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 Soldier, A Gentleman , A Malaysian Passed Away 7th July , 2021
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Via WhatApp : On Nov 13, 1957, a platoon of soldiers led by then Lt Ghazali Che Mat was ambushed by a platoon of the Communist Party of Malaya’s 5th Regiment.
The communist troops were on higher ground and had Ghazali’s platoon pinned down. Realizing his men could be picked off one by one, Ghazali and one of his men, Private Hassan Selati, rushed the enemy and opened fire.
They killed two of the CPM troops and the rest dispersed in a flurry.
As a result, Ghazali was awarded the country’s highest medal for bravery the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa on the first anniversary of Independence on Aug 31, 1958.
Tan Sri Ghazali Che Mat went on to become Chief of Defence Forces. He passed away today, aged 89.
I am privileged to have known Gen Ghazali for many years. I’d like to share a story about him when he was chairman of the New Straits Times and I it’s Editor in Chief.
I had appointed Brendan Perera, an Indian Catholic, as Group Editor but that did not sit well with some right wing Umno leaders and ministers who had friends in the board.
At one board meeting, I think a year after Brendan was appointed, the board members agitated for Brendan to be sacked. It was a stormy meeting with directors split almost evenly.
Ghazali, who had remained silent, suddenly banged the table when one director said “it’s an Umno newspaper. We can’t have an Indian running it.”
“Enough. I am a soldier. I fought alongside Indians, Chinese, Sikhs, Ibans, Eurasians… they spilled their blood for this country.
“I will not listen to anymore of this. Brendan stays,” he said.
The vocal directors were stunned into silence and bowed their heads - perhaps in embarrassment, perhaps in shame.
That was Tan Sri Ghazali Che Mat. Rest In Peace General. May Allah swt place you among his
