'Anyone who has the power to make
you believe absurdities has the power
to make you commit injustices.'
Voltaire
The main ethos of a soldier in the Australian Army Infantry Corp [a.k.a. grunt] is to seek out and find a good drinking spot. He is to remain in the establishment until closing and when drunk he must stagger home in any season, weather or terrain.
I, Private Harry Kruger adhered to the edict and discharged in 1992 with;
1. Alcoholism
2. A drug induced mental disorder
3. Tinnitus attributable to shooting big bullets at stationary targets
4. And a chronic lower back problem due to carrying heavy objects long distances.
In addition, my cognitive functioning was adversely affected thanks to the slaughter of millions of brain cells through self-destructive behaviour. That is why the army favours repetitive drilling as the preferred teaching method. It is the only way to embed into our brain senseless military data.
They forever preach their virtues through constant verbal barrages and aim to mould the psyche of a grunt into a distorted reality. However, there are flaws. For example, when the battalion medic entrusted us to manage a new pain-killer [the magic whistle] he simply taught us on its correct handling method and failed to inform us on the dangers of mishandling the drug.
None the wiser it had a direct bearing on what military historians have labelled ‘massacre at Puckapunyal 91’. I prefer to call it the end of sanity. In a strategic manoeuvre we charged the enemy lines yelling ‘make love not war.’ Our mission was to capture Lollipop Hill and before our full-frontal suicidal attack we sucked the magic whistle dry.
Our gallant advance was halted by buckets of blank bullets and within minutes the entire platoon was pretend dead. It was an unforeseen catastrophe and an unintentional outcome of what was an excellent idea. Yet, it is symptomatic of a grunts mindset. We are a breed of our own, temporarily lost to the world and eternally looking for a quick fix.
"Charge," bellows the Officer and high on life 2nd platoon advances towards Lollipop Hill with gusto.
Next. Chapter One, 1-1 Private Johnson
