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."
On the 16th September 1963 I was 9 years old, when Malaysia was declared.There were decorations and arcs to the main entrance on the estate I lived on. Everywhere flags were flown. We must remember Malaysia Day. The following day after the declaration of Malaysia Day, a war was declared upon us, the "Ganyang Malaysia" campaign. My eldest brother when he heard of the "Ganyang Malaysia" cry from the Indonesians, joined the army, becoming a member of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment. A start of many nights of tears and worries for my dear mum but pride in me.My brother was the hero in many of my tales in school, in my class no one could brag like I could, none had a brother in the army to fight the Indonesians. Many others too joined up. Many came to our aid, the British, Australians and the New Zealanders, the Singaporeans were with us too. Today we could have been like East Timur, Acheh or hear the ongoing tramp of Indonesian boots in Papua New Guinea. They prevented that from happening !
Many have died, Malaysians, Singaporeans, British, Aussies and the Kiwis. No one bestows any honour on our fallen to commemorate CONFRONTATION, Malaysia Day is synonymous with that word, Confrontation, to me. Somewhere along our Malaysian journey there seem's to be a deliberately planted amnesia. Today I will honour Malaysia Day, for my brother, my wife's uncle, their comrades, their comrades brothers like me, their sisters like mine, their mums like mine, their proud dads who stifled their fear in allowing their sons to serve as they were too old to serve, like mine, our southern neighbours, the S'poreans, Poms, Aussies and the Kiwis today.This war was an unprovoked war against a very young nation. Do not forget, nations that do not remember their own dead and that of their allies, is denying the sacrifices of their fighting men. No doubt today is Armed Forces Day. Mentioning Malaysia Day and Confrontation in one breath would at least honour our fallen. Remember the song, "Malaysia Berjaya", that was the commemorative song.
