Tong Lianchu (age 92 years, party age 72 years)
Message: Adhere to the party's leadership and build our country well
Text: Zhou Liang, Sun Zhiying, Li Yi
Photography: Peng Peng
Camera: Yi Jie
Video Producer: Zhang Zhicheng
Producer: China Military Network, Loudi Military Sub-district, Hunan
When the reporter walked into the door of Tong Lianchu's house, he saw that the simple courtyard of the farmhouse was peaceful and quiet, and the old man was sitting at the door wearing glasses and quietly reading a book. Opening a small wooden box hidden in the bedroom locker, old photos and various medals were neatly arranged together, and although he was full of white hair in the military uniform photo, he could not hide the heroism and pride between his eyebrows.
Born in 1929 to a poor peasant family, Tong Lianchu began collecting firewood, herding cattle, and doing daily farm work from an early age. "Many of the images were frozen at the age of 14 and cannot be forgotten to this day." Tong Lianchu recalled.
His wife, who has been a teacher, instructed Tong Lianchu to read aloud.
The days of stability changed until the age of 14. That year, Tong Lianchu's father was captured by the Kuomintang, and his 36-year-old mother was killed by the Japanese army. "I feel deep pain and despair, but I know I have to save my father!" So Tong Lian replaced his father as a soldier. When he was in the Kuomintang troops, he witnessed the decay of the Kuomintang reactionaries, and in order to overthrow the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang and strive for a free and happy life, Tong Lianchu joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army in 1948 and successively participated in the Battle of Crossing the River and the Battle of Shanghai.
Tong Lianchu was most impressed by the Battle of Crossing the River and the Battle of Shanghai. "When I participated in the Battle of the River Crossing, the enemy's artillery bombarded Jiangnan, and our infantry only had two hours to cross the river. At that time, there was a platoon of 30 people, I was the squad leader, after everyone crossed the river in a small boat, there was a mile of water beach in front of me, the water did not pass my thighs, and the sound of artillery fire kept ringing in my ears, and I stood up and said to my comrades-in-arms: Don't be afraid, it doesn't matter. So everyone heroically raised their submachine guns and chased after the enemy. ”
The Battle of Shanghai was a large-scale urban offensive. In this battle, Tong Lianchu bravely killed the enemy and shot down an enemy sniper at Wusongkou in Shanghai, "I held a gun and saw his body emerge from the bunker through the sight, I hit him in the heart with one shot, hit him in the head with the second shot, and eliminated him in this way." ”
"After these two battles, the organization awarded me two third-class merits." Looking back now, Tong Lianchu still feels very honored.
Commemorative medal obtained by Tong Lianchu.
In the War of Liberation, he was not afraid of hardship and sacrifice, heroic forward, outstanding performance, Tong Lianchu joined the Communist Party of China in September 1949. Tong Lianchu knew that this was an organizational affirmation of his ideological progress and bravery, and at the same time, it was a heavy responsibility.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tong Lianchu worked in automobile transportation in the People's Air Force until he retired from his army in November 1956 and returned to his hometown after a 10-year absence. Tong Lianchu successively served as a militia battalion commander and a production captain in the village. As a party member, he took the lead in collective labor, leaving early and returning late every day, leading the villagers to carry out production and solve the difficulties of the masses. In the 1960s, under Chairman Mao's call to "prepare for war and prepare for famine for the people" and "good people are good and immediately on the third line," he took the lead in throwing himself into the vigorous "three-line construction" and supported the construction of the national defense industry with hard work and sweat.
Tong Lianchu's favorite thing is to tell children the battle stories of that year.
The years have passed, and the original intention is still the same. A clean green military uniform and scars left on the battlefield are the testimony of Tong Lianchu's bloody battlefield. The calm and serene old age made the former veteran more peaceful, telling the children the stories of the war years, which became his favorite thing to do in his later life. Looking at the bright red party flag, Tong Lianchu sighed: "This year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the party, because of the party, we have today's happy life, our young people, we must adhere to the party's leadership, work hard, and build our country well!" ”
【Character Profile】Tong Lianchu, born in Loudi City, Hunan Province in 1929, joined the army in 1948, joined the Party in 1949, successively participated in the Battle of Crossing the River and the Battle of Shanghai, and after the founding of New China, engaged in automobile transportation work in the People's Air Force, and retired in November 1956. Returning to his hometown, he successively served as a militia battalion commander and a production captain in the village, actively responded to national policies, led the villagers to carry out agricultural production, and now lives in Loudi City, Hunan Province.
Source: China Military Network Author: Zhou Liang Sun Zhiying Zhang Zhicheng
Editor-in-Charge: Sun Zhiying