The Library of Histories is a program spearheaded by the non-profit Historians for a Cause. Located in Bondoc City, Sokala, it collects, digitizes, and archives books, journals, and other literarature across Sokala, Iphelklori, and Nuesperanza in an effort to preserve the close history of all three states as accurately as possible.
An excerpt from “A Sunstruck Cross: Journals of the Freedom Fighters”
Compiled by: Jermonius Salazar
Published: June 15th, 1958
Publisher: Pravdaist Free Press Corps, Iphelklori
Plain Text
Page 112
July 18, 1953
It has been a struggle to write. The bandage paired with the continuing pain has made even holding a cup much less writing an extraordinary feat. Despite this, my luck remains tremendous. The hand was nothing compared to the brothers that sieged the lines yesterday. It was truly a harrowing sight seeing the stream of bodies enter the tents after the assault. Some had no eyes, no limbs, and even had neither. It fills me with rage seeing my brothers suffering. We had the koala fuckers on the run. The sweet sweet taste of freedom was just days away if not for those Estupidos coming in. They came out of nowhere and blew our command’s headquarters away. Major says they killed almost the entire command, with a bunch of majors and captains having to step up while the higher ups scrounged up new commanding officers. True or not, that was a tale that scared even the toughest among us. What I do know is after the COs met God, our trenches were the next target. We were lucky; we had just enough time to dig deep enough that we didn’t get blown to smithereens. I only got hit while I was scrambling to get inside, tore the skin from my arm. The 23rd weren’t so lucky. Word was, they were just starting on their dugouts when shells started raining. What was left was not a sight to share. The dirt was showered in red and burnt equipment. That didn’t stop our brothers from charging the enemies’ lines. I wish I could’ve joined them. I wish that I was with my brothers, that I wasn’t useless in this tent. Helplessness was the only thing that existed within me as more and more of my brothers arrived in pieces or otherwise. I wish this ends soon.
Compiler’s Note
This would be the last entry in Private Lebedev’s journal. Records show conflicting statuses for Private Lebedev. The 24th Infantry Brigade’s declassified records list him as a fatality during the brigade’s defense against Nuesperanzan and Sokalan assaults; however, the official post-war Iphelklorian Army archives have him listed as missing, as no official funeral was held. Some historians conclude that Private Lebedev died during the 24th ‘s defense, though he was listed as missing to keep morale high during the peak of the war. Other historians contend that he might have deserted during the chaos of the defense and was deemed missing while his own brigade listed him as a fatality.
