ὦ ξεῖν', ἀγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ὅτι τῇδε
κείμεθα τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι.
Go, tell the Spartans, passerby,
that here by Spartan law we lie.
κείμεθα τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι.
Go, tell the Spartans, passerby,
that here by Spartan law we lie.
It was in the wee hours of January 25, 2015, in Tukalanipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao that men skilled in the lethal arts tightened their combat webbings, checked their weapons and ammunition and exercised the tightness in their jawlines. Just like in their training exercises with US Navy Seals they knew thay had to conduct this operation. It was all about the mission and that is all that mattered to them. They were given their marching orders and they went to carry it out the best they could.
By 6:18 a.m. the 3 platoons of Special Action Force (SAF) commandoes were pinned down. From all sides with their backs to a river, the SAF commandoes were subjected to a withering fusillade including .50 calibre weapons. It was continuous like unending rain. Having been caught in exposed ground with no natural cover, the SAF were being picked off one by one. They fought back as best they could but there was no escaping the kill box and buzzsaw they found themselves in. Cries for help via radio seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Then a moment of realization came, they knew that not all of them would come out alive. One trooper offered himself as sniper bait so others of the unit could escape. But such heroics were in vain today. Their ammunition ran out by noon of that day. They were left with nothing more. No artillery or air support, much less ground support.
They looked at their images of loved ones in their cellphones. One last look before the darkness will set in. They said their prayers and made peace with God. They will step into the abyss knowing that they have accomplished their mission. They have neutralized the international terrorist Marwan. They have done their duty. It was never about ideology, faith or politics. It was duty for the motherland.
They never will know that their final stand will send shockwaves to the entire nation that will reverberate for a long time. They never wanted glory but they got glory. They have joined the 300 at Thermopylae, the 600 of the Light Brigade at the Crimea, the 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn and The French Foreign Legion at Cameron. They have earned their place in Valhalla.
But most important of all, they have earned a place in the hearts of every patriotic and nationalistic Filipino.
To the Bravest of the Brave, the SAF 44, it has been a year but this nation will be ever grateful and will never forget!
By 6:18 a.m. the 3 platoons of Special Action Force (SAF) commandoes were pinned down. From all sides with their backs to a river, the SAF commandoes were subjected to a withering fusillade including .50 calibre weapons. It was continuous like unending rain. Having been caught in exposed ground with no natural cover, the SAF were being picked off one by one. They fought back as best they could but there was no escaping the kill box and buzzsaw they found themselves in. Cries for help via radio seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Then a moment of realization came, they knew that not all of them would come out alive. One trooper offered himself as sniper bait so others of the unit could escape. But such heroics were in vain today. Their ammunition ran out by noon of that day. They were left with nothing more. No artillery or air support, much less ground support.
They looked at their images of loved ones in their cellphones. One last look before the darkness will set in. They said their prayers and made peace with God. They will step into the abyss knowing that they have accomplished their mission. They have neutralized the international terrorist Marwan. They have done their duty. It was never about ideology, faith or politics. It was duty for the motherland.
They never will know that their final stand will send shockwaves to the entire nation that will reverberate for a long time. They never wanted glory but they got glory. They have joined the 300 at Thermopylae, the 600 of the Light Brigade at the Crimea, the 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn and The French Foreign Legion at Cameron. They have earned their place in Valhalla.
But most important of all, they have earned a place in the hearts of every patriotic and nationalistic Filipino.
To the Bravest of the Brave, the SAF 44, it has been a year but this nation will be ever grateful and will never forget!
