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."
Hail the Captain By Reena Raj October 21, 2008 Malay Mail
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The services and contributions of ex-servicemen should not be ignored just because of technicalities. This is the view of the Ex- Services Association of Malaysia on the case of army veteran Capt (Rtd) Mukhtiar Singh, 76, who has been denied his pension by the Ministry of Defence because he failed to attend two courses during his 30-year service. Association president Datuk Muhammad Abdul Ghani said officers who have served more than 21 years are eligible for pension. He urged Mukhtiar to contact the association, which would take the matter up with the ministry’s Veterans Affairs Department. Asked whether Mukhtiar’s case reflects the country’s neglect of its servicemen, Muhammad said “the execution system in the country is not perfect”. “In the old days, joining the army was the first choice for many of us. “The younger generation today is not aware of the sacrifices of the servicemen, or what it was like during the Emergency, May 13 and other trying times. “Do not assume, just because our country is at peace, that our servicemen — more than 150,000 of them — are not ready to make similar sacrifices for the country,” he said.
Yesterday Malay Mail front-paged Mukhtiar’s story. He enlisted in the army at the age of 16 in 1948 and fought valiantly against the communist treat. Mukhtiar was honoured for gallantry by Queen Elizabeth and awarded the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian by the Sultan of Selangor.
He retired in 1978 but was told by the Defence Ministry there was no pension for him because he did not attend the Platoon Weapons and Young Officers Tactics courses, which are compulsory courses for servicemen. As at Press time, Malay Mail was unable to get the relevant parties at the Defence Ministry for a response. The Malay Mail
