LETTER: Much has been said about Malbatt I (Malaysian Battalion 1) and its involvement in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993.
Thirty years have passed since the day, which tested not just the capability of the armed forces but also the country's commitment to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO).
Oct 3, 1993, will always be remembered by Malbatt I as the day its bravery and competence were demanded to rescue American soldiers at the Bakara Market.
It is no small feat to mobilise and deploy up to 900 men (the size of a battalion) in a troubled, unfamiliar territory. Careful planning was needed and this took months.
The battalion had basic infantry essentials, heavy machine guns, mortars and armoured personal carriers (APC), which were the Condor model.
The team had to calculate its rations and supplies for that long- term mission.
A few studied the historical background of Somalia, its culture and the situation surrounding the conflict.
The men for the mission needed to be carefully selected too. Fitness was not the only criterion but also those with grit and the right attitude.
Above all, the men had to be bold enough to face tense moments and possible death.
The market mission was not the only life-threatening experience. Several times during APC patrols, the convoy was ambushed.
Occasionally, its camps were attacked by snipers, and the militia launched mortar attacks.
In total, about 200 mortars exploded in the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) camps.
Weeks before the market incident, Malbatt I was involved in two daring missions: to rescue a group of reporters trapped in a hotel and to rescue judges and attorneys in a courthouse.
It was also said that during the market rescue mission, our Condors were not only shot at, but the militia also climbed on the Condors, and there were moments when our troops and the militia threw punches at each other.
The two destroyed Condors are still in Mogadishu.
Interestingly, Malbatt I also conducted the Winning the Hearts and Minds campaign in Mogadishu.
Although it was not part of its primary mission, it proved to be essential. The team provided rice and cooking oil to locals.
It even aided the Abdi Hassan Primary School and Alt Abi Dalib Primary/Intermediate, both schools for orphans, by handing over copies of the Quran, student amenities, food and kain sarong.
Our men also assisted Somalians who needed medical attention. In a mission like in Somalia, Malbatt I needed support from locals trapped in a crisis that none wanted to be in.
Such a campaign had been conducted through generations of our soldiers and has been practised since Malaysia's first United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo in 1960, and is still practised today.
The crucial moment was when the UNOSOM II requested Malbatt I to rescue the Americans.
The decision to fulfil the request was made not only at the Malbatt I headquarters, but also in Kuala Lumpur and New York.
Operational decisions were made between UNOSOM II, Malbatt I and American Rangers.
This level was for coordination and rescue-mission planning. The last level, which was tactical, was conducted by Malaysian and American troops.
In the end, the rescue mission was accomplished, but we lost a soldier.
The rest is history.
The market mission was the pinnacle for Malaysian troops in dealing with mission creep (the gradual addition of new tasks or activities to a project so that the original purpose or idea is lost).
Among lessons learnt included the need for continuous training.
Military top brass would argue that "in peace, we prepare for war".
The experience gained from the Mogadishu episode must be transferred to present and future soldiers.
Somalia became a huge lesson for the UNPKO, forcing it to assess weaknesses in its mission in Somalia and Rwanda.
The outcome of the evaluation was known as the Brahimi Report, released in 2000.
The movie on our side of the story, Malbatt: Misi Bakara, was released this year and became a box-office hit.
To those who wish to know more about the mission, two books are available, written by mission veterans: Somalia Belang Harimau Besi, written by Major General (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Halim Khalid, and Aku Masih Ingat: Memoir Seorang Komander by Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad.
Malaysia's peacekeeping mission continues after Malbatt I.
The second Malbatt mission in Somalia was from Jan 10, 1994, to July 30, 1994, and the final Malbatt mission was from Aug 1, 1994, to Feb 28, 1995.
We lost two soldiers during the second Malbatt mission due to an ambush. One received the Pahlawan Gagah Berani (PGB) medal.
The appointment of Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Datuk Aboo Samah Aboo Bakar as the second commander of UNOSOM II was a recognition and trust given by UNPKO for Malaysia.
Perhaps Malbatt I is the most decorated Malaysian armed forces battalion in a UNPKO mission.
One soldier received the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa medal posthumously, five received the PGB on several missions, and many more received awards from their respective states.
Since then, several members of Malbatt I have died, almost all have retired from the service, and only two of the Battle of Mogadishu veterans are still in service and hold high ranks in the army. Both are PGB recipients.
While many did not receive medals, that does not mean their commitment was in vain. They completed the mission with their heads held high.
Greek politician and general Pericles once said: "But the man who most truly can be accounted brave is he who best knows the meaning of what is sweet in life and of what is terrible, and then goes out undeterred to meet of what is to come."
Only a few people have such experiences, but the men in Malbatt I do.
From those making decisions in Kuala Lumpur to those on the ground at the Bakara Market, each one has his own account to tell.
By learning and understanding the Battle of Mogadishu, we know that courage indeed comes in many forms.
The Malaysians involved during the many missions in Somalia were indeed the bravest of the brave.
AHMAD TAJUDDIN MOHD SAID
Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS), Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times