In 1955, when the military rank was awarded, many brothers and soldiers were awarded the corresponding military ranks, such as Wang Shusheng and Wang Hongkun, the cousin Wang Shusheng was awarded the rank of general, and the cousin Wang Hongkun was awarded the rank of general; and the brothers He Jinnian and He Jixiang, the elder brother He Jinnian and the younger brother He Jixiang were all awarded the rank of major general. What everyone may not know is that at that time, a couple of conjugal soldiers also participated, the husband was awarded the rank of general, and the wife was awarded the rank of major general, which was the first female general in our army. So, who are the husband and wife generals? Let's move on.
His husband's name was Gan Siqi, a native of Ningxiang, Hunan, who joined the revolution very early and had long been engaged in ideological and political work. During the Long March of the Red Army, Gan Siqi served as the director of the Political Department of the Red Second Front, and made many contributions to strengthening the ideological and political work of the Red Second Front. During the period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Gan Siqi successively served as director of the Political Department of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, director of the Political Department of the Jinsui Military Region, and director of the Political Department of the Jinsui United Defense Army in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia.
During the period of the Liberation War, Gan Siqi successively served as director of the political department of the Northwest Field Army and director of the political department of the First Field Army, and while conscientiously doing his own work, Gan Siqi also participated in and commanded important battles such as the Battle of Fumei, the Battle of Lanzhou, the Battle of Ningxia, and the Battle of Hexi. After the founding of New China, Gan Siqi also participated in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and at that time served as deputy political commissar and director of the political department of the Volunteer Army, making great achievements in ensuring the heroic combat of the troops in the political work of the troops. When he was awarded the rank in 1955, Gan Siqi was awarded the rank of general.
His wife's name was Li Zhen, a native of Liuyang, Hunan, who had been poor since childhood and was even sent out as a child bridesmaid, and later joined the Red Army. During the Long March of the Red Army, Li Zhen served as the director of the Organization Department of the Political Department of the Red 6th Army of the Red Second Front and the deputy director of the Organization Department of the Political Department of the Red Second Front. On New Year's Day 1935, before the Red Second Front carried out the Long March, Li Zhen was introduced by people and married Gan Siqi as a revolutionary couple. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Li Zhen successively served as the principal of the Eighth Route Army Women's School, the director of the Political Office directly under the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and the chief of the Organization Section of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Jinsui United Defense Army.
It can be said that both Gan Siqi and Li Zhen are engaged in the ideological and political work of the army. During the Liberation War, Li Zhen successively served as director of the Political Department directly under the Political Department of the Northwest Field Army and secretary general of the Political Department of the Northwest Military Region. After the founding of New China, Li Zhen and her husband Gan Siqi participated in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea together, and at that time served as secretary general of the Political Department of the Volunteer Army. When he was awarded the rank in 1955, Li Zhen, who was then the head of the cadre department of the Political Department of the Air Defense Force, was awarded the rank of major general, the first female general in our army.