Mat Aznan Awang
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Short description|Malaysian Army soldier}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2016}}
{{Malay name|Mat Aznan|Awang|note=on}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Mat Aznan Awang
| honorific_suffix = SP BKK
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1960|12|28|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1993|10|4|1960|12|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kampung Parit Panjang, Baling, Kedah, Federation of Malaya
| death_place = Mogadishu, Somalia
| praisename =
| allegiance = {{MAS}}
| branch = {{armed forces|Malaysia}}
- {{army|MAS}}
| serviceyears = 1980–1993
| rank = 30px Lance Corporal
| unit = 19th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment
| commands = * Malaysian Battilion (MALBATT)
| battles = Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89)
Battle of Mogadishu (1993){{KIA}}
| awards = Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Corporal Mat Aznan bin Awang (28 December 1960 – 4 October 1993) was a Malaysian Army soldier who served in the Malaysia Battalion (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 in October 1993. He was a Royal Malay Regiment soldier and hailed from Kampung Parit Panjang, Baling, Kedah.
Battle of Mogadishu
On 4 October 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 armoured 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.{{cite web |title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1994 |language=ms |trans-title=Full List of Recipients of Federal Orders, Stars and Medals in 1994 |publisher=Government of Malaysia |department=Ceremonies and International Conference Secretariat Division |url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/v8/images/stories/1994.pdf |access-date=2 March 2025}} He was posthumously promoted to Corporal by the Malaysian Army.
- {{flag|Malaysia}} :
- 50px Recipient of the Grand Knight of Valour (SP) (1994)
- {{flag|Kedah}} :
- 50px Bronze star of State of Kedah Star of Valour (BKK) (1994){{cite news |author= |title=Tunku Annuar Heads Ruler's Birthday Honours List |work=New Straits Times |department=Home News |date=23 January 1994 |p=F8 |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=RjtOAAAAIBAJ&dq=Mat+Aznan+Awang&pg=PA5&article_id=6882,962421&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Mat%20Aznan%20Awang&f=false |access-date=2 March 2025 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}}
Legacy
One of Mat Aznan's daughters continues the legacy by serving in the same battalion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bharian.com.my/bhplus-old/2015/05/53971/black-hawk-down-anak-perempuan-sambung-perjuangan-koperal-mat-aznan|title=Black Hawk Down: Anak perempuan sambung perjuangan Koperal Mat Aznan|trans-title=Black Hawk Down: Daughter continues the fight for Corporal Mat Aznan|first1=Suzalina|last1=Hamid|first2=Safuri|last2=Kamaruddin|language=ms|publisher=Berita Harian|date=10 May 2015|accessdate=2 August 2020}}