My Story 13

The years 1950 and 1951 passed by rather calmly. One day a note came in the mail that I had to go the "Koudenhorn" army barracks for a physical examination. I knew what that meant, I was going to be drafted into the army, like it or not. Fortunately, one of the questions was what my preference (jobwise) was. I did not hesitate one second, I wanted to learn how to drive one of those three-tonne trucks. "If they are ever going give me a drivers license", I thought, "they are crazy!". I knew nothing about driving a vehicle. In those days I did not know anybody my age that knew how to drive.

But they went for it, and I went for it, and after a few months I passed my drivers exam. In those days, the army vehicles were all standard, with double clutch shifting, NO power steering, and NO power brakes. The AAT, the transport troops, were based in Haarlem. I was the only one in my platoon who served my full two years in my home town, Haarlem. That meant that it would never cost me any money to travel home. After all, they only paid us one guilder a day. A guilder in those days was equal to 26 cents Canadian.

In the beginning we had many lectures on what it meant to be a soldier. "We are here to protect the freedom of the country". Any questions? I stuck up my hand.
"Freedom?" I said.
"It seems to me that we recruits just lost all our freedom. We are not free to go where we want, or pursue the career that we want, we cannot make a decent income, and I assume we soon cannot say what we want. We must just follow orders. How much worse can it get?"
Had I said such a thing a month later I am sure I would have been in big trouble. All the rules were spelled out, including the one that while Holland was officially still in a state of war, deserters would be shot. Any more questions? No? Then you are ordered to go to the canteen for coffee and cream puffs.

When you are sent on an assignment you must stay on your route, stay in your lane and stay within the speed limit. You must always have a valid written "Drive Order" with you. Do not break any of these rules, ever!! But...if you do...don't tell anybody. Don't talk about it or brag about it. The next guy will get you into trouble for sure. If you break any rules, DO IT ALONE. Now, that, I thought, is Good Advice!!