China News Network Urumqi, April 4 Topic: 2 years of searching for relatives! They traveled from Gansu to Xinjiang to pay tribute to the martyrs

Authors: Wang Wenchuan, Shi Yujiang

"We've been looking for more than 70 years and only found you this year."

"Master, I am your eldest grandson. We've come to see you! ”

Martyr Li Shizong's grandchildren and other five people told about their family's experience of searching for relatives over the past 73 years. Photo by Wang Hou

On the eve of the Qingming Festival, in front of the list wall of martyrs who died in the battle against bandits in Hami Martyrs' Cemetery in Xinjiang (hereinafter referred to as the "Ying Ming Wall"), five young people from Tianshui, Gansu, Dou Laiqiang, Dou Gangqiang, Dou Ruiqin, Dou Zhuorui, and Jiao Xiaxia, touched one of the names on the "Ying Ming Wall" and cried bitterly.

This cry is sad and gratifying.

Dou Laiqiang pointed to the name of the martyr who was recently engraved, Li Shizong, and told reporters that this was the grandfather that his family had been looking for for 73 years.

The martyr's certificate was the family's only thought of the martyr

Dou Laiqiang's grandfather Li Shizong, formerly known as Dou Shuangman, was arrested by the Kuomintang at the age of 29 and has not been heard from since.

In July 1949, the Tianshui area was liberated one after another. Many of the captured Zhuang Ding returned to their hometowns, and Dou Shuangman's wife, Hou Gendi, would stand at the entrance of the village every day with a basket on her back. I always hope that one day my husband will come home from outside on a tall horse to be reunited.

In the end, hope was ruthlessly shattered. In 1962, Li Shizong's comrade-in-arms Wu Yanming was demobilized and returned home. Wu Yanming came to visit his home and informed Dou Shuangman of his sacrifice.

In 1966, the local government recognized Dou Shuangman as a martyr, issued an honorary plaque, and his spouse and family members enjoyed preferential treatment as martyrs. In 1983, the martyr's certificate issued by the local civil affairs force was the family's only thought of the martyr Dou Shuangman.

The grandchildren of the martyr Li Shizong and his entourage were at Victory Peak, where the battle took place in the 40-day defense battle of Yiwu. Photo by Wang Hou

As she grew older, Hou Gendi was sometimes confused and sometimes sober, often running under the big tree at the entrance of the village to look around, always thinking that her husband would definitely return.

The big tree at the entrance of the village grew longer and more luxuriant, and the figure of Hou Gendi became smaller and smaller.

"Grandma had insomnia all year round, especially on holidays, and would always say, 'Where you are, I must find you.'" We did not dare to persuade, for fear that she would be even more sad. Granddaughter-in-law Jiao Xiaxia told reporters.

Martyrs will never be forgotten

A few days ago, staff members of the Xinxing City Veterans Affairs Bureau and the Hami City Veterans Affairs Bureau of the 13th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps told reporters about Li Shizong's past.

In the first month of 1944, Dou Shuangman was arrested by the Kuomintang. In order to avoid more trouble, the name was changed to Li Shizong.

In June of that year, Dou Shuangman's son Dou Liusheng was born. In August 6, Qin'an County in Gansu was liberated. At that time Chinese People's Liberation Army distributed food and pay to them to return home. But after Li Shizong and his comrades-in-arms saw the PLA, they thought in their hearts, "This is our people's own team." ”

Pay tribute to the martyrs in front of the Monument to the Forty Days of Iwu. Photo by Wang Hou

In this way, he decisively joined the PLA and became a soldier of the fourth company of the second battalion of the 1949th regiment of the 1950th division of the 3th army. At the end of <>, he entered Xinjiang with the army and stationed in Hami. In March <>, there was a rebellion in Balikun and Iwu. When Li Shizong and several of his comrades were responsible for escorting supplies to the mountains, they were attacked by a large group of bandits. The bandits occupied the favorable terrain and were numerous. Li Shizong and his comrades fought back resolutely, and the battle was extremely fierce. Due to the disparity in strength between the enemy and us, only two people, Li Shizong and the squad leader, remained in the end of the battle, and retreated to a small hill to continue fighting. When the ammunition ran out, Li Shizong and the squad leader faced the bandits who rushed up, pulled the only grenade hanging on their bodies, and died with the bandits.

Martyrs will never be forgotten. For a long time, the 13th Division of Xinxing City and Hami City Veterans Affairs Bureau have been looking for soldiers who died in the battle against Hami bandits. "No martyr can be left out."

In March 2023, after expert certification, it was confirmed that Li Shizong and Dou Shuangman were the same person, and they contacted Dou Shuangman's descendants for the first time. And so the opening scene happened.

"All your wishes have come true..."

In front of the "Famous Wall", they told their grandfather about the good days of the present. "Now that you are well fed and warmly dressed, all your wishes have come true..."

Learn about the battle of Lee Sejong's unit at the Iwu 40 Days Defense Memorial Hall. Photo by Wang Hou

After placing tributes, lighting incense, burning paper, toasting tobacco, flowers, and toasting their grandfather according to the customs of their hometowns, they went to the Plum Spring in the depths of the East Tianshan Mountains under the arrangement of the 13th Division Xinxing City and Hami City Veterans Affairs Bureau, which is the place where the martyr Li Shizong died and where the souls of relatives are haunted.

73 years ago, what kind of fierce battle took place here, today it is impossible to imagine, only know that Li Shizong and his comrades fought the rebels here and spilled the last drop of blood and sacrificed.........

Behind every name, there are stories we didn't know; Every name is not just engraved on the wall, but imprinted in our hearts. (End)