A Short Review of the Book “Oral Memories of Holy Defense Narrated by Mohsen Pakyari”

19th Fajr Division Deputy of Operation

Fereydoon Heidari Molk-Mian
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2022-9-28

On the book cover and back of the book “Oral Memoirs of Holy Defense Narrated by Mohsen Pakyari” is also decorated with a picture of the narrator and a short text, respectively, like other books of oral history series of the Center for Documents and Research of Holy Defense. As with the other works in this collection, the title page comes first, then the CIP and content pages are placed. We review the foreword by the Center for Documents and Research of Holy Defense, and then we come to the introduction by the interviewer. After that, we meet text of memories, which has an appendix at the end. Then it comes to the document part and the pages related to the images, often in color and with good quality. There is also an index at the end of the book.

Memories are written in four chapters. Each chapter consists of different parts in which the narrator retells his memories chronologically with the description of important and decisive events in impressive frankness and honesty.

The First Chapter: Birth to the Victory of the Revolution

The narrator begins with his family background, describes his school days, and after mentioning his wrestling championship, describes formation of his first impulses to fight. He goes back to the past and remembers days of anger and hatred against the imperial regime, and mentions Ayatollah Seyyed Abdol Hossein Dastgheib ​​as the center of struggle in Shiraz; he also recalls his acquaintance with revolutionary imam of congregational prayers of the Atashiha Mosque. He also remembers the cruel assistant principal of his high school as well as burning Shiraz’s Culture and Art Hall. When he talks about the last breaths of tyranny in 1978, at the same time, he also talks about getting his diploma. On the other hand, attempting for armed struggle would result in SAVAK prison, interrogation, and military court. During his description, he recounts his memories of Seyyed Mehdi Hashemi's canal in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, bringing a television to the prison of political prisoners, from prison, meeting his family members, and finally being released from prison. In continuance of the interview, he praises bravery of his brother Hassan and talks about preparing and making weapons, and starting the armed struggle. He considers Imam's announcements at that time more effective than any weapon, and points to the products of Ayatollah Dastgheib meeting with Imam and two influential events on the threshold of the revolution. This chapter is ended with the narration of beginning of conflicts and guiding revolutionaries by instructions of Ayatollah Dastgheib.

The Second Chapter: The First Measures after Victory of the Revolution

The formation of committees in the first days after victory of the Islamic Revolution, protection of the radio and television building, founding Fars’s IRGC, deputy of operation of Fars’s IRGC, and establishing Basij of Mostaz’afin (The Oppressed) are among the first measures after victory of the revolution, which the narrator recounts in this chapter. He then mentions dealing with actions of Qashqai Khans, split in Fars’s nomads camp, and increase in the wickedness of Khans. Then, he talks in detail about the armed march of Noorabad soldiers to recruit troops, transferring Noorabad Khans to Shiraz’s IRGC, and unconditional release of Noorabad Khans. After formation of Firozabad’s IRGC and efforts to liberate Firoozabad-Tangab Road, he talks about Ayatollah Rabbani's position in tumult of Khans and finally restablishing security to Fars after ending Firoozabad Tumult. After that, he describes being dispatched to Kurdistan, and the skydiving training course. Here, the narrator ends this part of his narration by referring to his proposal and reciting the marriage hadith by Imam, describing the sweet days of his married life.

The Third Chapter: Start of the Imposed War and the First Resistances

This chapter narrates beginning of the nationwide invasion. By attending the Shiraz Defense Council, the narrator undertakes organization of volunteers to be sent to the front. Then he talks about deployment of Fars province forces around Susangerd and the all-out attack against Susangerd. After he introduces the front as a “meeting place for lovers of all ideologies”, he mentions training popular forces. The third chapter ends with explaining commanding of his brother Hassan Pakiari in 7^th Station of Abadan and his martyrdom.

The Fourth Chapter: Decisive Battles

The last chapter of this narrative begins with the first great victory of the warriors. The narrator talks about courage and sacrifice of one, and brilliance of the other in Chazabeh Strait. Then he mentions formation of Imam Sajjad Brigade and the operations that are carried out: first, the sub-operation with the intention of deceiving the enemy, and after that, Operation Fath-ol-Mobin; also, he points out importance of closing the enemy's rear. The narrative is kept on with continuation of the war after Operation Beit-ol-Moqaddas. The narrator then focuses on the 19th Fajr Division in Operation Ramadan, and talks about detecting information for Operation Muharram. Mentioning the Doiraj flood, he addresses to flanking the enemy in Operation Muharram and amphibious Operation Khyber. Meanwhile, the narrator settles his family in Ahvaz and experiences the bitter and sweet days of life in the midst of the war. He then narrates Operation Badr, which takes place in the area of Operation Khyber. Commanding Abadan headquarters in Operation Valfajr-8, Iraqi heavy attacks to recapture Al-Faw, shooting an Iraqi aircraft, the chemical bombing of Al-Faw, construction of Be’sat Bridge and capturing Al-Amaya and Al-Bakr oil platforms are other topics of this narrative. Finally, the narrator mentions the operation of destiny year and ends his narrative with telling the bitter news of Resolution 598 and the end of the war.

Appendix

In the Appendix, the narrator explains role of Sardar (General) Mohsen Pakyari during the holy defense by one of his comrades, Sardar Mohammad Nabi Rudaki. Rudaki first talks about his acquaintance with Pakyari and enumerates his moral characteristics. He then describes his memories of Pakyari regarding adventures of conflict with Khans and evildoers of Fars province, before start of the imposed war and before going to Kurdistan. In continuance of the interview, he mentions news of martyrdom of his brother, Samad Rudaki, which, ironically, was given to him by Pakyari. He also talks about how to set up the brigade of Imam Sajjad (AS) with the presence of Pakyari in Susa region. Thente  he remarks his companionship with Pakyari in the flood incident of Doirij river in Operation Muharram; at the end, he mentions role of Pakyari in operations and especially Operation Karbala-4.

Documents

In this part, Sardar Mohsen Pakyari is introduced according to the documents. There are many documents of his presence in various stages of operations in the archive of the Center for Documents and Research of Holy Defense, which shows extensive jihadi efforts by Pakyari in various posts, in cooperation with warriors of Islam in the battle scene against the aggressor enemy. Here are some of these documents related to him in various operations with detailed descriptions:

 1. Guidance meeting of Operation Ramadan;

 2. Mapping and preparing the operation of Hadid’s 7th Corps;

 3. Mapping and preparation of Operation Badr;

and documents 4, 5, and 6, of which are all related to planning and preparation of Operation Valfajr-8.

The book “Oral Memories of Holy Defense Narrated by Mohsen Pakyari”, was interviewed by Mohammad Ghasemi and rewritten by Zohreh Ali Askari; it was published and released in the book market by the Center for Documents and Research of Holy Defense, in 224 pages, 1000 copies with a hard cover in octavo medium size, at a price of 80,000 Tomans.