11 Facts About Slamet Rijadi

Brigadier General Ignatius Slamet Rijadi was an Indonesian soldier.

Slamet Rijadi was "Sold" to his uncle and renamed as a toddler to cure his illnesses, Slamet Rijadi was raised at his parents' home and studied at Dutch-run schools.

In 1950, after the end of the revolution, Slamet Rijadi was sent to the Moluccas to put down a rebellion.

Slamet Rijadi was born with the name Soekamto in Surakarta, Central Java, Dutch East Indies, on 26 July 1927; he was the second son born to Underlieutenant Raden Ngabehi Prawiropralebdo, an officer in the sultan's army, and Soetati, a fruit seller.

Slamet Rijadi was not captured by the Japanese military police or other units for the remainder of the occupation, which ended with Indonesia's independence on 17 August 1945.

Slamet Rijadi began a guerrilla campaign against Dutch posts and quickly rose through the ranks.

In September 1948 Slamet Rijadi was promoted and given control of four battalions of soldiers and one of student soldiers.

Slamet Rijadi was sent to the frontline on 10 July 1950 as part of Operation Senopati.

Slamet Rijadi's forces approached the city through mangrove swamps, a journey which took a month.

Slamet Rijadi died of wounds that night; the battle ended the same day.

Slamet Rijadi received several medals posthumously, including the Bintang Sakti in May 1961, the Bintang Gerilya in July 1961, and the Satya Lencana Bakti in November 1961.