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, 1^st 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 …