602060 Corporal Beh Huat Soon of 4th Rangers

Another forgotten hero, who lost his arm - editor. My name is Beh Huat Soon. Service Number 602060. I underwent basic training of 6 months at the 2nd Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment, in Singapore. 

We did many jungle operations during the Indonesian Confrontation,  in the jungles of Kota Tinggi,  jungles killing and capturing  fifty-seven Indonesian soldiers. Our Battalion lost eight rifle men including the Platoon Sergeant to the Indonesian Enemy action. Later I was discharged from the Singapore Army, opted to serve in the Malaysian Army.

When we were in the railway station in Singapore, some soldiers from the MAF who were at the railway told us we'd be accepted into the MAF without any recruit training because we were already trained soldiers. Those who wanted to join to report to an army camp in Batu Gajah. I was among the first group of about twenty people to reached B.Gajah.We waited for about five days in an empty camp. I became a soldier in the 4th Malaysian Rangers..

I worked with many officers as their radio operator in many jungle operations in Malaysia. One of the operations turned out to be my last operations in Gubir.  We went in by chopper and was in for more than 2 mths. I was in Col. Habarjan's company.. Delta coy and I was his radio operator. We came out of the jungle by chopper, returned to Ipoh was by truck. I used to follow the OC's in their land rover. This time after landining I went straight to OC D Coy, he told me he was going to a meeting and that I go back first. I don't remember much after the accident. I lost my arm, my hand in that accident.

I served twenty-two years in the army. I have given the best part of my life, my youth being in the army as members of the security forces sacrificed several Chinese New Years and holidays in the jungles. There was one time in Tawau . I was in Sebatik Island , forward location Samping Tiga . One day the mails came, and I received a tin... Jacob's cream crackers filled with Koay Kapits all the way from  Penang Island.They were all crushed to peices and in powdered form.

On seeing them , I was overcome with saddness, and I cried and cried .If only I can be with with my parents and sister, I'll tell them how much I miss them and love them. I am sure some of my friends must have seen me sitting on top of my bunker crying my heart out.

But they left me alone with my own miseries.