Urban Legend

Our soldiers died in peacetime more than in a war. This is in reference to the slew of news report of tragedies betiding in our own army men's backyard. I am sharp-witted when it comes to recollecting incidents that transpired in the SAF. These incidences compeled me to dispense my two-cents worth and offer you an insight of my own.

The string of events that occured does transmit the inevitable fear virus. The common complaints among parents would be - Would my son get abused by the higher ranking personnels? Will they over-exert my son during exercises, trainings and drills? Will my son be in good hands when he handles the M16 rifles and live grenades? Will there be adequate safety measures put in place?

I understand the host of questions being pelted towards MINDEF. Because we have read of one too many deaths in the army organization. And we cannot deem it an isolated occurance. Several incidents of mishap includes;

1) The dunking case, where a trainee died
2) The recent case of a parachutist who crash-landed to his death
3) The CPL who was mysteriously found at the foot of his bunk's building, resulting him in a comatose state, thus his distraught parents sued SAF for being responsible for his condition
4) The recruit who collapses at the SAF Ferry Terminal during a book-out and subsequently breathed his last when doctors couldn't revived him
5) The Land Rover which pinned a 2LT during an inspection to death
6) The frequent cases of officers/recruits suffering heart failure and died during running/jogging activities
7) The Navy ship mishap which collided with a boat of sorts and killed THREE personnels in the process back in the year 2002
8) The military aircraft that crashes into the army's logistic warehouse killing TWO lower-ranked personnels during an overseas training attachment in Taiwan
9) The tragic case of Captain Allan Ooi who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in Australia, citing in his email 'depression in having to serve out his bond'
10) The near-death incident where a recruit let slipped a grenade just a few inches away from them, which exploded seconds after hitting the ground (A quick-thinking officer ducked both of them down, miraculously cheating injuries or even death)

A further listing will leave a trail of disturbances and shocks.

Anyone who has gone through National Service can confidently tell you that safety is paramount in all trainings. Most of the time, it is over-emphasized with superiors breathing down your neck and instilling menacing threats, so as to remind them on the severity of punishments, should a blunder be made.

Who takes responsibility when another fallen soldier is decorated in death? We will never be activated to go to war in the name of defense for our country. Therefore, no lives will be lost there. But it seems unnerving to read news of abrupt deaths in the army.

Pity on the passing of our young and innocent men who perished while serving their duties to the nation. I am sure MINDEF is not entirely responsible for the chain of events, and that it has always done all it could to render assistance to the respective grieving families. While some will beg to differ that the onus still falls on the army's organization to protect its soldiers, i choose to refute this. These cases has somewhat marred the army's image and reputation. It is common. People used to celebrate the glorious advancements and achievements of our army, but it usually takes one single slip-up to negate everything else, hence seeing the army in a different light.

To corroborate my dissent, in the case of the Captain Ooi who committed suicide, how can anyone blame SAF when he chose not to approach psychological help in dire depression? MINDEF has issued a statement that personnels have the prerogative to break their bonds, backed up with substantial reasons and subjected to approval. But he ranted in his final email over the troubles he faced. YOU HAVE A CHOICE MY FRIEND.

Another recent death, of 2LT Nicholas who were pinned to death under a land-rover should not be the responsibility of SAF. Safety precautions are mandatory in every military workshops. And any infringements are reported swiftly and warrants a heavy punishment. His death could have been evaded if only he had followed the safety guidelines of - PUT A WHEEL CHOCK UNDER ALL VEHICLES, WHENEVER UNDER REPAIRS OR EVEN WHEN IT IS STATIONARY OR PARKED OVERNIGHT. Was it plain negligence or should his superiors be answerable for his death?

I also support SAF who cannot be held responsible in the dunking case, the navy ship collision, the parachutist tragedy. Because these are the consequence of human error and miscue. In the same breath, SAF would have to explain the harsh trainings that victimized our soldiers. There are far too many cases of Recruits, Warrant Officers and others who suffered cardiac arrests and died during an activity, widely reported mostly during a routine run.

I shudder. Because i firmly believe many more misadventures will be reported in times to come. I can only urge my army, firefighter and police regulars friends to abide vehemently of their workplace guidelines and policies, do not practise complacency and follow intently to instructions.

I fear the day would arrive, startling me during my daily morning read, while staring at the page of a news-report of someone i know, dying a cruel death yet again in the course of duty. I pray for the safety and well-being of my fellow soldiers. And for the fallen soldiers who perished then during the Japanese occupation war and now, in peacetime.

Rest In Peace, too, MJ.

And I LOVE YOU H. Like i always do.