Disposable Heroes

     “It’s a man’s world. Or is it?” Arvish Jannali was thinking to himself in his room. He was just finished celebrating his 15th birthday with his family. By only his 15th year of living, he has already begun to think of who he really is.

     One day he even thought why he was born in the first place, “I have never agreed to anything yet here I am existing” he exclaimed. He would spend the passing days asking that question to himself as there really isn’t anyone that can provide an answer.

     Arvish lived in a small lakeside house in the small town of Sale'a'fau, Republic of Vosso, with his mother, Matilda and his elder sister, Talia. Arvish spent most of his life at home, where the only time he goes out would be for school and errands.

     His father was a serving soldier for the Military of the Republic of Vosso, he was killed in battle even before his son can utter a word in 1898. Since his birth, Arvish lived under the coverage of his father’s service family insurance under the Katinaian Protection Act until it was revoked right before the start of the Folclanian War.

     At home, he would often ask about his father, curious of what kind of a man did he became until his death.

          “Mama, why did papa join the military?” He asked one day. “Was it his dream?”

          “Why did you ask boy? Do you want to be like him?” His mother replied.

          “No mama, I too want to have a dream of my own.”

          “Your papa was a strong and a brave man, he joined the military to prove his loyalty to our nation.” His mother said.

          “Do I have to be strong and brave just like he was?”

          “Of course! You are a man, soon to be a man of the house to add to that!” His sister said.

          “I wasn’t asking you.”

          “Your sister is right, Arvee, you are going to grow up to be a real man.” His mother added.

 

     One night, as any other night, Arvish lay on his bed, his thought was drifting deep in ponders. The only thing he was thinking of over and over was what kind of a man he’ll be when he grows up in the future.

     All that he knows is that he loved being himself and he all that he wanted to do was stay with his small family. But realistically, this is not possible, not until the war.

     Vosso was already at the brink of war following the tension between Folclant and Marvirilleux since 1913 for the occupation of a strategic piece of land of Villers-Meceoux, all that leads up to its boiling point when Folclant sees beyond diplomacy and launched an attack in Villers-Meceoux, cementing their occupation of the land in quick succession.

     All those altercations would sooner or later affect the land of the Republic of Vosso as one of the neighboring countries, and Folclant does not seem to slow down their invasion effort anytime soon.

          “Mama, are we going to war? Does that mean I have to join the military like papa?” Arvish asked his mother.

          “No Arvee, we are safe, we have nothing to do with the war.” His mom replied

          “Then that’s good, I’d hate to leave you to be a man, just like papa.”

          “I would really hate it to die fighting someone’s war”

          “I told you, you won’t, worry not my boy.” His mother said.

 

     What Matilda had said was optimistic, but rather unrealistic. It was proven when Folclant’s military had a violent altercation in Duena, the border between Vosso and Folclant. That event had marked the entry of Vosso into the war.

     The situation had only gotten worse for the people in Vosso, public activities were kept to a minimum. Everyone was sent to stay at home, fearing that the full course invasion would come anytime soon.

     Schools were shutdown, the roads were emptied, and military outposts were established all over the country. It was also bad for the Jannali family, the insurance was revoked following the situation, so the family had to work to bring food to the table.

     Arvish, for the first time ever, felt the utmost feeling of burden for being the man of the family. All that he spent pondering had led him to this feeling. At the time of the war, he was already 17, that means, next year he would have to enlist under the mandatory regulation for all able men over the age of 18.

     Arvish knew for sure that next year he would be holding a rifle, firing at another man, who were sent by another man, to kill another man. Just the thought of it makes him so anxious, all that he wanted was to be by his family’s side.

          “It’s really coming, I won’t be eating good food sometime next year.” Arvish exclaimed.

          “This time will be behind us soon Arvee, you will be fine, you are a strong man.” His mom said to him.

          “It really is unfair, Arv, I don’t want to see you go.” Talia said.

          “I am a man, sis, it’s my duty to protect the two of you.”

          “I will fight this war and I’ll come home for our dinner, just like this time.”

          “I will come home to us.”

          “You better not die then.” Talia joked.

          “Well, you better stay alive in that old body of yours big sis.” Arvish answered.

 

     In June 3rd 1917, Arvish officially enlisted in the Vossoan National Military. He would later on be assigned on the 1st Infantry Battalion, of the Vossoan Royal Regiment. And by May 4th 1918, Arvish Jannali was sent for his first deployment in the Western Front to take Villers-Meceoux from the Folclant occupation.

     Enlisted from Sale’a’fau, Arvish was assigned in a company alongside fellow Katinaians, the indigenous of the village. He was one of 850 Indigenous men who fought in the Folclanian War thinking their loyalty would be rewarded with better treatment.

     Private Arvish Jannali may have served his country and fought on the Western Front but when he returned to FOB in Duena in January 27th 1919 after recuperating in hospital for 6 months to recover from his battle wound, he was then forced onto another mission.

     There was no freedom for Jannali upon his return from the war where he literally went through hell, except for a few years when he was granted an exemption from Katinaian Protection Act, but this was revoked. He never seen home, as he never returned to Sale’a’fau before he was sent back for another mission.

      This time, Arvish is a battle-hardened soldier, he had already established the meaning to be a man as Private Arvish Jannali of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Vossoan Royal Regiment.

      May 26th 1921, Arvish Jannali was assigned to the VNM Airborne Division where he was redeployed for reconnaissance mission to Wiziburen, Marvirilleux. He was deployed alongside his squad under the Vossoan Expeditionary Force.

      The squad consists of Jannali and three other Katinaian man. The mission was led by Sergeant Faaesea “Wind” Windella. And alongside Jannali are Corporal Yarre “Kill” Killiel, and Private Caanan Bevan. They landed in Tichinde, 60km to mission point.

          “Gentlemen, our mission is to surveillance the checkpoints between Tichinde and Wiziburen, we do it clean and textbook, then we’ll return home and let the boys know the way.” Said the sergeant.

          “We get our intel, we return to Tichinde and the local will help us for exfil, then we will rendezvous with other squads and the main force.”

          “Yes sir.” Shouted the squad.

     They were using local transport on their way from Tichinde to Wiziburen, being in a no man’s land, it was a quite a long and dangerous drive so they had to stay on their toes.

          “Enlighten me sir, why are we here again? I’m pretty sure we’ve dealt quite the blow on Villers-Meceoux.” Private Caanan exclaimed.

          “Hell, for as far as I know I should be home right now enjoying good food.”

          “Those Folclanians are damn lunatics. We gave them every single chance to call off their offensive yet here they are.” Said Corporal Yarre.

          “Easy, Kill. Folclant are here for the same reason as we are. And we want to get there before they do to ensure the end of this war.” The Sergeant explained.

          “So, we’re ending a battle with another battle, brilliant.” Jannali said.

          “Don’t worry my children, I’ll take all of you home alive and well.” Said the sergeant.

          “You better hold on to that old man, and keep alive yourself, you barely look alive in that ageing body of yours.” Private Caanan said.

          “I have a few tricks up my sleeve still son, and it’ll do.” Replied the Sergeant

 

     About 30km from their mission, they encountered an ambush by the Folclanian soldier who had already been there first. Jannali’s squad were outnumbered and outgunned. The Folclant soldiers were firing from the tree lines.

     Jannali’s squad had tried to return fire, they haven’t even burst the entire rounds from the magazine, but they were defeated in quick succession. Private Bevan and Corporal Yarre died first, then it’s the Sergeant, who in his last moments asked Jannali to run.

          “Take the radio and get out of here son.”

          “Sir, I’m not leaving you sir, not today.” Said Jannali as he attempted to drag his sergeant into safety.

          “Let go of me you stubborn bastard.”

          “Go, I’ll hold them off.” The sergeant said.

          “It was an honour sir.” Jannali said to the sergeant

and just like that, Jannali was all by himself in enemy territory.

​

     Jannali was lucky enough to survive the attack, and he had to leave his dying sergeant behind to escape. Jannali managed to take the radio with him, and ran deep into the opposing tree line to escape the search party.

      That moment Jannali realized that the mission was almost impossible to carry on, they were never told that the Folclant soldiers are already deep within the area, establishing their own line.

     They were literally sent into certain death. As the only one who survived, Jannali had to find safety. Being all by himself, Jannali went onto the radio and asked his superintendent to call off the mission and requested extraction.

     The answer was ‘negative, get to Wiziburen and rendezvous with second squad’. Jannali had no other option but to get to Wiziburen all by himself.

     The distance was approximately 25km and there was no form of transport that could take him, so he decided to walk his way there. During his walk, Jannali would occasionally make stops to rest and attend to his wound from the last ambush that had killed his squad.

     All by himself, Jannali lay down, and thinks to himself, just like he would when he was home, in his small room.

          “They sent me to death, they sent me to my damned death.” He exclaimed.

          “Mother Vosso, I have been loyal to you, why?”

          “Why did you send me here?”

     Along his way, Jannali would get on the radio to report what he has seen, he would occasionally ask his superintendent if he can finally call off the mission, the answer was the same, ‘carry on, and rendezvous with second squad’.

     His wound isn’t making things any better. The field medical kits would only make him last for so long. He may make it to Wiziburen, but he may not be able to make it back home.

     Jannali walked and walked, keeping close to the treeline, one hand on his wound, another holding a pistol. He was walking down near Denth’s Creek, where he was feeling a great pain in his wound.

     He sat down on a log and tend to his wound, but he had already known that it is impossible to save it. His legs were close to dead, his eyes were wearing out. While he was resting, he transmitted his last report on the radio. It was the last thing heard from him.

 

     The days went on, and the trace of Private Arvish Jannali was never found anymore, not until a local farmer lady named Mrs. Steinhäusl walked past a dead body and reported it.

     It was March 29th, 1922. Marvirilleux was no longer under occupation. And Folclant had already declared diplomacy. The body Mrs. Steinhäusl had found was sent to Vosso for identification and autopsy.

     There was nothing in the remains that can prove the identity of the fallen soldier but a piece of note was found in one of the pockets. It read:

 

        “Nothing I could say to change the fact that my life had been predetermined out before my birth. I had no opportunity to see myself as I was shaped by this cruel life day by day. Looking back, I know I've done nothing. Yet here I am in this land of another man, dying with nothing but my name as my only friend. Avenge me, avenge me and stop this madness, let us sit side by side and talk as friends. Let no son of another man be sent to his death, let no more mother lost her son, let no more dreams of a young man be buried within him, never to be realized. Let none of those things happen anymore, all for nothing but the ambition of a blind old man.

Mama, Talia, I’m sorry I could not make it home for dinner, but I will definitely have one with Papa.

Private Arvish Jannali. June 1921”

 

     Private Arvish Jannali died in June 3rd 1921 while he was walking from the outskirts of Tichinde to Wiziburen. He was found in the area of Denth’s Creek, 10km from his mission.

     He carried on his mission until his death. But his question as he was left to die alone by his own country was left unanswered: “It’s a man’s world. Or is it?”