Tabak soldiers wounded in fight vs. rebels recognized

By Gideon C. Corgue

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – “Wounded, injured, disabled or killed while in line of duty is part of an oath of soldiers in defending and protecting  the country against all enemies.”

This was how 1^st Infantry (Tabak)) division officer-in-charge Brigadier General (BGen.) Felicidad Virgilio Trinidad Jr. described the role of soldiers in an awarding ceremony for four wounded soldiers during the 115^th  Independence Day celebration on June 12, 2013 at Kuta Cesar Sang-an Station Hospital, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Trinidad personally pinned the medals to wounded Tabak troopers, namely, 2^nd Lt. Jose Aristeo Pamor, Sgt. Willy Paracale, Cpl. Joseph Vincoy, and Pvt. Rudy Leo Jr.

“The wounded troopers have shown their great love, service and dedication to our country, thus they absolutely deserve the honor they got today,” said Trinidad who also got wounded when he was then a lieutenant.

Trinidad said it has been a yearly tradition of the 1^st Infantry division to give award to wounded soldiers in recognition of their exemplary acts of patriotism and sacrifice in the service of our nation.

Lt. Pamor said he had mixed feelings upon receiving the award, saying, “Masaya, at the same time,  malungkot ako sa pagtanggap ng award. Masaya dahil ginawa namin ang aming tungkulin na ipagtanggol ang bansa laban sa mga kaaway, at malungkot dahil may mga tropa rin na nasugatan na handang  isakrapisyo ang buhay para sa ating bansa (I am happy and at the same time sad in receiving the award. Happy, because we fulfilled our promise to protect our country from the enemies, and sad because there are still troopers who are wounded and are ready to sacrifice their lives for our nation).”

Pamor was wounded at his back and head during an encounter with 35 fully armed insurgents in Barangay Anonang, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental on May 22, 2013. He was with Vincoy and Lee who also got wounded.

Paracale, on the other hand, was hit in an encounter with members of NPA in barangay Nacibac, Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte on May 30, 2013. (PIA9)