Dark Abyss: The Eagles Mess

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February 03, 2006

The Eagles Mess

( In continuation of my previous post. Since i seemed to have veered off my original topic, deeming the title irrelevant.)

Those nights were the best. The nights of wrestling, pool, Karaoke and caustic sarcasm at our very own Johnny Bravo, from Bravo Coy. Mocking at Pot-Bellied Monkey James, Kancheong spider Hos-peter, slamming certain unpleasant fellow officers, being wrestled AND slammed by our very own THE ROCK A-Wai, laughing our heads off at A-Nuo Kah Wee who also happens to be my buddy, looking over at the shag-cannot-think Ziqi, and recounting the numerous times that Julius turns out without his helmet. And more importantly, making jokes about our Rolling Super Man, Boon Pang. The list goes on and on and on.

Those nights at the mess were probably one of the very few things besides "Duty, Honour, Country" that spurs our lonely hearts and worn out bodies onwards, as we trudge through the Moon, the Mud, the Mosquitoes in our muddy, wet No.4s.

Our CO once made a point which turned out immensely true -- The mark of a successful battalion stems from a bustling Officers Mess.

He was certainly right.

A Bustling officers mess need not necessarily represent a mob of unruly junior officers indulging in a stench of alcohol and cigarette fumes. Instead, it represented the cohesion of the leaders of the Unit. Bonding through the nights, the camaraderie established amongst us junior officers, were one of the most instrumental factors which drove our Bn to immense success. Common knowledge of the battlefield has taught us that in times of unceasing battles, what motivates one to ward off enemy fire and unusual valour, is not for the purpose of protecting the sovereignty of our republic, nor the sustainability of the lives of our loved ones so far away. But rather, to sustain the symbiotic relationship that exists between the band of brothers who stands the front lines. The very man proned in the shellscrape next to you.

I humbly admit that we were quite a bunch of stuck up junior officers who believed that nothing was too tough to achieve. I also confess the existence of unseen competitiveness between companies and even within. However, the bonds that we've built through nights of brainless enjoyment together, and cramped together pillow talk throughout the night gave us a new spirit and determination to achieve something together. To leave a legacy both for our particular mono intake, as well as a bedtime story to share with our posterity.

We were soldiers, once so young. A Band of Brothers, re-creating the history of a NS Battalion, and leaving a milestone in our 19 yr old lives.