Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Captain Shanmuganathan PGB and 207770 Ranger Mat Isa bin Hassan PGB
Friday, September 30, 2005
I heard him call out for his batman,"Mahbot ! Mahbot ! I need water...". Cpl Ishak told him that his batman was taking care of the packs at the assembly area. After a little while he started calling out for his Platoon Sergeant, "Sergeant Ismail.....! Sergeant Ismail...! " After not receiving any replies to his calls. He gave out his last orders with his dying breath, " Please take care of my boys (his soldiers), I have not the strength in me any more....." Out of his sense of loyalty, Rgr Mat Isa seeing and hearing this call, without due regard to his safety and well being, dashed towards Captain Shanmuganathan to save him. As he approached his commander, the enemy's bullets slammed into his body causing him to fall across the body of his commander, as if to protect him
The battle lasted until 1900 hours at night, after that time the enemy's main body withdrew. Even after the withdrawal we opened fire whenever there was a movement toward our position or whenever the enemy tried to recover some of their weapons. Rgr Mohamad and I were about 7 feet behind the the bodies of Captain Shan and Rgr Mat Isa until the following morning. 2Lt Basri arrived at the ending of the battle, with his Platoon's help we managed to pull out Rgr Mutalib from the front to a safe area.Continued here
