committee member, and some weapons. Major Ismail Bin Salleh, commanding officer of Charlie Company, and Second Lieutenant David Fu Chee Ming, platoon commander of 8 Platoon, were awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani on 2 June 1971. Based on information gathered by the Special Branch that 60 Communist insurgents would be infiltrating Tanah Hitam moving on to Grik, Charlie Company, with a complement of three officers and 94 other ranks, was given the mission of preparing an ambush along the infiltration route. Charlie Company split into three groups: Company Headquarters and 9th Platoon formed the centre blocking force, with 7th Platoon to their right and 8th Platoon to their left. The groups were given two days to prepare their ambush positions and lay booby traps and Claymore mines. On 20 August, 1st Section consisting of eight personnel heard the rustling of branches and bamboo being snapped by footfalls. 1st Section immediately stood to in their bunkers. Ranger Abu Bin Mat saw an insurgent on the trail, 35 meters from section's position, a lead scout of a larger group. Ranger Abu Bin Mat and Ranger Abu Samah Bin Hj. Ibrahim, who were manning the Section's support GPMG, along with Lance Corporal Abdullah Bin Nawi held their fire and continued their wait. Moments later, another insurgent appeared on the trail, and then two more appeared. At 3:45 pm, Lance Corporal Abdullah detonated his Claymore mine as the GPMG crew opened fire, joined by the LMG manned by Lance Corporal Karim Bin Sidek manning the left bunker. At 4:20 pm, the insurgents ceased fire, even though movement could still be heard in the trail. 1st Section opened fire to suppress the insurgents' movements. With nightfall, the communists made an attempt to retrieve their fallen comrades. Major Ismail called for close in artillery support on the trail, walking the artillery rounds close to 1st Section's position. The insurgents withdrew before morning, leaving behind their dead. Search the following morning revealed five dead insurgents. Other accounts of rangers in combat are as follows: * Operation Ngayau * Contact with 10th Regiment CPM * Ambush on the road Gubir / Nong Gajah * Bagging 5 CT's at the Korbu Forest Reserve in Perak * Operations Selamat Sawadee 1 * Operation Jelaku, Sadong, Sarawak * Firefight at Sebatu Road, Bau, Sarawak * Attack On Enemy Camp * Assault At Muara Tebas* An Ambush in Sungei Katibas* Operation Indera