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."
On this day 30 July 1961, the pioneer group of the Malayan Special Force comprising 4 RMR and 'C' Sqn 2 Recce arrived home after a ten-month service with the United Nations in the Congo.
We disembarked at Port Klang and boarded a special train to Kuala Lumpur. The train journey from Port Klang to Kuala Lumpur was surreal, truly fantastic! On both sides of the railway tracks people rushed out from their homes to welcome us, waving their hands.
It was one super-duper continuous friendly wave of hands cheering us throughout the forty kilometre route. This spontaneous gesture touched the hearts of every soldier in the train. To me if there was ever such a thing as rewards of soldiering, that was it!
This original Contingent of the Malayan Special Force formed on 13 September 1960 under the command of Lt Col (Bruno) Ungku Nazaruddin Ungku Mohamed marched out smartly from the Railway Station and paraded at the open ground before the entrance to the station.
Here several thousands well-wishers greeted us, some holding placards giving us a rousing welcome home. On seeing the crowds, my mind flashed back to the early days at Leopoldville (Kinshasa) where we witnessed so many hostile demonstrations.
The Deputy Prime Minister cum Defence Minister, Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato Hussein addressed us with his 'welcome home' message. Then 4 RMR and 'C' Sqn 2 Recce bade each other adieu and closed a glorious chapter in their history. We headed for our respective camps, 4 RMR to Mentakab and 'C' Sqn to Port Dickson.
Post scrip. I had the honour to serve my country twice in the Congo. Our nation's involvement in the Congo lasted 30 months, my service with the UN totalled 20 months.
