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."
21 January 1964 Indon Activity in the Merutai Area, Sabah
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Merutai is a town of a few hundred people situated on the Sungei Merutai running North to South approximately twenty-five kilometres north-west of Tawau. The town lies on a direct route between Kalimantan and Tawau. On the 27 January two Ibans were working in a plantation just outside Merutai when they were confronted by a party of seven Indonesian irregulars who suddenly fired upon them. The two Ibans with their parangs counter attacked the enemy party killing one enemy and wounding two others. The enemy with the two wounded fled.
The authorities were immediately informed about this incident and a patrol of Security Forces was immediately sent to try to capture the fleeing enemy. Security Force follow-up operations resulted in a contact with this enemy group which resulted in the two wounded being captured. Later during the day also in this area, four Indonesian irregulars armed and in uniform robbed two shops. The loot consisted of green peas, rice, a cooking pot, vegetable oil and chickens. Two more armed and uniformed Indonesian irregulars also robbed a further Chinese house in the same area. All the enemy escaped north.
Security Forces were informed and a follow-up operation commenced. The followup patrol was ambushed by this same party of enemy. The patrol returned the fire and killed a further enemy. As a result of these incidents at Merutai on the 27 January two enemy were killed and two captured. There were no Security Force casualties.
