Convoy Narrator of "When Moonlight Was Lost" on the Last Day of Fall

Memory Is "I", Let us Think About "We"

Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2017-12-26

Ayatollah Khamenei wrote a letter of congratulation and condolence for martyrdom of Ali Khoshlafz, the sacred defense veteran and narrator of "When Moonlight Was Lost (Vaghti Mahtab Gom Shod)" on December 20, 2017. The letter is as follows:

In The Name Of God

The dear veteran Mr. Ali Khoshlafz joined Allah and connected reward of decades of pain and discomfort of being a veteran to high place of martyrdom Fi sabilillah (in the cause of Allah). God's mercy and grace for this dear martyr, who was also called live martyr during his lifetime, and duration of years after the sacred defense gave him great reward of patients. I salute his pure spirit, and congratulate and condolence for his beloved reminders."

The commentary of leader of the revolution on book of "When Moonlight Was Lost" was unveiled in winter of last year (1395 SH). It is stated in text of the commentary of Supreme Leader on this book which is an emotional narrative about memories of veteran Ali Khoshlafz, comrade of Haj Ahmad Motevaselian written by Hamid Hesam: "The narrator is himself a live martyr. His very hurt body has not able to diminish vitality and wakefulness of his heart, and Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin. The author is also one of the same many lovers and experienced. Be pleasant for him and all of them grace of divine submission; Inshallah... about writing of this book, what I wrote is a little; advantages of the writing is more than this. Introduction of the book is a full-fledged Ghazal."

"When Moonlight Was Lost" is the 14th work of Hamid Hesam written in form of memory. He had already told on subject of this book to correspondent of Oral History Website of Iran, "The book is about a person named Ali Khoshlafz, a 70% veteran, who goes to the front in his sixteen, and from there, after being familiar with Hajj Ahmad Motevaselian joins group of detectors of the enemy and later in Khorramshahr he joins 27th Mohammad Rasulullah Division, where his epics are begun in various operations such as Ramezan, Sarallah, Valfajr-2, and many other operations. Title of the book also refers to one memory of the chemical veteran who had gone to Sumar region for detection, and that night, simultaneously with rising the moonlight is witnessing martyrdom of his comrades in minefield. Principally the work is in field of oral history, because all memories are narrated without manipulating the book and it is in fact a narrative compilation. This compilation only includes removing redundant elements of speech, setting of events in a timely manner and conversing speech into text, and all his words are narrated in the book without any distortion."

Oral History Website of Iran introduced "When Moonlight Was Lost: Memories of Ali Khoshlafz", which was interviewed and edited by Hamid Hesam, and published first by Soore Mehr Publication in 652. It was stated in the introduction which was written by reporter of Oral History Website of Iran that "one asked: is handwriting in early pages of the book really for the narrator's handwriting?" After a short time, the narrator said: "When I want to write a letter, I request my wife to do it. Handwriting of this book is my wife's handwriting." The same person asked: "Are these words the same narrator's words? Did no one help him in writing these words?"

Beginning words of "When Moonlight Was Lost" took the words right out of the narrator mouth: "My friends asked me to say my memories of sacred defense, I didn't accepted. I knew that memory is a personal narrative based on "I", while the main lesson of the sacred defense was passing through "I" and reaching summit of sacrifice and having no claim and interest. Living with the martyrs taught us to abandon "I" during passing "passage" of self and to think about "We". "We" who were part of each other body, and in every battleground, part of this "We" went to heaven."

These writings are so intimate that whet audience to read the book. The book's introduction also has a such mood: "I had a comrade who said:" Here -Majnoon island- is place of insanes. Mads who are lovers. Lovers who want to approach God through shortcut."

The author narrates memories of Ali Khoshlafz in this book whose friends talk about him with different interpretations. Be a good friend because of his numerous comrades, he talked meaningful because he didn't limit himself to speech and figure of speech, and having good wounds because of reminded wounds of the front.

"When Moonlight Was Lost" includes 13 chapters. The first chapter titled "Alley Gardens of ShotorGalo District" narrates childhood of Khoshlafz till victory of the revolution and then beginning of the imposed war. This chapter ends with photos of childhood to youth of Khoshlafz. The second chapter, "Base of Blood Route", is both name and the same route that many people died a martyr for opening it. This chapter is devoted to issues such as dispatching Khoshlafz to the front, watching and then patrol and detection. Returning Khoshlafz from the front, continuing education and working as a reserve and fighting in Sarpol-e Zahab front are some of topics of chapter of "Sixteen Years Old Guide". This is the same chapter when playful Ali, who had entered the front of in his fifteen, became a road guide at his sixteen. "The Battle Till Freedom of Khorramshahr", "Ramezan of Thirst War", "Well-Wounded Brothers", "Swear To Horses Hoof", "Smile Of Intercession," "I, Moonlight, Mine", "Battle Of Al-Faw", "Scape From Ado of Name And Post"," My Heart Parts In Shalamcheh" and "All My Brothers" are titles of other chapters of the book.

"When Moonlight Was Lost" is not a book to talk about it because talking about this book cannot express memories of Ali Khoshlafz. All chapters are readable and you must study each memory independently for touching and understanding events; although words again cannot be completely illustrative of the events; the events that change a mischievous boy to a believed fighter. This book is one of the best books published in field of oral history. As stated in the introduction, "When Moonlight Was Lost," is not a story, but reality, a reality that may be very far from minds, but it is real.

In this book, photos help words; when words of each chapter end the photos begin; photos that have a lot to say. Every photo along with description of the photos is an independent and readable story; Short stories that end quickly, but continue in minds of the audience. Arranging these photos, their descriptions, and their selection informs of a correct management in compilation of the book. A large number of photos are also part of an effort to provide the best quality. All of these features may be because Hamid Hesam, the author of the book, was familiar with space he took over its re-narration."

Funeral ceremony of martyr Ali Khoshlafz titled "Convoy Moonlight" began aside from tomb of the anonymous diver martyrs in campus of Hozeh Honari (at intersection of streets of Hafez and Somayyeh in Tehran) at 9 a.m. on December 21, 2017. Corpse of martyr Khoshlafz will be transferred to Hamedan for burial. Jamshid (Ali) Khoshlafz, narrator of "When Moonlight Was Lost", died a martyr in Khatamolanbia Hospital of Tehran on Wednesday, December 21 due to effects of chemical damage caused by the imposed war of Saddam Army against Islamic Republic of Iran.