Kennyster

Sunday, March 21, 2004

TEKONG MANHUNT

THURS 18 march

It was a long and dull day. Sort of like a marathon screening of daytime television soaps, only without the adverts. Spent the day cleaning our personal weapons and equiptments in preparation of our trip to Taiwan at the end of next wk.

A really mundane day. Or so it seemed.

But sometimes, life serves up dishes that are most unexpected and unpalatable ya know.

Five pm. News broke out that our battalion had been activated for something. For wat exactly we were still clueless.

I decided to ask the beacon of positive light energy, Adrian from HQ branch, what the fuck was going on.

It turned out that there were 3 armed robbers that had escaped from Malaysia to Pulau Tekong, our primary training ground. And there was a strong possibility that we would move out there by the end of the day to help out with the search.

10pm: Distribution of compasses, night-vision goggles, maps and signal sets.

* * *
Day 2 Fri. 12 midnight: CO delivers one of his Winston Churchill speeches. Nearly dozed off.

1.30am: Moved out from camp.

3am: Arrival at Pulau Tekong.

4-6am: Preparation of maps and loading of ammunition. We would be combing the north-western part of the island in an effort to flush the enemies out into the main road.

6am: Distribution of bulletproof vests. Prob. the point of time where we realise that this was for REAL. It wasn't just another field camp. The enemies were for real. And they were armed.

To complicate matters, there weren't enought vests for everyone. It was decided that the men would have priority first.

Thus, like most of the commanders, I went in without a bullet-proof vest.

7.30am: The search begins. The terrain was tough. 90% of Tekong is actually dense forests and swamps. Sightings were reported throughout the day. On the western coast. Eastern coast. Blah blah. Were the robbers teleporting?? *raises one eyebrow quizzically*

4.45pm: One man had been found in the southern part of the island. Apparently he claimed that he was the only person involved in everything. RIGHT!!

10pm: We were pulled out for a rest.

* * *
Day3 Sat. 2am: Finally plunged myself into the coverted land-of-sleep-and-no-worries when it started pouring. Got my heavy arse up to bring my equipment and boots into shelter. Some were still sleeping and had to be slapped awake.

5.45am: Same shit, another day. This time we shifted our focuse to the northern central part of the island.

11am: News broke out that the 2nd guy was caught. Spirits lifted. Morale was better.

2pm: Realization that there was no way in hell that i was going to make it for Laremy's 21st birthday bash ( a beach-wear themed party called "She-sluts and He-whores bash" . ARgh. There goes my chance to mingle with bikini-clad babes. WTF. Anyway, focus Kenny!

6.30pm: The last suspect was caught. We did it.

9pm: Terrible news. One of the men from Bravo company had lost his ammunition of 30rounds. Fucking brilliant. We had to stay to look for it the next day.

The atmosphere became utterly funeral.

As much as i wanted to go home, we had to help this poor sod find his rounds man. As my friend says, "we are all pissing in the same pot dude." It's only right that we help one another.

* * *
Sunday. Day 4.

The rounds were found. *hoots* Double Hurray!

11.45am: Reaches back camp.

Feeling like a dried orange peel, with all sleep and energy squeezed out of me.

We had done our job. You may think finding 3 robbers isn't so much of a big deal, but it was vital that the armed forces could capture these robbers in the shortest time possible, to show the world and our own ppl that our defence was ready to dispel any immediate threat (esp. with the recent Madrid bombing.)

All these stupid crap terrorism going on in the world today. All in the name of God and presumely some belief in heaven's rewards-- although whose God and whose heaven they're slaughtering each other for, I really don't know.

"Peace. Freedom. Democracy." Is that why America and her allies went to war??

Kennyster @ 5:28 PM