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."
Famed turtle virtually extinct in Malaysia.Not virtually extinct. There are large numbers off the coast of Sarawak. There are two islands which are turtle sanctuaries. Hundreds if not thousands come and lay eggs during the nesting season. That was in the late 80s. It was protected by the soldiers who rotated on operations based in Semantan, as it acted as a HQ for all other areas. I used to observe them. The water are so very clear that you can see the coral 30 feet below.
Currently the three islands of Pulau Talang-Talang Besar, Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil, and Pulau Satang Besar are restricted areas under the above Sarawak state government rules. The rules state that no vessel, other than a government vessel on official duty, shall enter within half a nautical mile of the low watermark of the above three islands, except with a permit granted by, or on behalf of, the Turtle's Board.
It is a 50-minute boat ride with 40hp outboard motors, we used to chase Indonesian fishing boats in that area or our local boats and fire across their bows. They usually fled. The 3rdBrigade Commander Brigadier General Adam used to accompany us for visits on weekends, he was a frequent visitor, as that area was an angler's paradise. The version sent to Malaysiakini for publication, subscription required.
