To live in a country that has had peace for almost 200 years is good. We have been neutral during the two World Wars. Some say we were cowards who didn´t participate. Sometimes people from the US say it, but they didn´t go in the wars without being attacked.
When I was young everybody who was 18 (young men) had to enroll.
And most of them must do their military service – me too. I served in the anti-aircraft defense, about 90 km from home. I didn´t think much about Sweden´s position between NATO and the Soviet Union. The military service was more of a game.
In the morning we prepared the canon and then we went to the baltic beach to deliver some shots, we cleaned the canon and then to the barrack. Where some officer´s taught us how to make our bed and clean our rifle.
There were many interesting persons in the army. Particurarly I remember Wiklund, who wasn´t afraid at all in his attitude to the officer´s. He had no respect at all. He was very fond of making fun of a lieutenant. And it´s important to know the badge of rankings. You´ll see…
One day we were placed in a square formation in order to give the lieutenant better possibility to teach us the badges of rankings. This came about this way: The lieutenant had a book with the ranks and pointed at them and asked every soldier about something.
But when he came to Wiklund he wanted to use himself as an object for education and asked him: “Wiklund, if I have two stars on my shoulders, what rank have I got then?” Wiklund answered without hesitating: “You tenant!”.
We thought: ”He is really cheeky”, and the sqare of soldiers moved in roars of laughter. And the lieutenant, who was nearly bursting with rage and with a red face, said to Wiklund: “Wiklund, listen to me, let´s repeat it. If I have two stars like the ones I´ve got on my shoulder, what rank do I have then?”
The answer came quickly: “You tenant”. The soldier square moved even more. And the burst´s of laughter echoed loudly in the surroundings.
The lieutenant made a last try to get a correct answer and added: “Wiklund, if you don´t give me a correct answer this time you will have one weeks prohibition to leave your barrack. If I have two stars on my shoulder, what rank do I have then?”
“Lieutenant”, answered Wiklund.
The lieutenant said relieved:”Good Wiklund”.
”Yes You tenant”, said Wiklund…
It wasn´t easy to teach such soldiers. And what a luck we didn´t have to be in war. When my son enrolled they asked him: “Do you want to do the military service?” “No, not at all”, he answered. And then he lost the opportunity to experience lieutenants like this one and comrades like Wiklund.
The peace has its price….