SABAH (71)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Interviewed and Compiled by Fatemeh Doustkami
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2021-8-10

SABAH (71)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Interviewed and Compiled by Fatemeh Doustkami

Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

Published by Soore Mehr Publishing Co.

Persian Version 2019

Chapter Sixteen

The next day, Ashraf, Elaheh and I went to Zolfaghari. The fighters who were there said that Iraqis had attached a few times since morning and most probably, the attacks will increase every hour. If this was the case, then there was probability that we would have lots of injured and high need of aid. Therefore, we decided to stay in our trench and not return to base.

We had just said our evening and night prayers that the Iraqis started to shower the area with bullets. We could see the route of bullets and red missiles which passed above our heads in the night sky. The volume of fire reaching us was high. The sound of mortar bombs and five-fives did not stop for one second. The artillery of the enemy was pouring fire non-stop. The lighted bullets of the Iraqis lighted the dessert like daylight all the time. The voice of tanks moving around could be heard. We said our Ashhads.

Large volume of dust and smog was surrounding us. We held our grenades in our hands so that we were ready to destroy them and ourselves in case the Iraqis started progressing towards us. The situation was so terrifying that we all had our weapons prepared and were ready to fight Iraqis who had approached our trenches. Two three hours later, the situation was the same. The mortar bomb bullets hit near our trench a few times and the soil poured on our heads, but the quivers did not hit us. It was strange. Despite this volume of fire, we did not have any injured. May be the reason was that all were in their trenches. Colonel Kehtari and a few other fighters shouted all the time and encouraged us to go to our trenches.

Near sunrise, the surrounding voices and shootings by Iraqis stopped. We had just said the morning prayers that we saw a few Fadaieyan Islam forces running towards our trench shouting: “Aid workers! Aid workers!”

We came out of the trench quickly. They were short of breath but said that they have two injured soldiers and asked us to go with them. We ran after them for around seven eight minutes that all of a sudden one of the soldiers shouted: “All stand. We are in mine field!”

This was the first time that I saw a mine field. It was a big one. In the past, I had seen TV movies about World War II big mines with the size of a barrel that were thrown in the sea on the path of navy forces ships of England. We all stood still. The soldiers who had ordered us to stop, said: “Sister! Look under your feet. The shiny wires which are under your feet are the connecting wires of the mines. Be careful that you do not step on them.”

The daylight and sunrays made the copper wires of the mine field shine and the scenery was beautiful. It was as if the ground was lined with gold particles. The slightest mistake would kill all.

All of a sudden I felt a severe pain in my sides and under my ribs. I did not know the reason, was it because of running fast or was it because of shock and terror of entering mine field. I could not stand on my feet at all. I told Elaheh: “Elaheh! I am dying of pain.” Elaheh said surprisingly: “Really? What happened to you suddenly Sabbah?” I said: “I do not know! My sides and under my ribs are in deep pain.” Elaheh said: “We can’t do anything right now. Wait a little bit so that we find out what we should do.”

Due to severe pain, all muscles on my sides and stomach had tightened; in a way that I had to bend. I moved slowly together with others and followed the soldier who had alerted us about the wires.

A few meters forward, we stood. Two injured soldiers were lying on the ground in a very bad situation. The mine had exploded under their feet and had torn them apart. Their thigh and leg bones had fractured and protruded out and they had lost lots of blood. Their feet was hanging from their body with a small skin and I was sure that they would fall off. The hand of one of them was hanging from forearm and was near rapture. Although I had seen lots of injured and had dealt with different kinds of wounds and injuries, but this one was different. Their swollen and torn wounds had given their bodies a terrifying image. Their bones were cracked and were protruding out of their flesh and skin.

The injured whose hand was hanging from forearm, had been hit by quiver in chest and stomach too. The quiver had raptured his chest and stomach. His situation was very bad; so bad that he was only minutes away from martyrdom. All his clothes and chest and stomach and sides were covered in blood. they were both young and were barely 18, 19 years old. I forget my pain when I saw them.

We did not know where to start. One of his comrades said in a sad voice: “They got separated without informing the commander and were trapped in mine field. They wanted to compile the Iraqis lighting umbrellas.”

I became so angry. Was such a thing possible?! We were already short of forces in the area and a number were injured now!

We took out our splints and approached them with utmost care. We were also careful with the stretched wires which were on the mine field. They had lost a lot of blood and were fainting and were not whining. When we reached for their hands and feet to fix them on the splints, our hands sank inside their flesh and cracked bones. It was a hard thing to do. I felt pity for them. Only God knew what pain they were through. When dealing with the harmed body parts, we were so careful so that they would not fall off. Although hard, we attended to them slightly.

We placed them on trolleys and returned the path we had gone slowly and carefully. I was so focused on the injured that I had not noticed the recess of the Iraqis. It was really surprising. They had showered us with fire during night and had not let us do the slightest move, then in the morning they had recessed instead of progressing! We looked at our trenches with perplexity and thanked God in my heart for this victory. During the past few days, we had constantly pushed Iraqis back and were progressing.

When I was sure that the injured have been transferred to the rear, I decided to find the Commander of the area. The scenery of soldiers being town did not leave my sight for one second. Although I had seen harsher scenes than this before, but when the situation was the result of carelessness and lack of attention, I could not take it. I asked one of the Fadaieyan Islam forces: “Who is the Commander of this area now?” He said: “This area is under governance of army members.” I said: “I know. I mean do you know their Commander?” He said: “Yes, his name is Morteza Esfahani.” I said: “Do you know where his trench is?”

He showed me the location which was about 10-minute walk. I went there and found his trench. I knew that the person in charge of the injured soldiers was Mr. Hashemi but on the other side I knew that the responsibility of the soldiers was with army people and it was better that they are informed about the situation and whereabouts of the fighters and forces in the area.

The army Commander was standing beside his trench. Before Morteza Esfahani started talking, I thought that he is from Khuzestan and this is the reason that he is sunburnt. But when he started to talk, I noticed that he is from Esfahan[1]. After greeting, I introduced myself and said: “I am an aid worker from Khorramshahr. I have come to complain to you.”

Morteza Esfahani said: “What has happened sister? Tell me.” I said: “Is this right that we destroy two young lives for the sake of four lighted umbrella? Why shouldn’t anybody supervise them?!” He said: “What has happened? Please explain so that I know what you are talking about.”

I told him what had happened. He became very sad and upset and said: “How many were they?” I said: “They were two and one of them was in critical situation. I do not think he will survive. The other one will definitely lose a body part.”

Morteza Esfahani said: “Sister, thank you for informing. I will instruct soldiers to be more careful in such situations. I will find out who has been their Commander and why has been so negligent.”

I thanked him and said good bye and returned to our trenches.

The order to progress of the forces had been issued. All were out of their trenches and moved. We went with them. We passed the mine field and progressed five six hundred meters. Despite the severe fire that the Iraqis had poured on us, they had recessed their positions and had gone towards Fayyazi and Mahrazi front and behind seventh station or milk factory.

Since that moment, our front changed and we stationed near the milk factory. Based on the order of Colonel Kehtari, we started digging trenches. His soldiers dogged trenches for us. The milk factory building was between us and the enemy position. We were so happy for this progress. Colonel Kehtari was happier than all of us because he had been able to progress with his forces a few kilometers without human loss.

To be continued ...