Medal and Leave - 9
11 notes from an Iraqi captive
Compiled by Hedayatollah Behboudi
Translated by: M.B. Khoshnevisan
2025-9-28
Medal and Leave - 9
11 notes from an Iraqi captive
Compiled by Hedayatollah Behboudi
Translated by: M.B. Khoshnevisan
***
Episode 9: Lost Jeep
I was standing by his room, waiting for him to allow me to enter. A short while later, permission was granted. I went in. He raised his head. Sadness and depression poured from his eyes. He greeted me... I sat down and looked at him. Sergeant Esmaeel Amin was the sub-lieutenant of the mechanized unit of the 604th Battalion, 1st Regiment, stationed in "Rawanduz". He was an elderly, good-hearted man who preferred peace above all else and did not like to get involved in problems. But this time, contrary to his wishes, a problem had arisen for him, and the company's storage had been damaged.
The sub-lieutenant wished to get rid of this trouble as soon as possible and resolve it smoothly and amicably; because if it turned out otherwise, the matter would take on political dimensions. That is why he had assigned one of the soldier-drivers to investigate the disappearance of a Jeep. Just as we were talking, the driver of the missing Jeep entered.
The sub-lieutenant asked, "Where is the commander's UAZ [Russian Jeep]?"
The driver said, "I had parked it in its position, sir."
The lieutenant furrowed his brow and said, "But it's not in its place now..."
"But sir, the key is with me. How could someone else have used it?"
"In that case, it has been stolen and could lead to some security issues. Perhaps this was used for sabotage; what answer will we have for that?"
- Sir, I don't think this incident has anything to do with me.
- What do you mean, it doesn't? The car was in your possession, and they will definitely interrogate you.
The driver thought for a moment and then said, "Now, what do you suggest we do?"
- We should check the brigades and regiments. Maybe you parked the Jeep somewhere else and just don't remember now.
We left the room together and came to the place where the jeep had been parked. Only a deep crater was visible. A crater that had been created moments before by an airstrike. The airstrike had destroyed the company offices, the food supply depot, and several vehicles. The driver said, "The jeep was right here."
The sub-lieutenant said, "But it's not here now."
We set off again to search the adjacent battalions. Everyone was talking about the airstrike. As we walked, a conversation caught our attention.
If the plane had dropped missiles and rockets on us, it would be no surprise, but they attacked us with pieces of a car! It's strange. The Iranians must have run out of ammunition, and that's why they're throwing scrap metal at our heads.
We all froze at once. The warrant officer looked at the driver in surprise. To be more certain, we went to the location. Here and there, pieces of a car could be seen. When we looked more carefully, we recognized it. It was the same jeep we had been looking for—the Iranians' missile had torn it to pieces and thrown it here.
To be continued …
Number of Visits: 905
The latest
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 6
- Memories of Farshid Eskandari
- Authenticating Oral History: From Possibility to Necessity
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 28
- An Interview with Members of an Iraqi Mawkib Present at the Gatherings in Tehran
- Memoirs of Manizheh Lashkari
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 5
- 100 Questions/27
Most visited
- 100 Questions/26
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 5
- 100 Questions/27
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 27
- An Interview with Members of an Iraqi Mawkib Present at the Gatherings in Tehran
- Memoirs of Manizheh Lashkari
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 28
- Memories of Farshid Eskandari
The Editor's Missing Place on the “Deck”
The book From Deck to Heaven offers a relatively fresh approach to examining the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy (AJA) during the eight years of the Sacred Defense, published under the “Oral History of the Islamic Revolution” series. To compile this book, the esteemed author has utilized documentary research (referring to relevant archival centers and selecting documents) and field research ...An Exceptional Haft‑Seen Table
I wanted to celebrate the new year with my family. Together with two relief workers I boarded buses designated for transporting the wounded to Choubideh and received our mission orders. We waited for a helicopter to take us to Bandar Imam Khomeini. I was stationed near the helicopter’s touchdown zone and was slight in build. As the helicopter was about to land, I could not steady myself; the breeze generated by the rotor blades lifted me off the ground.Spring under the shadow of war
Composing the Spring special for the new year in the past years was mostly along with hope, nature’s rebirth and the promise of renewal of life. Spring has always been a reminder for returning of life and peace after the Winters’ cold. This year though, another atmosphere has settled over our land in the last days of Esfand (March).Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mohammad-Hadi Ardebilli
I registered for Konkour (university entrance exam), following the conclusion of high school. I was accepted into Tehran’s polytechnic (Amirkabir) university and began to study chemical and petrochemical engineering. There was a building named Jordan in the faculty in which religious students had prepared a small room as a house of prayer and did the noon and afternoon prayers in there.
