43rd War

The Forty-Third War
By: Louise Moeri

Journal of Uno Ramírez
By: HunGyu

Day 1

Today as soon as I woke up, I saw revolutionary trucks coming into our village. I sort of knew and wasn’t sure exactly why. When the soldiers climbed down the trucks and gathered everybody, I knew why they were here. They were recruiting able bodied men and boys for their army. I saw my best friend Lolo, who pretty much knew almost everything what was going on. The revolutionary soldiers scattered to look for more male bodies. I tried to run away but eventually I was caught by one of the soldiers, and was moved to a truck. My mom saw me and cried out loud until one of the soldiers hit her head, which started to bleed. I was so scared because I didn’t know what exactly was going to happen to me and other people who were with me in the truck. After Captain Mendoza gave a speech to the villagers, truck engine started and we left the village. I was so terrified and scared. I didn’t know anything about the army and what we’re going to do. I hate killing people or being forced to do it. Every time when the truck suddenly went up and down, due to the horrible road conditions, I was so scared that we were being attacked by loyalist forces. When we finally got into the fortress, I was still scared, because I didn’t know what was going to happen, especially because my dad died fighting for loyalists, I had a thought that they could kill me any second. I saw boys like me with guns, and uniforms. When sergeant Díaz confirmed that we were going to fight for the revolutionaries. I wasn’t sure what to say, while others shouted out yes. My dad fought for loyalists, but I’m here with the revolutionaries. I didn’t want to be in either place. I just wanted to be back at home with my family. All the surroundings were weird and were too scared to ask anyone anything. The only good thing so far was giving plenty of food. But I was always cautious about everything and everybody. The only thing I wished for right now was to be back at home or know what was going to happen next. When I got an AK47, from sergeant Díaz, I was just so scared because one careless motion could kill at least a life. I thought of myself for a bit. If I do the trainings well, and listen and follow the commanders, would this be a better for me? Would they give me better living conditions? Treat me nicer? I was so scared the entire first day with the revolutionaries, being trained to be a soldier.

Day 2

Today is the second day in the revolutionary’s camp. I finally got the chance to ask something to Captain Mendoza. I asked him whether we, revolutionaries, can win the war against the loyalists. I don’t know why I asked that but I just did. That’s what came up in my mind. I thought even if the revolutionaries won, it wouldn’t change anything much. Because I know my cousin told me that there were 42 revolutions so far in our country and nothing really changed for people like me. I still didn’t get the answer from Captain Mendoza. I think that he also thought it was very hard and rare that we could win. When Juan ordered to clean our guns, I was extra careful. I was still so scared because I’ve never held a real gun before, and I couldn’t imagine myself shooting at people and killing… I don’t get why revolutionaries think that they always need to go against the loyalist, in a violent ways like fighting against them. Why can’t we just go in a peaceful way? Is there even a peaceful way? Then it would be much better for normal people, like me, we wouldn’t have to worry about dying fighting with our same race people. I hope it ends quickly so I don’t have to see Juan again in my life.

Day 5

I’m still alive. I’ve survived 5 days with the revolutionaries and I was out of the camp. It was very tiring to take care of two young survivors, and felt I was really unlucky to be in here, until I saw wounded girl with her baby brother from a village which was attacked by the loyalists. And I felt the hatred and the anger to the loyalists for what they have done to poor villagers. Even though we handed that girl and her baby brother to Mrs. Carter, I was so angry at the loyalists. Especially when I saw loyalists soldiers in the jungle I really, really wanted to kill them. But I couldn’t. I was too scared to kill anybody right in front of me with a rifle. I don’t know what was wrong with me. When I think about what they did to the poor villagers, I feel like shooting their heads off, but when I had a chance, I couldn’t even move my fingers to pull the trigger. I’m such a coward. But next time see them, I will shoot them. I’ll shoot them to stop them from killing more innocent people. I wish I had lived in a peaceful country and never have to worry about being killed by my own country’s soldiers.

Day 6

6 days… even though Captain Mendoza said we had an hour extra of sleep, I and others were still very tired. Today I pretty much found of how the revolutions were fought and ran. Yesterday I found out that we get supplies from people who might not even be on our side. And when Juan told me that Mendoza had a small plane of his own, it was a bit interesting, because Mendoza didn’t seem like he was super rich guy. But it was from the bank in one of the cities that revolutionaries attacked, and he used it for businesses in the US and to meet other people. I was very confused that which side revolutionaries were fighting for. They take people’s money to help them?? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I think this country would be much better off without any revolutions. Even if we win this war, fighting unfair, I don’t think anything good will happen to not only me, but other new, young soldiers. The officers will have almost all the benefits. But winning is better than losing….

Day 8

I’m still alive after a week and a day with revolutionaries. I pretty much learned what it is like to be a soldier. When you are a soldier, you should forget about everything else like friends and family and only focus on the battle and try to win it. Every battle was fearful and scary for me. And to be a good soldier, you have to have patience and be fearless of killing my enemies. We have to do anything to win the war, even if it is unfair. Don’t be afraid of my own guns and know how to aim and shoot, and don’t be scared of blood. Soldier needs to be brave and be able to act quickly when ordered. And this whole revolution battle changed me. It changed me from a normal village boy to a young soldier. I didn’t just want to go back home like this after losing the battle. I wanted to go and fight more for the revolutionaries and kill the loyalists.

Poem

a conflict between two halves of a nation,
whether it's a war of ideologies or justice,
Both sides suffer heavy losses.
The fallen will be forgotten,
And the winners will be remembered forever
hearing the shots of machine guns,
and the explosions from rocket launchers
Makes villagers quiver with fear.
Whichever side wins,
others will lose