The Malaysian Battalion in Cambodia

OK, here goes. Most of what I write is based on experience and typed off the cuff. Anyway, also working on the book for public distribution now, and look forward to having it launched soon. I was on the last flight from JB to Battambang. Thats coz I was handling the passenger manifest lists for all the flights outbound from JB, I was also responsible for the last flight. So finally when my turn came, I just had enough time to ride my bike back to the camp before dawn, grab my rucksack and dump it onto the next truck roaring by the barracks. Deployed! The flight was long, monotonous and cramped. Whenever we fly the 'Charlie', we usually stuff in all the luggage before squeezeing in ourselves. So we have luggage above, behind, under and in front of us. It was fasting month too, so no in flight rations... sigh, no sahur, no breakfast, no sleep, nothing. After almost 4 hours, we could see land and our destination. First thing we noticed through the tiny windows were... hmm, anti aircraft guns surrounding the airfield but no one in sight. The charlie overflew the runway once, for the pilot to have a look see before deciding to land. Everything visual and manual and yet another feather in the cap for the Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia. It was a three point landing despite the load on board and a huge crater along the runway. The rear ramp dropped open... and our first impression was the heat wave that swept into the aircraft. Aw shite, they have sent us to Kuwait! (at that time, the Battle of Kuwait just unfolding) A familiar figure strolled up, our Battalion 2IC, lugging a 5 gallon water container. He dropped it at the base of the ramp, gave us all a wink of the eye and hollered, 'Jangan malu-malu.' The container was dry within 5 minutes. So we started unloading and started marching out of the airport towards the MALBATT base camp set up in an abandoned russian hospital building about 5 klicks away. The town was silent, somber but quietly hopeful with our presence. There are sounds of shooting every night and so the streets are empty by five every evening. ... to be continued ...