Tunaiji of Great Tunb battle laid to rest

Ras Al Khaimah - Mohammed Abdullah Al Khumairi Al Tunaiji was one of the eye witnesses of the Iranian invasion to the Great Tunb island on Nov 29,1971

Almost after 45 years when he was with five other Emirati soldiers an eye witness of the Iranian invasion to the Great Tunb island of Ras Al Khaimah on Nov 29,1971, Mohammed Abdullah Al Khumairi Al Tunaiji died.
The brave UAE soldier, honoured by the prudent leadership here, received a serious injury in one of his legs during the Great Tunb battle in which the Iranian killed the 20-year-old Emirati serviceman Salem Suhail bin Khamis.
Tunaiji, based in Al Rams area, to the north of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, spent 22 years in the military service during which he set a shiny example for dedication and loyalty to the country and leadership.
The 75-year-old man, who was a senior corporal with the RAK police at that time, was buried late on Wednesday at the Rams Cemetery, 12km to the north of the RAK city.
Crowds of people, Emirati nationals and residents, from the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and nearby emirates insisted to bid farewell to the departing hero who was dreaming during his entire life to get back this dear part of his country which is under the Iranian occupation, according to family and relatives.
"Al Tunaiji, a close friend to the first UAE martyr serviceman Salem Suhail bin Khamis, was next to him when the Iranians invaded the Great Tunb Island, and was shot in his leg."
He was then taken as a prisoner for defending the UAE Island, but was released later, and travelled back with his other four fellow mates to the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. "He was well received by his fellow people who treated him and others as heroes since then."
Jassim Mohammed, the eldest son of the late serviceman, said his father's will which he kept repeating to his 14 children - eight sons and six daughters, grandchildren and siblings until his last minute was to get back the Great Tunb Island.
"He used to advise us all the time to ever think of the island and get it back even if this requires their soul and blood."
The epic of defending the island was the most favoured story he used to narrate to his children, he added. "He told us in an interesting way how Salem Suhail, the first UAE martyr, bravely defended the island until his death."
Father was the one who told Suhail to head to the RAK flag and defend it with his body when the Iranians tried to lower it, Mohammed pointed out. "He ordered Suhail because he was older than him though the martyr was the commander of the unit there."
Tunaiji was 30 years old when the Island was occupied by the Iranian forces whereas Suhail was only 20 year old, he said. "Therefore, father used to love him, and deal with him as his younger brother."
Talking about the Great Tunb Battle, the late serviceman used to tell his children that he was on the second floor of the building where the UAE military force was guarding the Island."He used to sit next to the radio to send the wires to his seniors at the Ras Al Khaimah police when he received a bullet in his right leg which could have been mutilated because the Iranians did not provide him with any medical assistance."
Tunaiji and his fellows were returned to the UAE by the Red Crescent after the intervention of the late Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Mohammed underlined.
"Father was honoured by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2014 as part of the UAE 43^rd National Day celebrations," he said, noting that the late hero suffered the loss of one of his sons while performing national duty. "Another son was injured while returning from a military mission."
Anwar Mohammed Al Khumairi, another son of the deceased, said his father's health was not good in his last days. "He was admitted to the hospital in Abu Dhabi two months back until he breathed his last on Wednesday."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
 

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