Officers and Soldiers' Representatives Come Before Yang Gengsi's Grave: 'Old Company Commander, We Report to You'
The "Yang Gengsi Company" was invited to attend the repatriation ceremony for the 13th batch of Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs' remains from South Korea. After the ceremony, representatives of the officers and soldiers came before Yang Gengsi's grave——
"Old Company Commander, We Report to You"
■ Ma Binrui, PLA Daily correspondents Chu Yiming and Wei Yinchu
Officers and soldiers of the "Yang Gengsi Company" salute the old company commander's gravestone. Photo by Li Zifeng.
Heroic Model File of the "Yang Gengsi Company" (left).
Why does spring forever grace the land? Because the lives of heroes bloom as flowers.
On the morning of April 23, the interment ceremony for the 13th batch of Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs' remains repatriated from South Korea was held at the Shenyang Cemetery of the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. The spirits of 12 Volunteer Army martyrs returned to the land of China after more than 70 years, to rest in peace in the spring of their homeland.
Among the crowd at the scene, a formation of Army officers and soldiers in immaculate military bearing drew attention—five representative officers and soldiers from the company in which "Special-Class Hero" Yang Gengsi served during his lifetime. Dressed in ceremonial uniforms, they gazed with deep emotion at the coffins draped in national flags: Predecessors, we have come on behalf of the old company commander to bring you home.
On November 29, 1950, Yang Gengsi, company commander of the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Regiment, 58th Division, 20th Army of the Volunteer Army, led his comrades in repelling eight frenzied enemy assaults in succession. When the enemy launched its ninth assault, the severely wounded Yang Gengsi resolutely clutched a satchel charge and destroyed himself together with the enemy. After the war, Volunteer Army headquarters posthumously credited Yang Gengsi with a special-class merit citation, posthumously conferred upon him the title of "Special-Class Hero," and named his company the "Yang Gengsi Company."
This was the first time the "Yang Gengsi Company" had been invited to attend the repatriation ceremony for Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs' remains from South Korea. When the news arrived, the entire company's officers and soldiers were carrying out a field training and billeting mission. After deliberation, the company decided to send officer Li Haoyuan and four other officers and soldiers to attend the martyrs' remains repatriation ceremony, and to carry out a special mission on behalf of the entire company—to travel to the Shenyang Cemetery of the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea to sweep the old company commander Yang Gengsi's grave and report the company's recent situation to the old company commander.
Before departure, the officers and soldiers collectively reviewed the old company commander's heroic declaration of "Three Beliefs" (三个不相信), and held a company-flag handover ceremony. The entire company's officers and soldiers solemnly wrote their names on the company flag, hoping it would represent the entire company's lofty respect and welcome the martyrs' loyal souls back to the homeland.
Mountains and rivers alike awaited; heroes come home. After the Air Force's Y-20B special aircraft entered the homeland's airspace, four J-20 fighter jets escorted the heroes' return.
After the ceremony, the five representative officers and soldiers came before Yang Gengsi's grave to visit the old company commander on behalf of the entire company. Before Yang Gengsi's grave, flowers offered spontaneously by people from all walks of life were laid in abundance.
"Old Company Commander, we report to you." As Li Haoyuan gently brushed the dust from the gravestone, he took out the company's heroic model file passed down from generation to generation. The file records the company's journey through trials and tribulations and the deeds of its heroic models; it is a family heirloom that inspires officers and soldiers to carry on the struggle.
"Old Company Commander, every soldier in our company is outstanding." Cradling this file whose pages had already yellowed, Li Haoyuan's thoughts returned to the training ground——
Last year, Junior Sergeant Xiao Rongjie participated in the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War; during the concentrated training period, he practiced his military bearing under the blazing sun and refined every detail, becoming a "frame soldier" (框子兵) in his formation. In another year, Platoon Leader Li Ye participated in the army group's concentrated training for designated staff officers; upholding the conviction of the "Three Beliefs," he trained hard and put in extra hours, ultimately achieving a "comeback" and being awarded a third-class merit citation. In yet another year, Political Instructor Ma Zhe led the unit to participate in the Army's heroic model company live-combat assessment; facing fierce competition, the officers and soldiers proclaimed the heroic declaration, proactively pushed themselves harder, and fought tenaciously, earning an "excellent" rating in the overall assessment.
"The old company commander's heroic declaration of the 'Three Beliefs' has nourished and permeated generation after generation of Yang Gengsi's successors, becoming the company's enduring spiritual foundation (精神底色)." Li Haoyuan told reporters that when new soldiers join the company and new officers take up their posts, the first class they attend is on Yang Gengsi's combat story, the first military song they learn is "Our Company Commander Yang Gengsi," and the first activity they participate in is a visit to the "Three Beliefs" Heroic Declaration Education Center. More than 70 years have passed, and the company has always preserved the old company commander's bunk, making his bedding every day; at evening roll call, the first name called is "Yang Gengsi," and the entire company answers in unison "Present"; whenever setting out on a mission or receiving a merit commendation, the officers and soldiers must report to the old company commander.
Inherit the heroes' aspirations; strive to be heroic soldiers. Today, the "Yang Gengsi Company" has shed its old feathers and soared anew amid reform and transformation—officers and soldiers have changed posts and retraining, studied new equipment, achieved a comprehensive leap in combat capability, and excellently completed major missions including international military competitions and live-force exercises, continuing to write the immortal glory of a heroic company through concrete action.
"Old Company Commander, this is the certificate of honor for our company being awarded the title of 'Model of the Era' (时代楷模) by the Central Propaganda Department in 2024." Soldier Ji Yuheng, attending to the old company commander in person for the first time, stepped slowly forward and slowly unfolded the certificate of honor.
"After our company was awarded the title of 'Model of the Era,' everyone's drive became even stronger. Over the past few years, 11 comrades in the company have won gold and silver in various military skills competitions, and 7 have been admitted to military academies and promoted to officer rank; because of our all-around solid development, the company has been commended by higher authorities as an 'Advanced Unit in Military Training' and an 'Advanced Unit in Ideological and Political Education Work.'" Li Haoyuan said, "Old Company Commander, please rest assured—we will definitely continue to work hard and not fail the glory entrusted to us."
In the martyrs' cemetery, the stream of people coming to pay tribute to the martyrs was unending. Outside the martyrs' cemetery, national flags along both sides of the road fluttered in the wind, and the signs reading "Heroes 1950" and "Coming Home 2025" were particularly striking.
"Comrades, we have successfully completed the missions of welcoming the old company commander's comrades-in-arms home and reporting to the old company commander." At evening roll call, the five representative officers and soldiers and the "Yang Gengsi Company" officers and soldiers at the distant field training site completed an evening roll call spanning a thousand li via video link.
"We do not believe there is a mission that cannot be completed, we do not believe there is a difficulty that cannot be overcome, we do not believe there is an enemy that cannot be defeated!"
The resounding oath of the "Three Beliefs" echoed long over the field training site, and the heroes' successors immediately threw themselves into a new round of night-training combat.
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