Our army suffered so many casualties in this battle that in order not to affect the morale of the troops, the company did not publish the specific casualty figures. They only said that the Vietnamese army was a reinforced platoon of the Vietnamese army's special agents with rich combat experience. Let us
Seventy-five people were killed.
I still agree with this approach. Just like Cao Cao in ancient times also knew how to stabilize the morale of the army by using tricks such as looking at the plum blossoms to quench his thirst or killing grain officials. In the army, it does not mean that every information must be transparent and honest. Only by stabilizing the morale of the military
is the most important.
It's just that although the superiors did not announce the casualty figures, all the soldiers knew it well. There were so many fewer people around them in the blink of an eye. As soon as the company gathered and stood in line, the number of people was almost reduced by half. It is impossible for the soldiers not to do so.
knew……
As for the squad I led... Although it was the first line and the only squad that rushed to the enemy's position to fight, there were only two casualties due to the unprepared attack on the enemy. One was a rocket launcher shooter, because the rocket launcher was too heavy, so he was climbing the mountain.
The speed was too slow and he was killed by the enemy's gun. The other was a rifleman and his leg was injured by shrapnel. No one knows whether he was injured by the enemy's shrapnel or one of his own.
If anyone pursues this matter, I only know... When he was carried off by the stretcher team, his face was filled with happiness and relief, while other soldiers watched him with envious eyes...
Yes! Being injured means that you can go home, go home alive, and become a fighting hero. Maybe you will never have to go to this terrible battlefield again. Who can not envy you?
Since the battle, the soldiers under me have become even more convinced that they are right to follow me as the squad leader. But I blame myself quite a bit, because... one of my soldiers was killed and one was injured, but I have always been there from the beginning.
In the end, I didn't know their names, and I didn't even have an impression of what they looked like.
I'm a little embarrassed to say that, as a squad leader, it was only then that I thought of getting to know the soldiers under my command.
After asking around, I learned that the firepower configuration of our infantry in this era was generally four riflemen per squad, equipped with Type 56 semi-automatic rifles; two submachine gunners, equipped with Type 56 submachine guns; two machine gunners, equipped with a Type 56 squad
Use a light machine gun; two rocket launchers, equipped with a Type 56 or Type 69 40mm caliber rocket launcher.
In other words, the firepower of each squad in our army is generally four Type 56 semi-automatic rifles, two submachine guns, a light machine gun and a rocket launcher. Although this kind of firepower is much more advanced than during the Anti-Japanese War
, but compared with the Vietnamese army, it is still inadequate, because although the accuracy of the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle is good, the rate of fire is too slow. We only pull the trigger once to fire a bullet, and there is only one bullet per dozen, but the enemy has more power.
When the trigger of AK47 is pulled, a row of bullets will appear.
Therefore, when a small unit of our army fights with the Vietnamese army, the firepower of a platoon is often not as good as that of a squad of the Vietnamese army. If it is a face-to-face duel, it will be even worse. If we don't knock down the enemy with one shot, we will basically fight again.
There was no chance for a second shot.
What can we do if the equipment is not good? When fighting, we can only use the lives of our soldiers to make up for these shortcomings!
Considering the heavy casualties of our battalion, our superiors suspended this reconnaissance mission and asked us to withdraw to Lao Cai. In fact, I think... even if our superiors let our battalion reconnoiter at the front again, many of us would not be able to bear it.
The pressure immediately collapsed.
It can be seen that this battle had a great impact on the troops, because most of the soldiers were hanging their heads in dejection.
One of the important reasons why they behaved like this is that they were frightened by the battle just now. This battle lasted only half an hour, and half of our battalion either lost their lives or lost their limbs.
So soldiers will naturally think - what if this happens again? Will it be their turn?
That’s what I was thinking too!
I really don’t know the horror of war if I have never experienced it. In the past, I only knew how to enjoy and live a good life, but now I understand that...the most important thing is always your own life, what about glory, wealth, and fancy cars?
Beauty, and that bullshit legacy... are all just a passing thing.
If there is any medicine for regret, I would rather be a beggar on the street and be looked down upon by thousands of people than be a hero on this battlefield who may be threatened with death at any time.
But - the fact now is that I am such a soldier. The fact is that I am always worried that I will be shot by a Japanese soldier and my soul will die.
Among the soldiers, only cadres such as Scar and the company commander were still cheering for the soldiers with their heads held high. He shouted to the soldiers while waving his fists: "Comrades! We must turn grief into strength and continue to display our bravery.
The spirit of struggle to avenge our fallen comrades!"
"Comrades! We are revolutionary soldiers who cannot be defeated! We must stand up bravely to fight against the Soviet revisionists and Vietnamese revisionists! Stand up bravely and fight the enemy to the end!"
…
I can understand cadres like Scar and the company commander. They are the leaders of the army. If even they are discouraged, the entire army will probably be destroyed, so they have to hold on.
I once heard an old man say that it is not easy to be a grassroots cadre! Dozens or hundreds of soldiers are watching below, and it is the grassroots cadres who do the hard and dangerous work in front of them. They have to hold back their thoughts, and everything
We have to consider the overall interests of the army...
I used to disagree with the old man's statement. Who said that grassroots cadres are suffering? They are responsible for dozens of people, right? Look at our current cadres, which one is not popular and spicy! If you are unhappy, you should return it to others.
Small shoes to wear. But now I really realize that what the old man said is right, so there is such a saying: "If you want to be a cadre in the army, be a senior cadre. Grassroots cadres have a thankless job!"
But having said that... I seem to be a small cadre now.
By the way! Which class am I the monitor of?
"Second squad leader...Second squad leader!" the company commander shouted loudly.
The small stone behind me hit me hard, and I suddenly realized that the company commander was calling me, and I quickly answered with my chest raised: "Here we come!"
The company commander waved to me and shouted loudly: "The second squad leader is the hero of this battle. He led ten comrades of the second platoon and second squad to sneak into the enemy position from the high ground flank, and successfully cooperated with the main force to break through the enemy's defense line.
!Now, let the second squad leader introduce us to the combat experience!"
Suddenly, all the soldiers turned their eyes to me, and there was an indescribable taste in their eyes.
what is that?
I thought it was worship, I read that right...it was indeed worship, and there was also some gratitude.
After all, if it weren't for us, our army would probably have to face zero casualties from the Vietnamese army and heavy casualties to our army. And our army's heavy casualties may include them. Therefore, their admiration and gratitude to me is
It's normal. It's just that I'm still a little uncomfortable with it.
In modern times, although my family has some money, I am often looked at with disdain...
I stood up inexplicably, and I was a little at a loss. How can I introduce any combat experience? I have only been a soldier for a few days! I still have experience...
However, I also know that the company commander's real intention is not to really introduce any combat experience to the soldiers, but to use me as an example to make the soldiers think more about our victory and boost the morale of the troops.
After thinking about it, I said to the soldiers: "Comrades! I have no combat experience to introduce. What I want to do is actually very simple, that is to save my life!"
With a cry of "Coax!", the soldiers immediately became a little confused after hearing my words. My words seemed to have reached the hearts of the soldiers.
The company commander and instructor gave me a fierce look, which seemed to say: "How long have you been, and you are still saying these negative life-saving words!"
"Comrades!" I ignored the glances of the company commander and others and continued: "But there is a saying on the battlefield that the more timid you are, the faster you will die. I think this makes sense. Comrades
Think about it, the battlefield is a life-and-death place. Either we die or the enemy dies. So I think that if we want to save our lives, we must unite closely with the comrades around us and kill the enemy before they kill us.
Beat him to death so that we can go back alive to see our families and live to see our fathers and fellow villagers!"
"Well said!" I don't know what I meant, but I shouted and took the lead in applauding. The other soldiers also applauded me.
What I am talking about is not actually for the motherland, for the people, or for the party. What I am talking about is the aspirations of those of us soldiers fighting on the battlefield, to save our lives and go home alive to see our families, so of course they
Very willing to accept.
"Unite and kill the enemy before they kill us!" the company commander took this opportunity and shouted to the soldiers.
"Unite and kill the enemy before they kill us!" the soldiers responded loudly.
Then what I just said was repeated over and over again by the soldiers like a slogan:
"Go back alive to see your family!"
"Go back alive to see your parents and fellow villagers!"
…
In fact, on the battlefield, for a soldier, their idea is actually very simple, that is - go back alive!