Have you ever wondered how a little girl who was only 14 years old at the time became an unsung hero on the battlefield filled with gunpowder? This is not a plot in a movie, but a touching story that really happened during the Chinese Liberation War. Her name is Sister Ma Mao, an ordinary girl born in a poor fishing family, but she stood up at the most dangerous moment and used her small boat to achieve a legend. Today, 70 years later, she was carried into the Great Hall of the People to receive the country's highest honor, the "July 1st Medal". What kind of courage and determination can make an ordinary peasant girl embark on such a heroic road? Let's walk into the story of Sister Ma Mao and feel those young years of blood and fire.
Sister Ma Mao, whose original name is unknown, is used to calling her "Third Sister", was born in 1935 in a fisherman's family in Wuwei County, Anhui Province. Her childhood was not as carefree as other children, and her family was so poor that she didn't even have a resounding name. When she was eight years old, for a few buckets of rice, the third sister was forced to become a child daughter-in-law and began a difficult chapter in her life. This small figure did not succumb to the blow of fate, she chose to escape, chose to wander outside, and it was not until the liberation of her hometown in 1948 that she was able to return home.
That year, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) moved into her village, and these amiable, strictly disciplined soldiers were very different from the Kuomintang troops she had encountered before. The fairness and kindness of the People's Liberation Army deeply touched the third sister, and she was full of respect and trust for these soldiers. Soon, one of the important tasks of the People's Liberation Army - the battle to cross the river was about to begin, and a large number of ships were required to cross the river. When the third sister accidentally learned the news, she did not hesitate and decided to dedicate the only small boat in the family, although it meant that if the boat was damaged, the whole family would lose their livelihood.
decided to make the trip, and the third sister and brother secretly signed up. Although his father was initially kept in the dark, when he finally learned the truth, he did not stop it, but showed support, because he understood that without the PLA, there would be no life for them to live together and peacefully. The third sister's courage also infected the rest of the village, and she and her brother went from house to house to mobilize, and finally gathered more than 200 boats.
In April 1949, the third sister participated in the mobilization meeting of the river-crossing commando organized by the People's Liberation Army. Although she knew that there was a rain of bullets and dangers ahead, when the venue fell silent and no one answered, the third sister did not hesitate to stand up, and her brave act inspired more boatmen to join. In the ensuing battle of crossing the Yangtze River, she not only risked her life to cross the Yangtze River again and again, but was also wounded in an attack. But even so, she still insisted on carrying out the task until she successfully delivered three batches of PLA across the river.
During that time, the waters of the Yangtze River were extremely dangerous, and the enemy's artillery fire was continuous, and every crossing of the river was almost a brush of death. But Sister Ma Mao and her comrades-in-arms showed extraordinary courage and tenacity, not only paddling with oars, but also opening up a path to freedom with firm will and faith. In this crucial battle, Sister Ma Mao was wet with splashes and shrapnel more than once, and her arm was even shot, and the blood stained the river red. She gritted her teeth and insisted on driving the boat until the mission was completed.
After the war, Sister Ma Mao's deeds were not immediately widely praised, she returned to the life of the countryside in obscurity, indifferent to fame and fortune, and spent most of her life quietly. It wasn't until many years later that the story of this unsung hero was gradually unearthed, and her spirit of defying violence and sacrificing won wide praise from all walks of life.
On June 29, 2021, at the age of 86, the former hero of crossing the river was pushed into a wheelchair and slowly entered the glorious hall of the Great Hall of the People. There, she received the "July 1st Medal" from the hands of the country's leaders, which is the highest recognition of her life's selfless dedication and heroic struggle. This moment is a tribute to her personal history and a tribute to all the unknown heroes.
The story of Sister Ma Mao is not only a memory of war, it is also a legend about faith, about courage, and about sacrifice. Throughout her life, whether in the face of war or peace, she has always maintained her dedication to ideals and love for life. She uses her actions to tell us that even ordinary people have the ability to write an extraordinary life.
Sister Ma Mao's life is a vivid historical script, and she uses her actions to prove how great the power of an ordinary person can be. From a fisherwoman to a hero who crossed the river, to the glory of the Great Hall of the People, her story inspires every ordinary and ordinary us. Today, when we enjoy peace and freedom, we should not forget the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the sake of our better life. Sister Mamao, this name, should be remembered forever.