Fuxinggang Metro Station - Scout with Binoculars | Guandu Metro Station “Carnival of the Animals” × Fuxinggang Metro Station “Big Contributions from Small Soldiers”

Scout with Binoculars

The scouts are the eyes of the army. This scout is using high-tech binoculars to see whether the tracks ahead are clear, so that the MRT train can pass unhindered. Scouts not only collect data on the enemy and pass useful information onto headquarters but also sort out any collected data at the initial stage of big disasters. They need to have a good disaster response understanding, cooperate with the local government, and try to reduce the chances of casualties as much as possible.

Airborne Special Forces

The special forces are an indispensable branch of the combat arms. They conduct storming operations and are well versed in close combat, parachuting, and swimming. Their regimen is especially demanding since they are a cradle of our elite forces. As military technology continues to evolve, over the years airborne troops have been redefined as “airborne forces,” “air force special operations,” and “army aviation and special forces.” Their airborne operations have advanced from parachuting from transport category aircraft to the more efficient air landing by helicopters. Another advanced strategy is air assault, which enables troops to infiltrate enemy grounds from gliders. As time progresses and technology evolves, our airborne heroes continue to carry forward their fierce discipline in protecting our home and country.

Extended Reading

Mao Shou-yi, the “King of Sea Dragon in Matsu”

“Failure is not an option.”

The 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB-101), better known as the Sea Dragon “Frogmen” corps, is primarily deployed along the outlying islands of Taiwan. The Frogmen’s main duties include offshore patrols, expelling fishing vessels, hydrographic reconnaissance, shipment escort operations, and maritime rescue.

In times of war, Frogmen can swim offshore at night to infiltrate enemy territories, sneaking up in the dark to take out enemy guards and destroy their camps. Their stealthy operations and great achievements earned them such monikers as “the water ghosts” and “the dare-to-die corps.” The unit is also highly regarded by enemy forces, who sometimes call them “the A-team of water ghosts” or “the toughest of them all.”

People often give vivid titles to glorify the greatness of those whom they respect. Mao Shou-yi was a distinguished archetype of the Frogmen. He served as the Training Officer and Battalion Commander when he was stationed in Renai Village of Nangan, Matsu. There he dedicated himself to training recruits of the Army Frogmen and was often referred to as the “Father of Frogmen Soldiers.” He also led several missions where he swam over the strait with his squad to take out soldiers of the People's Liberation Army. Besides being decorated with multiple awards and honors, there is a statue of him at his battalion commemorating his outstanding achievements as the “King Sea Dragon of Matsu.”

During the Vietnam War, Mao was dispatched to Vietnam for reconnaissance operations. For this mission, 10 elite soldiers were deployed on a covert airplane trip. Half a year later, only seven returned. When Mao came home, his wife wanted a divorce, as she had received no word from him for the past six months. This memory tugged at his heart and become an important moment of his time in the Frogmen corps.

Mao was honorably discharged in 1989 and has since kept a low profile working as a security guard in Yongkang, Tainan.