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."
A reporter from the Malay Mail, Sheila Rahman responds to the plight of a fallen soldier
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Dear Sir,
I am attaching a jpeg layout of the story the Malay Mail carries today regarding your posting. We are also very keen to be present at the exhumation and re-burial of the late Lance Corporal Ungkok ak Jugam and may even send a reporter from KL to Alor Star to do a follow-up now. It has also been such a privilege for me to get to know of such great gentlemen and officers, like Mej Swami and especially Lt Kol Idris, who is truly a hero to me and my family. The relentless 'call of duty' you all undertake is highly admired, and in every sense of the word, none of you are 'retired'. You are at the forefront of the Humanitarian Forces. This e-mail was addressed to Lt Col Robert Rizal PGB and Lt Col Idris Hassan with a copy to me.
Image: The Malay Mail story. Click on image to enlarge.
You have been a great lady in the eyes of the retirees in the Armed Forces. You have gone out of your way to right the wrong in the name of justice and recognition of the sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces who have given their sweat,blood and lives in the defence of this country.
A common cliche, soldiers are like God, People only remember them when the country is in trouble when faced by any catastropic event such as flood, landslide and war. In good time they are mostly forgotten.
Thank you for giving this shameful event the publicity it deserves. The Ministry of Defence should wake up from their slumber ! My gratitude to you on clearing the air on SUKOM 98 BHD. We are still waiting response from the Ministry of Youth & Sports, that is if ever we get one.
