In the winter of 2020, a white-haired old man watched the movie "King Kong Chuan" in a dry rest house in Dandong, Liaoning Province, accompanied by the old man's youngest daughter, who is also 65 years old, a gift film commemorating the 70th anniversary of the volunteer army's entry into the Korean War.
As the plot of the movie pushed forward, the veteran's eyes gradually moistened, the emotions gradually lost control, tears kept flowing down his wrinkled cheeks, just when his daughter was about to wipe his tears, he waved his hand and said: "This movie reminds me of the fierceness of the young days on the Korean battlefield, how many comrades fell from me..."
The tearful old man named Sun Jingkun, born in a remote small rural area of Dandong City, Liaoning Province, was once a soldier in the 3rd Battalion and 7th Company of the 357th Regiment of the 119th Division of the 40th Army of the Chinese Volunteer Army. He fought all his life, won military merit many times, and was a veritable hero. In the Liaoshen Campaign, he received third-class merit; in the Battle of Pingjin, he received second-class merit; in the subsequent War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he also participated, and was awarded the first class merit once and the third class merit once.
However, when the military merit was outstanding, he pressed the medals, military merit medals and other equipment he had received at the bottom of the box, and returned to the countryside in anonymity. It can be said that "things are whisked away, and the merits and names are hidden deeply." So, when the Korean Armistice Was Signed, why did he choose to disappear? What is the reason behind the incognito? Bidding farewell to the battlefield, what touching things did Elder Sun do?
First, the newlyweds are falling, and they resolutely join the army
When the September 18 Incident broke out, the three northeastern provinces completely fell, and the vast territory was instantly reduced to the pocket of Japanese imperialism, and even Sun Jingkun's hometown could not escape.
Winters in the northeast were very cold, and with the lack of food at that time, people had to suffer from cold and starvation. At that time, Sun Jingkun, who was still young, followed his father to the mountains to hunt, and over time he developed a good skill of carrying a gun. This also laid a solid foundation for his subsequent enlistment in the army and the killing of the enemy.
In 1948, when the newlywed Yan'er was married, the 24-year-old Sun Jingkun bid farewell to his newlywed wife and resolutely chose to join the army. After enlisting in the army, he successively performed well in the Liaoshen Campaign, the Pingjin Campaign, the Hainan Island Campaign, and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and won military merit.
In 1950, the United States-led coalition army ignored Chinese warnings and wantonly crossed the 38th Parallel to provoke. At this time, the newly founded new China was undoubtedly threatened with irrationality and injustice. At that time, the flames of war were burning one after another, directly approaching Dandong City. When Sun Jingkun, who was participating in the Battle of Hainan Island, heard this news, he was indignant and resolutely decided to go north to join the Chinese Volunteer Army and defend his family and country.
The internal war in Korea broke out, and the domestic situation was becoming increasingly dangerous. When the flames of the war crossed the Yalu River, Sun Jingkun did not hesitate, followed the large troops across the Yalu River, came to the Korean battlefield, and confronted the US army. This is Sun Jingkun's life".
One day in October, the Chinese Volunteer Army confronted the U.S. army in the Yongsui-dong area of North Korea, and Sun Jingkun led his men to charge and kill the enemy in blood. Unfortunately, the machine light gun "whizzed" and hit Sun Jingkun's leg, and the pain was unbearable. After that, he was carried down by his comrades-in-arms and returned to a hospital in Jilin Province for treatment.
After recuperating for more than a month, Sun Jingkun was very worried about the battle situation on the front line, and insisted on returning to the battlefield before his leg wound was fully healed. So Sun Jingkun "crossed the Yalu River twice".
Second, the blood stained ganling
In 1952, the fierce Battle of Shangganling broke out, which was also the most tragic and the most serious casualties in all the battles to resist the United States and aid Korea. At that time, due to the superiority of military strength and weapons and equipment, coupled with the famous American military scientist MacArthur's great admiration for the doctrine of superior firepower, the US military adopted an almost all-missile attack method of operation.
Over Shangganling, THE US military planes poured gasoline bombs and incendiary bombs down all the time, and in an instant, the entire main peak of Shangganling was almost cut by a full two meters. On land, surrounded by giant tanks of the American army, like countless pairs of fierce eyes, staring menacingly at the volunteers.
Sun Jingkun was also in danger, and his superiors asked him to lead 3 companies to aid the 154 heights. After receiving this task, although his previous combat experience was very rich, Sun Jingkun was still worried and a little bottomless. In an environment full of bullets and bullets all around, it is almost impossible to command alone and lead his subordinates to attack the mountain to support.
Under the weight of all kinds, it was impossible to take it hard, so Sun Jingkun had to choose the way of "wisdom" to attack. He led his army in mobile combat, and detoured to the back of the enemy's weakly defended mountain, and finally reached the 154 heights for reinforcement. Sun Jingkun adopted the "three-three system", that is, the way of dividing three people into a group, divided into a total of 30 groups, and carrying out front and rear attacks. In the process of land movement, unfortunately discovered by the US army, the volunteer army responded flexibly and quickly threw off the "tailgating" of the US army.
However, the U.S. military was not ignorant of the Volunteers' expertise in mobile guerrilla warfare. Therefore, in the skies over Shangganling, once the US planes found the Chinese soldiers lying in ambush on the mountain, they decisively dropped missiles, and after a bombardment, the volunteers also suffered heavy casualties. Sun Jingkun and the volunteer soldiers fought from 6 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, repelling many Attacks by the American Army. Sun Jingkun alone killed 22 American soldiers. By the time we reached Height 154, there were only about 20 people left in the entire 3 companies.
In the end, it was almost to the point of running out of ammunition. In desperation, Sun Jingkun could only use a bayonet to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the US army. During the fight, because he was outnumbered, Sun Jingkun's abdomen was stabbed and bleeding. Later, when the large troops of the volunteer army supported, Sun Jingkun was sent to the hospital for treatment, and because of the serious situation, Sun Jingkun was later sent back to his hometown for treatment.
Two weeks later, Sun Jingkun was very concerned about the situation on the North Korean front, and after a complete recovery, crossed the Yalu River again. Later, Sun Jingkun participated in the summer counter-offensive campaign of the volunteer army and won three "second-class special merits". After decades of fighting, Sun Jingkun's body has more than twenty scars.
When the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, Sun Jingkun, at this time, had returned to China and was invited to Beijing to participate in the commendation meeting for combat heroes. In Beijing, he was cordially received by Mao Zedong and other party and state leaders. In June 1953, he was awarded the Medal of Honor of "Soldier of the First Class to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea".
Countless scars and countless medals show the glory and struggle of a generation of soldiers, and show the firm belief of Sun Lao in defending his family and defending the country. It embodies the tenacious perseverance of the soldiers of the Republic and the heroic mind of giving his life for the party and the people at any time.
Third, the matter is whisked away, and the merit and name are hidden deeply
When demobilized in 1955, Sun Jingkun voluntarily gave up his job in the city, refused generous government subsidies, and returned to his hometown. He has been the leader of the production team for more than 20 years, leading the villagers to explore the way out of poverty and become rich. When facing the villagers, Sun Jingkun did not mention anything about his brilliant military service, combat experience, and combat achievements.
Sun Jingkun has done many good things for the people all his life, and is committed to seeking well-being for the people's livelihood. At that time, there were 5 poor families who had moved from Heilongjiang and had no land to cultivate. Sun Jingkun distributed the 40 acres of land allocated by the government to his own and redistributed it to poor households, solving their poverty problem. In addition, in just a few years, 130,000 pine and chestnut trees were planted on the bare barren mountains, which led to the local economic development and increased the income of farmers.
At home, Sun Jingkun always taught his son: "Don't always think about the small things at home, think more about the country." "At one point, I once introduced a good job opportunity to others, which made the eldest son Sun Fugui extremely puzzled." In the end, Sun Fugui also embarked on the road of joining the army.
Before leaving, Sun Jingkun gave his son the teapot and towel he had used during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. After Sun Fugui arrived at the army, the chief saw that the teapot was written "Gift to the most lovely person" and knew that Sun Fugui was a descendant of the revolutionary hero Sun Jingkun.
Therefore, the chief held up the teapot and said to the comrades in the army: "Comrade Sun Fugui is the descendant of revolutionary fighters, and we are proud to have such comrades-in-arms!" When he heard these words, Sun Fugui instantly understood his father's intentions and understood his father's painstaking heart.
Since the end of the Korean Civil War, Sun Jingkun has been hiding the medals, certificates, and military uniforms he obtained during the war at the bottom of the box, and has never looked for them.
In 1998, in preparation for the establishment of the Memorial Hall for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the Central Military Commission launched a nationwide campaign to collect the deeds of combat heroes in the Korean War. At this time, Sun Jingkun, who was indifferent to fame and fortune and had been buried in anonymity for decades, returned to the public eye. While commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Shangganling, Sun Jingkun was fortunate to be invited to Beijing to participate in the commemoration. At this time, Sun Jingkun found the military uniform he had worn before and the medals given by the organization from the box, and went to Beijing after getting ready.
At the end of June 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China awarded Sun Jingkun a "July 1st Medal". When he received such a high degree of recognition, Sun Jingkun did not take credit for himself, and he always emphasized: "The greatest heroes are those comrades who remain on the Korean battlefield!" ”
During the revolutionary war years, Sun Jingkun was a revolutionary fighter with an iron backbone who slaughtered the enemy in blood, was invincible, was born into death, bravely marched forward, and was a "fighting hero" worthy of the times and the people.
Text/Lincun Village
References: ""July 1st Medal" winner Sun Jingkun: The hero of the bloody battle on Ganling, deeply hidden in the name of merit and poverty", Beijing News