Touching China - 2005 Annual Person

Author: Zhu Bo / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: During the Spring Festival that year, the unit was executing a major task. On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, he disregarded persuasion and attended the executive meeting with a sick body, listened to work reports, and presided over the formulation of combat plans. From the second floor to the fourth floor, there were only more than 40 steps, but he walked with great difficulty, panting heavily, and sweating profusely. His comrades nearby wanted to carry him home to rest, but he flew into a rage: "My task hasn't been completed yet. Do you want me to die without peace?" "A soldier should fall on the battlefield." Yang Yegong's tone was firm. Yang Yegong did not fall. He was always concerned about the development of the missile units. Just 13 days before his death, Chen Chuhua, the commander of a division in the base, received a phone call. He never expected it to be from Commander Yang from the hospital! Yang Yegong asked him about the construction of the position and repeatedly him over the phone to ensure that the upcoming standard assessment was well organized. Yang Yegong did not fall. In his final moments, he leaned against the bedside, receiving an intravenous drip while writing his performance report on a laptop, leaving his work experience and lessons behind for the "governing team" of the base, and his last wishes for his comrades-in-arms: "Illness can only break my body, but it cannot break my iron will. Once I recover, I will continue to fight alongside my comrades on the front line of military readiness."
Base Political Commissar Chi Zhijiang rushed to the hospital. Seeing his comrade battling the illness with sweat on his face, he couldn't hold back his tears. When Yang Yegong regained his strength, he simply smiled and said, "Old Chi, when can I go back to the unit?"
On June 9, 2004, the leadership of the Second Artillery visited him. With all his strength, Yang Yegong spoke only about how to strengthen the development of the missile units. If he had any last words, they would be: "I am willing to dedicate this body to the missile cause, without regret."
Yang Yegong left. In his final moments, he shouted the weak but firm command "March forward" and walked through his glorious life. The officers and soldiers surrounding him couldn't help but weep uncontrollably. Unprompted, they all raised their right hands and paid a solemn military salute to bid farewell to the general of the Republic.
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