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."
This was the location where a troop of Pakistani tanks and the main body of B Company gathered. It was an an assembly area. The OC, Major Christopher Joseph, with his Platoon Commander, 2Lt Hamuddin Tarinchang with No.5 Platoon, were clearing the barricades erected by members of the Somali militia at the entrance to seaport. We waited here, anxiously to back them up if they ran into trouble. One of the Pakistani tanks can be seen at the corner.
In the background is the US Navy's cruiser. The horizon was always filled with an armada of many nations. At the seaport Chris and Hamuddin were confronted by crowds of Somali women and children, who were burning tyres. The area was engulfed with thick dark smoke. There were sporadic gun shots directed at the Malaysian Rangers. None hit them as the Somali civillians were too close to them. They were backed by two AH64D (Apache Attack Helis) and a team of US Green Berets who acted as liasion for them. the AH 64D's were intimidating, well first time having gunships for crowd control. There was also an AC130 Spectre gunship circling at 6,000 feet keeping an eye on the situation. There also were a team of Malaysian snipers keeping a sharp lookout for the Somali Militia, who might find the moment to tempting to resist. It was a tense moment. Anyway the Rangers got the job done. We at the Assembly area whilst waiting to be called, posed for snapshots. Posing in the pic above are Captain Ivan Lee and me ( Feb 1994). We were not called to support as the barricades were cleared with the minimum of force.
The Malaysian Ranger's SniperTeams posing in their "Ghillis Suits" after a refresher training with the US Green Berets. Standing behind Lt Col Mokhtar and me, I was the Sniper Employment Officer for 7th Mech.