Rudyard Kipling"
āWhen 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 soldierā
General Douglas MacArthur"
āWe are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.ā
āIt is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.ā āOld soldiers never die; they just fade away.
āThe soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.ā
āMay God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .ā āThe object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
āNobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
āIt 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."
The blogging Brigadier General (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Arshad Raji
Friday, March 06, 2009
I have established contact with my former Brigade Commander who was commanding the 4th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, he is now retired. He commanded Malaysian Troops in Cambodia with great distinction. The troops who served under him in the Brigade, used to refer to him as the "Soldier's General". He blogs at http://mindnoevil.blogspot.com/ I have placed him in my blogroll under 'Local Bloggers' in my left side bar. He was commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment. He had this to say about the Rangers whom he commanded in Cambodia, "Sincerely, my command of the Ranger battalion in Cambodia is the best command that I ever had. Yes, I had Major Christopher Joseph with me and the last I heard, he had left the service, and I still honour his soldiers that had protected me, and their hard work".
He has also written the most recent letter in Malaysiakini titled "A construction company for submarine rescue?" Canāt they notice the fallacy of awarding strategic defence contracts involving a foreigner without the participation of a local representative? This is a question that only our political masters and the powers-that-be in the defence ministry (both civilian and military) can answer.
Recently, there was talk of acquiring an Airborne Early Warning Aircraft (Aewac) for the armed forces. Will this British national again feature in this deal through the infamous direct negotiations? Read the whole article by going to the Malaysiakini link above. I am glad I was able to re-establish contacts with him. So many things to talk about. People who know him and want to establish contacts with him, please go here.
Bro,
I am a keen follower of the General's blog, however, he doesn't update the blog for some time now, what ever happen ?