PATH TO WAR
1936
In Los Angeles, the Careys discuss the Presidential election - Garner is re-elected, defeating Alf Landon. Carey Sr. is convinced that the Depression will continue, though he admits he doesn't think Landon would have been able to turn things around either.
In New York, Hiram Rosen tries to convince his father of the faults of isolationism - one of the tenets of Garner's platform. His father scoffs, believing that Europe's problems are for Europeans to worry about, citing the fact his family left Europe to leave such concerns behind. Hiram is convinced that the U.S.A. can't hide from the world's problems.
1937
Garner cancels the WPA, and John Carey MD loses his job. The Careys are forced to relocate to San Francisco where John's friend is Chief of Staff at a hospital. In New York, Moishe Rosen, disgusted at the continuing Depression suggests moving his family to Austria because the Nazi Party is illegal there and the economy is improving.
1938
Moishe Rosen's hopes are crushed as the Anschluss occurs and Austria is annexed to the Third Reich. Europe continues to spiral towards the Second World War, despite - or because of - the Munich Agreement which gives Hitler Czechoslovakia.
1939
In September, Hitler's armies invade Poland, igniting World War II. In San Francisco, John Carey looks at his thirteen-year-old son and realizes that it's very possible his son may someday have to go to war, because isolationism can't last forever. In New York, Moishe Rosen dies after suffering a heart attack. His son Hiram finds out while pitching in a city league baseball game.
In Japan, we meet Lt. Hiro Watanabe (born 1917), a young Japanese pilot and promising baseball shortstop. Watanabe was educated in the United States and is a fan of all things American - especially the sport of baseball. As skilled as he is on the baseball diamond, Watanabe is also a top naval pilot and test flies the new Japanese fighter - the A6M Zero.
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