Birth name Za Kaia Awards Thiha Thura Rank Lance corporal | Years of service 1946–1949 Died 12 December 1949 Allegiance Myanmar (Burma) | |
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Service/branch Myanmar Army, 2nd Burma Rifles Unit 2nd Burma Rifles, Company C Battles/wars Nanmekhon, Burma Civil War | ||
Za Kaia (1926 - 12 December 1949), ဒုတပ်ကြပ်ဇာကိုင်းအာ (ကျဆုံး), Lance Corporal Za Kaia (Burma Army Serial No: 50996) was an ethnic Chin of Burma, a recipient of Thiha Thura (သီဟသူရ) gallantry medal, the second highest and prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to Myanmar Armed Forces. The Thiha Thura meaning Brave as a Lion medal is awarded to Myanmar Armed Force serviceman who displays acts of extreme bravery in its highest order. Throughout Myanmar Army history, only 46 servicemen are awarded this prestigious medal.
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Early Life and Military Career
Za Kaia was born in the year of 1926 to Pu Neih Thula and Pi Thang Ngovi, in Zimte village, Tedim Township, Chin State, Myanmar. At the age of 20, he joined the 2nd Burma Rifles Battalion and quickly earned the respect of his officers and comrades. He was promoted the rank of Lance corporal in 1948 and entrusted him as a "Section Commander" i.e. he became a commander of 10 soldiers. Burma gained her independence from the United Kingdom in 1948 and deadly civil war soon followed.
Nanmekhon Battle
In December, 1949, the "C" Company (about 150 soldiers) of the 2nd Burma Rifles Battalion marched towards Kayah State to pursue the retreating rebelling force i.e. Karen National Defence Organisation(KNDO). Za Kaia and the "C" company departed Nyaunglebin (ညောင်လေးပင်) town in central Burma to frontier area of eastern Burma and soon engaged in a ferocious battle at Nanmekhon village, approximately 6.5miles west of Loikaw on 12 December 1949. As the KNDO force consisted of about 800 soldiers there, "C" Company of 2nd Burma Rifles was soon surrounded as the KNDO force were superiors in both soldier numbers and weapons. Za Kaia bravely fought rebelling force and showed tremendous courage and skill of a good soldier. Za Kaia and his comrades made defensive line and constantly engage with the rebelling force. They fought back while the KNDO troops shot them mercilessly. The condition was hopeless as the "C" company were pinned down and KNDO soldiers fired relentlessly. He then reported to his immediate officer that "Captain, if we take defensive position like this, we all will soon be killed and annihilated. So, all of our troop better fall back while me and my section will remain in this defensive position to cover your retreat. I and my section will sacrifice our life so that you can save other soldiers and fight on another day". The company commander then gave a retreat order as Za Kaia suggested. Za Kaia and his section hold their position and resisted the rebelling force while the whole company was retreating to safety line. He took ammunitions of his fallen comrades and continued shooting, shooting and shooting. The enemy soldiers shouted to him to surrender but he and his section never surrendered and resisted until they all are killed. He and his section had sacrificed their life for their comrades.
Award
The Myanmar Army war office recognized his acts of extreme bravery and awarded him the second highest gallantry medal in Burma Thiha Thura posthumously in 1951 with awarding order number 4/A Htoo (Special)/1951. The then Prime Minister of Burma U Nu, came to Falam, the Capital city of Chin Special Division and handover this gallantry medal together with Kyats 5,000 as honorarium to mother of Za Kaia. His mother received Kyats 40 per month as honorarium salary for this medal.