Seyyed of Quarters 15 (9)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

2016-12-11

Seyyed of Quarters 15

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

Edited and Compiled by: Sassan Nateq

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2016 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

In the mid-course of training we were told that Ayatollah Malakooti, representative of Supreme Leader in East Azarbaijan and the leader of praying in Tabriz, came to visit the garrison. We cleaned the weapons. Training instructors monitored us. We examined the breechblock to make sure the bolt was not in the breech. We queued in the morning field. Ayatollah Malakooti arrived. Colonel Javeednasab, commander of the garrison, stood up in the place and explained some issues. After him, Ayatollah Malakooti began to speak about sacrifice, the front and war, and defense of the country; then he went.

We were told to prepare ourselves for camping in November. The next morning, we were surprised to see snow when woke up. One of instructors said, "Don’t worry. We go and come back in one-day."

Fully equipped, we set off at seven o'clock in the morning. It was cold because of snowing, so some soldiers began complaining. After 4km walking, we arrived at the campsite and started to peg individual tents growlingly and panting. Tent pegs stuck to our hands and we hammered them into the ground by force of hammer and stone. The next day we found out the one-day camp has become a one-week camp!

It was tough conditions; the food was little and cold air bothered us. I did not dare to undress and took off my boots. I took them off only when I wanted to pray. We had reached to the end of our tether because of daily combat, nightly combat, and camouflage and finding a shelter under the assumption of aerial bombardment. Our instructors assigned us difficult exercises and made night fury. During that total confusion, lieutenant Teerkhoun had taken the opportunity to say continuously, "sweat, so your blood not to shed!"

After one week, we returned to the barracks. On 9^th December 1986, our training course finished and we took an examination. The total of my grades led to be promoted to Corporal rank. We could get a leave, and then went home.

After ending the leave, I returned to the barracks. Instructors asked soldiers to forgive them because of their strictness. But Ostovar Dastranji said, "There’s no need to forgive me. My task is to be hard on you to learn."

The Sergeants called the names of soldiers according to the list and the units in which we should serve were cleared. Hearing the name of the place of their serve, some soldiers were upset and some cried. I told them: “it does not matter, whether the place of our serve is close or to be far. We want to serve our country. Therefore we should prepare ourselves for any adversity."

Jokingly, one of Company soldiers said: "we kick anyone cries!"

My name was called. I should go to Kermanshah for continuing my serve. Our neighbor boy, Rahib Kamali, was also with me. He called me ‘cousin’. He said: "Cousin, where are we going?"

• Kermanshah.
• I mean, to what Division?
• It’s not still clear.

Being with each other made us happy.

A few hours after the bus moved, one of our companies in the bus said that we will join the 81–armored Division in Kermanshah.

Some parts of walls of 81–Division barracks were cracked and fell down. The soldiers said that the Iraqis sometimes bombed there with long-range artillery and aircraft. We went to the mosque for performing the afternoon prayers. In the second Raka’t of our prayer, we heard the air–raid siren. The soldiers fled out in droves. I heard the sound of aircrafts passing. Rahib and I had just stayed in the mosque. After finishing our prayer we came out. One of the soldiers of garrison looked at us surprisingly and said, "You two are more Basiji rather than soldier!"

The aircrafts had bombed the city and smoke and dust had been raised from several points. They divided the forces and it was supposed to join 768–Infantry Battalion near the Qasr-e Shirin. Apparently, the 768–Infantry Battalion was one of newly established Qods battalions. The next day, we rode IFA truck and went to the position of 768–Battalion. We got off beside an earthwork. The soldiers sat behind it. It was an hour past noon. I said to myself: "It’s better to pray now. They might send me to somewhere else and my pray to be delayed and not said at the proper time."

There was a water tank close to the earthwork; I performed my ablutions. After praying, the soldiers said a sergeant had come and looked for the Qari. They had shown me to him and said that I am Qari. I went to sergeant. Sergeant Ghanbari was battalion ideological commander. "It is you prayed?" He said.

• Yes sir.

His accent showed he is Kurdish. He added my name to the list which was in front of him and said: "The first stage of the competition will be at battalion level. Go and prepare yourself."

I picked up my things and went to a big hangar–like structure its roof was covered with dust. Two days later, a few soldiers of the battalion and I went to a prayer room for participating in the competition. First Lieutenant Yeganeh was the inspection commander. He and Sergeant Ghanbari sat behind the table and we began to read the Quran one by one; and they graded. I thought my reading is not bad, but was sure my recitation isn’t good enough. After finishing the reading competition, I got the first-place. "Three or four days later, the competition was held at brigade level." Ghanbari said.

On the appointed day, along with the eight top in battalions, I got on the car and went to the brigade location near the Gilan-e Gharb, where a master of Quran recitation was present. We mounted the rostrum one after another and recite in turn. Our scores summed up and they announced that I’ve got the first-place again. Now, we should participate in competition at the Division level. We went to Division headquarters in Kermanshah. The competition lasted a week. One of Northern soldiers was my roommate. There were about ten participants from our Division and about sixty ones from West Country Divisions. Recitation of some of soldiers was very good and experienced masters supervised our work. At the end of the competition, I got the ninth place. Ten winners were awarded a prize and I also gave mine from the Kermanshah leader of Friday prayer. My prize was two hundred Tomans and Resurrection book, written by Shahid Ayatollah Dastgheib. One of the 81–Division soldiers, who had participated in the competition, came from Ahwaz. Returning to the battalion, he said to other soldiers, "I’m Arab, but this Turkish-speaking overtook me and was elected."

Getting a place in Quran recitation in the level of West Divisions had the privilege to stay at headquarters of battalion. From that day I became an ideological and inspection soldier. Little by little, my relationship with lieutenant Yeganeh and sergeant Ghanbari improved. I was disciplinarian and organized and did the Companies affaires on time. Companies of battalion were far away from the headquarters. Lieutenant Yeganeh and sergeant Ghanbari gave me a motorcycle to visit the Companies and resolve soldiers’ problems as far as I can. Seeing that I'm serious in doing my duties and the Companies commanders are satisfied with me, they gave me the right to sign the letters and said I can sign ordinary letters in their absence.

Lieutenant Yeganeh had no girls. Sometimes he said jokingly, "I have a tall girl with a good voice and shining face. Because I like you, I want to marry her with you."

Rhib Kamali and our neighbor boy, who had connections in the Ajabshir garrison, were in the Company–3. The Company–3 was half an hour away from headquarters. Sometimes I went there with motorcycle, asked the Company commander permission to take Rahib; then I took him near the front line. One day Rahib said, "If your mother finds out whereabouts you go, she’ll suffer a stroke!"

I rode motorcycle and went to the edge of road eighteenth of every month. Wherever I saw a soldier, asked him if he is from 768–Battalion and has settlement letter, brings his letter to be signed.  In this way, duties of lieutenant Yegane and sergeant Ghanbari decreased and they could do their other works. On the other hand, soldiers didn’t get in trouble and didn’t have to come to the headquarters for settling their account. Gradually, soldiers began not to go to the headquarters. They waited me at the edge of road to sign their settlement letters.

We borrowed an electric motor, a color television, and a video device from the brigade to play movies for soldiers to be entertained. I filled a box of ammunition with straw and put video device and tapes into it. Along with a driver, I went the Companies in turn. Each Company had a big trench. Apart from the watchers, I called the rest and played Bruce Lee’s movies and other ones which were sent to us. I was happy I can do something for the soldiers on that difficult situation. But sometimes it took long time. Therefore, I stayed in one of the trenches at night and came back the battalion next day.

To be continued ….