THE year 2000's bestselling book followed by the 2001 epic Hollywood blockbuster movie Black Hawk Down glorified the role of United States soldiers in extracting 70 trapped rangers from being attacked and slaughtered by Somali warlord General Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his militias when two US strike force helicopters were shot down by the rebels in the Bakara market area of Mogadishu, Somalia.
However, the real untold story was, on the night of Oct 3, 1993, 27 years ago, 114 Malaysian soldiers had put their lives at risk via a dangerous rescue mission, urgently requested by and carried out with US Rangers and Delta Force commandos on the orders of United Nations Operations in Somalia (Unosom II).
BBC News journalist Jonathan Fryer reported: "A rescue operation was launched by US forces, notably helped by Malaysian soldiers on the ground."
The commander of the Malaysian forces there at the time, Colonel Abdul Latif Ahmad (now retired Brigadier-General Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad), was quoted as saying that the record needed to be set straight. Otherwise, Malaysians will be under the wrong impression that we were mere vehicle drivers ferrying them out of the battle scene.
The truth was, as written by his then deputy commander Lieutenant-Colonel Mohd Rozi Baharom (now a retired major-general, in his memoir published in 2011), that in the said UN operational mission of Malbatt 1 (Malaysian Battalion 1), 51 officers and 113 troopers of other ranks from the mechanised 19th Malay Regiment Corps under his operational charge were promptly despatched to join the rescue mission to save and extract the trapped US troopers in Bakara, while also ferrying out their dead ones.
The operation left many, including heroic Malaysian Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicle driver Private Mat Aznan Awang, shot dead and nine other Malaysian mechanised troopers injured.
At final count, 18 American soldiers were reported killed whilst 77 suffered various injuries, with six others missing in action. One of their helicopter pilots, Captain Mike Durant, was humiliatingly dragged away as a prisoner of war.
The allied contingent's Pakistani side suffered two troop injuries. On the enemy Somalian rebels' side, Aidid reported 315 dead and 812 injured, but US ambassador Robert Oakley estimated that 1,500 to 2,000 Somalis were killed, mostly civilians.
The Malaysian troops succeeded in freeing 70 of 75 US soldiers trapped in the area. The other five were killed. Despite the bravery of the 19th Royal Malay Regiment's mechanised troops, their efforts were unrecognised and underplayed in the international media, making it seem like the battalion played an insignificant role in the rescue mission.
Lieutenant-General Cervik Bir, then Turkish Unosom II force commander in Somalia, had, on Oct 4, 1993, written a letter to Latif, saying: "His (Aznan) sacrifice was great, but his deeds will never be forgotten. His courage and selfless sacrifice set the standard not only for this mission but for all future operations on the United Nations."
Lieutenant-Colonel William C. David, the US Army commander in Somalia, also wrote to Latif, stating: "I am still in amazement that things worked as smoothly as they did. Automatic weapons fire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades rained from the sky. We fought our way into the objective area — street by street, house by house — against an enemy well trained in urban guerilla warfare.
"For more than seven continuous hours, Malaysian, Pakistani and the US forces fought side by side against a determined enemy until all objectives were secured and the mission accomplished. The sight of Americans and Malaysians locked in soldierly embrace at the battle's end is one I will never forget. Truly, the Malbatt more than lived up to its motto — Tigers. Displaying the utmost of discipline, competence, determination and courage, no commander could have asked for more."
Brigadier-General Greg L. Gile, the US commanding officer, also wrote a letter to Latif from Fort Drum, New York: "In a battle that will live in history, your forces proved essential to accomplish the mission. The Rangers were saved, thanks to your soldiers' immediate and brave response. You and your men have a place in our hearts forever. Please thank your men on behalf of the US Army."
The latter's superior officer, Major-General Thomas M. Montgomery, US forces commander at Unosom II headquarters, in turn wrote to the then Malaysian chief of defence forces General Tan Sri Abdul Rahman at the Defence Ministry in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 19, 1993: "I am writing to express to you my appreciation and great respect for the performance of your very capable contingent in Somalia.
"I assure you that any US press report critical of any contingent in this amazing coalition effort is pure speculation, not fact. The fact is that many soldiers are alive today because of the willingness and skill of Malaysian, Pakistani and American soldiers working together. Such a performance only comes from disciplined, well-trained and well-led soldiers. That's the real reputation of Malaysian soldiers in Unosom II."
The United Nations had sent US, Malaysian, Pakistani and other coalition peacekeeping troops to Somalia, which faced serious famine problems. But political infighting among Somalian factions had caused widespread corruption and rivalry.
It's regrettable that a handful of our political and business leaders are being disrespectful, blathering recklessly and publicly not appreciating the sacrifices or our war veterans and armed forces personnel. They should truly appreciate the Malaysian armed forces' continued devotion and sacrifices during the troubled times the country had faced at home and abroad.
The writer has written 30 books in English and Malay. He specialises in biographies and memoirs, and has written on three Malaysian prime ministers