Blood-stained snow, corpses across the valley. 3. Battalion commander Li Yulin fell in a pool of blood and finally died on the battlefield due to a stray bullet. He led the 3rd Battalion to ambush the American troops who came to reinforce him at Guangtian, and made great achievements, but lost his precious life when the mission was completed. This heroic battle of Guangtian further demonstrated the power of our infantry's roundabout and interspersed tactics.
It all started a month ago. In February 1951, the U.S. Army under the command of Li Qiwei launched **, and the Volunteer Army urgently needed to recuperate after continuous operations. ** Vowed to fight another battle, and ordered Deng Hua to lead the troops of the Eastern Front to launch a counterattack. The 40 Army was chosen as one of the main attacking forces.
On the evening of February 10, Wen Yucheng, commander of the 40th Army, held an emergency meeting and deployed to attack the South Korean 8th Division in the Gwangjeon area northwest of Hoengseong. The 118th Division served as the main attack, the 120th Division cooperated, and the 119th Division was prepared. Wen Yucheng concentrated all the good hands and guns of the 40th Army into the 118th Division, saying that he would go all out.
Deng Yue, commander of the 118th Division, decided to implement a roundabout and interspersed tactic and cut off the enemy's retreat with a regiment. This task naturally fell to the 352nd Regiment, because this is the star unit of the 40th Army and even the entire Northeast Field Army, and it can take on this great task. Luo Shaofu, the commander of the 352nd Regiment, is a veteran of the Red Army, and the political commissar Zou Pingguang has rich experience, plus the chief of staff Tang Zhongjing is in charge, which fully guarantees the execution.
On the evening of February 11, the 352nd Regiment began its operation. They carried heavy equipment on their backs and struggled through the bitter cold and enemy fire. Company commander Zhang Honglin led the troops over the mountains and mountains with only a compass. Finally, before 10 o'clock that night, he seized the village of Hirota Okiya, and not only completed the task, but also several hours ahead of the scheduled time.
Just as the 352nd Regiment was preparing to cut off the retreat of the South Korean army, the situation changed abruptly. The 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment of the 1st Division of the US Army came to reinforce with more than 100 headlight trucks, which caused unexpected resistance to our troops. However, Li Yulin, commander of the 3rd Battalion, made a decisive decision, chose a site for an ambush, and defeated the US convoy. Two U.S. tanks were also given by fighters Yu Shuilin with anti-tank grenades.
After a fierce battle, the 352nd Regiment annihilated a large number of US and South Korean troops and opened up a union with friendly forces. The 118th Division won a crucial victory in the campaign. But just as the battle was nearing its end, Li Yulin was unfortunately shot and died, and the price was heavy.
In the first battle of Guangtian, the Volunteer Army ended in victory. The 40th Army attacked as planned, gradually dividing and encircling the 8th South Korean Division, and the 119th and 120th Divisions also launched fierce attacks on the east and west flanks. With the cooperation of friendly and neighboring forces, the 40th Army captured Hoengseong on February 14 and annihilated and captured the 8th Korean Division 1More than 20,000 people.
This battle of Guangtian once again proved that our light infantry can overcome the weakness of equipment and give full play to the superiority of mobile warfare to strike at a doubly powerful enemy force by implementing the tactics of roundabout and interspersing. The heroic deeds of the 352nd Regiment will forever inspire the soldiers of the Volunteer Army to defend the motherland's defense line to the death. And the sacrifice of Battalion Commander Li has also become the most tragic footnote to the battle of Guangtian.
Today, there is no smoke from the battlefield of Hirota, but the stories of the heroes live on forever. Every Qingming Festival, there are always people who come to Qingqing to remember that period of singing and crying. The blood-stained snow has long since melted, and the glorious victory will forever be recorded in the annals of history. This is the precious spiritual wealth left by the 40th Division of the 118th Army to future generations.
Today, the ancient battlefield of Guangtian has changed beyond recognition. The tall pine trees replaced the loess mounds of the year, and the towering elm trees replaced the flesh and blood of the year. The smoke and blood of February 1952 are no longer visible, but instead there is a quiet and peaceful idyllic scene.
Every year on the Qingming Festival, Guangtian Village will hold commemorative activities to pay tribute to the deceased martyrs. Villagers reverently lay wreaths in front of the monument to remember the young lives who died young. After the commemoration was over, people came to the site of the 352nd regiment's defensive position in groups to tell the heroic deeds handed down by the older generation.
My grandfather said that at that time, foreign soldiers drove tanks and big trucks to come in, and artillery shells flew everywhere, but the PLA did not retreat. A little boy said to his friend with a serious expression.
My grandmother said that after that battle, there were dead bodies everywhere and blood-stained snow. Grandma helped carry the wounded to the yard for first aid. A little girl also told the family story.
Although the children had never experienced war, that history has a long mark on their hearts. The heroes of this battle may be buried in the loess, but their spirit lives on. Guangtian, this once bloody land, today ushered in the memory and admiration from the new generation.
Let us never forget those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. The battle of Guangtian, the legend and pride of the volunteers, will always shine in the long river of time.