Chinanews.com, Jinan, October 23. Title: Shandong veterans personally describe the experience of the revolution to resist US aggression and aid Korea: Living is the greatest happiness
Author Zhao Xiao
"Brilliant and energetic, crossing the Yalu River. Safeguarding peace, defending the motherland, is protecting the hometown..." Speaking of the scene of singing war hymns with his comrades and rushing to the Korean battlefield 70 years ago, Shandong veteran Li Futing still remembers still fresh.
Now, as an old man, he joined the army at the age of 15 and has repeatedly made military contributions in the defense of Jiaodong, the Battle of Weixian, the Battle of Jinan, and the Battle of Huaihai.
The tragic years on the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea is the most unforgettable memory in Li Futing's career.
Li Futing, now an elder man, joined the army at the age of 15.
The picture shows Li Futing in his youth.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
When the reporter came to Li Futing's home for an interview on the 23rd, he was sitting in the house reading newspapers wearing reading glasses.
Although he is 92 years old, he is in good health, has a loud voice when speaking, and his eyes are bright when he talks about past experiences and stories.
Hearing was impaired due to injuries on the aid-Korean battlefield. When communicating with others, the elderly habitually kept their ears close and listened attentively.
Li Futing successively made great achievements in the defense of Jiaodong, the battle of Weixian, the battle of Jinan, and the battle of Huaihai.
Zhao Xiaoshe
Speaking of the time when he went to the front line of the Korean War to Resist US Aid and Aid Korea, Li Futing remembered clearly that it was the cold November of 1950.
He recalled that because he was injured in his leg during the Battle of Jinan, he could be designated as a second-class disabled soldier without having to go to North Korea to participate in the war, but he gave up the disability assessment.
"At that time, the United States invaded North Korea, and the flames of war crossed the Yalu River, which is northeast China. It is related to national security and there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome."
The picture shows Li Futing sitting in the house reading newspapers wearing reading glasses.
Zhao Xiaoshe
Stroking the military uniform on his body and the medallion on his chest, Li Futing said that in that era, not only could he do it, but he would also choose to use his life to defend his country.
"I crossed the Yalu River and stepped into North Korea, but I never thought of coming back." Since he was an artillery and knew how to drive, Li Futing served as a company commander in the 403th Artillery Regiment of the Korean Volunteer Army. He was mainly responsible for transporting the wounded and delivering shells.
“North Korea’s winter is cold, and the temperature is thirty or forty degrees below zero. It can freeze your ears and nose.” Li Futing told reporters that at that time many mountains in North Korea were dug with protective tunnels. Although the air circulation was not good, the winter Warm and cool in summer, in order to keep warm, they often drive the car into the hole, eat and sleep in the car, pick up parachutes and other cloth materials, they have to cut and sew them into clothes and wear them to keep warm.
The picture shows Li Futing flipping through old photos at home, recalling the prosperous years on the battlefield.
Zhao Xiaoshe
The battle that impressed Li Futing the most was the battle of Shangganling, which consumed a lot of shells and wounded.
He and his comrades traveled back and forth between North Korea and Dandong, China, sent the wounded for treatment, and then pulled the shells back, "seeing six directions and hearing all directions."
Li Futing casually recites the "quiet" of driving a car to avoid flares that he and his comrades summed up at the time. "The flares shine on the head, increase the throttle and run forward; the flares shine in the front, the windshield should be removed, and the car should always Good concealment."
The picture is an old photo placed in Li Futing's home. In the photo, Li Futing wears many medals and souvenirs on his chest.
Zhao Xiaoshe
During the three years of war in North Korea, Li Futing also learned Korean, and he can pronounce it accurately today, such as common words such as comrades, grandpa, grandma, and cars.
"At that time, each company of our company was equipped with a Korean translator, and learned a lot of Korean from the translator. When I encountered an unfamiliar section of the road, I got off the car and asked the locals for directions."
The picture shows that Li Futing was awarded a commemorative medal for the "70th Anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' Fighting Abroad to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea."
Zhao Xiaoshe
Regarding the experience of resisting U.S. aggression and aid to Korea, the last thing Li Futing would like to mention was those sacrificed comrades in arms. Whenever he mentioned it, he waved his hand to stop.
"Some wounded were still breathing when they got into the car, but they didn't wake up after they were sent to Dandong. The bleeding and sacrifice are happening all the time. Surviving is the greatest happiness." During a battle, Li Futing was bombed while removing a time bomb. Deafness has not been completely cured yet.
From joining the army in 1945 to the completion of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in 1953, Li Futing was wounded 3 times and rendered meritorious services 8 times, including 1 first-class merit, 2 second-class merit, and 5 third-class merit.
"The party and the country have never forgotten the revolutionary fighters, and they have given us a lot of honor." Li Futing said, now that he can look forward to a peaceful day and witness the country becoming stronger, he feels satisfied.
He also educates his children to have a grateful heart, to be a down-to-earth person and to do things, no matter what position, to do their job well is to contribute to the country and society.
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