——Remember the third crisis in the Taiwan Strait in 1962 and the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the East China Sea Fleet's Haizi 333 unit going to Fujian to participate in the preparation for the war
(Photo courtesy of the Internet and individuals)
Written by: Lu Qi
The third Taiwan Strait crisis in 1962.
The emergency combat readiness of 1962 was the largest all-army emergency combat readiness in the history of the Republic. The boss and marshal all made shocking statements. However, since 1963, this sensational third Taiwan Strait crisis and the emergency combat readiness of the whole army have been silent. Even in the relevant historical records of the republic, it is a stroke of ink and gold, and there are few detailed records. In fact, this was a great war readiness of extraordinary significance for the security of the Republic, and one should not forget it. I am one of the participants in this great war preparation and one of the witnesses who participated in this great war preparation. Today, in order to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the East China Sea Fleet's Haizi 333 unit going to Fujian to participate in the preparation for war and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our joining the party. Now, with the 95th anniversary of the founding of our army approaching, I feel it is necessary to record all what I have seen, heard, felt and realized in the form of a memoir that I have experienced in the form of a memoir.
The Taiwan Strait crisis is on the verge of erupting.
In 1962, a third crisis occurred in the Taiwan Strait: Chiang Kai-shek wanted to counterattack the mainland
In mid-1962, Chiang Kai-shek attempted to launch a military offensive against the mainland in response to the economic difficulties that had arisen in the Chinese mainland. In response to this challenge, the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted a large-scale emergency preparedness in the southeast coastal area of the mainland. This led to the third Taiwan Strait crisis, which aroused widespread concern in the international community. Mao Zedong, with his superb art of struggle, not only defused this crisis, but also smashed the subsequent military raids and harassment activities carried out by the Taiwan authorities on the mainland.
Chairman Mao Zedong.
After the shelling of Kinmen in 1958, Mao Zedong further put forward a general idea on the Taiwan issue and the work toward Taiwan in light of the development of the situation and proceeding from the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, the realization of national reunification. Its basic spirit is: Taiwan must return to the motherland, this is a matter of principle, there is no room for negotiation, let alone concessions; After Taiwan's return to the motherland, in addition to the need to unify diplomacy with the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, the local military and political powers, personnel arrangements, etc., obeyed Chiang Kai-shek's opinions; The insufficient part of Taiwan's military and political and economic construction expenses shall be allocated by the Central People's Government; Taiwan's social reform can be slowed down, and it must be carried out through consultation when the conditions are ripe and chiang kai-shek's opinions are respected; The two sides do not send special agents to each other and do not do anything that undermines the unity of the other. These ideas of Mao Zedong became the general policy of the CPC Central Committee in its work on Taiwan and were promulgated.
Shelling of the Battle of Kinmen in 1958.
Image of the 1958 Golden Gate Gun Battle by LIFE magazine in the United States
However, proceeding from the anti-communist stand, the Chiang Kai-shek clique stubbornly adhered to the reactionary political proposition of "counter-offensive and restoration of the country" and refused to accept the above-mentioned propositions of the mainland side. At the Third Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Kuomintang held in September 1960, Chiang Kai-shek delivered a speech entitled "The Basic Work and Development Direction of the Party." The meeting adopted the "Program for Anti-Communist National Construction" and the "Resolution on Promoting Unity and Cooperation among Anti-Communist Patriots." The above-mentioned programs and resolutions require Kuomintang party members working in the "Five Chambers, such as the Executive Yuan," the "Judicial Yuan," the "Legislative Yuan," the "Examination Court," and the "Control Yuan, to speed up the "restoration of the mainland."
During this period, "natural and man-made disasters" occurred on the mainland. The "Great Leap Forward" of 1958 and the "anti-rightist leaning" of 1959, coupled with three years of natural disasters and the perfidious tearing up of contracts by the Soviet government, caused serious difficulties in China's national economy. At the same time, with the support of the United States and Britain, the Indian ruling clique, after instigating the rebellion of the Tibetan serf owners and interfering in China's internal affairs, continued to invade China's borders. Chinese repelled the wave of anti-China provocation provoked by the Indian ruling clique and launched a self-defense counterattack on the Sino-Indian border. At this very moment, the Taiwan authorities miscalculated the situation and attempted to take advantage of the temporary difficulties and unfavorable international environment that arose in the Chinese mainland to take advantage of the opportunity to realize their ambition to "restore the mainland." After the "823" shelling in 1958, the Kuomintang deeply felt that the plan of counterattacking the mainland by military means was difficult to realize and needed to change its tactics. Therefore, the anti-communist "overall war" strategy was determined, with the mainland as the "main battlefield" and the Taiwan Strait as the "supporting battlefield," and combining the counter-revolutionary rebellion on the mainland with the war in the Taiwan Strait.
Chiang Kai-shek
Since the beginning of 1962, the Kuomintang authorities in Taiwan have mobilized for war and actively prepared for the deployment of large-scale military adventures in the coastal areas of the mainland from all aspects. On January 1, 1962, Chiang Kai-shek issued a New Year's Day proclamation, advocating full mobilization to meet the battle of "restoration", stressing that "the strength of anti-communism is spiritual greater than material, and the steps of counter-offensive are political before military." The time has come to threaten mainland compatriots to "strive for freedom and oppose tyranny," and we have absolute certainty in "defeating communism with the Three People's Principles." The political slogan of "innovation, mobilization, fighting" was put forward.
Subsequently, the "Supreme Five-Member Group" headed by Chiang Kai-shek and Chen Cheng (also known as the "Counter-Offensive Action Committee") was set up as the decision-making body for invading the mainland. In March, Chiang Kai-shek ordered "conscription mobilization" to force young and middle-aged Taiwanese to enlist in the army, and ordered the original veterans to extend their service indefinitely. In April, through the "Special Budget for National Defense", it was decided that from May 1, the equivalent of more than 60 million US dollars of "temporary special donations for national defense" would be collected, the "Field Service Bureau" would be established, the "Field Administration Class" would be opened, and "Party and Government Cadres" would be prepared for the landing.
Kuomintang army
On May 21, "Vice President" and "Executive Yuan President" Chen Cheng announced that the Taiwan authorities would transport disaster victims who had fled from the mainland to Hong Kong to Taiwan. The next day, the "Executive Yuan" set up a "special task force for mainland refugees fleeing Hong Kong." On June 9, Taiwan's "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" claimed that it would do its best to assist refugees fleeing from the mainland to Macau.
With the participation of the US military, the Kuomintang troops continued to conduct combat exercises aimed at invading the coastal areas of the mainland. For example, in March 1962, the U.S. and Chiang Kai-shek Navy conducted a "joint reconnaissance exercise" and a "hybrid exercise" of mine laying and mine clearance. From April to May, an emergency loading exercise was conducted for commercial and civilian vessels. In June, a joint land, sea and air landing operation exercise was conducted in southern Taiwan.
The Taiwan Strait crisis is coming? U.S. nuclear reconnaissance aircraft are rarely seen in the South China Sea.
The United States Government actively supports the military adventurous actions of the Taiwan authorities. Since the spring of 1962, important military and political personnel of the US government have been continuously operating in Taiwan. Some responsible U.S. officials believe that the time is "ripe" to invade Chinese mainland and advocate "do it now." In 1962, U.S. military assistance to Taiwan increased compared to the past two years, and a large number of U.S. arms and military supplies continued to be shipped to Taiwan.
The United States not only supports the Taiwan authorities in invading the mainland, but has never stopped its armed provocations against China militarily. US warships and aircraft have continuously violated China's territorial waters and airspace. From September 1958 to April 27, 1962, 261 U.S. warships violated China's territorial waters 144 times; 334 aircraft violated China's airspace 161 times. In the 15 months since U.S. President John F. Kennedy took office, 52 U.S. warships and 40 aircraft have violated China's territorial waters and airspace, respectively. Among them, in March 1962, a large group of 38 warships of the US Seventh Fleet made a military threat to China through the Taiwan Strait. Between April and May, U.S. warships repeatedly invaded Qingdao waters. On June 11, they invaded the waters east of Pingtan, Fujian Province, twice. On June 12, it invaded the waters south of Qingdao twice.
Taiwan Strait Crisis: Chen Bing Strait of the Three Armed Forces of the People's Liberation Army.
In response to Chiang Kai-shek's arrogant attempt to invade the mainland, the Central Military Commission issued an urgent directive to the whole army in May 1962. On June 10, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued an instruction to prepare to smash the Kuomintang troops to invade the southeast coastal areas, asking the whole party, the whole army, and the people of the whole country to be vigilant and make preparations in all aspects. Under the unified deployment of the General Staff, the People's Liberation Army entered a state of emergency combat readiness. In this preparation, the navy's troops participating in the war alone included 186 ships of various types and 156 aircraft. Throughout the country, especially in the southeastern coastal provinces and their deep areas, the local masses of the people and militia have also taken active actions, supporting and cooperating with the Platon Army at any time in order to meet the advances of the Kuomintang army at any time.
Mao Zedong and Chen Yi.
At the same time, the central government of the People's Republic of China has thoroughly exposed and solemnly warned the United States in supporting the Taiwan authorities' planned invasion of the mainland. On June 23, during negotiations between the united states government in Warsaw, Poland, ambassador Wang Bingnan exposed the behavior of the United States and warned: "The United States Government is playing with fire, and once Chiang Kai-shek provokes war on the mainland, the result will never bring any benefit to the United States, and the United States Government must be fully responsible for Chiang Kai-shek's adventurous actions and all the consequences arising therefrom." "We can conclude that the day Chiang Kai-shek invaded the mainland was when the Chinese People's Liberation Army liberated Taiwan." On June 24, people's daily published an editorial commenting on the conspiracy of the United States and Chiang Kai-shek to invade the mainland. In July and October of the same year, Chen Yi, vice premier and foreign minister of the State Council, twice warned the US government that "Chinese people are inviolable, and any criminal acts of committing crimes against Chinese mainland, infringing on China's frontiers, and subverting China will continue to be severely countered."
Marshal Chen Yi waved his fist and said, "If Old Jiang wants to come, we cannot let him climb up the beachhead one step, and we must resolutely eliminate Old Jiang at the beachhead position." ”
After analysis and study, the CPC Central Committee held that although Chiang Kai-shek was very determined to counterattack the mainland, the key lies in whether the United States supports it, and the strategic focus of the United States is in Europe, and the overall situation will never be affected by the Taiwan issue. Therefore, the united States has established a policy of using the United States to stop Taiwan's military operations. After diplomatic efforts, the United States was finally forced to give up its support for the military counteroffensive against the Taiwan authorities. On June 27, US President John F. Kennedy said at a press conference: First, so far, he does not know what early "counter-offensive mainland" statements or intentions the Taiwan side has made, and has not received any reports on this matter. Second, the Taiwan authorities have not submitted any consultations to the White House on this matter, and have not had any contacts on the treaty to which the two sides are bound. However, in accordance with the spirit of the "Mutual Defense Treaty" between the United States and Taiwan, he reiterated the US policy on defending Kinmenwai Island, that is, once the mainland attacks Kinmen and Matsu, the US military will cooperate with taiwan's Kuomintang troops.
The Maritime Formation of Chinese Navy Ships rode the wind and waves
The Maritime Formation of Chinese Navy Ships rode the wind and waves
Emergency preparedness was carried out in the southeast coastal areas
On New Year's Day 1962, Chiang Kai-shek saw the opportunity for the mainland's internal and external troubles, believing that the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to "counterattack the mainland" had arrived.
Originally, Chiang Kai-shek's speech did not attract the attention of the central authorities, after all, Chiang Kai-shek has always been ambitious and talented, and he was "thunderous and rainy and small", and he could not bear the big wind and waves.
However, Chiang Kai-shek's actions in the next step made everyone have to correct their attitude and attach importance to it.
In March, Chiang Kai-shek issued a "conscription" order in Taiwan and called for the demobilization of veterans, ordering the troops to extend the military service of soldiers who were about to be discharged indefinitely. At the same time, together with the US military, they also conducted "joint reconnaissance exercises" at sea.
In April, Chiang Kai-shek adopted a "special budget for national defense," which was prepared to collect $60 million for war preparedness, and various wartime departments were established.
In this way, Chairman Mao and the Central Committee also had to pay attention to it, and it seems that old Chiang Kai-shek is not small this time, and he is ready to go out and do a big job with us.
Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, Liu Shaoqi and the Ten Marshals.
Thanks to his keen judgment of the current situation, Chairman Mao felt that on the southeast coast of china, it is very likely that a large-scale battle with "The United States and Chiang Kai-shek" will break out, so it is urgent for our army to prepare for war in the southeast.
Faced with the provocation of the Chiang Kai-shek clique, Chairman Mao immediately instructed the Central Military Commission to hold an emergency meeting with the Ministry of National Defense and to submit a strategic report.
On May 10, Marshal Lin Biao, then Minister of National Defense, listened to the report of the General Staff on the movements of the Taiwan and Kuomintang troops, and then proposed to Chairman Mao:
The Kuomintang army may carry out medium-sized or above strategists in the southeast coastal area, and it is recommended to carry out emergency preparations in the southeast coastal area!
After hearing this, Chairman Mao agreed with the opinions of the Ministry of National Defense. However, at that time, we faced many challenges, and many people had no idea which major contradiction the mainland should grasp at that time, and the key moment was still in Premier Zhou's words.
Premier Zhou Enlai.
On May 14, in response to such problems, Premier Zhou specially conveyed Chairman Mao's instructions in his conversation with Luo Ruiqing, chief of the General Staff: Our main attention should still be at sea! Why?
Because Chairman Mao judged at that time that it was unlikely that the Soviet Union would fight a big war with us, there was no need to worry too much about the problems of Xinjiang in the northwest and India in the west. Although India keeps creating friction with its teeth and claws, it is at best a fox and a fake tiger, and after all, it is just a paper tiger, and it is not enough to be afraid, and once the war starts, we have the confidence to shock it for a short time.
But the threat from the southeast coast is not optimistic. The coastline along the southeast coast of the mainland is long, and we will not only face the threat from Chiang Kai-shek, but also more likely to deal with the comeback of the United States after the Korean War. Once the "United States and Chiang Kai-shek" really messed up and provoked war on our southeast coast, the situation was not optimistic. Therefore, Chairman Mao's attitude at this time is not to place our hopes on others not to fight, but to actively prepare for war and to be prepared to fight, and also to prepare for a big fight. As soon as the spirit of Chairman Mao's instructions came, the center of gravity of the mainland's defenses soon shifted to the preparations for war along the southeast coast.
In May 1962, Chairman Mao, accompanied by Luo Ruiqing, inspected Shanghai and took a photo at the Shanghai Cultural Club.
On 21 May, Chairman Mao, accompanied by Luo Ruiqing, inspected Shanghai, and during his inspection, he specially expressed the spirit of his new instructions to Premier Zhou in Beijing: We must be prepared for the landing of 100,000 to 300,000 Kuomintang troops this autumn, mainly the troops, the masses and grain. Premier Zhou is in charge of the State Council, and it is clear that these are all matters within his purview. In this way, under the instructions of Chairman Mao, the mainland's strategic preparations for war have officially begun to be concretely implemented.
In order to calculate the possible battles and various possible data and situations, on May 29, Marshal Lin Biao, the minister of national defense, convened a meeting of the Strategic Research Group of the Central Military Commission, the General Staff Department, the General Political Department, the General Logistics Department, and the heads of various branches of the armed forces. The meeting finally concluded that the probability of the Kuomintang army falling out of the nest is unlikely, but the war preparedness against Taiwan should be able to cope with a medium-sized or above-scale war. Chairman Mao agreed with this conclusion, saying: "Militarily, we must make preparations in all aspects. It doesn't hurt to be ready. Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong and other regions must be prepared. I don't think the number of troops participating in the war should be less than 500,000. ”
In view of this, the Central Military Commission began to make strategic arrangements based on the large, medium, and small strikes:
One, a small hit. Small dozens are prepared for 3 months to play 500,000 people.
Second, hit the middle. In the preparation of 500,000 people to fight for half a year.
Third, hit hard. Big hits are prepared for 3 million people to fight for a year.
As soon as the orders of the Central Military Commission and the State Council were issued, all units and departments throughout the country began to make urgent preparations for the southeast coast, and the level of preparation for war was the highest level since the Korean War.
Propaganda poster for the liberation of Taiwan in 1962.
Propaganda poster for the liberation of Taiwan in 1962.
Propaganda poster for the liberation of Taiwan in 1962.
So, to what extent did the mainland attach importance to this preparation at that time?
As we all know, the most important thing in fighting a war is to "know oneself and know the other". In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the analysis and investigation of the situation between the enemy and ourselves in the forward positions.
In order to do a good job in preparing for war on the southeast coast, the next action of the central authorities shocked everyone, the seven marshals of the mainland, and personally went to the forefront of the preparation for war.
One day in the summer of 1962, Pi Dingjun, deputy commander of the Fuzhou Military Region, received an urgent telephone call from the central authorities early in the morning, saying that many heads of the central government would visit xiamen's "heroic three islands" today, and please do a good job in receiving and defending them! The specific time will be announced separately! As soon as the order came, Pi Dingjun concluded that the chief of the inspection was at least at the level of marshal, so he quickly carried out strict control of Xiamen Huli Mountain, and arranged a sentry to guard every 10 meters.
When he met with Luo Ruiqing, chief of the general staff, Pi Dingjun was shocked, and it was not just one marshal who came down from the central government, but seven marshals, including Chen Yi, Liu Bocheng, Nie Rongzhen, Luo Ronghuan, Ye Jianying, Xu Xiangqian and He Long.
Group photo of the ten founding marshals.
Marshal He Long said, "If Old Jiang really dares to come, my old bones will still be of use, and I will go to the front line and fight with Old Chiang for a few more rounds."
It is worth mentioning that it is said that when the party was old, Mr. Zhu also wanted to go. He said to the relevant staff: He is 76 years old and may not be able to recover Taiwan. Therefore, this time On Kakushima Island, he must go and have a look.
The weight of Mr. Zhu is the pillar of the republic! In case there is a flaw, the safety problem, the consequences are unimaginable! Therefore, the staff strongly advised General Manager Zhu not to go, but the boss insisted on going, so everyone had to find Wang Quanji, the director of the Liaison Office of the 31st Army. When Wang Quan heard this, he was also shocked. So, hurry up and drive to the halfway stop. Finally, catch up near Xiamen University. Wang Quanji said: "Boss, now that seven marshals have passed by at the Hulishan Radio Station, if you go again, in case you leak the wind, the consequences will be unimaginable!" After Commander-in-Chief Zhu De listened, he left sadly and terminated his trip to Cape Island.
I was sent to Beijing overnight to deliver confidential documents
I joined the army in January 1959 from Shanghai Hudong Shipyard (437 Factory) to the Communications Unit of the Moving Sea Fleet. In 1962, the fourth year of my service, and the end of my service period (according to the mainland's "Military Service Law" at that time: army soldiers served for three years, navy soldiers served for four years, and air force soldiers served for five years), a major event occurred on the mainland at this time -- that is, "the third Taiwan Strait crisis."
In early May 1962, before I was sent to the Fujian front, I accepted a special top-secret mission, that is, together with Staff Officer Li of the Operations Department of the Headquarters, to deliver to the Beijing Naval Headquarters the operational plan jointly formulated by the Navy, Army and Air Force to counter the Kuomintang Chiang Kai-shek's "counter-attack on the mainland."
Because of this battle plan with the highest level of top secrets, on the way to delivery, it was afraid that Taiwan's Kuomintang armed agents would attack and rob it. Therefore, according to the division of labor before departure, I took turns resting with Staff Officer Lee of the Operations Department. However, whenever the train stopped or stopped temporarily, whether on duty or rest, we would both look out the window nervously, and when we saw that the outside of the train was very calm, we let go of the hanging heart. These two days and one night, all the way are spent in such a worrying and tense way. With the sound of an air whistle, the train finally stopped at the Beijing station, and we were relieved.
This is a photograph of me in Jingshan Park in early May 1962 while on a business trip to Beijing.
This is a photograph of me in front of Tiananmen Square in early May 1962 while on a business trip to Beijing.
Goodbye, Shanghai – my dear hometown!
At the beginning of June 1962, the Party Committee of the Political Department directly under the East China Sea Fleet Command solemnly held a political mobilization meeting, calling on all members of the Communist Party of China, members of the Chinese Communist Youth League, and all revolutionary soldiers to actively respond to the call of the Party Committee, take active action, sign up to participate in the battle on the front line, and swear to die to defend the motherland's mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees, and completely smash the conspiracy of the Kuomintang army in a vain attempt to invade the southeast coastal areas. If the Kuomintang army dares to attack, it will be resolutely, thoroughly, cleanly, and completely annihilated!
Naval East Sea Fleet Command.
After the mobilization meeting, the compound of the fleet headquarters organs was all boiling. Soon after, all departments, departments, and companies, one after another, sent to the hands of the chiefs and party organizations at all levels, one after another, petitions for joining the party in the line of fire, and so on. At that time, all the commanders and fighters of our company were equally enthusiastic and passionate, and almost all the commanders and fighters wrote an application for going to the front line or an application for joining the party in the line of fire.
In order to ensure smooth communication between the general headquarters of the front line and the sub-commands, it is necessary to form a combat readiness communications detachment to serve the general command of the front. In the early morning of June 11, 1962, I was ordered to follow the combat readiness unit (Haizi 333 unit) to the Fujian front line to serve the front line command, thus starting a very unusual life experience for me.
Just when the southeast coast was in emergency preparations, the Yingxia Railway Line collapsed during the rainy season and broke its way. Twenty-three days of tight transportation could not be opened. Pier 13 of the Minjiang Bridge was interrupted for 55 days after it was washed away by the flood. In order to ensure that the mobile communications detachment of our department can reach the front line on time, in the case of a landslide and a road break during the rainy season, the command headquarters decided to advance the combat readiness communication detachment into two ways: one way from the sea, and the other way from land. According to the instructions of the front-line command, the unit number of the combat readiness communication detachment is: Chinese People's Liberation Army Haizi 333 Unit.
Typhoon chart
At that time, according to the instructions of the command headquarters to divide the combat readiness communication detachment into two routes to the Fujian front, all the way from the sea, that is, the female soldiers of the switchboard telephone platoon of the detachment, the people and motorcycles of the sports communication platoon, and all the commanders and fighters of the line service platoon were formed into a small detachment at sea. In the morning, they first took a military truck to the dock of the Wusong Naval Landing Ship Detachment. Then, take the landing ship from the dock of the Wusong Navy Landing Ship Detachment and go directly from the sea to the Dock of Sandu Ao Bay in Fujian Province. Arrive at the destination and land on standby, where we wait for the land squad that has arrived by land.
On the other hand, the land detachment that walked from the road, that is, the land detachment composed of all the commanders and fighters of the relay company (including the telegraph and power supply), divided into seven communication vehicles, plus two support transport vehicles for transporting logistics materials. I walked with Staff Sergeant Lee of the Commander-in-Chief Operations Division and the land detachment. Our plan was: the convoy would ferry from the ferry port of Minhang in Shanghai County to Fengxian County, and then through Jinshan County, along the Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway from Zhejiang to the Sandu Ao Bay Wharf in Fujian Province, to meet the sea detachment that arrived earlier. Finally, all the commanders and fighters of the combat readiness communications detachment rushed to the garrison barracks in the ravine near the Fujian front headquarters in military vehicles.
The military vehicles were assembled and ready to go.
At 4:30 a.m. on June 11, 1962, the land detachment of our combat readiness communications detachment was assembled in front of the submarine canteen in the compound of the fleet organ, and Staff Officer Li of the Operations Department of the Operations Department of the Fleet Headquarters and Staff Officer Wang of the Fleet Communications Department served as the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief of the long-distance march. Due to the nomination of Staff Officer Lee of the Operations Division, as the personal communicator of the commander-in-chief of the long-distance march of the land detachment, I was responsible for the liaison and communication between the commander-in-chief of the long-distance march and the commanders of the vehicles of the convoy.
The members of the land detachment of the combat readiness communications detachment assembled and prepared to set off.
When Li Staff Officer of the General Command Operations Department was roll called and pre-war with the land detachment of the Combat Readiness Communications Detachment, I, together with Staff Officer Wang of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Communications Department, inspected and supervised the cooking soldiers in the submarine canteen to --- several bags of dried sesame pancakes (each dried sesame pancake, about 50 centimeters in diameter) and some spare foods such as rice, flour, dried vegetables, several sauces, and tofu milk, as well as marching pots, stoves, shovels, spoons, and other picnic utensils that needed to be used on the way.
It took more than half an hour to load all of these things onto two transport trucks. At this time, all the members of the land detachment also got on the signal station communication vehicle and waited for the order to leave. At 5:10 a.m., the convoy of the land detachment of our combat readiness communications detachment slowly marched forward amid the warm applause and farewell sounds of the officers and men who had rushed to send off the officers and men from the compound of the organs.
At this time, a group of nine military vehicles sped across the main road in the center of Shanghai---- Yan'an Road from east to west, straight to the western suburbs. Along the way, cars were racing fast. All kinds of high-rise bungalows are also constantly regressing backwards. In the early morning, there are few pedestrians on the road, because most people still sleep in the bed.
"Goodbye, Shanghai--- my dear hometown!" Goodbye, Shanghai people---- my dear hometown people! ”
Looking at the big city in the distance, my heart was full of emotion: "I hope you can live happily and happily, and the peaceful days will be defended by us." Of course, if I say goodbye today, I may never come back! However, as long as you can be happy and happy, even if I personally sacrifice this time, it is worth it! Goodbye, my dear hometown! Good bye! ”
Braving the wind and rain, he rushed to the front line in Fujian
Along the way, the convoy of the land detachment of our combat readiness communications detachment, in accordance with the original plan of the Fleet Operations Department, followed the Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway from Shanghai through Hangzhou and Jinhua, through Wenzhou, and then from a small town at the junction of Zhejiang and Fujian to Fuqing County in Fujian Province.
Along the way, military vehicles were galloping at a rapid pace.
Along the way, military vehicles were galloping at a rapid pace.
After a few days of running, all the commanders and fighters of the land detachment were sleepy and hungry. Because a few days ago on the marching road, a sudden storm poured the inside and outside of the transport vehicle as if it had been fished out of the river, all of which were wet and wet. So that the dry pancakes loaded on the cart brought from Shanghai, except for the few bags that have been eaten, the remaining bags of pancakes have all been moldy and hairy.
Because we are secret military operations, it is like this along the way: find a forest during the day, hide in it, and everyone rests and sleeps. When you're hungry, eat some dry food. At night, as soon as it gets dark, they march in a hurry. Due to the heavy rain, all the dry food was moldy and hairy, and it was impossible to eat in the county town with great fanfare. Coupled with the fact that the convoy has entered the edge of the Fujian front, there are many armed agents lurking here. Therefore, after the study and decision of the command of the land squad: on the one hand, the military vehicles are hidden in the dense forest, and the guard platoon is responsible for vigilance; On the other hand, we sent people to the office of the Fuqing County Support Frontline Committee and asked them to find ways to arrange accommodation and meals for us, so that the land detachment could take a break before going deep into the Fujian front, and be ready to throw themselves into the upcoming hard battle with full spirit and high morale.
Later, through the arrangement of the Fuqing County Support Frontline Committee Office, we all went to the Fuqing County Party School more than ten kilometers away from the county seat. After a day and a half of rest, when night came, we tied the chariot first with a camouflage net, and then camouflaged it with green branches. When everything was ready to stop, we went on our way again.
Hurry up in the dark
Draw up a marching route plan in the dark of night.
Along the way, everyone ate a few more meals of dry pancakes that had been brushed and dried (because of the shortage of food at that time, we did not dare to waste, so we took advantage of the rest opportunity to brush and dry the moldy and hairy dry pancakes with clean water) and burn the moldy dry batter. Therefore, through a long journey of six days and six nights, the convoy of the land detachment of our combat readiness communication detachment finally arrived at the docks of Sandu Ao Bay in Fujian province before dark to meet the maritime detachment led by Staff Officer Ye, who arrived earlier. Then, all of us officers and men spent the night in a warehouse at the foot of the dock.
Early the next morning, all the commanders and fighters of our combat readiness communications detachment, after eating breakfast, were divided into nine military vehicles that had arrived from land and continued to march toward the Fujian front headquarters. After walking for more than ten hours, we finally arrived at our destination, a barracks called Nursery Xialiu Village on the outskirts of Fuzhou. The barracks of the troops in this nursery village are the barracks of the Fuzhou Military Region. As soon as our convoy arrived, we saw many Army soldiers in yellow uniforms, busy coming and going in the barracks. Because it was dinner time, everyone was busy looking for their own dormitory.
Military barracks in a ravine.
After everyone had simply arranged their beds, the gathering whistle for dinner was immediately sounded. Therefore, everyone lined up in line to enter the large canteen to eat according to the order of detachments. This dinner is the most comfortable, refreshing and hottest meal that everyone feels to eat. After dinner, in order to allow the soldiers who had been on the run for several days and nights to rest early, the team headquarters cancelled the late roll call, and everyone went to bed early. After a while, the whole barracks was silent. Only the figures and footsteps of the swimming whistle, and the howls of the beasts in the ravine, rang out from time to time in the ravine.
Urgently strengthen preparations to keep communication open
Early the next morning, the team headquarters assigned the tasks of each detachment: the communications detachment, requiring that the telecommunications station be installed within two days, and the machine was officially started at midnight on the third day to maintain communication and communication with the radio station of the Fujian Frontline Command; The telephone detachment requested that the telephone switchboard be installed within one day, and the next day it was officially started at 00:00 to maintain communication and communication with the main plane of the Fujian Frontline Command. The cable detachment, within one day, will install all the telephone switchboards to ensure that the telephone detachment can be on time at midnight the next day. The sports communication detachment should maintain and maintain the motorcycles and quickly open the mailroom to ensure that the communication links with the Fujian frontline command and the outside world are smooth in a timely manner.
Because before I came to the Fujian front, I was a telegrapher of the Fleet Command's transceiver movement, so I was familiar with the business of sending and receiving suffocation. Therefore, the leaders of the battalion headquarters decided that I would be the transceiver and sports correspondent of the camp headquarters mailroom.
The telecommunications squad installed the telecommunications station.
The call team installs the call switchboard.
Cable squads set up lines overnight.
The sports communications team should maintain the Yangtze River 750 motorcycle and be ready to leave at any time.
Shortly after all our correspondence links with the Fujian Front Command were opened, our state communications agency, the Xinhua News Agency, was instructed by the Party Central Committee to publicly expose to the people of the whole world on June 23, 1962, the conspiracy of the Taiwan authorities in a vain attempt to invade the southeast coastal area of the mainland.
Due to the strict waiting of the mainland military and civilians and the public exposure of the Xinhua News Agency, the Taiwan authorities were forced to abandon their plans for large-scale military adventures. Therefore, they engaged in small-scale armed disturbances, and at the same time dispatched the RF-101 ultra-high-speed combat reconnaissance aircraft made by the United States and with advanced equipment performance to drill into the mainland from the sea to conduct reconnaissance. Therefore, such aircraft often went to our garrison, the troops in the lower village of the nursery in the western suburbs of Fuzhou, to conduct reconnaissance.
Later, in order to ensure the safety of our Haizi 333 unit, the Fujian Front Command transferred six anti-aircraft guns from the air defense unit of the Air Force, and installed one anti-aircraft gun on each of the six small hills in our garrison. In this way, as long as there are enemy planes to disturb, the six anti-aircraft guns unceremoniously concentrate their fire and fire fiercely. Whenever this happened, we would run out of the barracks and watch such wonderful air combat.
As anti-aircraft 57 mm anti-aircraft guns are arranged in fixed positions in small clusters.
Sometimes, the anti-aircraft artillery units that were waiting in strict formation seized the fighter planes in time and shot down the enemy planes that dared to attack. Whenever we saw an enemy plane hit by a shell and fall into flames, everyone would cheer with excitement, and some fighters would take off their military hats on their heads, or throw them into the sky, or hold them in their hands and wave in greeting to their air defense comrades on the top of the mountain.
According to the data introduction: In the long-term air defense operations against the aircraft of the Kuomintang Air Force, the air defense combat units of the People's Liberation Army have been unremittingly prepared, heroic and good at fighting, and have made meritorious contributions to the people. From the early 1950s to the end of the 1960s, the aviation units alone shot down 46 Kuomintang Air Force aircraft. After repeated heavy blows to the Kuomintang Air Force's aircraft entering the mainland, from the mid-1960s onwards, the air harassment activities on the mainland were gradually reduced.
Military vehicles sped along the highway.
The army is a melting pot, a big school
Because the soldiers of the troops come from all over the world, all provinces, cities, and localities in the country. Therefore, the troops have integrated these people into a large collective, learned from each other, and learned from each other's strong points. So, the troops are a melting pot. At the same time, in addition to learning the military knowledge and skills to defend the family and the country, the special life of the military barracks will also teach the soldiers many principles of life, common sense of life, and master advanced culture. So, the army is a big school.
From June 1962, when we went to the army barracks in Xialiu Village, a nursery in the western suburbs of Fuzhou, and in May 1963, when we withdrew from the Fujian front to the Baiguan Village Barracks in Wufu Town, Shangyu County, Zhejiang Province, to prepare for the battle (at this time, the unit was renamed Haizi 300 Unit), this unusual experience of nearly a year made me mature in my political thinking.
First of all, on November 23, 1962, I honorably joined the Communist Party of China.
Swear an oath to the party flag.
I was awarded the 50th Anniversary Medal.
Second, in 1962, I was promoted to sergeant and sergeant, from ordinary soldier to deputy squad leader. At the same time, he was elected as a member of the propaganda committee of the revolutionary military committee of the company, and also served as a member of the propaganda committee of the regiment branch, the head of the regiment group, and the leader of the party group.
In December 1962, after I was named a five-good soldier, the troops sent me the good news to my family.
Group photo of the five best soldiers and technical experts in the whole battalion in May 1963 (the second from the right in the front row is me)
On December 13, 1964, I (in the middle of the front row) took a group photo of the battalion commander with our retired soldiers
This is a photo of me being promoted to class president in November 1964.
My discharge certificate.
The "Glorious House" plaque issued by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.
In the six years of the army, he was rated as the "five good soldiers" of each year five times and received awards. Study Mao Zedong's writings once for activists. In January 1965, after retiring from the Haizi 300 unit and returning home, I was organizationally assigned to work in the Shanghai maritime system.
Do not forget the original heart, keep in mind the mission, always be a soldier
I have been retiring for decades, never forgetting my original intention and keeping my mission in mind. I have not forgotten that I am a communist, a retired soldier. As I said in the poem I wrote: "We Are Eternal Soldiers": "Once a soldier, always a soldier." What changes is the position, and what does not change is loyalty. Yesterday, we were dreamers on the road to reforming and strengthening the army; Today, we are the vanguard of the decisive victory over the all-round well-off. We will always maintain the true color of soldiers, make meritorious achievements and show their glory, and become a solid backbone and a magnificent force for the motherland and society. We are eternal soldiers. ”
Therefore, whether it is in the Shanghai shipping unit, or to the Anhui Anhui Southern Shanghai Small Third Line and return to Shanghai after fifteen years, I have not forgotten the responsibilities and obligations of a Communist Party member and a retired soldier. Especially in the past twenty years after retirement, we have not forgotten that as a communist party member, we must consciously fulfill and fulfill our solemn promises when we joined the party in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the party constitution, and always keep in mind and adhere to the party's purpose of "serving the people wholeheartedly." Especially as a veteran party member who has been in the party for sixty years and has been in the party for fifty-nine years, I should resolutely abide by the party constitution, fulfill my obligations, and persist in serving the people wholeheartedly with my own practical actions.
In the past 20 years, I have won the honorary titles of Advanced Party Member, Excellent Party Member Pacesetter, Excellent Party Member, Advanced Neighborhood Committee Member, Excellent Education Volunteer in Pudong New Area, Street and Residential Area, Advanced Individual in Pudong New Area and Street Education Work, and Top Ten Education Volunteers. In April 2014, I won the nomination award for the second Lujiazui Community Typical Figure in the "Ideal Group Cup" in Lujiazui Street. In July 2019, he won the honorary title of "The Most Beautiful Veteran" in Lujiazui Street; In December 2019, I won the honorary title of "2015-2019 Advanced Individual of Preferential Care Object" in Pudong New Area.
In 2014, I was awarded the nomination certificate of the second Lujiazui Community Typical Person Nomination Award of the "Ideal Group Cup" in Lujiazui Street.
Lujiazui Street "the most beautiful retired soldier" Shen Jiaqi deeds introduction exhibition board.
I was awarded the honorary title certificate and monument of "2015-2019 Preferential Care Object and Advanced Individual of Retired Soldiers" in Pudong New Area.
Greetings to the high military salute!
About the Author
Recent photo by the author
Lu Qi, formerly known as Shen Jiaqi, was born in 1940. In 1959, he joined the communication unit of the East China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy at the Hudong Shipyard, and joined the Party in 1962. In the six years of the army, he was rated as the "five good soldiers" five times, the technical expert once, and won five awards. In 1964, he was awarded the "Activist for studying Mao Zedong's writings" once. In January 1965, he retired from the Haizi 300 unit and was assigned to work in the Shanghai maritime system. In 1972, he went to the third line of Shanghai in southern Anhui Province, and served as a political work cadre of the Shanghai Rear Base Administration and the vice president of the Branch Of the Bureau of Electric Power. In 1986, after the adjustment of the shanghai primary third line and returned to Shanghai, he served as the director of the party office, the chief of the propaganda section, the political engineer and the teacher of the Shanghai Maritime Vocational and Technical College.
For more than 20 years after retirement, he has actively participated in social (community) volunteer work, and has won the honorary titles of advanced party member, excellent party member pacesetter, excellent party member, advanced neighborhood committee member, excellent education volunteer, as well as advanced individual and top ten education volunteers in Pudong New Area, street education work for the elderly in Pudong New Area and street. In July 2019, he won the honorary title of "The Most Beautiful Veteran" in Lujiazui Street; In December 2019, he won the honorary title of "2015-2019 Advanced Individual of Veterans" in Pudong New Area.
He is currently a researcher of the China Modern Literature and Art Research Association, a member of the China Ocean Shipping Writers Association, an advisor of the Shanghai Speech and Oral Communication Society, and a member of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Writers Association. Author of 11 collections of literary works; There are 4 works on the history of the construction of the small third line in Shanghai. A novel.