KUCHING: War hero Colonel (R) Dunstan Nyaring Angking was laid to rest at the Anglican cemetery in Batu Kitang, 8th Mile on Friday.
The first Iban army officer to attain the rank of full colonel, he died at the age of 77 at his residence in Batu Kawa on Wednesday morning.
The First Infantry Division in a statement, said that the late Nyaring began serving in 1964 in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (1RRD) which at that time had booked a period of glory in the fight against communist terrorists in Sarawak.
For this excellence, Nyaring received the Battle Truncheon on Nov 19, 1966 from the first Governor of Sarawak Tun Abang Haji Openg Abang Sapi’ee.
He was a second lieutenant in May 21, 1966, when he led his platoon from Charlie Company against a group of four communist terrorists. In the ensuing battle, one of the terrorists was killed while the rest fled leaving behind blood trail.
Upon follow up action, the three terrorists were found hiding in a cave and subsequently captured.
Nyaring left behind a wife, four children, nine grandchildren and one great grandson to mourn his loss.
He was the youngest among nine siblings which included the late Datuk Ignatius Angking – who was one of Sarawak’s senior administrative officers, and served as Resident of the Third Division, and chief executive officer of Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom).
One of Nyaring’s grandchildren is Isaac Emmanuel Angking, an American-born Iban professional football player who plays for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) through the First Infantry Division extends its condolences to the family of the deceased, especially to his wife, Juliana and family.
