General Soedirman

general Soedirman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalsoedirman)

General Soedirman was born in Rembang, Central Java. "He was the military commander of Indonesian forces during the country's fight for independence from the Dutch in the 1940. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia" he joined PETA. It was the national army, promoted by the Japanese. He got his first military education there. After that, he was elected to be Batalyon commandeer at Kroya. After Indonesia reached their independence, he was succeeded to disarmed the rest of Japanese soldiers at Banyumas. In December 1945, he got the honor to be the General. The most important thing is, he didn't gain his General position through military academy or else, but because of his loyalty. Can you imagine how loyal he was that his loyalty can give him such a great honor like that.

During much of the next five years he was sick with tuberculosis, but he still led several guerrilla actions against the Dutch. At first the president, Mr.Soekarno didn't allow him to lead the guerillas, Soekarno asked him to stay in the city. But he didn't do what Soekarno said because of his responsibility as the leader. This the best part of his life that makes me adore him a lot. He ignored his health for the freedom of Indonesian people. I rarely find a person like him.

Then with all the power he still had, he departed from city to lead the guerrilla war. It was like seven months, he moved from one place to another, from mount to mount in his sickness, while he didn't have any medicine. But he always said to his soldiers to keep up their spirits and instructed them like there’s nothing happening with himself. But finally he got to leave the war area because he could not lead the soldiers directly with himself in the field anymore. But he was a great person, the soldiers needed him. So, although he cannot see the Dutch face to face, still, his thoughts are always needed.

General Soedirman died in January 1950 when he was 34 years old. He was buried in Heroes' Cemetery in Semaki, Yogyakarta. He received the title of National Hero of Indonesia as an Independence Defender Hero. There is a monument of him at Soedriman road, central Jakarta. For me, he is the best national hero Indonesia have ever had. He is fantastic!