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MOBILE
COLUMN:
(Clockwise
from top
left) Light
Strike Vehicle
Mark II, Self-
Propelled
Howitzer
1 Primus,
Armoured
Engineer
Vehicle,
Leopard 2SG
Main Battle
Tank and
Protected
Response
Vehicle.
photos:sARANYA
MAhENDRAN,
liANhE zAobAo
Report by DEWEY SIM
deweysim@sph.com.sg
After 46 years, he is doing it
again.
Dressed in his old, green coverall, Colo-
nel (Retired) Goh Lye Choon stepped
into the Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank
which he will be riding as part of the
mobile column in this year’s National
Day Parade.
Col Goh was a pioneering member of
the first mobile column in 1969.
For the 74-year-old, it is a privilege to
be invited back to serve in this year’s
parade.
He said: “I am very delighted to be
back to serve alongside the younger
generations.”
Col Goh recalled the 1969 mobile col-
umn to be an important occasion as it
celebrated 150 years of modern Singa-
pore, since its founding back in 1819.
Together with 35 other Singapore
Looking at the tanks which will be
displayed at this year’s parade, Col Goh
feels that the country has come a long
way since its independence.
Compared with the 18 tanks featured
in 1969, this year’s mobile column will
see a total of 177 assets from SAF, the
police and the Singapore Civil Defence
Force.
Chairman of the Mobile Column Com-
mittee, Major Cai Dexian, said the 2-km-
long convoy will include the most ad-
vanced, significant and exciting assets,
to put up a special show for SG50.
In addition, 26 new assets, includ-
ing the Armoured Engineer Vehicle and
Protected Response Vehicle, will be
seen in this year’s parade.
Major Cai hopes this year’s mobile
column will illustrate the theme of
strength. He said: “(It) will tell the sto-
ry of the growth of Singapore’s de-
fence and security forces to become the
strong, respected and capable forces
that they are today.
“This strength is inherent not only in
the equipment and vehicles but also in
its people.”
One of the key features in this year’s
mobile column is the stories of the men
and women behind the vehicles.
The four-segment mobile column will
also pay tribute to the contributions of
our pioneers who have built up Singa-
pore’s defence and security forces.
Col Goh, who retired in 1993, said he
will share his experience and expertise
with the younger generations who now
have the responsibility of safeguarding
the country.
He hopes that with his participation
in this year’s mobile column, he will re-
live his memories of the parade 46 years
ago.
He said: “As part of the mobile col-
umn, we need to learn the spirit of de-
fence. We need to let the people know
that they are safe in our hands.”
And so, we rolled on, for the
first time, from St Andrew’s
Road to the Padang. Everyone
stood up and clapped for us.
They were all cheering loudly.
— Colonel (Retired) Goh Lye Choon on the 1969 mobile
column (left)
Tanks
Armed Forces (SAF) personnel, they
had to put up the entire mobile column
by themselves — from painting the tanks
with a coat of Temasek Green to turn-
ing a sports complex into a temporary
training ground.
But all the hard work paid off.
“And so, we rolled on, for the first
time, from St Andrew’s Road to the Pa-
dang,” he said, adding that it was a sig-
nificant moment for him.
“Everyone stood up and clapped for
us. They were all cheering loudly.
PRoud momEnT
“There was a sense of heartfelt happi-
ness for me. I felt very proud.
“It was the first time the people were
seeing the display of tanks. For us, we
felt we needed to show the people that
we were capable of protecting them.”
This year, Col Goh is returning for an
equally momentous occasion: the na-
tion’s golden jubilee.
Retired colonel
reminisces about
his first mobile
column in 1969
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Monday, June 29 2015 THENEWPAPER q q THENEWPAPER Monday, June 29 2015
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