Huang Jiguang: Sacrifice yourself and forget yourself, be brave and fearless

Source: People's Daily - People's Daily

Huang Jiguang statue. Xinhua News Agency

In 2009, Huang Jiguang was elected as one of the "100 Chinese Objects That Have Touched Since the Founding of New China". Won the title of "The Most Beautiful Strivers".

In early summer, at the Huang Jiguang Memorial Hall in Zhongjiang County, Sichuan Province, the hero statue of Han Baiyu stands majestically, and the large characters of "Special Hero Huang Jiguang" are particularly conspicuous.

In 1931, Huang Jiguang was born in Zhongjiang County to a poor peasant family, his father died very early, and he worked for the landlord at the age of 10. Her mother, who was struggling with suffering, told Huang Jiguang that when she grew up, she would turn over for the poor and miserable.

In March 1951, Huang Jiguang actively responded to the call of the motherland and joined the Chinese Volunteer Army. Under the cultivation of the party organization, he worked hard to study politics, military affairs, and culture. He served as a messenger in the 6th Company of a certain unit, was loyal to his duties, completed his tasks well, and was praised by the leaders of the unit many times and awarded the third class meritorious service once.

In October 1952, the Battle of Shangganling was fought. Huang Jiguang's battalion was ordered to seize The 597.9 Heights west of Shangganling on the night of October 19. After capturing 3 positions in succession, the troops were blocked, and the organization of 3 consecutive explosions did not work. It was nearly dawn, and not taking the high ground would delay the entire fighter. At the critical moment, Huang Jiguang, who was a communicator at the time, stepped forward and asked for the blasting mission.

Huang Jiguang and the others were found by the enemy less than 50 meters away from the enemy's fire point, the flares and searchlights turned the entire hillside into daytime, countless machine guns sprayed out tongues of fire, swept to their hidden places, the three fell one after another, two soldiers were killed and one was seriously injured, and Huang Jiguang's left arm was also injured.

Less than 10 meters away from the enemy's fire point, Huang Jiguang supported his body with his right arm and threw a grenade, but the enemy machine gun only paused slightly. Huang Jiguang stubbornly climbed under the bunker, which was a dead end that the enemy could not shoot. He crouched down, looked back at his comrades, then waved his hand and shouted a word. The voice was drowned out by the sound of gunfire, and no one could hear what he was shouting. Only to see Huang Jiguang stand up violently, his body protruding upwards, and he rushed up to the bunker with all his might, blocking the muzzle of the gun with his chest! The enemy's machine guns were muted. The comrades-in-arms shouted "Avenge Huang Jiguang" and rushed up, taking the heights back in one fell swoop. After the battle, Huang Jiguang's chest was blackened by gunpowder and covered with bullet holes like honeycombs. On his way to the enemy bunker, he dragged a blood trail more than 10 meters long.

After the war, Huang Jiguang was posthumously recognized as a member of the Communist Party of China, posthumously honored with the title of "Hero of the Special Class", and was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Gold Star Medal, and the National Flag Medal of the First Class. The body of martyr Huang Jiguang rested in peace at the Martyrs' Cemetery of the Volunteer Army to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in Shenyang.

People's Daily ( 2021-05-26 06 edition)