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 jagong party at the Batu 5 Camp, home of the Seventh Rangers
Monday, December 21, 2009
Those run down shacks which are greeen in colour are the living quarters of the soldiers of that time. These are the guys who have given their all. Look at the joy, written on their faces for the simple uncomplicated things in their lives. They were serving their country. There are Ibans, Kadazans, Malays, Indians and Chinese in this picture. They had toiled this empty land after hours and they now enjoy the produce of this land. Yonder, over the horizon, is the Kemasul Forest Reserve. The one time playground of Freddie Spencer Chapman. Not many can, nowadays, have the luxury of relating that period of time. Women of Commanding Officers are silly, most of the time. Check, call and e-mail me about that.
It is one of the moments in life, wives of juniors have to come clean. It is not the pen pushers, who have fought the good fight. It is that rare breed of men, who did not care a shit about their careers, who have made what the Army what it is today! The Mess is the domain of the Officers, not that of the CO's wife! The CO's wife is there not to be heard, but to take better care of the soldiers wives and families. She is not royalty, but a woman who fell in love with a humble person, but soon to forget her origins.
Fresh corn (jagong) from their sweat and toil being enjoyed by all, warrior fathers. The ones recognised are in white. WO2 Ismail Johari, Sergeant Benet Barong, CSMI Jelengai Gawong, WO2 Abdul Rahman (late) and WO 2 Benedict. Sitting on the left in white, is Sergeant Jack Minan. In the centre clutching his hips, is WO2 Thangarajan. That is a Ranger Battalion, a mean fighting unit during it's weekend. More pics here....
