036 : turn on the water
“Yeah, it’s off duty. Come over and have a beer. There’s also Jackcock, which you like.”
“I’m at work, so a cock is enough.”
I went to Mark’s side and got a Coke.
I brought a lot of alcohol and soft drinks in a cool ice bucket. It’s like this desirable U.S. Army.
“Hey guys. Take it easy!”
Sergeant Mark threw a Coca-Cola bottle at my staff with his characteristic awkward expression.
“What’s the matter with this? Area A’s beach is so much better. Parasols and sunbeds are also made.”
The beach in Area A was neatly cut down.
Thanks to this, a beach similar to the scenery we saw in the 21st century was created, and our pockets became thicker.
When American soldiers lay down on sunbeds and handed over dollars, staff cleaned boots and even cleaned rifles.
When the day’s work was done and I went out in the dark of the evening, the extra pay rolled in.
In the meantime, employees with good stamina were able to do such side jobs, and in most cases, they could not overcome the fatigue of the day and fell asleep.
In Quy Nhon, physical strength was money.
“It’s too crowded over there. It doesn’t taste secluded.”
“I respect your preference.”
“And now that I’m here, I’m going to get some polytechnics.”
“Are you done writing it already?”
Sergeant Mark made a pretty good fortune taking polytech neck masks, gloves, sleeves, and stockings from me and selling them back to the soldiers.
Polytech products were a kind of bribe we gave to the commanders of the Corps of Engineers, and we couldn’t sell them because we couldn’t even sell them for five or six times the original price.
“Is it all just writing? Are there a lot of new recruits coming in these days? They are clamoring for each other.”
“okay. How much can I give you?”
“Give me 30 pairs of each.”
“There aren’t that many. That means we also make and use them for our work.”
It wasn’t a lie.
When I left Busan Port, I didn’t have time to make the finished product, so I brought several rolls of polytech fabric and a sewing machine.
It was made by cutting the fabric appropriately in Quy Nhon to make a pouch and a face mask.
This was possible because there were several former seamstresses among the staff.
“Then give me what you can.”
I fetched some pairs of stockings from the field office and handed them to Sergeant Mark.
“Twenty pairs are all. Sorry for not giving you much.”
“What if I say no? We should at least draw lots and distribute it. Anyway, who would believe that Korean-made goods are better than American-made ones?”
“This kind of thing was developed because there are many rice fields in rural Korea. It’s a different thing. American made is much better.”
I trembled for nothing.
“Thank you anyway. Platoon commanders, especially those on the night shift, wouldn’t even think of going out without it. They seem to be crawling on the ground, and when they come out once they come out, they tend to tear them apart.”
“Tear and eat this tough thing?”
“Don’t talk. The Vietcong make booby traps with skewers and sharp tin lids. But because of this, tetanus and malaria have been greatly reduced. Even the head office asks what the secret is. haha.”
Sergeant Mark thanked him for not only earning money from this, but also saying that it really helped the operation.
It’s not a standard outfit, so it’s because I couldn’t wear it openly, but if this was officially adopted, the headquarters would have awarded me a certificate.
That said, sooner or later you will be formally adopting it.
Honestly, there is nothing more comfortable than this to protect yourself from mosquitoes, leeches, centipedes, spiders, fire ants, snakes, and all kinds of pests.
Once you use Polytech, you can never take it off.
There are no other alternatives.
These products need to be worn in close contact with the skin for their purpose, but unless it is a polytech, you cannot wear them for a long time because the skin becomes oozing.
“If it helps the military operation, find a way to make a formal request. As usual, our headquarters is sending military supplies to the Korean army by ship. Wouldn’t it be nice to share some supplies there?”
“Does the Korean military also use polytech?”
“Of course. Korean military supplies must be of much better quality than the ones we made by hand, right?”
My words will come true.
It was because Sambok took care of the domestic military supply and I decided to break through the US military.
I had to make money with military contributions to the U.S. Army, as military subsidies would almost certainly hit the cost of delivery.
At this point, you guys have worn enough polytech flower shoes, so shouldn’t you buy them at your own price sooner or later?
“okay? Somehow, I thought that the Korean military came with a lot of cargo, but CS cargo was also included.”
Are you saying the military has already arrived? No way.
Originally, in history, the fierce tiger unit would come to Qunyeon only in November… Now, at best, the dispatch of combat troops would have passed the National Assembly.
“The Korean army came in? Didn’t you misread the merchant ship sent by our headquarters?”
“merchant ship? It’s not, but it’s a pretty big warship, right?”
“warship?”
A military ship, not a merchant ship?
Are the soldiers really here?
I ran towards the temporary port with a strange feeling.
I told Sambok to send it to the largest ship possible.
It should be a merchant ship, not a warship.
***
“Loyalty, welcome to the port.”
“Loyalty, thank you for your welcome. This Unbong ship, departing from Busan Port, Republic of Korea, will hand over 26 trucks, 19 jeeps, 680 drums of gasoline, 50 drums of lube oil, 32 tons of 6 types of beer and 68 tons of various military supplies to Quy Nhon Logistics Base.”
“Thank you very much for your hard work on the transport operation. Loyalty.”
Because dredging was not possible, proper docking facilities could not be built, so rafts were lined up, and a handover ceremony was held on them.
An intact LST was visible behind the Korean navy.
‘Unbongham? Baekgu army? Did our navy ever have such a big ship?’
On the LST, it was written Unbongham, and on the blue background flag, white seagulls were drawn with the words Baekgu Unit.
After the handover ceremony, like the LST, the boat was pushed into the shore and the trucks started pouring out.
Although he got off the warship, the truck was not for military use, but was a model for transporting aggregates at construction sites.
Looking at the mark on the truck, it was the property of BR. It meant that sooner or later the construction manager would come in.
chuck.
“Excuse me. Are you the president of Daesae Unemployment Woo Chan-soo?”
As I was admiring the truck I would one day occupy, someone gave me a modest salute.
“Yes that’s right.”
“Loyalty! His Excellency has sent you a personal letter.”
“The President?”
「With the Brown Memorandum, the Republic of Korea Navy also has 4 LST ships. Your credit cannot be ignored either. We send rice, kimchi, red pepper paste and soybean paste, so work harder for your country.”
I thought the President’s personal letter would have been lacquered, but it was really the letter itself.
Acquiring 4 LSTs with the Brown Memorandum, great bargaining power?
As far as I know, you said you got fighters and tanks, but you also got battleships. Even if it’s used, this is somewhere.
Anyway, it was like giving me a certificate of commendation and giving me kimchi and red pepper paste instead of a bouquet of flowers.
It was somewhat ridiculous to call it a gift from the president, but it was a realistically helpful gift.
Rice, no matter how I made it with Vietnamese rice, kimchi and gochujang were really hard to bear.
“He delivered the word along with his personal letter. Food that perishes easily, so I’ll send it every two weeks, so if there’s anything missing, ask for it right away! said.”
A naval officer recited the president’s words to me in moderation. He looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if he was very envious of me receiving the attention of the president.
I don’t want any attention at all.
“… There is not. Please say thank you.”
It wasn’t to ask for something lacking, it was like saying to report on work every two weeks.
If the president is black, he should be black, how?
Yongta didn’t come to the telex saying ‘I want to see you every other week’.
“All right. Also, please accept the goods sent by Daesae Unemployment.”
“Oh yeah? You sent something from our company.”
A naval officer pointed to a truck loaded with goods.
I really enjoyed this.
Sambok also sent dozens of tons of goods.
Damn, productivity is good.
“Here is also the news of the major unemployment.”
“thank you.”
A naval officer even delivered Sambok’s letter.
“Chansu, look. I tried to recruit merchant ships, but they said that Quy Nhon Port is a special military zone, so ordinary merchant ships cannot dock there. It is said that it is possible to go to Saigon with difficulty, but it is not uncommon for things to disappear, so I decided to use a warship. Coincidentally, the Blue House Secretariat asked if there was anything I could do to help, so I just got on board. I know I should stay away from politics, but I couldn’t help it. We loaded and sent as much as the warship allowed.”
Hey, merchant ships go to Saigon, but Quy Nhon can’t come right away. Didn’t think of that.
I thought Sambok must have had a hard time.
Damn, I replied with a letter instead of a telex, fearing that the roads would go wild because I didn’t send a merchant ship. stupid boy.
“Please confirm handing over the goods.”
A naval officer handed me the acquisition papers.
For him, this operation seems to have been a very important military operation directly ordered by the president.
I climbed into the truck and checked things out.
When I opened the box, it was filled with munitions such as face masks, gloves, sleeves, stockings, mosquito nets, as well as military uniforms, boots, and raincoats.
It seemed that with this amount, we could start attacking the US military.
“I confirm that you have taken over.”
“Confirm the handover. Loyalty”
“Loyalty! Does this… look good? Do you want to write?”
I wanted to give you a gift because I was desperate and thankful for the eyes that glanced at things.
“thank you.”
“This is called Polytech, and it will be nice to wear it because it is cool.”
I handed over the gloves and sleeves in bundles.
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes, I heard from Headquarters that it is a luxury item that will be issued to Soldiers in Powell. I will write thank you.”
huh? Has Sambok already pierced the military supply?
Well, if you’ve put this much stuff to rest, it’s time to push it out with military supply.
Anyway, the naval officer seems to have liked my present very much.
“It’s not free. Instead, I have a question.”
“Ask a question.”
“Are you going back with an empty boat?”
“no. It is supposed to return to Jinhae Port with empty drums.”
“It’s not an empty boat, but it’s like an empty boat.”
“…do you have a favor?”
He had a good head.
Looking at the name tag, it was Major Sohn Tae-yang.
“Major Son Taeyang, this is for the country. Please help me.”
“Yes? For the country… for the country?”
Isn’t it a cheat key to inject patriotism into soldiers of this era?
“It is a surplus of the US military, but if left alone, there are things that the Japanese side will snatch. It is a financial resource that we have shed blood and sweat, so please bring it into Korea.”
“Muh… what do you mean?”
“It is wood. It is a by-product of the construction contracted by the US military, so there is no problem even if it is taken out.”
It is not really illegal, and it is said to be using the US military’s surplus disposal regulations.
Although it is somewhat absurd, the principle is to return materials provided by the US military if they are left over, but if the remaining materials are less than 2% of the supply or aggregates that are by-products of the foundation work, such as soil or gravel, the construction company is supposed to take care of them.
You take care of that trash, you pay for the trouble, right? Let’s say it’s a way of doing things.
In other words, if I made a by-product processing document and paid for it, I was able to take out the log.
This was possible because the U.S. Army and I, a subcontractor of the U.S. Army, used the same format of documents.
I was on the same level as a sergeant in the US Army.
“Did His Excellency allow it?”
“Of course. Logs are dollars.”
Of course, President Park ordered it.
Didn’t I tell you to earn dollars from the battlefield for your country? I will faithfully follow orders.
Even if you didn’t listen to such an order, why would you throw away this precious log?
I am not a saintly man who pretends not to see a gold nugget rolling on the ground without an owner.
“We will postpone the empty drums until later and start an emergency operation.”
“If you return south along the coastline, you will see sandbars and piles of logs. See you there.”
“All right. Loyalty!”
Major Son Taeyang’s eyes flashed.
He had nothing to fear since it was for the country and it was an order directly issued by the president.
Soldiers die by orders, live by orders, and aren’t afraid to take up arms for the country.
***
The operation was immediate.
Like the LST, it crashed into a sandbar on the shore, anchored, and carried the logs with a crane.
All the staff and I had to do was roll the fumigated log toward the shore with a crowbar.
“I will take over the lumber from Daesae Unemployment, so please pile it up at the naval port for a while.”
“Don’t worry. We will deliver it safely.”
“You will have to come often for the same purpose.”
President Park himself told me to bring red pepper paste and soybean paste to me once every two weeks.
If you come here, you can’t go empty-handed.
I have to load a lot of raw materials.
“… Loyalty!”
Major Sohn Tae-yang was taken aback, but quickly corrected his posture and became vigilant.
“Loyalty! Please fly safely.”
“Come again! Put it in my mailbox.”
“My letter too!”
Employees sent the letters that they had not been able to send and put together in the unsealed box.
“Everyone, salute!”
“Loyalty!”
“Loyalty!”
The warship moved away from the beach. The image of the soldiers standing in a row on the deck and saluting in moderation also disappeared from sight.
‘As expected, the uniform is navy!’
I also waved at the departing warship.
You must arrive safely! Must come again in 2 weeks!
Unbongham is an official naval battleship of the Republic of Korea, but it felt like it had become our ferry for some reason.
As soon as I let the ship go, I fired a telex at Sambok.
Of course, I shot a telex to the president as a thank-you letter and business progress report.
I sent you to earn dollars for construction subcontracting, but I would be surprised if I told you that you also do lumber business.
Even the president will help.
Isn’t he a nobleman who knows better than anyone else that economic development is the key to maintaining power?
Now, Asia is cluttered with the Vietnam War, but in the US mainland, it was a time when baby boomers started building their own homes in earnest.
Wood in this era was as important a resource as oil. It is a resource that fully reflects the inflation of the dollar.
Unlike the original history, one of the countless money lines that flowed to Japan turned to Korea.
