Sunday, May 31, 2009

The Legendary Egyptian Soldier

The Egyptian soldier is one of the most controversial military soldiers across all times. Known to be one of the bravest, yet nowadays regarded as the weakest although he is far from that.

Perhaps we it is because we see these too kind foot soldiers in their normal daily routine, talking about non-sense and we actually know nothing about the being within.

This lead to a mass belief that the Egyptian soldier is not up to date..Perhaps he may not be equipped with every topnotch technological gadget. But that’s not what makes a soldier

So let me tell you a few stories..

I used to have a cousin who died a few years back, he was General when he retired, and the army was his life.. in addition to body building!

Until the day he died whenever he came to shake hands with me he used to take a full swing of his army and I’d put my hand down at the end of the swing to avoid having my hand crushed under the power of his fist.. His biceps still talked about how well he built himself even if having a bit of a belly showing but his arms were scary.

He was with the communications division where they were responsible for installing communications line across battlefields to have more coverage.

One of the times he had a soldier with him, he was a young one and my cousin was somewhere around his early thirties, still blistering with his youth and strength..As they were planting the communications line, the soldier’s hand was shaking..

Did I mention my cousin can have quite a voice when he wanted to? Well he did..

So when the soldier’s hand shook, he shouted at him..

Cousin: Hold your hands still soldier!

The soldier nodded still a bit afraid being out in the middle of nowhere and not knowing what to expect, he tried to hold the line without shaking but he couldn’t help it.

My cousin landed a slap on his face which was so hard it could be heard for quite some distance..

So the soldier held the line still..

A few minutes later.. An Israeli aircraft appeared and started firing at their jeep.. They ran to the nearest ditch..

The Israeli fighter wasted 3 missiles just to hit the jeep.

Anyway they jumped into the ditch.. According to my cousin, the soldier who had just received a powerful and stunning slap on the face.. Jumped right on top of him to cover him.. And after the aircraft had left..He asked him if he’s ok

My cousin personally didn’t believe it..he thought the kid must have hated him with all his heart but to protect him with his own body? That was completely unexpected

On another occasion with another soldier, this cousin of mine were driving by night to extend wires (Again).. and after quite some distance they reached an area where there was a camp and a camp fire.. so my cousin bobbed his head out of the car and just said “Salamo Aleikom”..the reply came fast enough..

In bullets!!! He’d stumbled on an Israeli camp and of course they opened fire!

So my cousin just pulled his head down looked at the driver and told him to get them out of there..The soldier obeyed without a single comment.. And did what he was told..

He turned the steering wheel hard and stepped on the gas and took them out of there like a bat out of hell..

The hail of bullets didn’t stop but they managed to get out , after driving and getting back to their camp, my cousin noticed that the soldier as soon as they arrived was sweating a lot and rested his head on the steering wheel..

My cousin: What’s wrong soldier?

Soldier: excuse me Sir, but I’ve been shot in the left shoulder..

My cousin: You idiot!!!! Why didn’t you say so!

Soldier: You asked me to get us out sir, I had to get us out!

My Cousin: I could have driven! Get the hell to the paramedics immediately

And they called the paramedics..who took the soldier to recover..

(The coming story will be a bit brutal so it is not for the faint of hearted)..

During the battle of 6th of October, a tank platoon were assigned to take out a fortification, and as they moved closer the platoon leader asked all his tank commanders to get down from their tank towers and get inside the tank

(Tanks are usually made of a crew of three, a commander, a driver and a loader, the loader is the one who loads the shells and fires them)

So all the tank commanders did so except one.. Who stayed in his tower and got shot and died..

The tank platoon leader over the radio advised all his men, in extreme fury that he wanted that soldier alive..

After a while they took out the fortification and found some prisoners.. one of which was the guy who shot tank commander..

The platoon leader lined him up against a wall and blew him with a tank shell..

Technically he vaporized the guy..

When it comes to losing our men..It’s a personal vendetta it’s not just a war anymore..it becomes a war and a personal vendetta..

These few stories though quite short but will give you reflection on how dedicated these simple people can be and how can their commitment change things and save lives..

So if you think that even now the Egyptian soldier is not capable of anything.. You are greatly and gravely mistaken.

Never forget those people or others like Mohamed Abdel Aty , who took out singlehandedly 35 tanks and armored vehicles by which he was entered the Guinness book of records and Mohamed El Masry who took out 27 tanks with 30 rockets and took out the infamous Assaf Yagoury’s tank , after which Assaf in captivity asked for a glass of water as a first request and as a second to see the man who got him. And when he saw him looked at him in admiration..

Never underestimate the power of kind people for it will take you by storm and wipe you completely out..

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