Mat Aznan Awang Explained

Mat Aznan Awang
Honorific Suffix:SP BKK
Birth Date:28 December 1960
Birth Place:Kampung Parit Panjang, Baling, Kedah, Federation of Malaya
Death Place:Mogadishu, Somalia
Branch:
Serviceyears:1980–1993
Rank: Lance Corporal

Corporal (posthumous)

Unit:19th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment
Commands:
Battles:Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89)
Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
Awards:Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)

Corporal Mat Aznan bin Awang (28 December 1960 – 4 October 1993) was a Malaysian Army soldier who served in the Malaysian Battilion (MALBATT) of the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II). Mat Aznan was posthumously awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 1993. He was a Royal Malay Regiment soldier and hailed from Kampung Parit Panjang, Baling, Kedah.

Battle of Mogadishu

On October 4, 1993, Mat Aznan was involved in the rescue mission of seventy US Rangers and five members of the US Air Force who were surrounded in the Bakaara Market area of Mogadishu, Somalia.

During the rescue operation, Mat Aznan acted as a driver of a Condor Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

While in transit, the rescue convoy was ambushed and the armored car driven by him was shot at by anti-tank weapons from the front. This penetrated the bullet-proof window, killing him and wounding nine others.

In this incident, four Condor APC vehicles were destroyed. However, the rescue efforts of US military personnel was successfully executed by MALBATT.

Honours

Mat Aznan Awang was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) from the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar of Negeri Sembilan on 4 June 1994.[1] He was posthumously promoted to Corporal by the Malaysian Army.

Legacy

One of Mat Aznan's daughters continues the legacy by serving in the same battalion.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1994.. ms.
  2. Book: Tunku Annuar Heads Ruler's Birthday Honours List. New Straits Times. 23 January 1994.
  3. Web site: Black Hawk Down: Anak perempuan sambung perjuangan Koperal Mat Aznan. Black Hawk Down: Daughter continues the fight for Corporal Mat Aznan. Suzalina. Hamid. Safuri. Kamaruddin. ms. Berita Harian. 10 May 2015. 2 August 2020.