Authoring the Author

People understand you and your brother went to Corio PS and Chanel College they don't understand how CRC got involved?! I didn't go to CRC I served with a lot of them and they had me and my brother horribly mixed up! My brother used to hit first and ask questions later he had been moved on from Corio PS Chanel College were thinking of doing the same when he was moved to CRC where it stopped I believe. That's not what they say it didn't stop there apparently!

Why didn't you go with your brother to CRC?! I was doing the VCE it's two years I was about half way through it if I went to CRC I would have to start all over again and I just didn't want to do that I made a decision to stay on and finish it because I was so close to finishing it. In retrospect I should've started over it eliminated any chance of me going to University/College without another qualification.

It was around 1997 when reports started coming through that some of the Christian Brothers at the school were sexually abusing the students there and some of them had been convicted of it. This was a horrible end for the school with people wanting to know whether I had been a victim of these monsters at which I was adamant I wasn't I was a victim of school yard bullying.

People wanted me to go and get counselling they felt I may have suppressed memories I knew I did not have suppressed memories I was not sexually abused by anyone at either school I was a victim of school yard bullying! A lot of my classmates decided to move away and start a new life somewhere else they would never talk about their school again I was not left out of that I was told what happened but no one really cared how I felt about it everyone had been told and that is all that mattered to them!

I wasn't going to move away I couldn't really afford it so I decided to go onto University/College after further education I was hoping this storm would blow over it did but I wasn't accepted at Univesity/College at first I ended up going and getting another qualification first then going onto University/College later so I arrived there quite late. It was something I regret now it got me nothing and took me nowhere!

This University/College degree was three years it would end somewhere around 2003-2004. Around 2 years into this degree (around 2001-2002) I decided to go for a job at the World Trade Center but was unable to make the time so cancelled. In one of life's little ironies it would've been on September 11, 2001 if I went to it the time would've meant I was being interviewed for a job at the time of that attack and wouldn't be here now.

I didn't want to deal with it! I think Rod saw me vulnerable and took advantage of it! So many at the Univeristy/College tried to warn me but I wasn't all there! I have never spoken about this time in my life before a lot of people are adamant it would've affected my job interview at Apple and Microsoft some two years later. It's no surprise I was unsuccessful at both of them when they take over 80% of those who apply!

I was on a 72 transist visa you don't need a passport for that as I am waiting to go back to Australia I am arrested by the police and taken to the local police station for questioning. They think I am Rodney Ballinger they even put me in prison because they don't believe I am not him. I was incredulous because here he was in my dorm at Ballarat University in Australia and now he is here in America?! What the Hell was going on?!

My court appointed attorney was just out of school he had never had a case like this before I couldn't even get him to call my family in Australia and tell them what happened I was screwed there was no doubt about it my lawyer was so unhelpful. The Australian (Howard) government offered to replace my lawyer with one that understood Australian values because the American one (the one just out of school) claimed he didn't understand me but they were just as unhelpful.

Out in the general population I am stabbed because they think I am Rodney Ballinger! When they realise they have made a mistake they donate to save me they couldn't believe they had got it wrong again. Some of these guys looked so jacked it looked like they were on Anabolic Steroids. I am moved into solitary and there I am forgotten about except for 1 hour everyday.

What happened, why didn't you go back to University/College?! Rod was stirring up trouble so I moved into another part of the residences but it was worse there! When the Room Administrator let me back into my old room it was unexpected but I stayed hoping it would blow over but it didn't it got worse. I had already said I was returning next semester now I didn't want to return at all. When they gave notice they were increasing prices I used it as an excuse not to return I didn't want to go back.

Then one day the warden comes into my cell tells me Rod has turned up again they weren't expecting to see me here but since I am still here they have no choice but to conclude I am not Rod and release me. I go straight down to the airport to go back to Australia as soon as I get out I am about to board the next plane to Australia when it happens again. The American military think I am Rod and Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

I go to JAG (the Judge Advocate General) but there is something you need to know about a military court, you are guilty until proven innocent and I wasn't able to prove I am innocent so my tour which is 18 months is extended to 36 months in punishment for wasting their time. If that wasn't bad enough they use my evidence, my proof I am not Rodney Ballinger and cancel his enlistment and create another now I was Rodney Ballinger for real, I hated them for that!

What exactly did JAG do?! The Rodney Ballinger allegiance was with the Rangers as a Machine Gunner I was forced to assume that I was about 70% through it when JAG got to me. JAG told me I would need to start over and it will be with the marines they told me it would take a month to finalise until then it's business as usual. When finalised I had already completed the machine gunner but there was something wrong with it and the Rangers had redirected it to JAG for investigation.

That's why you chose a M249 for your sniper rifle you didn't have to learn a new rifle?! That's correct! So I am assuming when the manufacturer discontinues it in favor of the SAW you chose a replacement rifle?! Yes! In retrospect was that a mistake?! Yes! I should've quit sniper school when they discontinued my sniper rifle but I was young and inexperienced and didn't know any better.

I don't understand why this is such a big deal?! The rifle you chose to do your training with becomes part of you, it's an extension of yourself you can't really be without it! In my case I would never find another like it I would hate everything but the M249 which you can't get any more because the manufacturer has discontinued it. I was never that good again unfortunately I just wasn't the same without it.

I am located with the First Ballation Marines (Generation Kill marines) along side Rudy Reyes who just happens to be Rodney Ballinger he has no problem telling me that and how I am going to pay for putting him in this position where he looks like the fake because of JAG! What can I do?! When Rudy says jump they say how high they practically worship the ground he walks on I don't have a hope in Hell because he can do no wrong in their eyes and I can do no right!

It all comes to a head over a suspicious character in Afghanistan Rudy being the spotter I am the shooter! I don't think he's a hostile he is a father and I refuse to take the shot because he's a father. I get offended at how Rudy reacts we are not there to kill them we are there to facilitate peace I go and take a walk to clear my head I am disturbed by what he has just said. He takes the shot in my absence and blames me for it.

They side with Rudy, I am the bad guy! I am not surprised they weren't even interested in my view of it! Godfather (the superior) deals with this by giving me the option to transfer to another marines base I take the offer without question I just don't want to be there any more because Rudy Reyes is Rodney Ballinger and I have been here so many times before. Those who side with Rod live to regret it because he's not what he says he is and they will see that too in the end.

Part 1 Part 2