He had no intention of fighting for a country that he saw as holding men down and offering them nothing except back-breaking work. He had said as much to his commanding officer. He had also robbed the army stores blind; the black market was still thriving at the time, and he had used that for his own ends.
The protagonist firmly rejects the idea of fighting for a country he believes oppresses its people and offers nothing of value in return, only demanding hard labor. He is candid about his views, openly communicating them to his commanding officer, which shows his determination to stand against what he perceives as injustice.
In addition to his stance against the army's principles, he takes advantage of the prevailing black market. By stealing from army supplies, he exploits a broken system for his personal benefit, demonstrating a resourcefulness tied to his disillusionment with the military and societal values.
