Back to the Warfront Again

I am back for awhile. I was drafted into a personal war late last year. The warfront is ablaze and horrible, unlike conventional warfare. Took a quick break from the front to post this.

I am glad I had learnt my lessons well in our tactics courses, in MTAT and in MPAT. I am more glad to have been DS and Instructor whilst in service. I understand Strategy, I understand the importance of terrain and most of all, fire and movement. I know I must fight on grounds of my own choosing. I must identify my GTI. I need all the fire power available and fire at will. I must maintain my momentum. I must.

I must do my appreciation. It must be a Full appreciation with my own pink DS answers and all. A quick appreciation on Aim, Ground and Plan is inadequate. I don’t know nor understand the enemy well, and now the enemy has an upper hand.

As of today I have a better understanding of the enemy. The enemy is ferocious, brutal and intense. The enemy grows from strength to strength every second, every minute, 24/7. The enemy’s combat power is almost unmatchable. The enemy employs blitzkrieg movements with onslaughts far exceeding the pace used by the Germans in WW2. The enemy employs guerrilla tactics and techniques to entrench itself in our weakest area. It establishes a very strong base before breaking out. Once it breaks out, the enemy is almost unstoppable until it is too late for us. The enemy’s strategy has 4 stages. Its operations in the first two stages are almost impossible to detect, unless we do deliberate surveillance over our sensitive terrain.

I was alerted by friendly forces, of possible enemy within my mist late last year. Intelligence units confirmed the presence of the enemy. I was caught sleeping with my pants literally down. The enemy had firmly dug in and entrenched into it’s stage 3 and is in its local advanced stage. I was in total shock when the intel was presented to me. I couldn’t believe it, what, with me nicely retired and starting to look forward to a good life. The Intel was F1 intelligence and confirmed by several sources. I must be drafted into the war. It is my war. My defense pact with several friendly forces is inadequate. There is only so much that they can do and assist. I cannot let them do all the fighting. I am fighting fit and I will fight. I am a Gunner.

I have Cancer.

Allen Lai

The Battle Plans

I am back at the frontline again. Glad to be back to take personal charge of the battle. We are halfway through our Fire Plan. We had agreed to 30 fire missions and we had fired 13 missions todate. Target analysis had just come in and we are pleased that we are on time and on targets. Target analysis under the PSA format and score line came down from 20 plus points to 2.34 points to finally 1.44 points. These results showed that our fireplans are effective and on track.

I am glad to have concrete alliance with the best elite forces in the country. HUKM have tremendous expertise and experience in destroying the enemy. HUKM have very specialized and seasoned personnel and fire units. HUKM had proposed a dual approach to eliminate the enemy. Firstly we need to contain the enemy and stabilize the situation. HUKM proposed to do this by using the Hormone Line as the first line of attack to force the enemy to dig in, and to stop a blitzkrieg. The Hormone attack plan had paid off nicely despite some minor setbacks and side effects in our terrain. The Hormone attack plan had completely caught the enemy by surprise. The enemy retreated and had dug in and moved into their defence phase. We had successfully contained the enemy for destruction.

Having contained the enemy, HUKM proposed a NBC attack, particularly a Radiological attack. Standard NATO High Explosive shells are not effective. We will fire 30 fire missions at 10 seconds intervals, at selected High Value Targets. We had selected 7 HVTs in the enemy’s Vital ground. The Fire Plan scheduled 4 fire missions on each HVT. We had agreed to accept a calculated loss of own troops as casualties in the vicinity of the target areas. This is most unfortunate and we pray that our frontline troops recover, reorg, and regroup quickly to continue to maintain the momentum on the ground attacks.

Whilst HUKM’s main twin attack plans were in place, I had taken additional steps to cut off the enemy’s supplies and food and also to reinforce our own forces resources. I had been too aggressive in the support plan that had resulted some setbacks in the admin areas, particularly with shortages of toilets in the field. HUKM quickly addressed the situation and had advised me to delay my support plans to poison the enemy’s supplies and to enhance our troops fighting capabilities. I agreed and had put my support plans on hold for the time being.

The battle continues.

Lesson learnt No.1

Spend time to be fit or spend time to be sick.

Review of the Situation

The battle is still raging as I start to ponder.

What is happening ? WHY me ? There MUST be a mistake somewhere. People makes mistakes. Right? Intreps have shown how the enemy had advanced to Stage Three. Steady I said to myself. I must remain calm. I must remain calm at all cost because I must display leadership and control.

I thought about the basics. It must start with the basics. We have always been told to go back to the basics. Do an appreciation or do a SWOT appraisal, but what ever do not panic. I started to look at my terrain.

I am male and 66 years old. I should have about 6 trillion troops under command. Our troops are organized as cells, nodes and organs. I would have about 2 trillion combat troops and the remainder combat support and logistics troops. Combat troops seek and destroys enemy troops wherever there is a a contact. They fight 24 /7 hours without taking any annual leave.

My troops recruit and retrench on a daily basis. They are fairly organized and regulated. They form designated defense lines with self immunizer units. However they need high value supplies and food. But immunizer units degrade over time and age. At my age I admit some combat troops do loose their firefights sometimes. I maintain regular PULHEEMS checkups and ARTEP tests to ensure that my troops are FE always and fairly fit for battle. But alas I admit to being complacent for quite some time. I had taken things for granted. My troops soon became inferior to the enemy. This is the truth of the matter.

I then considered the enemy. I must respect the enemy. Sun Tzu had advised us to know our enemy.

The enemy comprised mainly from Free Radicals, they had mutinied and are running amok. The enemy is sustained in anaerobic conditions in the terrain. It avoids an alkaline situation and strives with happy hours in acidic conditions in the terrain. The enemy cohorts quickly with other radicals known as carcinogens.

When the enemy gathers enough strength, it will metastasis into our main stream lifelines and limp nodes. The enemy’s thrust and push will be almost impossible to contain. They form strong colonies called Tumours.

We also know the enemy does kamikaze style apoptosis when given certain type of food. It actually commits suicide. The enemy is very vulnerable to deception. Big idiots, if I must say.

I conclude that I must fight on grounds of my own choosing. I must fight an unconventional warfare. I must first contain the enemy and then blast the enemy with Chemical and Radiological arsenals. I must create an alkali and oxygenated environment in my terrain, by consuming good nutrients and exercising.

Last but not least I must call up my Higher Reserves. I must open up my communication channels to GOD. I cannot communicate with HIM if I am not calm, if I remain angry and frustrated. I am blessed that I have received great calmness and strength from HIM and my signals to him are always answered, even when my messages are relayed to HIM by my family members and friends. GOD bless all of them.

I am glad to be a fighter, a Gunner fighter at that.

So much for now. Lets adjourn to the officers’ mess in the field for a drink. Cheers.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 2.

Don’t ever take your life for granted. It is vulnerable.

Visit to the gun position

As the battle fiercely rages on, I visited the gun position of the In Direct Support Regiment. (Radiology Unit).

As at today my ORBAT have increased with the following units:

In Direct Support and at priority call for Fireplan HUKM

1. Oncology Regiment HUKM

2. Radiology Regiment HUKM

In support

1. GS (Urology) Regiment HUKM

2. GS (Medical)Regiment Putrajaya

3. GS (Ophthalmology) Regiment Putrajaya

4. GS (Orthopedic) Regiment Putrajaya

All the batteries in the Radiology Regiment are equipped with the high powered Siemens Mevatron Linear accelerators. (See picture above). This radiation linear accelerator equipment is very versatile and can fire up to 15 Megavolts. It fires Photons and Electrons measured in Greys (GY).

Fireplan HUKM was planned by the CO of the Oncology Regiment. The CO had ordered 7 targets to be fired with at least 4 missions per target. Each target is fired upon for 10 seconds.

The target list was then circulated to all fire units. The Radiology Regiment having received the target list will then use the data as predicted targets. The predicted target list is then placed over scanned images of the terrain. I was then called into a simulation room to confirm the targets in my terrain. A full survey and mapping exercise will be conducted by the survey and BDP personnel. The targets are then registered and sent to the fire units. Survey data will be circulated to all units. And all units will be upgraded Divisional Grid.

In the gun position I was met by the Bty Comd, a survey officer, a BDP personnel and one gun number. The BDP personnel and gun number are lady personnel. A full survey and marking of the targets in the terrain will be conducted and lines passed to the guns. Center of arcs will be marked in the terrain. Four registered will be fired on a daily basis. My fireplan have always been on time and on target. We have successfully finished 20 fire missions todate. Target analysis have just come in and my PSA reading has fallen further to 1.44. We are on track to victory. Thank you all.

The CO is now planning a Phase 2 to the Fireplan.

Allen Lai

Lessons No 3.

Prevention is the only and best cure for Cancer. Take care always.

Radiological Fallout

At the close of Fireplan HUKM, my terrain is badly burnt and scorched, particularly in the target areas. There is no real NBC warfare gears or personnel wears for protection against radiological beams. Only lead material can block radiological beams, and that is very heavy to suit up.

Radiological fallout is far more severe and devastating than NBC fallout. There are some prescribed remedies for personnel affected by NBC fallouts, but not radiological fallouts. Radiological beams are essentially photons or electrons elements that will ‘fry’ you from inside out. It goes through anything save lead. Traumas and side-effects derived from radiological threats are very difficult to stabilize. You wouldn’t want to come to the frontline to see for yourselves, the many casualties in the battlefield. I see them every day. I am glad to have been a soldier. I am trained and is more capable to manage battle stress and battle fatigue. I have leadership talents and skills carved into me for the whole period of my service. I am glad to be a Gunner. I can see the big picture. I must lead by example, I must teach survival skills to the less knowledgeable. I must not display my fears and worries. I had been a CO and BC. I am decisive. I must remain strong to bring everybody home safe.

I had agreed with the CO of the Radiological Regiment to go ahead with his fireplan. It would mean agreeing to what we call a Scorch Earth Policy. Burn everything, leave nothing for the enemy. If we the enemy with radiological fire, then we must be prepared to sacrifice our front line troops nearest the targets as well. I have no option. I must be strong. The CO had also explained that he would tailor his fireplan to my terrain. I am strong and fit enough to withstand 30 fire missions.

Today the CO had ordered Check firing on the 20^th fire mission. Stop by Safety!! My terrain is badly scorched and marred. The whole terrain had dried up and dehydrated. I itch in most parts and my terrain had become very brittle. A normal minor scratch would bring out blood. My terrain is literally hot throughout the day and night, inspite air-conditioning. I am beginning to suffer hypothermia. The state of dehydration had caused diarrhea. My blood pressure is now around 90/55 and dropping.

The CO needs to modify the fireplan for the safety of my surviving troops.

Allen Lai

Lessons learnt No 4

Cancer does not choose its victims. We allow cancer cells to grow in our bodies.

War Game

War games are played by military formations, units and personnel to visualize a potential outcome of a strategy or tactics employed. Scenarios are set and tokens are placed and played, with resolutions generated by computers or umpires. It is very much a mind game of sorts.

I also played war games daily in the frontline. I create positive scenarios and positive resolutions all the time when our guns are firing. Positive thinking is a very powerful tool. It brings out the best in us. It harnesses and release all the good hormones in our terrain and maneuvers them to the right direction. We become winners all the time and that is good. Mind imageries are also taught in meditations,Yoga, Pilates, and most cultural/religious cultures.

Each day as I visit the gun position, I see our gunners preparing for the fireplan. Bearings and Elevations and Angle of Sights are set to the assigned targets. Bearings are still measured in degrees and elevations measured in millimeters. Munitions are loaded. A Safety Officer would check the center of arcs, survey data and gridlines in the good old ARTY board. I will then ask the GPO permission to order the fire orders. I still remember the elements of fireorders necessary to fire the guns.

I have a built- in TANOY speaker system and I would shout the fire orders into it.

Fire Mission Bty

ZU1001

Radiation, Photon

 Charge .....30 Gy.

10 MegaVolts

10 seconds

Enemy dug in.

At my command…..

I wait until the safety officer clears me and I shout TEMBAK.

The guns fire with a whirling sound for ten seconds. And I would order Check Firing before I order for the next target ZU1002. We fire 4 targets for 10 seconds each per day. Ten seconds is a long time when I am lying motionless on my terrain. I would bring out my binoculars and observe the target areas. I actually can visualize the fall of shots. The crumps (sometimes a late gun ?) and smoke and dust kicked up. It is a joy to visualize the enemy being hit with a direct full barrage of radiation beam. I can vividly recollect the tight crump when all the guns are calibrated and compensated for bearings and elevations. I am actually most happy to be able to visualize the effects of a bombardment. It makes my day. And I long for my next fire mission. I am glad I am a Gunner, trained in the ASAHAN ranges.

Targets destroyed. End of mission. Hurray……another successful fire mission.

I can smell the fresh aroma of cordite. Just like when we were in the gun position in Asahan. Can you smell it too?

Allen Lai

Lessons learnt No 5

Know your terrain and fight on grounds of your own choosing.

Fireplan Phase 2

The CO Radiological Regiment called me to his Tac HQ to discuss and plan for phase 2 to Fireplan HUKM. The collateral damage caused by the radiation fallout is unacceptable. I am BBQed, ready to eat.

Whilst I am barely OK, I had witnessed that others were worst off than me. This week’s gory lost films from WWII, currently shown in ASTRO’s History Channel pales by comparison to my daily visits to the frontline.

I am sorry for a Form 3 girl with enemies in her brain area, causing her to loose her sights. I am just as sorry to see a Standard 5 boy suffering with enemy in his blood stream. He is just down and out, thin as a scarecrow, in a wheelchair looking real bad. Another man in his fifties is fighting his last fight. He sits in his wheelchair, lifeless, confused and hopeless. Everyday I see more and more new casualties. Unfortunately most others would have taken the Chemo path in addition to radiation. The former has the most trauma and fallout effects.

I stayed strong and I talk to them, trying not to look into their eyes. I melt when I look into their eyes. It is always in the eyes that we see their true feelings and fears. The blind girl would only stare blankly, back at me. A CO does not cry in front of his men. Sometimes I “minta diri” for a couple of minutes. I am proud that I have tried and had brought comfort to each and every one of my new friends. I am glad to have acquired EQ and other soft skills whilst as a Gunner officer in the army. It has been seeing to my men first and last always… Always. I share my knowledge of the enemy with them, I share my personal combat strategy and most of all I bring them hope. I am glad they have accepted my leadership, a role I know I can and must play. It makes me stronger too. I am a Gunner.

The CO Radiological Regiment is pleased to see me taking my beatings well. With 20 fire missions successfully conducted, I start to feel a bit lethargic. Notwithstanding being scorched and badly burnt, my strong leg muzzles weaken, I feel dizzy, tired and purge at night. This drains my energy. I park my rover in the wagon line area , 27 steps below the Tac HQ. I climbed the steps everyday and I wished it had been 26 steps. Seriously.

The officers, staff in the gun position, BDP staff and survey team worked efficiently as a team. I salute them as they remain strong and dedicated to their duties and roles despite seeing miseries and sufferings on a daily basis. They go about doing their job without complaining. However I hope they would enhance their service level a bit more with better soft skills. They should be given a High Morale allowance for this line of occupation.

I reported to the simulation room. A quick request brought in more aerial photos and scans. Overlays and tracings are made. The CO then analyzed the overall picture and selected another 4 targets to be fired 3 times at 10 seconds each. Phase 2 would have a total of 12 more fire missions. The survey team quickly surveyed and registered the targets ZU1008 through ZU1012.The target lists and records were circulated to all gun positions.

I thanked the CO and made my way directly back to the frontline.

Allen Lai

Lessons learnt No 6.

Do a full medical checkup. It will save your life.

Enemy Attack Plan

The enemy’s attack plan and tactics are quite complex but reasonably straightforward. The CO of the Oncology Regiment is responsible to study the enemy’s organization, growth, maneuver and attack plans. He is responsible to prepare damage control and counter attack plans.

By and large the enemy comes from our own troops which had mutinied and changed their uniforms. There are as many as 150 different types of enemy, each type depending on where they prefer to lodge in. Big Charlie is the common name given to them. But we know each type is very individual and has different levels of aggressiveness. The enemy quietly digs in and hide inside our terrain for up to five years sometimes. They greet new agents known as carcinogens and form alliances with them. They then grow from strength to strength in a standard drill called inflammation and the enemy will very quickly form a firm base in our weakest areas. These bases are both soft gel like lumps or hard benign tumors. Sometimes some bases are false alarms, these are malignant tumours. The enemy’s preparation stage are stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3. They then start to maneuver and metastasesthroughout our terrain at stage 4, via strategic junctions and routes.  Some aggressive enemies breakout even at stage two.

The enemy in stage 1 is cleverly camouflaged and lie below radar sights and other modern monitoring sensors. It is almost impossible to detect them. They are sometimes detected only by accident by a GD regimental officer investigating and probing other threats. The enemy in stage two is still very careful in not revealing itself. Generally it does not leave any telltale signs nor any symptoms suspecting of its existence. Our infantry patrols and Koris reports do sometime pick up their clandestine activities. The enemy in stage three is fairly bold and aggressive. They are fairly detectable and arrogantly attack our weak points. There will be frequent contacts and firefights with own troops. The enemy breaks out in a blitzkrieg in stage 4. This is their home run so to speak. They are almost unstoppable. The Chemo approach is the only known counter attack, normally after radiological and surgical counter attacks. Kill the enemy or be killed.

The enemy is quite clever and does not kill us directly. They are great eaters and consume all our supplies and our troops will start to suffer and die from malnutrition’s. We will be wasted away, literally. I cannot describe the enemy’s activities in my terrain as I did not detect them until stage three. The enemy, thankfully is quite docile and did not create any symptoms or fuss. I detected my enemy through a late PSA investigation because I had difficulty in peeing. But then it is a natural phenomena for the aged, hence I had neglected my regular PULHEEMS.

Allen Lai

Lesson No 6.

An old lesson but never learnt. Prevention is better than cure.

A minor hich

It is true that you can't think when your A- hole clogs up. Mine did at the tail end of my battles.

Hold on, will you ? I'll get myself a plumber.

Allen Lai

Counter attack

The counter attack has always been a commander’s nightmare. When do we counter attack? When is our position really, really untenable ? Untenable is always our keyword. So hard to define. Yes, we have our local counter attacks plans in place. But when should we trigger our main counter attack ?

The enemy is well contained and successfully bombarded with my Fireplan HUKM. Phase 2 was even more intense. I am at the tail end of my fireplan phase 2. I have suffered heavy casualties. I am fully exhausted and just barely coping with my collateral damages. My troops are in their last stage of grouping. Latest sitreps are very encouraging and intreps have been reporting that the enemy is in complete disarray. I am ready to launch my main counter attack.

I had done my appreciation . I conclude that there are 3 main options with several approaches in each of the option. I have listed them below:

Options.

1. Classical approach.

a. Hormone therapy.

b. Radiotherapy internal, external administered.

c. Surgical.

d. Chemotherapy.

e. Immunotherapy – Provenge.

2. Traditional or alternative approach.

a. Diet plan.

b. Change lifestyle plan.

c. Exercise plan.

d. Need for enzymes.

e. Need for good metabolism.

3. Spiritual approach.

a. Prayers.

b. Meditation.

c. Hypnotism.

d. Imagery.

I have applied some of the above approaches as follows:

Options 1a, 1b, 2c, 3a and 3d.

These counter attack approaches have been successful todate. I will now begin with options 2a, 2b, 2 d and 2e. These approaches will complete my main counter attack plan.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 7

We should adopt elements of approaches 2 and 3 above to avoid approach 1.

Enemy Profiling

We know more and more of the enemy each day. Thanks to many heroes, dedicated doctors and researchers worldwide. Thanks to GOD for granting our needs. I surmise the enemy’s profile below:

The enemy is afraid of GOD.

The enemy is defeatable.

Cannot live in oxygenated terrain.

Cannot live in alkaline terrain.

Can be poisoned.

Can commit suicide.

Can be easily tricked.

Gluttonous, hence easily starved.

The enemy is now being defeated with new medical technology breakthroughs.

The enemy is defeatable by alternative approaches.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 8

Act upon the profiles above. The enemy is defeatable.

War rumours

In the midst of my campaign I am bombarded with war rumours. This is bound to happen with the ease of access to the highways, broadbands, emails and internet. There are as many war rumours as there are victims of the war and survivors and caregivers. And there are even more war rumours coming from unscrupulous war scavengers, always ever ready to make money from casualties victims and survivors. These war scavengers will even sell junk technologies, nutrition’s and new magic cures. There is NO ONE MAGIC CURE. There will always be more disinformation than information.

All war rumours from victims and survivors from the war, are generally genuine and sincere, we should not discard them totally as they mean well. However they are always not necessary workable solutions. Unscrupulous corporations will use the vulnerability of victims’ want to survive. Victims want Hope. Any Hope. Unscrupulous corporations act like angels, but they are disguised in clever psychological and marketing techniques. Values in their products are hyped up stuff.

I am in part, a war rumour myself. I will continue to dig up war rumours in search of a genuine remedy for myself and other victims. But how do I separate the chaff from the stalk? I apply my own rules of engagement as follows:

1. Successful war rumours from survivors are generally genuine. They are worth a second thought.

2. War rumors supported by medical researchers are fairly good. However they need more independent researches and confirmation.

3. A good rule of engagement is not to take it in totality. Look for the caveats and motives of the rumour. Bad rumours will stand out like a sore thumb.

4. Always listen and read the fine prints and also in-between the lines.

5. I will be very cautious if it is a free trail as they are always filled with hidden costs. They say that there is no free lunch.

6. I am also apprehensive of some testimonials supporting the products.

7. I always test the products using the ‘truth of the matter test’.

8. If a person says it is 100% good, it is 100% junk.

9. I always visit regulated sources for information. My guiding foundation will always be based from Dr David Servans-Schreiber’s book ‘Anti cancer: A new way of life’

10. There is no one cure for all. If the product does not pinpoint t a specific type of cancer, it is to be discarded.

We should never allow our fears and hopelessness distort the truth of the matter. We do not have fears and hopelessness as help is always at hand.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 9

GOD won’t grant us our wants, HE will always grant us our needs. We will have to work it out to get our wants from HIS grants.

End of Mission

“The guns, thank GOD, the guns...” I borrow this Rudyard Kipling’s quote from the Gunners Club. I am really thankful to GOD and the guns. Today is the end of my fireplan HUKM Phase 2. I took the last fire mission personally. ZU1011. All guns firing with their barrels blazing hot. I observed full impacts on the target. I did not see any enemy surrender. The enemy will not surrender, they will try to hide to fight another day. I will not take prisoners. The rules of engagement in this front is unlike any conventional warfare. Kill or be killed. My enemy engaged me at the wrong front. The enemy underestimated me and he will pay for his mistake. I will not spare any quarters.

Phase 2 comprising 12 more fire missions took its toll on me and almost did me in. I could barely sustain Phase 1 with 20 fire missions. A total of 32 fire missions are a lot to take. I am glad that I am graded FE at my last PULHEEMS test. I am fairly fit before the fireplan. Others fighting in the same front with me, were in a worser shape than me. One had to do a modification and was stopped in the middle of her fireplan and she was evacuated to the base hospital. My whole terrain is drenched dry and the most sensitive point was closed for operation. I literally could not do my daily business in the morning and night. The pain I endure in each trip to the field toilet is indescribable. The torn and cut areas in between my legs caused by the rubbers of my running shorts would not heal as quickly as I would like them. I will have to continue to walk like a pregnant penguin for the next two weeks. I also have prickly heat pin pokes all over my terrain. I cannot apply any soap, lotions, creams or medications, as the radiation retained in my terrain will not subside for the next two weeks. My body radiates out heat and aches, I have short stressed spells of head spins and nauseas. Otherwise I am fine.

I was given medical leave for 6 weeks before I report to HUKM again. The CO of Oncology Regiment told me that all was well with my fireplan. However it will take up to 6 weeks before full intelligence and operational reports can be collected and collated.

I thank the HUKM personnel for standing by me daily. They had stood by me, and others with full dedication to duty and professionalism. They had no fear of the hazards in the frontline, nor were they affected physiologically by the daily interactions with combatants like me. And I admit that most others are really non- combatants and they had fear and despair in their eyes. Most untrained and unprofessional personnel will need constant counseling when facing such traumas on a daily basis. I salute the present HUKM staff doing their job. I will be glad to share each and every one of my medals with them. They had earned it as well. I brought a nice cake and some biscuits to celebrate my victory with them and my fellow frontliners. They appreciated my camaraderie.

I must thank my wife Peggy, for standing by me and my family. She deserves the KPK medal, a medal my brother John Lai received whilst in service many years ago. He described the KPK medal as 'just short of the PGB medal' as his bravery was not in the face of the enemy.

Finally I wish to thank you, my family members, friends and everybody else who had offered prayers and thoughts for me. A big thank you.

LESSON 10

ALWAYS THANK GOD.

Combat Rations

Having been in the front line for almost a year now, I am now convinced that our conventional combat ration is unsuitable to sustain current operations against Big Charlie. Conventional supplies in fresh ration and combat ration are adequately nutritious, but not necessary sustainable in new combat environments. This is now so with higher toxicity and pollution levels in every form of food, water, air and environment. New Carcinogens are being discovered almost on a yearly basis. Food scientists, Nutritionist and Dieticians worldwide are coming up with new studies to prove and encourage eating food that are specific to combating Big Charlie. In the wake of increasing numbers of new casualties to Big Charlie, there is a spurt of new findings in the properties of plant and animal foods. There are as many confirmed researches and findings as there are scientist interested in this field of research. So much so that there seems to be a lack of control and coordination of researches and findings by any central body. Most of the time I find studies contradict themselves and are inadequately and unsatisfactorily concluded.

My personal understanding is that, there is no one magic food or mineral that will be good for every person. What is good for some people may not necessary be good for you. My understanding is actually quite simple, as no two person has the same DNA, body chemistry level, body energy level, body toxicity level and oxygen level. For example the proverbial Jack Sprat who could eat no Fat and his wife could eat no Thin. And also there are more than 150 types of Big Charlie. Dr David Servan-Schreiber, who wrote Anti Cancer: A new way of life, Dr Patrick Quillin, author of Beating Cancer with Nutrition and Dr Colin Campbell of The China Study are some of the leading doctors in food research. Not to mention also of Dr Lai Chui Nam founder of Lapis Lazuli Light Resource Centers.

I find Dr David Servan- Schreiber’s work to be adequate enough as all other works concur with his. The following combat ration is good in fighting most types of Big Charlie (Not in any particular order of food values):

Green Tea for its Polyphenols and Catechins.

Turmeric (Kunyit) for anti inflammatory properties.

Ginger for anti inflammatory properties and being a powerful antioxidant.

Cruciform Vegetables for its sulforaphan and indo-3-carbinols.

Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots and Chives being ancient medicinal herbals and has anti bacterial properties.

Vegetables and fruits rich in Carotenoids for its Lycopene and Vitamin A.

Tomatoes for its Lycopene, excellent for prostate cancer.

Soy for its blocking angiogenesis properties.

Mushrooms for its Polysaccharides and Lentinian.

Seaweeds for Fucoxanthin and Fucodian causing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Food rich in Selenium for boosting effects of antioxidant mechanism.

Flaxseed oil rich in short-chain vegetal Omega-3.

Sunshine for Vitamin D.

Fish rich in Omega-3 for its fish oils.

Probiotics for its friendly bacteria.

Berries for its Ellagic acid and Polyphenols.

Citrus Fruits for its Vitamin C.

Pomegranate Juice for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Red wine for its Resveratrol and Polyphenols.

Dark Chocolate for its antioxidants, Proanthocyanidines and Polyphenols.

The above list is extracted from Dr David’s book. Take sometime to understand and digest them. Boy, do I like dark Chocolates.

Allen Lai

Lesson Learnt No.11

Knowing what you eat is not as important as knowing what is eating you.

Learning the Enemy Language

We are familiar with anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-personnel but anti-angiogenesis? What about apoptasis, metatasis, proanthocyanidines, and Coenzymes?  Wow, I hope I had spelt them right. I still cannot pronounce them though.

I did a crash language course just to understand the enemy. Big Charlie generally uses Greek and Latin languages, syntax and nuances. But I wouldn’t be surprise if the language used also contain some Sanskrit. It is highly recommended that we learn a word a day to be abreast with Big Charlie.

To keep this post as brief as possible, I link you directly to the US National Cancer Institute’s reference dictionary:

http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/

Allen Lai

Lesson Learnt No.12

Nah, You already know this lesson.

Reorganisation Phase

It is now more than 3 weeks after my final assault on the enemy position. The fight had been decisive. We went in under full artillery cover, captured and held the objective. The enemy was very well entrenched. Thankfully even enemy trenches with strong OHP could not withstand our Photons bombardments. The enemy suffered maximum casualties and also most of our forward assault troops. All fire missions were danger close missions. Acceptable safety distances and precisions were ensured. Battle wounds and scars were everywhere. And battle fatigue is taking its toll. I don’t think I can withstand another intense assault like this. This was as much as I could take. No more. No more, I cried in my mind. But I must press home. I must maintain the momentum. Enemy defenses were beginning to break up. We broke in and fought deep into the objective. Deep penetrations into the enemy lines were achieved, thanks to the fire support. I took a look around the battlefield at others who were fighting their own battles. Many had suffered more than me. Most had suffered unbearable pain and nausea. Many cried and begged to be relieved. One combatant could not finish her fight and was pulled out of the battlefield. She must live to fight another day, another time. I could only encourage them to hold on, often reminding them that we have a bit more to go. Only a bit more to go. Come on Go! Go! Go! I could not let them down. I must bite the bullet. I must finish my assault. I would relate to our ARTEP physical tests. It is home run. I can do it. They saw my courage and thankfully held their ground.

The smoke cleared and the dust had settled. Reorg had been in full swing. I brought up more ammo and supplies. Did a full staff check and called up more reserved troops to take up occupied positions. I was told it would take a full two weeks to recuperate from radiation fallouts. Radiation in the objective does not dissipate immediate. It remains there killing everything in its range for the next two weeks. And my troops are still fighting from trench to trench. It now calls for close quarters combat. Hand to hand combat. Bayonets! Fire support cover had ceased. I must improve my immunization system as I can easily catch infections and inflammations. No soap, lotions or creams are allowed. No matter what ailment prevails. My body radiates heat even in air-conditioned environments. My skin is parched and brittle. I have prickly heat spots all over my body and I scratched like hell only to draw blood at each scratch line. And no toilets please. My rectum feels full all time and I suffered each time I did my business. I am drained of all my energy and I feel lethargic all the time.

I took two weeks off, doing nothing. Just eat, drink and slept it off. I went to Port Dickson for a nice and quiet weekend. I participated in the Relay For Life event held at Bukit Jalil NSC stadium. I also spent time to help out several of my fellow combatants who needed help most. I took my mind off the battle by reading heavily into photography. A new hobby for me.

I will know the outcome of my battle in a month’s time. I am fine now. I just know it. My body tells me so. I have been given a second chance at life.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 13.

If maintaining health is expensive, try illness.