* Sir Winston Churchill *
When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite
Thursday, August 18, 2005
We were brought to the drill shed. At this place, we were given the essentials for our training. Shirts, uniforms, pants etc. After that, our squad NCO first sergent Uleski said, 'Alright guys, get changed up into your camouflage-u or ur No. 4 and fall-in at the parade square in 15 mins. I do want any single one of you to be late. Clear?' "YES SRGT!' We replied in unison.
Having taught of how to wear our No. 4 especially the boots for some, they are facing difficulties. Being in NPCC in secondary school, the tying of boots is a piece of cake, but the folding down of the pants is kind of new to me.
Finally, we all fall-in at the parade square, just in time. After a quick inspection of uniform, we were brought to the canteen for our dinner. By this point of time, we had made some friends. Eating and chatting together, we finished our meals in 30 mins. Then, we were brought to collect our arms, the SAR21. At the armoury room, a lieutenant in charge of our platoon, Platoon Alpha Mike 25 briefed us on the importance of the SAR21 to us.
After the briefing, one by one, names were called to received their arms. ' Pvt. Jake!' 'YES SIR!'
I jogged to the officer, giving a quick salute and stepped forward to received the arms in the proper procedure taught not long ago. 'THANK YOU SIR!' Going back to place holding the rifle in the Senang-Diri position, I can't wait to start my first training with my 'wife'.
After that day, we started our vigorous BMT. Starting from the dry shoots to real life shooting and also fighting tactics using the rifle or without rifle. Of course, there were the physical courses and also the throwing of grenades. We had gotten nick names for people as well. 'Gabra' a 19 year old Indian who was so clumsy that he always 'Gabra Zebra', that was why we called him Gabra. As for me, I was called Cool Hand since they said I always look so calm in times of 'danger'.
On the 18th of August 2004, 1 year after our BMT, while our lieutenant of our platoon was speaking to our squad, a clerk, staff sergeant came up to him with a grieved look. After speaking to the lieutenant, the lieutenant got a stern look and spoke, ' Squad Alpha Mike 25 Mike ( our squad code ) you guys are going to be helping out in the front line at North Vietnam, against the Vietcong.' Shit! So the rumors of a war going at North Vietnam was true.
Everyone keep quiet, waiting for further instructions. ' You guys will be lead personnally by me and with other of Platoon Alpha Mike to go to South Vietnam tomorrow morning 0100 hours. I want everyone to pack their things and fall-in at 1200 hours sharp. Clear?' 'Yes..Sir!' Everyone was scared, the lieutenant could tell that too. ' Gentlemen, what the shit is this? You guys are going to war and you guys better give me better attitude out in the field or I shall be the one collecting you bodies! CLEAR?' ' YES SIR!' Then Sgt Lim dismissed us and we went back to our bunk talking away about the war. This is going to be a scary experience, hope that everything went by smoothly and this bloody war better end pronto.
To be continue
Having taught of how to wear our No. 4 especially the boots for some, they are facing difficulties. Being in NPCC in secondary school, the tying of boots is a piece of cake, but the folding down of the pants is kind of new to me.
Finally, we all fall-in at the parade square, just in time. After a quick inspection of uniform, we were brought to the canteen for our dinner. By this point of time, we had made some friends. Eating and chatting together, we finished our meals in 30 mins. Then, we were brought to collect our arms, the SAR21. At the armoury room, a lieutenant in charge of our platoon, Platoon Alpha Mike 25 briefed us on the importance of the SAR21 to us.
After the briefing, one by one, names were called to received their arms. ' Pvt. Jake!' 'YES SIR!'
I jogged to the officer, giving a quick salute and stepped forward to received the arms in the proper procedure taught not long ago. 'THANK YOU SIR!' Going back to place holding the rifle in the Senang-Diri position, I can't wait to start my first training with my 'wife'.
After that day, we started our vigorous BMT. Starting from the dry shoots to real life shooting and also fighting tactics using the rifle or without rifle. Of course, there were the physical courses and also the throwing of grenades. We had gotten nick names for people as well. 'Gabra' a 19 year old Indian who was so clumsy that he always 'Gabra Zebra', that was why we called him Gabra. As for me, I was called Cool Hand since they said I always look so calm in times of 'danger'.
On the 18th of August 2004, 1 year after our BMT, while our lieutenant of our platoon was speaking to our squad, a clerk, staff sergeant came up to him with a grieved look. After speaking to the lieutenant, the lieutenant got a stern look and spoke, ' Squad Alpha Mike 25 Mike ( our squad code ) you guys are going to be helping out in the front line at North Vietnam, against the Vietcong.' Shit! So the rumors of a war going at North Vietnam was true.
Everyone keep quiet, waiting for further instructions. ' You guys will be lead personnally by me and with other of Platoon Alpha Mike to go to South Vietnam tomorrow morning 0100 hours. I want everyone to pack their things and fall-in at 1200 hours sharp. Clear?' 'Yes..Sir!' Everyone was scared, the lieutenant could tell that too. ' Gentlemen, what the shit is this? You guys are going to war and you guys better give me better attitude out in the field or I shall be the one collecting you bodies! CLEAR?' ' YES SIR!' Then Sgt Lim dismissed us and we went back to our bunk talking away about the war. This is going to be a scary experience, hope that everything went by smoothly and this bloody war better end pronto.
To be continue
Battle won at 4:44 PM
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