Rereading the Letters of the Volunteer Army | Letters from Families in the Trenches | Promises to Live a Lifetime, Lord | Battlefield | Trenches
CCTV News: Continue to watch the series of reports on "Re reading the Letters of the Volunteers". On November 5, 1951, a letter from a volunteer soldier's family appeared on the front page of the Volunteer Army Frontline Battle Report. The family letter not only depicts the soldier's experiences on the Korean War, but also expresses his expectations for a better life after victory. The smoke dissipated, and the volunteer soldiers who wrote this letter not only returned safely, but also personally participated in the construction of their hometown, fulfilling the promises in the letter with practical actions. Next, let's get to know Yi Luheng, a veteran soldier of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army who wrote a letter.
The old man reading the letter is named Yi Luheng, who is already 87 years old this year. This touching letter was written by him over seventy years ago on the battlefield of the Korean War, which was filled with gunfire.
In 1936, Yi Luheng was born in Fuling. In his years of growing up, the displacement caused by wars made him aspire to protect his family and country. After the outbreak of the Korean War, Yi Luheng, who was still a reserve soldier, went through several applications without telling his parents and was finally approved to join the volunteer army. When he entered the Korean War, he was not yet 16 years old.
With a strong ambition to protect his country, it was only after truly stepping onto the battlefield that Yi Luheng understood the cruelty of war.
Yi Luheng, a veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army: As soon as he arrived in Korea, crossing over was a war, with potholes everywhere, tanks, planes, and steel everywhere. The plane came, the hat blew off, and when it flew over, the top of the tree swayed, and the rolled up sand made it hard for people to open their eyes. Oh, it's such a taste.
The barrage of bullets on the battlefield gave Yi Luheng a deeper understanding of the significance of the Korean War, and also made his longing for his hometown and family stronger. In October 1951, the US military launched an attack on the Yuefeng Mountain position where Yi Luheng was located, watching his comrades collapse one after another. In the midst of the battle, Yi Luheng wrote this special letter with the determination of sacrifice.
Chinese People's Volunteer Army veteran Yi Luheng: The Chief of Staff said, "Little devil, do you feel homesick?" He asked me if I feel homesick. Why don't you think so? Who doesn't want your parents. He opened his wallet and took a stack of paper, which was essentially a letter to his family, essentially writing a suicide note.
With a farewell to his family in his heart, young Yi Luheng wrote this letter to his family. In addition to his observations on the battlefield and his longing for his family, he also wrote about his aspirations for a better future life: to make everyone rich and build a good hometown. There should be roads, reservoirs, power stations, tea and fruit trees, pastures, factories... As the eldest son of the family, Yi Luheng has always felt guilty about walking to the battlefield without telling his parents. He hopes that through these words, his parents can understand his decisions.
In order to inspire more people, with my consent, Yi Luheng's family letter was published in the November 5, 1951 issue of the Volunteer Army Frontline War Report. Subsequently, Yi Luheng followed the troops in various battles until July 1953, when he was injured and unconscious on the battlefield. After waking up at the battlefield hospital, he learned that his family had received a letter and sent a reply.
Chinese People's Volunteer Army veteran Yi Luheng: My family just wrote me a letter. You wrote a letter on the battlefield, and both adults and children cried and their eyes were swollen. Later, I told my family, "Mom and Dad, I'm fine now. Believe in my child, he won't die.".
In 1957, Yi Luheng was demobilized and returned to his hometown. A few years later, he also became the party branch secretary of Longxing Village. At that time, Longxing Village only had a dirt road over 2 meters wide, and the living environment of the villagers was also very poor. Yi Luheng never forgot his longing for a better future that he had written in his family letter. In his position as village branch secretary, he led the villagers in repairing roads, building ponds, and promoting development. He worked for 36 years until his retirement in 1997.
Yi Yuheng, a villager from Longxing Village, Baisheng Town, Fuling District: After being injured on the battlefield, he found it inconvenient to walk when he returned. He persisted in turning and turning, picking mud and stones on the road or mountain ponds. He persisted in doing so.
Yi Likui, Secretary of the Party Branch of Longxing Village, Baisheng Town: After he returned, he was relatively low-key and did not mention it. During the Spring Festival, he personally pays for meat and delivers it to his home.
The wish that Yi Luheng wrote in his family letter under the fire of war has now been realized, and the power of this letter has always deeply inspired his family.
Yi Chunyin, granddaughter of Yi Luheng, a veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army: It must have been a shock to see that letter. Every time I see it, I feel like I want to cry. In such a harsh environment, what kind of mood does he have when writing this letter.
Yi Luheng, a veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, said: Let everyone get rich and build their hometown well. There should be roads, reservoirs, power stations, tea mountains, fruit trees, pastures, and factories. Upstairs and downstairs, there are electric lights and telephones, the sound of agricultural machinery rumbling, and the running water of the machines splashing. The sunshine of peace and happiness is truly pleasant. Strive for a lifetime and you will surely achieve it.
