Forget me Not

It was a humid night that I decided to change into my singlet and put on my running shoes. I have just been posted to a army new unit, allocated to a new bunk and living with new ppl. By right, I shld be feeling extremely light and happy, having to escape from the monstrous claws of my previous superior, and has just been tasked with very simple office work. But I miss my old camp mates, and I decided to jog to my old unit, which was just across the road.

I jogged towards the parade square and stopped directly in front of my company line. I was looking up into the bunks of my previous company mates, wondering what they were doing. They must be busy preparing for the up coming training exercise at Australia. While I was relieved that I would not need to go through the hassle and hardships training in the oversea forests, my ego was pretty hurt that I was not part of the operational force.

As I was staring up into the bunks, an extremely loud and stern voice pierced through the silence from the corner of the second floor: "Gordon!!! Why are you here at his hour!?" It was Cpt Teddy, my OC (army officer commanding), whose voice really freaked me out. "Why are you still in camp on a friday night when you can go home and enjoy? We wanted to go home also cannot!" With that, he gave me a smile after I told him I miss them all. That was the last time I talk to him.

Barely a week before tat nite, I was in the midst of my 6th-day live round firing at the range when my OC suddenly summon me to see him. He told me that my posting to a new unit has been confirmed, and I could stop my range immediately and return back to my company line. My OC has witnessed how much I suffered under my CSM, who forcefully refused to let me 'go' although an official posting has been issued by MINDEF to let me transfer over to a new unit. My OC has also given me the choice on whether I wish to post out or stay back in the unit to serve as his personal assistant. Touched by his gesture, I chose the latter. However, MINDEF eventually made the final decision that I shld go.

Before I packed my stuffs, carried my rifle and was ready to leave them for good, my OC told me to take a week's off to enjoy myself. I couldnt believe my ears as requesting for even a single day off was already like, so difficult and impossible! I told him I did not have that many days in my OFF record to clear, and he immediately brushed me off by saying " aiyah, i say you can go, means you can go, care so much for what? And you dun have to bother about doing the clearance form, i will get the admin specs to help you do!". I was extremely touched and felt indebted to Cpt Teddy. He was like a strong and powerful arm pulling me out of the shxx that I have been embedded for months or almost a year.

2 weeks later after that jogging nite, I was lying on my bed playing with my nokia 6110 when I received a SMS from a S1 branch clerk. "Sgt Gordon, your OC died in an accident in Australia". I was dumbfolded. The next thing I could recall was seeing his parents crying miserably at the funeral wake. Cpt Teddy was sleeping in his coffin, looking pretty miserable, as if he has suffered great pains from hit by the fallen tree trunk. Days later my army mates flew back from australia to hold a military funeral possession for OC. All of them were dressed smartly in the white coloured army No.1 uniform, but tears were flowing from many of the faces. It was an extremely sad scene.

It has been already 5 years since the fateful 11 Dec 2004. Every year in NUS, I would look forward to the arrival of 11 Dec, which most of the time I would be trapped in the chilly cen lib mugging for exams. Weeks before the date, I would start SMSing everyone to remind them of this date to visit my OC's grave. But I duno why that I actually forgotten about it this year! Fortunately, another camp mate reminded me of the visit few days ago.

My OC has gone forever. And I am glad to see his mother getting more cheerful each year. Life is so unpredictable indeed.

PS: Thanks OWY and Sohan for helping me to wash my car today!