03 Jan 05. My admin specialist, CPL MAURICE, handed me a tin and asked me to donate some much-appreciated money for the victims of the ill-fated Tsunami. I remembered distinctively mumbling to myself,” If only we can do more…”
Moments later, MAURICE returned and said: “Sir, you COULD actually do more…” I made some enquires to the Manpower Branch and around 1630 hours, I received a call from my Wing Commander, LTC CHANDRA, informing me that my request has been granted. At that moment, I do not know the magnitude of SAF’s commitment to this humanitarian effort. I was just happy to be selected, to represent the SAF, to represent the nation.
Suddenly it dawned upon me. Wait, what about the cadet’s training? What about my family? Afterall, my dad had just suffered a stroke. I immediately called my dad and spoke to him. Understanding me, my dad gave me his blessings.
I attended the mission brief the following day. It included other presentations such as insurance talk and psychological talk of dead bodies, bloated and highly decomposed. The mission brief, to be honest, was sketchy and wasn’t very informative. It was at this juncture that apprehension starts to set in. Mission wise, I was still very unclear of what is expected of me. What I s my task? What am I suppose to pack? Where will I be heading? All I know at this stage is that SAF will be operating from 3 bases in Sumatra, Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Medan. That was just about the only information that I have.
That, and that I will be flying off in 8 hours time: 5 Jan, 0430 hours.
I rushed back SAFTI and started packing. It was helter–skelter. Good thing that the Wing was in out-field training. There was at least some peace and quiet as I go about packing. My Wing Commander called me and enquired if I needed any help. He had, in the meantime, sent the Wing’s CQMS back to Wingline and instructed him to allow me to “plunder” whatever I require from the store. Although I didn’t wait till the CQMS arrival, that simple gesture was very much appreciated.
At approximately 2000 hours that day, I got a call from the Ops Center in Singapore as I was having dinner with my family. Flight’s been delayed for 24 hours. New Showtime? 06 Jan 0430 hrs. I heave a sigh of relief. Finally some time to slow down and catch my breath, some time to check if whatever I have packed is necessary.
The flight was later delayed AGAIN and I later learnt that it was because the airport was not operational as an aircraft ran over a cow on the runway. It just confirms the madness that’s there doesn’t it?
When am I going? Am I even going at all? Do I WANT to go? Can I afford to just pack my bags and leave?
I remember an article I read in Straits times a couple of years ago about, then, COL NEO KIAN HONG. I remember distinctively how the article started:
“Twenty Four hours. That was all the time Colonel Neo Kian Hong had to pack his bags and say goodbye to his wife and two younger sons in September”
As I ponder over my predicament and thinking of how better off I am compared to BG NEO, and at the same time recall in awe BG NEO’s dedication and commitment to the job, time slowly crept by and it finally came. I was in PLAB waiting to board C-130 to Indonesia. I saw many old friends from 7 SIB whom I hadn’t met in a long while. Many exchanged information they gathered from friends who are already “in there”. Many spoke the tale of foul smell from bloated bodies and involuntary vomit.
Where am I heading? What is expected of me? What’s the deployment duration? Mission unspoken destination unknown… classic.
I ended up in SAF Contingent HQ in Medan, together with the Forward Support Group and the heli-Detachment Crew. We were put up in Novotel Hotel, This can’t be right can it? I was in heaven compared to my fellow countrymen who are working flat out in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh.
The set up was like a division exercise and I was the Watch Officer. I hadn’t been involved in any division exercise before and I do not know the specific TOR. Everyone seems busy with their work and there wasn’t an upper study whom I can learn from. I guess no one in theatre has an upper study to learn from.
The relief effort, however, was unlike real military operations. Progress was much slower, and majority of the work centered on the Engineer’s effort in laying the groundwork and setting up the foundations for the subsequent take over of operations by NGOs. This included establishing beach landings and land links, clearing roads of debris and accommodations for IDPs. As such, forces in-theatre was slowly thinned down. I was back on 20 Jan, having spent 12 days there.
It was heart warming to craft the daily OpSum that schools are re-opening and market places are sprouting. Although personnel in Contingent HQ wasn’t on site physically to experience the hustle and bustle of the market place, the euphoria we experience in Medan was no less diluted because we coordinated the relief effort. We knew we played our part.
One of the reasons why I signed on as an Army Regular 8 years ago, without sounding too benevolent, was to effect positive changes in people’s life. I think, in this instance, I have made the life of many others better.
Having been back for a good 5 months, and having some time to reflect of what happened, I must admit that when I volunteered, I didn’t put much though into the decision. But if I were thrown in to the very same situation, would I have decided against going? I guess not. I would still have gone. I am sure many amongst us would have gone and done likewise.
I’m sure you would too.
