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."
Destroyed Malaysian Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Condors) in Somalia
Sunday, September 11, 2011
These vehicles were destroyed on the 3rd October, 1993 in the Bakara Market incident (Black Hawk Down) during the rescue of American Rangers by Malaysian Forces. Never before seen photographs. Thanks to Lt Col Ivan Lee Synn Leng formerly of 7th Rangers & 8 Paras, for these images.
The idea of using steel cage protection for APCs and other armoured vehicles did wonders as a cheap add-on protection against RPG type anti-armour weapons,this idea came about during the 1st Gulf War (?).ATM must be swift to adapt this kind of protection measure.It's a wonder that only a single fatality occurs to the Malaysian rescue troops,albeit the use of RPG7s caused injury to a few more personnels.The research arm of ATM must be more resourceful and come up with more innovations, that can save lifes of troops in the battlefield,and commercialize their products. Well done!, Maj (Rtd) D Swami, 7th Bn Renjer DiRaja and you have a superb blog, keep it up. Regards, westaussiemalay
Mej Swami,could you please research these two issues, firstly on the two Japanese army stragglers that did not surrender after the 2nd World War ended in Malaya.Their story came up in NST papers in the late 70s when they came out to surrender.What intrigued me about these two soldiers,they claimed to be the first people to introduced and teached the MPAJA/CPM to construct and thus introduced the menacing booby traps in the 1st and 2nd Emergencies,1948-1989 in Malaya/Malaysia. Secondly, on the letter of gratitude from the American Capt to the Malaysian troops on their rescue effort that saved many American soldiers. The publication of the letter came out in the Malaysian Star newspaper not long after the battle at Bekara market,Somalia. I belive this two issues would make good reading in your blog. Regards, westaussiemalay@gmail.com
The idea of using steel cage protection for APCs and other armoured vehicles did wonders as a cheap add-on protection against RPG type anti-armour weapons,this idea came about during the 1st Gulf War (?).ATM must be swift to adapt this kind of protection measure.It's a wonder that only a single fatality occurs to the Malaysian rescue troops,albeit the use of RPG7s caused injury to a few more personnels.The research arm of ATM must be more resourceful and come up with more innovations, that can save lifes of troops in the battlefield,and commercialize their products.
Well done!, Maj (Rtd) D Swami, 7th Bn Renjer DiRaja and you have a superb blog, keep it up.
Regards,
westaussiemalay