Second Lieutenant Daryl Loh, Republic of Singapore Navy
8 February 1981 - 26 February 2001
As this day dawns, I know the Loh family will cherish the memory of their elder son, Daryl, who died after an accident at Changi Naval Base on 26 February 2001 while serving his full-time National Service.
Painful though it was, I am grateful to Daryl's father, Mr Lawrence Loh, for taking the time to relate the joys of parenthood, watching his son grow from teen to young adult and how much Daryl loved serving the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
My takeaway from those sessions was learning firsthand that the pain of losing a family member to a military accident never goes away. It also underlined the importance of transparency in reporting military accidents, and how a family draws strength from their religious faith and the support of the naval squadron that counted their son as one of their own. The Navy Family is indeed real and when the RSN says it takes care of its own, it means it. The Singapore Armed Forces' Services must never forget this virtue.
If you have never come across the next-of-kin of an SAF serviceman share his experience, please take a moment to read Mr Loh's account here.
Thank you Mr Lawrence Loh for teaching me humility and respect for human life.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Loh family on this day.
Daryl, your family continues to love you very much.
"Went the day well?
We died and never knew.
But, well or ill,
Singapore, we died for you."
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