'Yanzhou Combat Model Company' of a Brigade Under the 81st Group Army Invites Veteran Huang Zongde to Mark Party Day Together
'Yanzhou Combat Model Company' of a Brigade Under the 81st Group Army Invites Veteran Huang Zongde to Mark Party Day Together——
On the eve of 'July 1st,' officers and soldiers of the 'Yanzhou Combat Model Company' of a brigade under the 81st Group Army, currently conducting field garrison training, used a video link to invite Huang Zongde—recipient of the 'Medal of the Republic'—to mark Party Day together.
Huang Zongde is a heroic model figure who grew up in the 'Yanzhou Combat Model Company,' having successively served as squad leader, platoon leader, and political instructor of the company. Before last Spring Festival, the company's officers and soldiers collectively paid New Year's greetings to the old hero via video link. Over the past year and more, the company has outstandingly completed major exercise-and-training tasks and breakthroughs on key and difficult subjects. On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the officers and soldiers invited Huang Zongde to mark Party Day together and reported their new achievements to him.
'Elder Huang, listen—this is the sound of the new assault vehicles. Over the past year and more, we have explored many new tactics (新战法) for employing the new assault vehicles, and our work on unmanned equipment has also yielded gratifying results…' Company Commander Wang Chuandong told Elder Huang the story of the company's transformation and hard work, and the old hero listened with rapt attention. Outside the tent, the rumble of armored vehicles and the sharp ring of commands were transmitted to the old hero's ears through the video link. 'Hearing that sound, I know our officers and soldiers have confidence and fighting spirit (底气、锐气)!' Huang Zongde, 95 years of age, spoke in a resonant voice with plain words.
'That was April 1949—I followed the troops to take part in the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign. During a rest period between battles, the Party branch secretary asked me why I wanted to join the Party. I said: joining the Party is to liberate all of China, and to let the people live a good life!' Although advanced in years and unable to recall many past events, Huang Zongde retains a vivid memory of the process by which he joined the Party.
'Becoming a Communist Party member means shouldering heavier responsibilities.' Upon learning that the company was about to admit several new Party members, Huang Zongde drew on his own military career to enjoin everyone to keep firmly in mind the original aspiration for joining the Party (入党初心), to hold themselves strictly to Party member standards, to be first to take on bitter and difficult tasks, and when facing combat missions, to be all the more willing to give their lives without hesitation.
After listening to Huang Zongde's heartfelt account, representatives of the officers and soldiers began reporting their work achievements to him—Party member cadres reported the company's actual results in training for war in preparation for combat, in connection with celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China; squad leader backbone personnel shared the gains from participating in field garrison training and their dreams of rendering meritorious service in the military camp……
Inherit the hero's aspirations, strive to be heroic soldiers (传承英雄志，争当英雄兵). At the close of the activity, the entire company's officers and soldiers stood in neat formation and, led by Huang Zongde, reviewed their Party membership oath; the resounding oath echoed for a long time. Immediately afterward, the officers and soldiers threw themselves into training with high morale. In the sky, unmanned aerial vehicles circled, transmitting real-time 'enemy' target information back to the command post; on the position, armored vehicles roared forward, rapidly launching a charge toward the target area……