Friday Fictioneers challenges us to write micro-fiction (<101 words) prompted by a photograph supplied by one of our colleagues. It’s all teed up by our friend, extraordinary artist, and fabulous leader, Rochelle. Click the prompt photo to see her blog page with all the skinny. It’s fun.
Today’s picture has a two-level outhouse indicating politicians up top and voters below. I recall seeing this arrangement in a military cartoon with officers on top and enlisted below.
In the Viet Nam War, officers and radiomen were preferred targets of the North Vietnam Army and the Viet Cong, which is why soldiers did not salute officers in the field.
Genre: Military Fiction (War Story)
Word Count: 100
Title: FNG* Down
The new Lieutenant ordered me to be his radio man. Our platoon leader was callow, yet confident and eager. A stickler for rules, he risked soldiers’ lives needlessly. A poor listener with a gung-ho, know-it-all attitude.
He chewed me out in front of my squad and gave me extra guard duty. Bad enough I had to hump the motherfucker’s goddamn radio.
In the jungle one day the lieutenant ordered me to step back, I yelled, “Yes, Sir,” stepped back and saluted him. The crack sound of the AK-47 made me dive for cover.
Our next lieutenant was a big improvement.
Be aware of enemy presence and men with guns.
Mind the gaps, make more friends than enemies, and keep your powder dry.
Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean you’re not being watched.
*FNG is military initialism and jargon for fucking new guy.
Our Literary Journey 
Beats a fragmentation grenade in the officers’ tents, I guesss
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Gets the job done with minimum effort.
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Eek ..Fine way to get the last laugh
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And the least violent option to get rid of a pest. 🙂
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That’s a most efficient way to get rid of the FNG! And not a moment too soon, I’m thinking. Nothing worse than that type of guy/gal to work for…
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And easy, sort of.
In civil society we must tolerate them if we can. It’s illegal to kill them.
But, in combat there are so many possibilities and the consequences so dire.
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Yes, given the situation. Definitely easier than in the “civil” society…
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Well-told story. I’m sure that kind of thing goes on all of the time in active duty situations. Another reason to hate war.
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Thank you, Lisa.
I dislike war too. But we don’t seem to need it to kill each other.
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You’re welcome. Bill, wish I could disagree.
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a well told and dark look at the life of a soldier in the worst of wars.
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Thank you, Mason.
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Ouch! I imagine experiencing war first hand changes respect for human life in many ways, making something like this a whole lot easier.
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Yes, in so many ways. Nothing like a hateful war to expose one’s dark side.
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Excellent proof for how dirty war is and what it makes of people.
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Yep. War is Hell.
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Very dark humour here, Bill. I find your story completely convincing. The only way we will ever eliminate war is by making it unacceptable to take up arms for any reason whatever. I know that’s idealistic, but unless it happens I can see no hope for mankind.
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Dear Bill,
Your story is nothing less than brilliant. I’ll admit to laughing at the last two lines. I love the verse tacked on at the end, as well. I feel safe in saluting you this morning. Coffee cup raised.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle.
Such high praise. Coffee cup to coffee cup, happy Friday. Have a wonderful weekend,
Peace,
Bill
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Suicide by stupidity.
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And arrogance. 🙂 This clip from the “Apocalypse Now” demos the type.
If you do watch it, notice how close the radio man stays.
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Oops….this one 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jts9suWIDlU
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Never saw the movie. He was right.–THAT war ended!
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An excellent tale told with military precision.
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Thank you, Keith.
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That’s one way to get rid of a dangerous officer. At least the radio guy has a nice bit of kit on his back for stopping bullets.
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With an antenna for attracting them. 🙂
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i want to laugh, but somehow i can’t. anyway, well done.
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Thank you. 🙂
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My husband told me of a raw officer out in Kenya who was so inefficient that he endangered lives. They were all relieved when he shot himself in the foot, even though they had to carry him back to base.
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Oh my. A story there, Elizabeth.
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A dramatic and well crafted story. Nicely done Bill.
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Thank you.
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I believe this would be a textbook example of “malicious compliance” that might end poorly for the person doing it. I mean, if the grenade in tent option doesn’t work at least they don’t know who tried it. 😉 Just thinking about it … makes me want to send some positive energy to all our very real troops out there getting it done. Also, great story that made me grin.
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It’s difficult to determine the percentage of military killed by “friendly fire.” It’s even harder to tell when/if it was intentional, but no one denies that it happened (rarely) in all wars.
In this case, the death was the result of an enemy sniper, not the radio man, who is the most obvious target in a platoon. 🙂
Thanks for the great comments.
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Sounds like he got what was coming to him! What a horrid officer.
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