by Unknown
“And tonight the people of Pusan and all of South Korea rejoice. The sounds you hear behind me are the guns of American battleships sending their own forms of destruction against the enemy. Tonight, the United States and her allies have returned to Korea. Even now, the forces of freedom are engaging the enemy – pressing them back across the lands they thought they had conquered. For it seems the North Koreans have made the same mistake that other tyrants have made in the past. They underestimated the United States and what its citizens could do. They thought we would be crippled and unable to respond. But history shows that it is under these circumstances that Americans are at their best.
“In some ways it is almost a continuation of the Korean Conflict of the 1950s. The old weapons are still around. The very battleships of that era are even now pounding away at them. Yet newer weapons are also here. American Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles have been landed and have taken their fight to the enemy. I have been told that the entire might of the United States is coming to bear on this place at this time.
“But most of all, the South Koreans are celebrating because once again, they have realized they are not alone. The Americans are not the only ones coming ashore tonight. Forces arrayed against the North Koreans include the European Union, Turkey, Greece, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, India, and other nations. All have joined together to ensure the freedom of the Korean people and end the nuclear threat of the North.
“I am certain the lights will be burning late in Pyongyang tonight.
“Many years ago during another conflict one of my family members sat at a microphone very similar to this one. He vowed to report the news as best he could, fairly and unbiased. During that time, he reported on the people and the events that surrounded him and never gave up on his convictions that his job was to report the news, not create it. To this end I will attempt to carry on those same convictions. I and my colleagues will report the news as best we can and as honestly as we can. You in the United States and the rest of the world deserve no less.
“This is Jason Murrow, reporting from Pusan, South Korea. Good night, and good luck.”
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlie Sheppard sat on his porch listening to the broadcast. An announcement had been in the paper that an address would begin at eleven. He was one of the few on his street who had a radio and he was surrounded by his neighbors and friends. Sheppard was over 90 years old and remembered the broadcasts of Edward R. Murrow and the events of the last conflict. Tears were in his eyes. “Well I’ll be damned!” he exclaimed.
“It’s about time,” one neighbor said. Several nodded.
“So it was the North Koreans who did this to us,” said another. “Why weren’t we told?” she asked as the others started talking.
Sheppard shushed them all down as the radio announcer came back on announcing the President.
“My fellow Americans. Many of you have been wondering what our country has been doing to find out not only who attacked us, but what we were going to do in Korea. Now you know that the North Koreans not only attacked their neighbors in the South, but were responsible for the attacks launched against us as well. We have known this for over four months, but we have kept this close so we could make our preparations without them becoming aware of what we were doing or planning. I am sorry we kept this from you, but that didn’t stop us from doing what we had to do.
“As you just heard, tonight the United States and its allies launched an invasion of Korea. I won’t go into much detail simply because we still do not want our enemies to know who or what has been lined up against them. I will say that our troops are already engaging the enemy. We are going to win this conflict. We will win it for the people of Memphis and Dallas. We will win it for all the people of the free world. But we will win.
“In the past four months we have drawn together on the expertise of our armed forces, business, and industry to build a fighting force unmatched since World War II. Some of it is what you would expect to see from our armed forces – modern tanks and planes and weapons. But you are also going to see some things unconventional as well. On recommendation of several trusted advisors, the United States has recommissioned a number of older ships that can continue attacks if and when the North Koreans should use any more nuclear missiles like they did on us. And yes, they include battleships. I am proud to say there are currently seven battleships off Korea. These include the North Carolina, Alabama, Massachusetts, Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin. I have already received word that their firepower is turning the enemy back.
“We also received a number of ships back from countries that had purchased or leased ships from us. These include destroyers, and frigates to escort these capital ships. We recommissioned several older cruisers and a number of other assets that we will use against our enemies. For now, let’s let them worry about what assets we have and where they are.
“As you heard, we have formed a coalition of nations to carry out our mission. Tomorrow I will address the General Assembly in the United Nations and lay out our case before them. We will ask for their approval and the approval of the Security Council, but no matter what they decide, we will continue our mission.
“I want to thank everyone who has been on this team. When this happened, I reached out to our political leadership, our business leaders and industrialists, the media, even our farmers, everyone in our nation who might be able to get us back on our feet. As a result, we still have food on the tables. Our phones are working, our cars are returning to the roads, our radios and televisions are slowly coming back to life. America is alive and breathing. In the midst of all this we also pulled together to return the aggression that was inflicted upon us. This has been a monumental effort, and trust me when I say we owe a great deal to a very few people who picked up the yoke and kept going.
“I will let you know now that I will not be passing along information about the war as some have done in the past. We are going to keep our secrets to ourselves and not give the enemy any breaks. You will know when things happen, but we will keep numbers or capacity to ourselves. In time, I promise to withhold nothing. You will eventually know everything that happened, but we will give nothing to our enemies that may benefit them. Please bear with me on this.
“I want to thank each and every American for your own efforts to bring our nation back. I want to thank you for your support and your kind words during this crisis. America is on its feet. We have now raised our fist to our enemies. We will not be knocked down again.”
Sheppard blew his nose. “That’s the best news I heard all year. It’s about time we stopped airing our dirty laundry every time some news reporter decided he had a sensational story,” he said angrily.
“Damn right. Now that I know what’s going on, I’m okay with it. I’m just glad we’re doing something about all this,” one neighbor said.
“They brought back the battleships. I actually went aboard one back in ‘89. Those guns were big as hell. I know I wouldn’t want one shootin’ at me,” said another.
“Yeah, but I bet it cost us a fortune. Every time we start paying off the debt we end up going right back in,” said one lady. She had a reputation of being a tree hugger.
“True,” said Sheppard, “but in this case it’s well worth it. We can’t stand up as a nation of we let others push us around. We’ve seen what it did in some places.”
“Humph,” she grunted. “Just more killing and more pollution. What does it do for us?”
It got quiet. Sheppard leaned forward. “Nancy, it’s the price to pay for the death of 1.7 million Americans,” he said. “I know you have your causes. I know you care for them, but it all means nothing if we are not free to choose. Sometimes people forget that if people like the North Koreans took over you wouldn’t be free to advocate for your causes. They could care less about pollution, the forests, the whales, or anything else. They have shown us that time and again. Now they have shown us they don’t care
for human life either. Well, I value human life above all else. Sure, I value nature and all that as well, but nothing comes before human life. So this time, I approve of what’s being done. If it takes all I have and everything we own to get the job done, I’m ready to do it. Because our lives and our way of living are well worth it,” he said. Sheppard sat back in his chair.
The woman looked down at her feet, obviously ashamed. She wasn’t a bad person, but she somehow missed that, after the EMP attack, people had changed.
The radio had returned to music, so Sheppard turned it off. “Well, I feel like walking to the café. Suddenly I feel like a burger and fries,” Sheppard said. “Care to join me Nancy?”
The lady smiled at him and nodded.
“Come on, let’s all go. We’ll have us a party,” Sheppard said. Several of the neighbors nodded and started walking along with him. Along the way, they were joined by others. It ended up being the biggest block party many could remember.
Pyongyang, North Korea
The People’s Army headquarters was becoming very active. Military leaders poured in trying to assess the damage and to figure out what was happening. Normal electricity in the city was cut, so the emergency generators were keeping the lights burning. Lu Chen burst into the war room yelling orders and in general being a nuisance. The military leadership was for the most part ignoring him.
The Air Force Commander was trying to explain things to him. “The attacks on the city came from the sea, Comrade Minister. Our radar systems gained contact only ten miles away. It was not enough time to react. Then when the radars were destroyed we could no longer determine what the targets were. I have received telephone communications stating attacks were on both coasts. We still do not know the extent of the damage.”
Lu Chen was livid. “And who carried out these attacks?” he demanded. “You and our illustrious intelligence system told us there was no country with the ability to hurt us! I should have you all marched out and shot as traitors to the state!”
The general blanched at the outburst. This man had that kind of power. He had to help the Minister understand. “That we do not know, Comrade Minister. I agree that our intelligence system gave us no warning of any impending attack. My own analysis indicates these were cruise missiles that were deployed against us. We know our Communist brothers in the People’s Republic of China did not do this. The only other nation with such capability in this part of the world is Japan or possibly Taiwan. We know Japan was rendered harmless in the same manner as the United States. Taiwan is 1,000 miles away and we do not believe she has such capabilities. Australia and New Zealand have such capabilities, but they are in the southern hemisphere. The only possible explanation is that the United States was able to retrieve a limited amount of cruise missiles from Europe or the Middle East and used them on us. Even then, we do not know how they were delivered. Their missiles have a 1,500 mile range. It is possible they launched them from Taiwan and Japan. If that is the case, there would be nothing we could do to prevent such an attack. As you recall, Comrade Minister, your office has been calling on updating those coastal defense radar systems for several years now to combat just such an attack,” he said.
Lu Chen leaned against the table on his hands. The General made sense. Everything he had said was true and logical, but that would not placate the political arm of the Party. He needed answers and someone to point a finger at. “Tell me what you know so far,” he growled at the men around the table.
Another general spoke up. “All but two of our coastal radar sites have reported damage. Those two are both in what was South Korea. We have six portable units that I have sent to key locations around the major facilities. They should be online some time tomorrow. The antiaircraft batteries were also hit with similar results. More units are already ordered out. Fortunately some of the batteries can be repaired,” he said, hoping that his quick actions would forestall the Minister’s wrath.
“Is that all?” the Minister demanded. If it was only radars and missiles things may be alright.
“Unfortunately it is not, Comrade Minister. All of our airfields have been attacked along with our naval installations. We have not been able to establish contact with most of them so I do not know how much damage. However, we did intercept a frantic call from the garrison in Inchon. It appears there are ships shelling all of the facilities. The commander reported the mines in the harbor exploded and the shelling has continued. He reports that he needs reinforcements against a possible invasion there.”
“Send them immediately! Have you forgotten that is the way they did it before? Do I have to make all the decisions?” Lu Chen shouted.
“It will mean further drawing down the troops within our borders, Comrade. We may have to leave some areas with little internal security,” another general said shyly.
“There is a war on! Our troops must respond to the threats to our nation. We can’t just let them walk in! Get at least … at least 20,000 troops in there immediately!” the Minister said.
“Yes, sir,” the general shouted. There was nothing else he could say.
Pusan Harbor
The next morning began bright and sunny in Pusan. The sun cast a bright yellow glow across the waterfront. People began emerging from their homes and shelters and seeing what happened the night before. Many made their way down to the waterfront where they heard the gunfire. To their surprise, as they neared the harbor, many panes of glass in the buildings were shattered. Upon closer inspection, nothing had been broken into, the glass was simply broken.
Along the main thoroughfare, trucks were making their way from the piers through the city. They were all green with American Army markings and traveling rapidly along the road. In the distance, the sound of gunfire could be heard, but it didn’t seem as loud as it had been recently. Occasionally one of the American Humvees passed along the road. The occupants waved at the people as they drove past. After the past week of constant gunfire and shelling, the atmosphere seemed almost surreal.
The quiet was interrupted by the sound of music. People looked around at each other wondering where the music was coming from as it echoed through the buildings. It wasn’t Korean, but sounded like American rock music. Many began following the sound leading toward the harbor. Rounding some of the office buildings they found the source.
The waterfront was filled with people watching and listening. There, in the middle of the harbor was an American battleship. There was activity along her decks and on her bow, but the music was coming from a small group of men playing guitars and instruments on deck beside one of the big guns.
Don’t you feel it growin’, day by day
People, gettin’ ready for the news
Some are happy, some are sad
Well now Moma gonna let the music play
What the people need
Is a way to make ‘em smile
It ain’t so hard to do if you know how
Gotta get a message
Get it on through
Oh, now mama’s gonna get that after‘while
Ooooooooh, listen to the music.
Ooooooooh, listen to the music.
Ooooooooh, listen to the music,
All the time.
The old Doobie Brothers’ song struck out across the water and through the city. It was happy. It was hopeful. It was fun. It didn’t take long before people along the water’s edge began to clap along with the music and some even started to dance. The group on the ship kept playing the song, doing it over a couple of times before it ended. By then the crowds had built and spread almost across the waterfront. They noticed the big containerships moored against the piers unloading materials into the army trucks. Even there, some of the people were moving to the rhythm of the songs.
Something had changed in the night. The people knew there had been a battle of some sort, but even the feeling around the city had changed. As the music played the mood was changing. People were looking forward to the day. They began thinking about to
morrow and the next day and not worrying about what might happen. People began seeking out their friends and sharing the moment. Sure, there was much to do, but somehow, that didn’t seem so important. People began to sing along now.
The song changed. It was another upbeat song. Most people didn’t understand the words to “China Grove,” but that didn’t make any difference. It was more fun. They could see the men on the ship. They were dancing along with the people on the shore. Even though a war was raging not far from where they stood, the people threw away all of the uneasiness and fear and celebrated. Song after song had the people dancing and cheering.
As the music played the anchor was slowly raised on the big ship. Tugs positioned themselves on the bow and began pushing the ship around so that it pointed toward the open sea. It slowly moved away from the city; the music getting softer as it did. Many of the people didn’t leave until the ship was out of sight and the port was again silent. It had been the first respite the people had since the war began, and they returned home with a new more positive feeling. South Korea would survive. Now it was up to them to rebuild it.
Pyongyang, North Korea
Kim Sung Nua sat at the table in a rage. Seated around him were a number of military officers called in to decide how to fix the problems their former military leaders allowed to happen. Seated next to him was his nephew, Hua Te Nua. Already the names were being changed on the records stating that Lu Chen was no longer the Defense Minister. The former military commanders had suffered from either illness or had died in battle. All of that had happened one hour before in one mass ceremony in the courtyard of a local military post. Now Kim was going to direct the war from Pyongyang.