– Sergeant Infantry Soldier
Bayu's Daily Life on the Battlefield:
In the early dawn, before the sun has risen, Bayu is already awake. Not out of discipline, but because sound sleep is a luxury in war. The clinking of equipment, whispers over the radio, and occasional gunfire fill the silence.
His routine is simple:
Checking his gear (though he knows every scratch by heart)
Sharing hand-rolled cigarettes with his comrades (more to calm nerves)
Praying silently, though not very religious, just hoping no friend's name will be called into the body bag today.
During patrols, he notices small things: unusual footprints, birds suddenly silent, or a change in the smell of the earth. His soldier's instinct says: "War often speaks through small details."
Personal Conflict:
Bayu is not the type of soldier who glorifies war. He joined for economic reasons, but over time he found another meaning: protecting the comrade beside him is more important than the flag on his shoulder.
Every time he pulls the trigger, he realizes:
"At the other end, there is someone's child—maybe a father, husband, or brother. But here, if I hesitate, I'm the one who goes home in a wooden coffin."
This conflict never ends, only suppressed so it doesn't consume his sanity.
True Motivation:
Bayu once lost a close friend in an ambush. Since then, he's determined: "If I can still make sure my men come home alive, that's enough."
For him, medals cannot replace a friend's life.
He also dreams of someday returning home, opening a small workshop, and living simply. He jokes, "Better my hands are covered in grease than blood."
Interesting Facts:
Bayu can recognize the sound of bullets from various weapons. From their whistle, he can tell the difference between AK-47 and M16 rounds, even while crawling in the mud.
He collects bullet fragments and metal shards from the battlefield—not for glorification, but as reminders of how fragile life is.
People's Views on Bayu:
Company Commander:
"This guy is stubborn, but if you want your troops to survive, trust him. He never neglects his men."
Fellow Squad Member:
"Brother Bayu is like an older brother. Sometimes strict, sometimes playful, but he's always the first to move forward when things get dangerous. He never sends his men to face danger alone."
Conflict Village Resident:
"He's a soldier, but his way of greeting us is different. No arrogance. He once quietly helped carry our harvested rice."
Military Critic:
"Soldiers like Bayu are the human face behind the uniform. Unfortunately, their stories are rarely told. What you mostly see are casualty numbers and propaganda."
Wife at Home:
"Every call, his voice sounds normal. But I know he fears making us sad more than death itself. He always asks about the chickens and the garden, even though I'm sure his mind is still in the trenches."
Bayu's Philosophy on War:
"War isn't about who is right. It's about who remains. But in between, we can choose: to come home as humans, or just as a still-beating corpse."
He doesn't believe in heroic glorification. For him, true heroes are those who don't have to forget their fear, but move forward with it.
Meaningful Moment:
One night, Bayu found a boy hiding in the rubble. Not an enemy, not a target. Just a trapped victim.
Without orders, he stopped the patrol, carried the child, and walked back under sniper shadows.
At the post, he simply said:
"Sometimes our duty isn't to kill, but to make sure someone lives."
That moment never made the official report. But for Bayu, it was a small victory more meaningful than any flag raised.