1938
 * Diary Entry #2**

While the Japanese are still at war with the Chinese and their allies, their tension with the Soviet Union rises. It gets uglier by the day. Next thing you know, a conflict between the Soviets and the Japanese might break out. Asides from that, I've been training on my aircraft maneuvers and armament accuracy at base camp, and I've just been stationed in Pearl Harbor near Pearl City for advanced aircraft training. I'm overjoyed with my new station, and I've already made some friends during my stay, and not to brag, but also a beautiful nurse for the navy. My son, Clarence, also lives in Hawaii, and it fills me with such happiness to be seeing him. I've sent him to Hawaii to attend a boarding school, hoping he would succeed. Unfortunately, he dropped out and joined the military, and is currently a sniper. A very good one too. Anyways, training and working with the navy, is a completely new experience for a rookie pilot. Their drills and training methods are new to me, and I must say, they require more then the general knowledge of a regular pilot to complete. I have great expectations for myself, and I'm certain my family does so as well. However, the thought of having to leave my parents and sisters saddens me. But I won't let that deject me from going. Can't wait to tell them about my "promotion". I can already picture myself taking off of aircraft carriers. Pearl Harbor, is certainly an an outstanding view. All you can see is clear blue ocean water and gigantic battleships...without a doubt a beautiful sight. And plus, it never snows here..so hat's good news. I hope I get the time to meet my son pretty soon, because I've been dying to see him. I've also heard great things about his marksmanship, I wonder how good he is with his rifle. My son has written to me during my short stay here, but he has yet to mention his exact location and the troop he is with. Maybe, it's a surprise...? I really don't know...but I do miss him dearly.

Asides from that, it's really nice here in Hawaii. The sun is always up, and it hardly ever rains on the island I'm on. A tropical paradise. The variety of food they serve us soldiers here is vast, ranging from delicious American burgers to delicate lobsters and prawns. I've been really enjoying my stay, and I intend on doing so for the near future.

December 7, 1941
 * Diary Entry #3**

It was a Sunday morning when I was half-woken by the sounds of airplanes engines past my camp. I thought to myself, "what are the planes running on a Sunday evening? Probably a drill of some sort." I thought that it would be over in a matter of minutes, and tried to get back to sleep. However, something shook as I lay in my bed. I woke up to the screams of the soldiers and what I thought to be explosions outside my encampment. I quickly got dressed, and forgot to put on my entire uniform, but that was not what mattered at the situation. I ran outside with my rifle fully loaded, to find only heaps of demolished vehicles, camps, and the bloody corpse of many United States soldiers. It was a grueling scene. The majority of the ground was covered in ash, black explosion marks that could have only be caused by high explosives, and the blood of many soldiers. Among the distance, I saw a crashed airplane with flames still ablaze. The pilot was struggling to climb out of the wreckage, his arm on fire. Hesitantly, I ran over to help the pilot escape the dismantled aircraft, but as i neared the plane, I saw a symbol on tail. It was a bright red sun, and I knew instantly that it was of the Japanese. By the time I looked back to the pilot, he had already escaped the clutches of the fire, and had pulled out a pistol, aiming down the sight...pointed at me. I was frightened. I began to tremble as the thought of death began to run through my head. I too had my gun pointed at the enemy, but was too afraid to kill a man. My finger was trembling. I began to sweat, and I saw the Japanese pilot's finger about to press down on the trigger. My life flashed before my eyes, and I heard a loud reverberation. I didn't feel anything...I fell back thinking that the pain would spread across my entire body. Another three seconds went by, and I to my surprise, no pain. I opened my eyes to check my body, and to my bewilderment, I found no wounds. My hands instantly went to my body and my arms, just to make sure, but there was no blood. I looked up as I lay on my back to find the Japanese pilot lying on the ground, in his own pool of blood. From the distance, I saw my aircraft trainer holding an M1-Garand rifle with the smoke gushing out of the barrel. He must have killed the Japanese soldier before he took my life. He helped me up, but just as I pushed off the ground, I felt a sudden streak of pain run through my left leg, the Japanese soldier had shot me in the thigh. My instructor helped me get up, and together we reached a plane about 50 meters away from the crashed plane. It was under an aircraft shelter, still untouched by the missiles of the Japanese bombers. My trainer quickly told me of the about the invasion in Pear Harbor, and how the Japanese manged to strike us when we were off-guard. I looked up to the sky and all I saw was black smoke, but as the clear skied for a minute, I saw planes. Bomber planes to be exact. Dozens of them circling the air with the same symbol of the Red Sun on their tails. As a plane flew by, the smoke dispersed into the air, and I saw the harbor...in ruins, our battleships blown in half, and most of them sinking. I go up on my feet despite the pain, and quickly climbed aboard on an aircraft. I started the engine, and as I was trying to gain enough speed to make it off the runway, I saw two Japanese fighter-planes coming up behind me. My plane took off into the air, and instantly the enemies on my rear began shooting at me. I made my way higher up to the skies, gaining elevation, and pulled the handle back. My aircraft made a loop in the air, and I managed to escape the two Japanese planes. I descended in altitude, and as I broke away from the clouds, I saw a Japanese torpedo bomber heading towards towards the a battleship, the USS Maryland, and I began to fire. I was too far away. I was getting anxious...trying to gain up on the bomber before he let the torpedo loose. A little more, and I was finally in range. I began to fire at his right wing, and it was a success, I had blown up his right wing. He failed to bomb our battleship. I flew over the battleship, but I felt and heard a large explosion behind my aircraft. I looked back, to see the USS Maryland in flames...in half. The other bombers had finished the job.

I managed to survive the Attack of Pearl Harbor, taking down five Japanese air-crafts. It was a great loss for the United States, and a substantial victory for the Japanese Imperial Army. A large portion of the 353 Japanese bombers that had attacked retreated, but they had successfully destroyed four of our U.S. Navy Battleships, three cruisers, three destroyers, and an anti-aircraft ship. 2,402 men were killed and 1,282 wounded, a brutal defeat for the U.S. Navy. I worried for my son and Leona White, a naval nurse I had met in Hawaii.

I guess the we're going to war after-all...

Diary Entry #4 December 8, 1941

"A date which will live in infamy." - Franklin D. Roosevelt December 7

It certainly was a day of disrepute. There have been many unannounced military action in history, but nothing as disgraceful as the attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, the United States has declared war on Japan. The Pearl Harbor attack was a shock that ran throughout the entire world. Particularly, the United States. I joined the army in a pledge to keep America safe from any outer harm, and yesterday, I have failed myself and my country. I hope I do not fail them or myself again in the future. In no doubt will my son and I go to war, and it is a sad and treacherous thing. However, I see it as my duty to serve my country. I love my son, but I will not go against his will to fight for out beloved country.

The Japanese had intended to neutralize America's navy and protect their own fleet during their advance to Malaya. I must say, it was a pretty successful plan. However, our president didn't let this discourage him. He has ordered a military expansion in the Phillippines in aspiration to discourage the Japanese army and fleet from their bellicosity in the Far East. Not only has their attacked brought together the country, but it has also given us a backbone reason to show them no mercy during battle. Yesterday, I have proven to myself that I'm a worthy pilot, and I intend to avenge those who have died in the upcoming battles of the Pacific. The soldiers that have sacrificed their life during the attack were not only my partners, but individuals who have pledged an oath to defend our country, just as I did. I've been hearing some news that the training for pilots will alter, and that we, the United States Army will be adapting new armament to further improve our assault plans and demolition. However, the war won't be over for a years to come, as it is not only our war (Japan and the United States), but rather the entire world. A group of united countries against another...it will be terrible. Our losses will be great, but the enemy will also suffer the death of their own soldiers.

A second world war...