We produce heroes and not murderers……………..

A Glimpse on courage and the relevancy of Royal Military College

Throughout the travails of times men has been inspired by countless tales of courage and chivalry. However none evokes such raw rush of emotion as when one reads the citation for an award for bravery. Reading it would make the hair at the back of your neck stand, tears would well up in your eyes and you could not help but wonder whether humans are capable of such courage.

What are these awards of bravery, in Malaysia we have the highest federal award for bravery Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) which by order of precedence his higher than the award of Tunship. SP can be compared to its equivalent counterpart in the United States which is the Medal of Honor or Victoria Cross of the United Kingdom. Whereas MOH or VC is exclusively awarded to member of the armed forces in times of war, the award for SP does not have such restrictions, even though almost 99% of the recipients are members of our security forces.

Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) the second highest award for bravery is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Conduct (DSC) of US or Military Cross of UK. It is given to members of armed forces who have shown great courage and initiative during battle.

The main criteria for these two awards, SP and PGB are for the action in the face of enemy action to be of “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond and above the call of duty and at the risk of oneself”. Soldiers and policemen take an oath to defend this nation even if it means sacrificing oneself in the process.

Therefore merely dying for the nation would not entitle one to automatically being recommended or awarded these awards, since death is part of the occupational hazard faced by soldiers and policemen in the course of executing their duties. It should be an act of extra ordinary bravery in case of SP more often that not the award is posthumous. The key word here are “above and beyond the call of duty”, the citation you are about to read in the following pages would give you a glimpse of what “above and beyond call of duty” really means.

The following pages are dedicated to gallant Old Putera Heroes who have sacrificed their lives and limbs for this nation and in the process became recipient of these two highest award for bravery This dedication are based by order of precedence of the award namely the SP first and PGB later and also based on the date of action.

Dedication,

THE OLD PUTERA ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN DEDICATING THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO OP HEROES.

The blood of our patriot shall nourish the tree of our freedom from time to time
- Thomas Jefferson-

They are indeed a breed apart, everymen an emperor
- General Bernard Montgomery quipped about his fallen soldiers in battle of El-Alamein.







A Reflection,

When the bugle for the last post echoes, please spare a moment and offer your prayers to these gallant heroes and to those countless faceless men who have perished defending this nation…

Dedicated to all fallen heroes,
By,
388522 OP JEYAGANESH GOPALSAMY LMA 040
C, COY (1987-1991)

A SALUTE TO THE BRAVE

(HE TOOK ON AN ENEMY 3 TIMES LARGER THAN HIS OWN UNIT).

Name: MOHANA CHANDRAN A/L VELAYUTHAN (POSTHUMOUS)
Regt No: 200402
Unit: UNIT COMBAT INTELLIGENCE SQUAD (UCIS) 4th BATTALION RANGER REGIMENT
RANK: CAPTAIN / UNIT COMMANDER
Place & Date: 13TH OF JUNE, 1971, KORBU FOREST, CHEMOR

Brief Introduction

Capt MohanChandran an ex boy from the batch 64-66 F Company, known to his buddies as Ray Chandran. He graduated from Royal Military College of Australia Portsea in 1968 and upon returning commissioned into the Royal Ranger Regiment. A fitness fanatic, he volunteered to head the elite UCIS of his Battalion. UCIS are similar to the LRRP of US Army, whereby they form the advance recon element of the battalion and operate deep inside enemy territory and providing vital field intelligence on enemy movements to Battalion or Brigade HQ.


Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Capt Mohan Chandran while leading a platoon of elite UCIS the forerunners of RISIK GEMPUR distinguished himself during a search and destroy mission against an entrenched enemy 3 times larger than his unit. Capt Mohan Chandran unit was tasked to reconnoiter the area around KORBU FOREST for enemy activities after intelligence report indicates heavy enemy presence around that area. The unit stumbled upon the enemy base camp and a firefight ensued. In order to confuse the enemy Capt Mohan Chandran yelled B Company covering fire, C Company Assault, even tough their unit is only a platoon size. The enemy was caught completely off-guard, Capt Mohan Chandran leading from the front leapt into action and stormed the enemy position. He was exposed while firing his LMG, in order to provide suppressing fire thereby enabling the rest of the platoon to move up. He personally killed 4 enemy CTs and injured few others before bullets slammed into his body. After action report stated that he continued firing while being injured before succumbing to the mortal wounds. He died at the prime of his youth aged 24 years.

Capt Mohan Chandran act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officer’s corps and yet again proves the reputation of the Rangers as a ferocious fighting unit.

(FOR HIM WAR WAS UP CLOSE & PERSONAL)

NAME : HAMID BIN AWANG
REGT NO : 410225
UNIT : D COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT
RANK /DESIGNATION: CAPTAIN / OFFICER COMMANDING COMPANY
DATE & PLACE: 7TH OF APRIL, 1973 , GUNONG PUEH, LUNDU SARAWAK

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in Trengganu on 20th of November, 1949. OP Hamid Awang went to further his studies in Royal Military College from 1964-67, was selected for Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1967 and commissioned into 2nd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment in 1968. Known to be outgoing with a penchant for sports, he was extremely close to men under his command. Friends remember him for his unconventional way of carrying out orders and above all his courage.

CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Capt Hamid Awang while leading his company based on intelligence gathered indicating that a force of 40 to 50 communist terrorist would converge on Gunung Pueh, “D” Company of 2 Royal Malay Regiment led by Capt Hamid was tasked with search and destroy mission codenamed OPERATION MARCHUP.

On 7 April 1973, Capt Hamid and his company detected a Communist Terrorist encampment. Capt Hamid organized his company for an assault on the camp, he fired an M79 grenade round to mark the start of the attack and rush into the Communist Terrorist camp. In the heat of battle, a communist terrorist tried to shoot down one of Capt Hamid’s man. Knowing that to fire his grenade launcher at such close quarters would pose a danger to his men, risking his life he choose to engage the enemy in a brutal hand to hand combat. With his left hand and body he clutched the enemy’s weapon and struck the enemy’s neck with the grenade launcher, the force of the swing neutralized the enemy but dislocated his right wrist in the process .Capt Hamid’s company scored 3 kills and captured 3 enemy weapons, as well as ammunition and assorted equipment. His company also suffered 1 Killed In Action.

Captain Hamid Awang act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officers corps and in line with the finest tradition of the Royal Malay Regiment as the most senior regiment in the Malaysian Army.


(HE KNEW THE DANGER YET CONTINUED TO PERFORM HIS DUTY)

NAME : JALIL BIN IBRAHIM (POSTHUMOUS)
REGT NO :
UNIT : BANK BUMIPUTE MALAYSIA
RANK/DESIDNATION: MANAGER, INVESTIGATION OFFICER BMF SCANDAL
DATE & PLACE: JULY, 1983 , HONG KONG

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in Malacca and OP Jalil Ibrahim entered Royal Military College in __________ a brilliant student in RMC he went to pursue his degree in accountancy at University of Christchurch, New Zealand from 1969 – 71.

Citation

He was killed in Hong Kong in July 1983 while investigating a case involving the fraudulent award of RM2.5 billion in loans by Bumiputra Finance Berhad to the Carrian Group.
He knew the danger since it was a high profile case involving powerful people yet performed his duty without fear and in the process paid the ultimate price for his dedication.
Till date, he is the only civilian to receive the award.

His dedication and commitment to the job he held so dearly conforms to the highest standard as prescribed in the charter of the Boys Wing.


(HE KEPT HIS COOL AGAINST DAUNTING ODDS)

NAME : NEVILLE SIEBEL
REGT NO : 200647
UNIT : A SQUADRON, 2ND FEDERAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT
RANK /DESIGNATION: 2ND LIEUTENANT / TROOP COMMANDER
DATE & PLACE: 11TH OF NOVEMBER, 1961. KUNDU, REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in 1939 in Kuala Lumpur and OP Neville Siebel entered the then FMC from 1956- 1958, thereafter went to the Cadet Wing and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Federal Recce Regiment. He was one of the first batches of officers, deployed under the United Nation to serve in Congo as the Malaysian Special Forces (MSF) contingent.

CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty 2nd Lt Siebel while posted under United Nation peacekeeping duties distinguished himself as troop commander of the Ferret Scout Car. When a group of Congonese rebel encircled the Malaysian Army officer’s mess which was hosting 13 Italian Airforce officers, 2nd Lt Siebel displayed great presence of mind and courage in challenging the rebel with his Ferret Scout Car and nearly neutralized them with its main gun. The rebels wanted Italian officers and only the sole Ferret scout of 2nd Lt Seibel was protecting the Italians. The Italians were captured due to inept leadership and poor judgment on the part of the garrison commander. 2nd Lt Siebel again rushed to the airport camp to get re-enforcement and finish off the rebels with additional ferret cars, however once again poor judgment prevailed and eventually all Italians were executed by the rebels and a chance was lost.

2nd Lieutenant Neville Siebel act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officers corps and the illustrious present day Royal Armoured Regiment.



(HE STARED AT DEATH & TRIUMPHED)

NAME : LEE AH POW
REGT NO : 200553
UNIT : C SQUADRON, 2ND FEDERAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT
RANK /DESIGNATION: LIEUTENANT / TROOP COMMANDER
DATE & PLACE: 12TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1962. ELIZABETHVILLE, REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in Negeri Sembilan on 9th of October, 1937, OP Lee Ah Pow entered the former FMC Boys Wing from 1953-56. Thereafter he joined the cadet wing and commissioned into the Federal Recce Regiment in 1958.

CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty Lieutenant Lee Ah Pow while serving under United Nation in Congo rescued 16 soldiers from the Indian Army 2nd Battalion 5th Gurkha Regiment from certain massacre by the Kataganese rebel. The Gurkhas were surrounded by the Kataganese when Lt Lee arrived with his troops of Ferret Scout Cars. He immediately ordered his troopers to take position and provide a screen around the Gurkhas, thereby protecting them from potential Katanganese fire.

Lt Lee Ah Pow displayed great presence of mind by traversing the main gun of his Ferrets on the Katanagense and showing great restraints in holding his fire adhering to the Rules of Engagement which is to shoot only when fired upon. When Lieutenant Lee Ah Pow and the Katanagense rebel leader were eyeball to eyeball, it was the latter who blinked and fired first which forced Lt Lee Ah Pow to return accurate and sustaining fire. Lieutenant Lee Ah Pow citation was personally written by Indian Army Brigade Commander and was a shinning example of Malaysian Armed Forces officers corps being held in high esteem by foreign nations.

Lieutenant Lee Ah Pow act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officers corps and the illustrious present day Royal Armoured Regiment.

(HE TOOK ON THE CRACK INDONESIAN MARINES AND LITERALLY BLEW THEIR HEADS OFF)


NAME : KAMARUDDIN MOHD JAMAL
REGT NO :
UNIT : C COMPANY, 6TH BATTALION ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT
RANK /DESIGNATION: 2ND LIEUTENANT / PLATOON COMMANDER
DATE & PLACE: 21ST OF AUGUST, 1964. PONTIAN KECIL, JOHOR

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in Kuala Lipis on 15th of August, 1942 he completed his Form Five in then FMC at the end of 1960. He joined intake 5 of the cadet wing in 1961 and was commissioned into the 6th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment, the unit his father served before retiring.


CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond and above the call of duty,2nd Lieutenant Kamaruddin was tasked with reconnoitering an area where 2 suspected Indonesian soldiers were spotted during the 1963-65 Indonesian Confrontation.

2nd Lieutenant Kamaruddin left the Tactical Headquarters of C Company with 5 of his men to perform the assigned task. His unit stumbled upon the enemy and contrary to what was reported there were more than 2 enemies and they were in lying up position waiting to ambush Kamaruddin unit. Further these soldiers were no ordinary soldiers but marines from the crack Indonesian Kor Marinir. The enemy opened up and Kamaruddin’s unit returned fire, based on the firefight the enemy was gauged to be around 15 men, 3 times larger than his unit. Coolly and with extreme calm he ordered his men to continue firing while he proceeded to lob grenade in order to neutralize the enemy due to their sheer strength. One enemy was killed however the second and third grenade lobbed by 2nd Lt Kamaruddin bounced back on their position due to the thick vegetation, and he ordered his men to take cover. Despite being outnumbered 3 to 1, 2nd Lieutenant Kamaruddin kept up the pressure on the enemy until they withdrew. By the end of the fire fight 2nd Lt Kamarudin unit killed 4 enemy marines and suffered one Killed In Action.

2nd Lieutenant Kamarrudin Jamal act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officers corps and in line with the finest tradition of the Royal Malay Regiment as the most senior regiment in the Malaysian Army.

(JUSTICE WAS SAVED BY THE COURAGE OF THIS MAN)

NAME : MOHD HALIM BIN KHALID
REGT NO : 3002599
UNIT : B COMPANY, 19TH BATTALION ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT (MECH)
RANK /DESIGNATION: CAPTAIN / SECOND IN COMMAND COMPANY
DATE & PLACE: 27TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1993, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Born in Simpang Pulai, Perak in ___________ he enetered Royal Military College in _____, thereafter commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment in 1982. Now a Colonel in the Malaysian Army attached to Armed Forces Command as the Director of Defense Training & Operations.

CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond and above the call of duty Captain Halim while serving under United Nation Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) as part of Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) distinguished himself during an operation to rescue trapped and besieged judiciary officials of UNOSOM II.

Captain Halim was tasked with providing close quarter escort to these high ranking judicial officials during a meeting held at Benadir Supreme Court. Without warning militants loyal to Farah Aideed attacked the court complex with the aim of capturing these judicial officials. With complete and total disregard to his own life while under enemy fire Captain Halim maneuvered Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) under his command to rescue the trapped court officials. His lead APC stormed the court complex and provided accurate and sustained gunfire in order to suppress the enemy, while at the same time troops under his command rescued the beleaguered court officials. Captain Halim maintained command of his troops under heavy enemy fire and rescued the entire UNOSOM II judicial officials safely to base. His fighting retreat was a textbook example of how exemplary leadership is vital during vulnerable phase of a firefight.

Captain Mohd Halim Bin Khalid act of valor on that fateful day conforms to the highest standard of the Malaysian Army officers corps and in line with the finest tradition of the Royal Malay Regiment as the most senior regiment in the Malaysian Army.

KNIGHTS OF THE SKIES & A NATION APATHY

There was a request by a group of veteran pilots last year on the appeal to the government to extend to them the revised quantum of allowances for those who earned bravery medals. Till date there was no news or update on their request, I am writing this article in support of these helicopter pilots, on behalf of a grateful nation.
Picture this, your platoon of 30 odd soldiers is forward deployed deep in the jungles somewhere near the Malaysia-Thai border. Your line of communication with the outside world is your trusted PRC 77 radio which relay your request to battalion headquarters stationed miles away at the BMA (Brigade Maintenance Area). Your troops have trekked the enemy for the past 2 week waist deep in swamp area with scarce respite and constantly on high alert.

You are out of rations for 5 days and living off the land by munching on tree barks, plants and the occasional insects that instructors taught were edible at Jungle Warfare School in Ulu Tiram.

Ammunitions are running low, due to the long fire fight with the Communist Terrorists (CT) couple days ago. You communicated this predicament in your Situation Report (SITREP) to Battalion HQ. The Battallion Intelligence Officer has highlighted that the turf where your platoon is operating has a regiment size CT camp and based on the current grid reference on the map your are right smack in the middle of it. The UCIS (unit combat intelligence squad) boys the forerunners of Risik Gempur after a reconnaissance mission confirmed the Battlion Intel report. You have a hunch that enemy knows about your presence, while your platoon began to prepare for lunch, the enemy launched a full scale assault on your position effectively encircling it. Your troops by virtue of stand-to took up position and returned fire. You began frantically calling your Batt HQ and request for ammo, medical evacuation (medevac) and gunship support. While you engage the enemy a 7.62mm round slams on your shin and shatters it, you began to loss blood. The platoon medic under heavy fire crawls to your position and gives you a shot of morphine to ease the pain while another presses the bandage to stop the bleeding. It was hell all around as the pandemonium of you section commander yelling battle orders, groans and moans of the injured fills in. As you slowly drift in an out of consciousness you could hear the faint distinctive sound made by the 5 bladed rotor of the RMAF workhorse the Nuri or its more formal name Sikorsky SH-61A4 and the whining high pitch sound of the Alloute with the occasional machine gun burst as the door gunner spews our hot 7.62mm lead on the enemy position as it provides close air support for the troops down below.

The Alloute gunship flanked the Nuri and once one hot Landing Point (LP) began to form a clockwise orbit around the Nuri . The Captain of the nuri maintained hover atop of the beleaguered troop’s position trying to find an opening in the mist to bring his Nuri down but to no avail. The Captain and his team comprising of a co-pilot ,Air QM and Air Despatch crew from the Army understood the predicament of the troops down below, as they have been briefed prior to take-off from their base. The Captain is determined to get the wounded out of the firefight and also off-load vital cargos like ammo and rations. He called on R/T (radio transmission) “Ops……Tangkas 03…. going in…..hot (LP)……” He tighten his grips over the cyclic and the collective in order to prepare for any eventualities as he began to descend, his hawkish eyes darted in and out between the instrument panel and outside, going into the mist he lost all visual reference and rely purely on the artificial horizon (AH) in the centre the instrument panel which proves to be challenging as human instinct and instrument does not always tally. There is possibility of disorientation and losing control of the chopper and at this height would be fatal. With nerve of steel the Capt inched the Nuri closer to the ground purely relying on his instinct and AH (artificial horizon), just as he cleared the mist below 60 feet AGL (air to ground level), the AQM yelled “tuan……abort……..abort….abort”. The Nuri’s tail rotor was precariously close to a tree out of the Capt sight in the rear, he yanked the collective all the way up and climbed out of the descend. Sweating profusely from the near disaster of his making and after a quick word with his crew they decided to descend again, but agreed that they would not hit the ground but hover inside the mist while the Aqm winch down and extract the dead and wounded. The Capt entire body is drenched with perspiration with occasional sweats dripping from the forehead entering the eyes stinging it, but the Capt maintained his constant instrument scanning. As he descended to about 80 ft, he stopped descending and yelled over the microphone for AQM to winch down. The AQM without hesitation unlocked the mechanical winch and lowered himself to ground zero. The Co-Pilot monitored the engine rpm, temperature and occasional look out while the Captain peered his eyes to the AH which was guiding his position albeit a little.

At this time the CT were close to the infantry’s perimeters down below, rounds began slamming into Nuri fuselage, but the Captain did not abort but maintained his position and hovered atop the infantry’s position. The AQM has finished off-loading the vital ammo and rations and now preparing to winch out the injured. He secured the badly injured first on the stretcher and began hoisting them up, while the injured was being winched enemy rounds began slamming again onto the fuselage. One of the rounds penetrated the cockpit’s bottom Plexiglas and entered the sole of the captain’s flying boot, the bullet traveled all the way up and exited through the knee cap. Blood were gushing from the wound and with his flying suit drenched with blood below the knee, he summoned all his strength and ignored the excruciating pain to level the anti-torque pedal and maintain hover. This lasted almost an eternity as the wounded were being winched out. Without any reference point it proved to test the airmanship skills of the captain to the limit. The gunship continued spraying burst of 7.62mm round in order to suppress the enemy fire and protect the Nuri. The Alloutee pilot put himself in the line of fire by drawing the enemy fire towards him and away from the Nuri. Round slammed into Alloutte unarmoured body as the pilots commenced evasive maneuvers in order to dodge the enemy bullets. The troops on the ground looked in awe as the Alloute pilot manouvered its machine with absolute precision.

By this time the AQM has successfully winched out the wounded and dropped vital supply of rations and ammo to the troops down below. He signaled to the Captain with thumbs up do indicate the job is done and to egress out of the area. The Alloute provided covering fire as the Nuri began to climb away from hot zone. The Nuri Captain….transmitted to mission control “Tangkas 03 ….. picked up dead and wounded……advise medical standby on arrival…..co-pilot has control of the aircraft…..Tangkas 03 inbound…..to base” He passed control to his co-pilot and began to apply tourniquet to stop loosing blood on his legs. The AQM and the Air Despatch crews were busy tending to the needs of the injured, while occasional words of prayers were whispered to the ears of the dead. As you began to slip into coma again you could see the Captain is looking at the cargo hull from his seat, his face sadden with the dead, concern with the injured and as he move his head to face his cockpit, he gives you an assuring nod that everything is going to be just fine.

The above narration is not a scene out of a movie, but what RMAF chopper pilots faced on daily basis during the insurgency period. While the sacrifices of infantry officers and soldiers whom I held in high esteem both in terms of lives and limbs are incomparable. What the veteran flyers are seeking is equally important, for it takes a special breed of men to fly these slow, lumbering and venerable aircraft through hailstorm of enemy fire, rescue troops, supply them with reinforcement and perform the mission over again and again. If you ask any infantry officers worth his salt who have seen action during the insurgency period, he would vouch for the dedication, determination and above all the courage and tenacity of these helicopter pilots. While fighter pilots are glorified in movies, helicopter pilots are the one who risk their lives to save them behind enemy lines when they are shot down. The former US Chief of Air Staff General John Jumper a veteran fighter pilot always has the insignia of the Jolly Green Giant (famed helicopter callsign during Vietnam War) on his left arm shoulder sleeves as a mark of respect for those helicopter pilots who rescued him when he was shotdown over Vietnam. So much so there is saying among the pilots during Vietnam War, “fighter pilots have no fear the jolly green giants are here”

The former Marine Commandant of USMC General Loenard Chapman once quipped of helicopter pilots “"When a Marine in Vietnam is wounded, surrounded, hungry, low on ammunition or water, he looks to the sky. He knows the choppers are coming..." which can be aptly said about our helicopter pilots. On time, on station, day in day out, without failing.

Please seriously consider what these gallant knights of the skies are requesting and do justice to them in return for all that they have given this blessed nation of ours.

JEYAGANESH GOPALSAMY