There is such a couple
They met and fell in love with each other on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea
War is raging
Their love is indestructible, life and death are difficult to stop
For the motherland
They are willing to endure separation and decisive battles
They are
Retired cadres of the Ninth Retired Cadre Recuperation Center in Nanjing, veterans of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea
Zhang Jiaoyang, 91, and Wang Lichun, 88
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Jiaoyang are looking at old photos
"One day in August 1952, the two of us hurriedly met at dagushan airport, and I only remember that he had just come out of the plane, dressed in a pilot's costume, and walked toward me with a smirk..." Wang Lichun's narration pulled the time back to the past.
In 1948, Wang Lichun joined the army. In May 1950, Zhang Jiaoyang entered the Northeast Aviation School for flight training, learning to fly trainers and fighters. Soon, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out, and in July 1952, Zhang Jiaoyang, as the commander of the third squadron of a large group of the 36th Regiment of the 12th Air Division, received orders to enter the DPRK to fight. "At that time, I was in the Political Department of the Air Force, following the troops to the front line to offer condolences, and happened to meet him, and when we talked, we found that we were both northerners." Wang Lichun glanced at his wife, and his eyes were full of smiles that could not be hidden.
Zhang Jiaoyang and his wife took a group photo
In the war-torn era, when encountering hometown people, it can most arouse the thought of home, and in the battlefield filled with gun smoke, the two young hearts are more and more closely connected. However, war is cruel, and love in wartime may be separated in the next second.
"The Chinese Air Force at that time was very young and the battle was very hard. We flew MiG-15 fighters and US F-86 fighters in the air, the US pilots are well trained, although we have undergone various strict training, but the total flight time is only tens of hours, the gap is there, but we are not willing to show weakness. The reason why we dare to fly is because of the spirit of 'not being afraid of death, daring to fight hard'. As we all know, on the plane, no one can guarantee that they will come back alive, but every time we arrange a mission, we rush to go. Because that is an honor, an honor to sacrifice one's life for the country. Speaking of this, Zhang Jiaoyang looked resolute.
Old photographs from Wang Lichun's collection
As a soldier, Wang Lichun knew that it was an unshirkable mission to go into battle to kill the enemy, and was full of understanding and support for Zhang Jiaoyang. "He took the initiative to ask to go, and although I was worried, I would also praise him in my heart: Zhang Jiaoyang, you are good!" However, flying to the battlefield is uncertain of life and death, how can it not make people worry about their stomachs?
"At that time, I was worried about it every day, and until now I still have a problem, and when I hear the roar, I am dizzy and panicking. But I think that even if the future of the two of us is gone, the future of the motherland is worth it. That's how I consoled myself during that time when I was out of touch with him. Wang Lichun said slowly, and couldn't help but lower his head and wipe the corners of his eyes. Zhang Jiaoyang stretched out his hand and held Wang Lichun's hand tightly in the palm of his hand.
Numerous accolades
Once, in the course of an air combat mission, The fighter plane carried by Zhang Jiaoyang suddenly stalled and spiraled, and the fighter dropped rapidly from an altitude of 8,000 meters to 3,000 meters, and could only parachute. However, there are many mountains in North Korea, and there are all mountains under their feet, and they may crash into the mountains and die at any time. Fortunately, when Zhang Jiaoyang landed, there happened to be a flat slope on the mountainside, and he sat on the hillside with his buttocks on the ground, resulting in a rupture of the lumbar spine, and the lower body was difficult to move. He endured the pain, dragged his badly injured body, and climbed down the mountain desperately. In this way, Zhang Jiaoyang stayed up in the mountains for a day and a night, and finally climbed to a thatched hut in the mountains and was found and saved by the old mother of North Korea. "Without the kind old North Korean mother, I certainly wouldn't have lived today!" Zhang Jiaoyang said excitedly.
A happy family of four when they were young
During the time when Zhang Jiaoyang was injured and lost contact, Wang Lichun was very anxious, and he ran wherever he could run, and whenever he encountered a comrade from the front, he would inquire about his whereabouts. "It wasn't until two years later, when he first appeared in front of me, that I still think about the scene now, and it's like a dream." Recalling the moment of the reunion, Wang Lichun was still excited.
"During the time when I was injured, I was very anxious in my heart, and because of the delay in going to the battlefield due to the healing, I lost the opportunity to shoot down the enemy aircraft. This is also a regret of my life. Moreover, I deeply feel that only when the technology is solid and excellent in peacetime can we defeat the enemy in wartime. After returning to China, Zhang Jiaoyang practiced his technical skills assiduously and became the first all-weather pilot of the Chinese Air Force at that time. Whether it was when the regimental commander led the pilot or when the director of the flight technical inspection group trained cadres at or above the brigade level, he was strict and meticulous, and he worked hard in the morning to cultivate a batch of outstanding pilots. Since Zhang Jiaoyang's night navigation technology was second to none, he was also ordered to help his brother units form a night navigation independent brigade and train a batch of excellent night flight pilots to adapt to air combat under more complex conditions.
Happy old age
"The history of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea tells us that war may break out at any time, and there is no time to wait for you to practice and then fight, and every training must be regarded as the moment when the battle starts. As soldiers, giving up their lives is not the ultimate goal, and winning any war with our excellent technology is the ultimate strength and goal of Chinese soldiers. Sending a message to young officers and soldiers in the new era, Zhang Jiaoyang said with a heavy heart.
Editor: Liu Yajuan
Information collation: Liu Zheng
Contributed by: Nanjing No. 9 Recuperation Center for Departing Cadres
Source: PLA Daily client