Day Eight

Dear Journal,

Today was the big day. We had to hold the line until dawn so the reinforcements would come. We were attacked, and attacked hard. I had to run through the water filled with blood and shoot the loyalists. It wasn’t easy. As the battle heated up I lost sight of Nacio and Lolo. Before I knew it I was hit, badly. I awoke in the jungle with Nacio and Olivares. We had lost again. Nacio was strong and he told me that soldiers never cry. They continue to fight until there is nothing left to fight for. I knew he was a good soldier, and I then knew what it was to be a good soldier. To never give up, no matter the circumstances. Though we had to fall back we killed many loyalists., even I killed many loyalists. I was proud of myself because I had overcome my fear of shooting someone, I could defend myself. I knew I couldn’t give up because it was now my duty to fight and be a soldier. I could now shoot any man. I learned that if you train and train for hours and think you are ready to fight your wrong. Your whole life changes the first time you shoot a man. If it’s 1 week of training or 2 years, it doesn’t matter. A battlefield changes you, forever. I think the fact that I am a much stronger person would have made Lolo feel good. I didn’t want to go back to the village. Neither did Ignacio, because now we knew what we had to do. We had to fight. I was ready for a forty-fourth war.

Haiku One

The freezing cold nights,
Long, tiring, hungry days
Just no place to hide

Day Seven

Dear Journal,

As the morning came around, Nacio and Lolo were arguing over who had killed more people, and I still felt left out. I had yet to shoot a man. And come to think of it I don’t think I’ll ever get a chance. We are now almost out of supplies as it is. After the grueling morning drills, we received even more bad news. The town of San Ildefonso had fallen to the loyalists and we needed to take it back by tomorrow. Our groups were split, some went to regroup with the rocket crew and some crossed the river towards the town. Once I got out of the fortress for the march, it felt like I had been released from a prison. After some marching we ate some tortillas and beans before setting out again. When we got about thirty meters from the river the ammo was given out. We kept our guns on safety. It was soon dark and we were setting up around the river. Slowly a group of boats approached us. The fire command was sent and I fired into the darkness. The piercing sounds of screams, and gunfire clouded my ears. I felt sick to my stomach, while holding off the dark shapes moving towards my. I wasn’t controlling myself. It seemed like the gun was firing on its own. I finally felt like one of them after I had witnessed myself shoot a man. However I was still worried if there would be more of them coming. I could never rest. I know what it takes to be a good soldier and I can become one. But now I can’t even talk to Lolo.

Day Six

Dear Journal,
I can safely say that I understand more about what this war is about and how we as revolutionaries are financed. I now know that we are freedom fighters and we need to fight to get ourselves out of poverty, disease, and corruption. I suppose it is going to a good cause. What we are doing is holding off the loyalists before launching a counter offensive on them. We want to overthrow the current government and firmly establish a new government, like in America. The armies of the revolutions are not financed well enough too have good food or enough ammo. And I really have no money of my own to spend. It is definitely not a job to get if you are in need of money. Because leaders of the revolution can’t afford to buy things they, threaten, negotiate, and even steal to get things their way. Today we actually got to eat well, I thought to my self if I were to die at some point in this war, it should be now. I stayed out of the action today with Juan, Nacio, and Lolo. Juan explained to us how the Captain steals to get his way, and that all revolutionaries didn’t follow rules. They were fighting hard to win. Using everything at there disposal. I feel like now I will never mean anything in this war if I don’t fight hard, and keep my composure. I know I’m better than that self-centered Juan. I just need to show it.

Day Five

Dear Journal,

I feel that I finally have become part of this whole war. But everyday it becomes more difficult. I have to care for the baby while caring for myself, and right now both prove to be equally hard. The baby has made thing harder for me because it gets weaker and weaker every hour. I’m just lucky I have help from Olivares. He knows how to take care of the baby and he is tough when it comes to fending for himself. Today I had to take the baby to the nearby village to be cared for. I said goodbye to Lolo and Ignacio and I wondered if any of us were going to live through the next two hours. I had to carry a baby, two rifles, a blanket, dried rations, and ammunition. I couldn’t get the girl and the baby off my mind, the girl’s wounds were deep and infected and the baby was hungry. These two people made me realize even if you are not in the war you are going through a heck of a time. It made me sympathize for citizens and even the loyalists. I didn’t want to end someone else’s life. After going to the village and treating the wounded we head out to the fortress. We knew that if there were more loyalists they would murder and rape people of the villages. As the men approached, I felt my body freeze up and I clenched my rifle. Gunshots broke out from all directions and I couldn’t fire my gun. Luckily Lolo could take him. I was angry at the loyalists and myself, I was in a war and I couldn’t bring myself to kill a man. I couldn’t kill a man when I put my feet in his shoes, literally. The best thing that happened all day was Lolo taking the boots off the dead man. What if I was that soldier?

Day One

Dear Journal,

From the moment I heard the trucks and marching of infantry I had a bad feeling about what would happen next. I saw familiar sights when the roars of engines died down. I saw thin hungry men in shabby uniforms climbing out of the trucks. They had big new looking weapons, and lots of them. Those were revolutionaries. My thoughts started to race as I saw the soldiers encircle houses around us. They were here for me, to draft me. I tried to run but it proved useless. The revolutionaries dragged me back towards the truck. No one ever escaped the grasp of these men. I looked around and saw no one really coming into the square. Thankfully, I was with my best friend Lolo and My cousin Ignacio. I was in the army. I barely understand what we are fighting for, or what we are up against. Lolo and I had each other’s backs. Since we were only nine we had been looking out for each other, and working together. We had always talked about the loyalists, which was who we were fighting against, and the long tiresome battles between them and the revolutionaries. My cousin Ignacio, is more educated than Lolo and I. He is always searching for something to read or asking questions, but right now I think I’m more curious about what is going on then both of them. Then out of nowhere, a man by the name of Captain Mendoza stood. He explained that our nation would fight its way out of poverty and disease. Then the moment I would never forget came next, his voice is still ringing in my ears. “It is therefore my duty to inform you that the army of the revolution hereby conscripts for active service the following men: Ignacio Valdez, Manolo Sandoval, and Pablo Ramirez. That was us.

The 43rd War

The 43rd War

War in the Eyes of a Twelve Year Old
Book by: Louise Moeri
Journal by: Conor Golden