“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 anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“Fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man." “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
On this day, 60 years ago Malaysia's(Malaya then) first ever contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Operation
Thursday, October 01, 2020
MSF officers with the USN officers of LST 1169. Front row: 2/Lt Philip Lee, Capt Loh Sai Kee, USN, Maj Robert Mahmud Yusof, Lt Cdr LST Capt, Maj Zain Hashim, USN, Capt EWC Rodriques, Capt(Dr) Dennis Lopes. Rear: Capt Zainal Dato Ahmad, 2/Lt Tan Siew Soo, Capt C Dorairaju, 2/Lt Ahmad Che Wan, Hon Lt Syed Alwi Syed Hassan, Lt Omar Musajee, 2/Lt Aziz Saif, 2/Lt Annuar Hashim and 2/Lt Tee Bua Bian.
The Malayan Special Force (MSF) departed for the Congo. Earlier on 28 September, the wheeled element consisting of 18 Ferret armoured cars and all soft skinned vehicles and stores motored down to the Royal Malaysian Naval Base in Woodlands, Singapore awaiting the arrival two US Navy Landing Ship Tank (LST). When loading waas completed we departed Woodlands on the evening of 02 October for Port Swettenham (Klang).
The Troop Carrier
The two LSTs arrived at Port Swettenham in the morning and berthed around 0800 hours. At the wharf we joined the main contingent which was already formed up for the address by the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj. The Port scene was spectacular, packed with relatives, friends, well wishers and others to senf off this Special Force. The full compliment of 43 officers and 613 men paraded at the wharf, led by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Ungku Nazaruddin Ungku Mohamed (Bruno).
All the Officers
One significant point the Prime Minister mentioned was :
".... while you are abroad you will uphold the good name of the Federation of Malaya. I hope you will remember the Malay proverb, Biar puteh tulang, jangan puteh mata, (better death than dishonour )...."
This piece of advice was taken to heart by this first group of MSF.
As soon as the speech was over, Single Pioneer and Twin Pioneer aircrafts of our young RMAF flew past in salutation. The troops then boarded the two LSTs to begin a most memorable 28 day non-stop voyage to the Port of Matadi in the Congo.
Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku
TAN SIEW SOO, Lt Col (rtd) ARMOUR.
