Amir Murtono - Military Career

Military Career

After the Indonesian Declaration of Independence, Amir, like many his age joined the Military. He began as a Company Commander in Surabaya before being appointed Deputy Secretary of the Army Territorial Staff in the same city. He was then transferred to Yogyakarta, the center of the Indonesian National Revolution and appointed Army Staff Personnel Organizer there. It was here that he became acquainted with Suharto. Amir became close enough to Suharto that he lodged at Suharto's house with Suharto's younger brother, Probosutejo. Amir was also transferred to Suharto's Brigade.

In 1948, when the Dutch took Yogyakarta, Suharto was forced to go into the woods to fight guerilla warfare. Suharto entrusted his wife's security to Amir and instructed him to evacuate her if necessary. In 1949, Amir took part in the 1st March General Offensives and was placed in charge of the troops attacking the city itself. When the Dutch began to consider retreating, Amir was placed in charge of the handling of prisoners of war. He was also once again appointed a Personnels Officer at the Army headquarters.

From this point on, Amir did not take any more field assignments. From 1950 to 1959, he was a legal advisor at the Army Headquarters and also took the opportunity to complete a course at the Military Laws Academy in 1957. In 1960, he was Chairman of the Mass Mobilization for the Liberation of West Irian National Front before being transferred to KODAM VI/Siliwangi as its judicial officer. He was also Materials Assistant for the Development of Functional Potential at the Army Headquarters. In 1962, he became Chairman of the West Irian War Theater Field Council. The next year, in 1963, Amir graduated from the University of Military Laws and from there, he worked under ABRI Chief of Staff Abdul Haris Nasution as Deputy Secretary for Functional Affairs.