Daughter follows war hero's footsteps

SUNGAI PETANI: The death of her soldier father 22 years ago spurred Sergeant Nur Azlinda Mat Aznan to follow in his footsteps and join the Armed Forces.
Her father Lance Corporal Mat Aznan Awang who served with the United Nations in Somalia, was among 90 officers involved in a rescue mission to save US Rangers and crew of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that were trapped in the middle of the Bakara Market in Mogadishu on Oct 3 and 4, 1993.
The ensuing battle resulted in 19 deaths, including that of Lance Corporal Mat Aznan. Nine other Malaysian soldiers were also wounded in the skirmish.
Nur Azlinda, 29, said although she could not remember what exactly happened during that day, she knew that she wanted to be a soldier and serve the country just like her father.
"At that time I was only 7-years-old, I don't really remember that day, but I knew that my father had fallen on the battlefield.
"I said to myself that I want to be like him one day", she told theSun during a memorial service organised by the Ministry of Defence and Malay daily Berita Harian to commemorate the sacrifice of Malaysian soldiers who died in Somalia.
Also present was her mother Siti Zauyah Yahya, 49.
Nur Azlinda is attached to the Public Service Corps at the 19th battalion Royal Malay Regiment (Mechanised) in Sungai Petani where she has served as an education coach for eight years now.
During a press conference yesterday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the event is an initiative between his ministry and Berita Harian together with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to commemorate the heroes of the Bakara Market skirmish.
Commenting on the welfare of ATM veterans, Hishammuddin said the allocation announced during Budget 2016 will be fully utilised under assistance schemes provided for army veterans.