Rawlings, The Tribute: The tenderness in his toughness By Divine Doe Koblah JAN 25, 2021 General Douglas MacArthur of the U.S. Army once said before the joint session of Congress in April 1951: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away. This is not only true with soldiers but also true with certain personalities. These persons make their entrance on planet earth as actors on a stage, play their parts, affect many lives and make their exit. They never die, they just fade away. They are never forgotten - it is as if they are still among the living. Jerry John Rawlings is definitely one of such people. Sometimes one wonders how he managed to stay in power for more than 20 years- How he was able to stage a coup on December 31, 1981, when he was under surveillance for 24 hours a day.