David Kenny
Mr. Kenny graduated from Boston Latin School, Harvard College and Harvard Business School. He retired as Captain after serving 31 years in the Naval Intelligence Reserve.

This fine documentary does not encompass nuclear war, the Cold War's broad sweep or the fighting of WW2. It is instead a brilliant recreation of one of the nearly forgotten small and bloody encounters that dotted the 20th century. L Company's victory in rescuing civilian administrators from God knows what fate in a tiny Borneo enclave was one of those almost unknown engagements that prevented communism and disorder from spreading southwards from Vietnam. While Brunei, Singapore, Australia and Indonesia built thriving economies that brought a measure of stability to their part of the world small bands of men like L Company of the Royal Marines thwarted the growth and finally the existence of the rebel movements that skulked destructively around the centers of population.

Return is not the bloodless history beloved of safe academics. It is not a slick retelling of: "The good guys won." It is not a puff piece and probably will not increase recruitment into the Royal Marines. It is a brief and telling insight into the way the world really works. Generals Moore and Thompson, along with a few veteran NCOs, supply the gory details that preserve those five dead marines' fatal courage. Now at least a few of us remember their final acts.

Return has flaws. The photography of that beautiful locale is so engrossing that the viewer is tempted to overlook the combat. General Thompson's dialogue throughout the 48 minutes brings us back to earth. The final scene of reconciliation between one Royal Marine veteran of the fight and his Malaysian opponent could have been hokey but its brevity and sincerity was well done and perhaps surprisingly gives a little hope for humanity. Viewing Return To Limbang is a very well spent 48 minutes.