Memories of Behzad Asaei, The Sacred War fighters and a faculty, Part (I)

Hoveyzeh Was A Big Change And A Training Center For Me

Interviewed by Mehdi Khanbanpoor
Edited by Elham Saleh
Translated by Rohollah Golmoradi

2016-12-20

Note: Behzad Asaei was born in Tehran in 1965. He studied in schools such as al-Khwarizmi, Hashtroodi and Mofid and graduated in 1983. He spent B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering (power) in Tehran University. During 1987-1990 he worked in Hemmat Missile Industries Complex. Asaei became a faculty of Yazd University in 1990 and went Australia, Sydney in 1992 to pursue Ph.D. He graduated in Ph.D. in 1996. He started production of electric vehicles in Australia, Sydney in 1993. At the same time, he was working in Iran Khodro Industrial Group. Iran's first electric car was built by him in the company that began in 1997 and was completed at the early of 1999. Asaei was responsible for designing electricity of Iran Khodro cars. He is currently faculty at Tehran University in Electrical Engineering. The university professor on the eve of 17-year-old went to the sacred war fronts. In conversation of http://oral-history.ir/ with him we opened a way into memories of those years.

Did the electric car which you built it imitate of foreign products or it was completely domestic?

Zero to hundred percent was building by our team. It was very difficult because it was my first job. The plan of central range of car that I had worked seven or eight years ago was applied about two or three years ago for Peugeot 405. From 1997 to 2001, I was Director of Designing Electricity of Research Center of Iran Khodro. Working in the center was a good experience. We did designes and produced them ourselves from zero to one hundred. Delivery of the project prototype took six months, but to be produced, lasted three years. In 2000-2001, Iran Khodro also established a company that was parent company of manufacturing some Auto Parts. I work as CEO. We had three companies that were producing parts for Iran Khodro and Iran Khodro property was 30% of its shares. Until 2006, we had approximately 600 employees. At the same time I was teaching, in fact my main job was teaching. I'm still teaching.

Then you are interested in teaching.

Yes, but I'm tired. (He is laughing) Teaching is being monotonous for me. Teaching is good when it is accordance with that producing a product. Universities are isolated from industry, but Alhamdulillah production has been enjoyable for me. Experience of manufacturing a product in mass production is not usual in Iran. After 2006 I left automotive industry and from that year until now I has been in School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Tehran University. In Engineering College, I worked for several years with MAPNA Group; in fact an institution was set up that was connector of Tehran University and MAPNA that I was its deputy three years. I engaged in about 30 to 40 research projects that the university did for MAPNA, and teaching was still continuing. In 2013, I was hired in Mahtab Company where in which we construct wind to solar renewable powerhouse, and almost we are forerunner in this context. We are also the first company that does projects through the National Development Fund for renewable energy. At the same time we worked on research projects such as solar car, or a Hybrid motorcycle or CEC. So I am working on the renewable energies. Hopefully, next summer I will be retired from the university, and I want to devote all my energy on new energy discussion. We also do charities in a way that install renewable energies for a series of villages so that they have income.

Doctor Asaei that is now before us as scientific elite, how old was him the first time he went to the front?

The first time I was sixteen and a half years.

Please narrate for us your dispatch to the front.

I was studying in Hashtroodi high school and was the first student too.

At that time, what grade were you?

I was in junior. I had a friend who talked together and we wanted to go to the front. I think it was March 23, 1982.

Do you mean your first dispatch was in March 23, 1982?

Yes. For 25 days, I was trained in the Garrison of Imam Hussain (AS) in Tehran. The Garrison is now University of Imam Hussein (AS). We were in third course of Basij. I remember we were detached Ahvaz to go to Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas in April 17, 1982. I was destructor. I went to the destructor unit of Karbala Camp that at the time was in Ahvaz textile. We were about 40 selected people. Most of others joined 27th Mohammad Rasulullah Division (which was then a Brigade) and less to Sayyid al-Shuhada brigade. I was a week in Karbala Camp, after that I went to a village called Nesareh. Nesareh was in the south of Ahvaz-Abadan road. We stationed there and were a few days in the village and next to the Karun River, which has some interesting stories; if I want to tell, it takes very long. Since we were combined with the Army (Zulfiqar Brigade); that is the Army was merged with Sepah and I went as destructor.

Were you train just destruction?

No, I was trained everything and a last week was dedicated specifically to training destruction. It has also its story.

Please tell it.

A few days we were trained in a minefield. We learned also One week tactics and destruction. Generally (at the amateur level) all were trained destruction. So I passed all course generally.

Was destruction your own choice?

Yes, it was very interesting that there was a ranking. At that time I was a clever student, so they said you can choose. Telecommunications (WLAN) was fashionable and destruction. I think destruction was more fashionable. After we have been trained, one night they told us that there is a maneuver. They planted mines, after Operation Fath ol-Mobin minefields were also so much and destruction coaches still hadn't many experiences in minefields. I looked for and neutralized mines, but three of them were not found. Our couch came, because they couldn't leave the mines. They brought flashlight, but whatever we looked for the mines weren't found. Then they brought a Jeep, so that two of the mines were found, but one wasn't still found. (He is laughing) education was really at elementary-level. After that we were merged with Zulfiqar Brigade who was the Army commando brigade. Now is its name NOHED (65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade)?

Yes.

Kolahsabzha (commandos with green caps). After our integration, they said well these are destruction experts namely wherever there were minefield, first we had to go. We didn't know how many bullets could we take? I had an AKM. (Destructors had good equipment and had AKM) I filled my backpack full of bullets, so I could barely walk. Night of the operation, we walked to the village that was over Karun River and there were divided. We did not have information. One of the Army personnel explained that the first stage we go to the road of Ahvaz- Khorramshahr and then to Basra. We wanted to operate a four-stage operation. We even hadn't seen a map and did not know at all how many kilometers we are away. They also didn't make us meaning clear about the operation. We mounted on an armored personnel carrier BMP. We were going by the BMP about one or two hours so that suddenly Iraqis started shooting toward us. We dismounted in order to walk rest of the path. Several people were injured. Ambulance came and I also helped injured people. When I was coming back I found one whom I had given him AKM had been missed. Whatever I looked for him I didn't find him. Several Iraqi ambushes and some killed Iraqis were there, I found an RPG, but still did not know how many bullets should I use RPG. I picked up five or six RPG rockets, a RPG and a lot of bullets and grenades. I could not move at all. I started moving in direction that I thought Iraqis are. It was dawn, but there was still not enough visibility. One of the Army APC came and I mounted. It was almost morning that we got. I saw an embankment and stationed behind it. I dug a trench and slept. In the morning, I woke up by the sound, when I got my head out I saw an IRIB reporter was telling the warriors freed Ahvaz-Khorramshahr road. (Smilingly) In short, the road had been freed, we had neither fought with Iraqis, nor other thing, but well there was a conflict in lower areas that one of my friends - God bless him, he martyred - had been captured 11 or 13 Iraqis.

Do you remember his name?

Martyr Mohammadreza Ghafarinia who buried Chizar.

Was he buried in Chizar?

Yes. He himself has a story that burnt in the minefield in Hoveyzeh.

Was he of the destruction warriors?

Yes, he was destructor. Summarily the road had been freed and then they found us and went again to Nesareh. After that we went to the second stage of Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas.

Didn't anyone asked you about missing the gun?

The commander asked me what had happened, but I still haven't told the story completely. Behind the levee, I found RPG had many troublesome and took G3 of one of the soldiers who had been wounded. G3 is very powerful, it shot but stopped. I went and told to the commander, "sir, this is the story and I now have a G3. He said where is your AKM? It was delivered you. Finally I consigned G3 and took another AKM. Nesareh village also has a story.

Tell the story of the village too.

It was May and mosquitoes and flies gave us hell. That was mosquitoes were in night shift and flies in day shift. Throughout day and night just an hour was empty. Flies could be tolerated, but the mosquitoes were so annoying.

Mosquitoes are known in the area!

Our bodies were not used to. You do not believe, there was a barge that they had made next to the village with barrels. To be not sting by mosquitos, for example we were up to our necks in Karun for an hour. There was also a water supply. Usually there was a fence or guard above water supplies that prevents people from falling, but guard of the water supply was just a bar. The guys to escape from mosquitoes climbed seven or eight meters. On the top of the water supply source was more wind. Only four or five people could sleep. They tied themselves to a rope so that not to fall. (Laughs) on top of the water supply had a lock. In the mornings, between 5 to 6:30-7:00 o'clock that were not many mosquitoes, most the guys slept. Usually we slept on the roof or in the water or on the water supply. (Laughs) before first stage of the operation, Iraq stuck cannon some shells. We were much feared that we had not seen cannon and mortar. May 07, 1982, we went to second stage of the operation. We went to the border through Hosseinieh station. I think it was 17-18 km far from the border. It was raining that night and all Iraqi's tanks and cars stayed in mud. I got three Jeeps as booty. It seemed that one of them had key and two didn't have. I did not have a license and I could not drive. In short, I found one that started the jeep and brought back as booty.

It was the morning that we found the guys. Iraqi began bombarding as warriors came. I was next to an IFA and many were martyred and injured. Then they told go back to Khorramshahr. Until then we were not faced with mine. I stood in front of a Blazer and told: Sir took us in, he said: I can't I just take the injured not healthy people. As he said this, a bullet stuck at my feet, the guys said: Come on! This is injured, take her. (He is laughing) As the ambulance it was awful. (Smilingly) it went up and down. We were returned with many difficulties to Hosseinieh station. There was a helipad that the injured were returned from there. They wanted to take the injured in a helicopter that Iraq began to bombard... they left us there in the middle of the helicopter and the levee. There was bombed, but any of the helicopters was not damaged and finally we mounted Chinook helicopter and transferred us to Ahwaz. I was at the University of Ahwaz (Jundishapur) and I think they wanted to take me by train to Babol Hospital.

In fact, without neutralizing any mine, you were injured and returned.

Yes, I was injured and came back. (He is laughing) they wanted to take me to Babol maternity. (Smilingly) I think in Tehran railway station I called and said "I was injured and I go to Babol. I did not know exactly where I was going. They took me to Ardakan, Yazd and they operated me analgesia. Walking was hard for me. I used the opportunity and I took part in all exams of June. After the exams I went back to the front again.

This means May 24 when Khorramshahr was liberated, were you injured and after the exams your leg had been improved?

Yes. I came back to the front late June.

What was your average?

I think whole average was more than 19:50. We had a teacher who was a fan of Hojjatieh[1] and gave me grade of 11- 12 in composition lesson. Because I had gone to the front, so he had very bad behavior with me. However, I had gotten full grade (20) in last third of the academic year. All of my grades were 19-20, but he graded this one low grade.

You returned again to the front.

Naturally when I came back, I went again to textile Ahvaz and the same headquarter Karbala. Textile was in Kut-e Abdollah and destruction site of headquarter was also there. When I went I realized the friends had gone to Hoveyzeh. Hoveyzeh was destroyed and they had razed it to the ground. We stationed in Susangerd. No one was there too and we were stationed in several homes of local residents.

What did you do in Susangerd?

Groups were divided; groups of seven to ten. These groups went into a minefield to defuse mines. During a month that I was injured, my friends had been become senior and trained warriors. Those who were coach had my back, as I had taken a promotion.

You were injured too.

I was also injured. In destruction, human life is usually one or two months, whether they injure or martyr, but all of us were survived. (He is laughing) Of course we were shot and some of us their feet were cut, but since first day in the compartment that we moved by train, anyone didn't martyr and we are still friends.

Do you remember names of people in that coupe?

We were six people. I remember names of four of them; Sardar Abbas Ebadi, Sardar Esrafil Keshavarz and Mr. Vahid Bahari that he is now member of Sepah and retired. Mr. Bahari is still responsible for neutralization of mines in the West of the country, and observer, as companies neutralizes mines and he is observer of government to controlling, but he has also a team that neutralize some parts themselves.

What was role of Hoveyzeh in your life?

Hoveyzeh was a big change for me. Hoveyzeh was a professional training center. At that time there were not at all today facilities. We got up at 4:00 A.M and prayed, ate breakfast and at 5:00 A.M were in a minefield. The weather was warm too, exactly summer of Khuzestan. We were in minefield till 10 A.M and neutralized mines; four or five hours a day and after that we went Susangerd and had lunch, rested and went to mosque. Of course, it was a very difficult experience. Length of some of minefields was 40 km and with width of 10 km. Iraq had plowed Hoveyzeh. We had to go to Karkhenoor and other areas that is we might have for example 40-50 km × 30-40 km minefield.

Do you know approximately how many mines were neutralized?

Near to one million, perhaps more. We identified minefields to Yazd-e Now and after it. For example, there was that Iraq had planted mines in the wheat fields, there had been rained and again wheat had grown. There were bushes, wheat fields so that we couldn't neutralize minefields in the middle of wheat fields. Usually in the afternoon and at sunset we and experts who had been skilled fired wheat farms and in the morning defused the mines. In this situation, the minefield which was fired was too sensitive, but its mines were new. Now mines are very old and do not risk any longer. Perhaps each person neutralized 100 mines per day in Hoveyzeh. In Operation Ramadan, which was in a plain, I counted in one day I defused 500 mines!

How many hours is the day that you are saying? I mean, what time of day did you go to neutralizing mines?

For example, early in the morning we went till about 10-11 A.M.

Does it mean 500 mines during 5 hours?

Yes, but it depended on the type of mine. For example, neutralizing anti-tank mine was very easy, that is it hadn't a threat to us, unless there was a trap, or anti-personnel mines ... we were more cautious about tripwire. We first cut tripwire of mines; we didn't also pin them. It's interesting that we wouldn't pin and turned their head and pulled it up.

What is not to pin?

Mine cap has a needle that is three pellets. If the cap be tilted, it goes up and three pellets put in their place and the spring behind pins releases and strike to detonator. One detonator has gunpowder and another one is explosive. There is gunpowder in detonator and gunpowder which explode throws mine up. There is a needle that strike explosive detonator and mine for example goes up 30-40 cm. there is also a weight under it and when it goes up and arrives bottom of wire, wire is pulled, so the mine explodes in the air.

Pining is the same placement of trigger.

Yes, because of avoiding threat of the cap - as both its placing was difficult and time consuming- we cut the wire and turned the cap and put it aside, took detonations out and separated them so that mine would be neutralized. We first identified the row then we fired minefield. Minefield is usually regular, that is includes an anti-tank with three anti-personnel guardians or a vimineous anti-vehicle mine, or for example a masher row, and a flare row. Flare mine would be neutralized very fast and even if you were also playful you could explode some of them in a day. Depending on the minefield we neutralized 100 to 150 mines in a day; in the five hours. We had to be careful about tripwire mines, because if our foot struck there...

Suddenly…

Anti-personnel mines were also dangerous but less than anti-tank mines. When we carried forces to minefield aligned a bunch. I do not remember exactly we aligned in each row two or several people. They hadn't to be close together or be gathered in one place. Almost a week we had two or three martyrs and several injured. If we had ten or eleven bunches and each person, for example, would neutralize 50 to 100 mines, each bunch would neutral 500 mines that is every ten bunches would defuse 5000 mines. We had recessional just Fridays in which we went Ahvaz, and there we went around and had a tour, participated in Friday Prayers and also ate an ice cream. I have many memories.

Please tell one of those memories.

Martyr Ghafarinia that I mentioned he had captured eleven Iraqis, sang a song with the subject "Hoveyzeh became like tulip-colored by your blood...." he sang the song in garrison Imam Hussein (AS). He was mourner of our bunch. One night he had captured eleven Iraqis, he also had many Iraqi uniforms, wore always Iraqi uniform and Iraqi zipper boots and shortly he was well situated.

Did he wear Iraqi uniforms?

Yes, but there is a memory more interesting than this. Every day we had broken mines. Karkhenoor was a river that was entered into Yazd-e Now. When mission of minefield was finished, we would go from Hoveyzeh to the river. Well residents of the area weren't there for several years and the river had been filled of fish. (God forgive us.) Mr. Ghafarinia thrown broken mines in the river and fishes would be deaf. They came over the water by blast wave and he threw out seven eight to ten fishes. He himself skinned them at night and gave all fish; rice and fresh fish. (He is laughing) Mr. Ghafarinia wouldn't go bathe with his Iraqi uniform and we scoffed at him. One Friday we wanted to go Ahvaz and he said "I want to go to bathroom. When he came back we told you became very holy aspect. We went Ahvaz and came back in the evening. I entered our room and found blimey! New boots that I had bought after three months were not there. I said: Oh, front and theft? After a while I said where are the two men that did not come with us?

Had been survive just two people of your team?

Yes, we thought they might have been gone to fire minefield. We moved toward Hoveyzeh and found that yes! There is a fire. We found their motorcycle but whatever we called them we could not find them. In the morning we found that they had burned the minefield, but when they had wanted to go the other side, a mine TX50 had been exploded and then fire had reached them. (He is crying) they had martyred. All of their bodies had been burned and just a pocket had survived on chest of one of uniforms. They had taken each other's hands and had been burned in the fire. There was an unburned Quran in his pocket. We took them Chamran Hospital in Susangerd, after that I saw he had worn my boots. (Smilingly) Do you know what happened that he had worn my boots? I hadn't paid attention. We had gone fishing the last day, he had gone to bring fishes (He is laughing) his boots had stuck in mud. He had opened boot's zipper, but had could not got boots out of the water, he had left boots...

He hadn't have shoes and had forced to take your boots…

Yes, he had forced to wear my boots. I do not know that night or the following day, a congregation came from Tehran and hold a ceremony for the martyrs. The congregation had a mourner who began to sing song he always sang. This dirge was his own mood description.

Was he from Hoveyzeh?

Who?

Ghafarinia?

No, he was from Chizar in Tehran. He sang the dirge in garrison Imam Hussein (AS) and martyred in Hoveyzeh. We had interesting men in destruction, for example, one of us had come from America, but he had said nothing at all about it. After that he martyred we found that he had left education and everything. He had been wanted to be involved in the Iranian embassy in America but he had said "no, I want to go to the war.

Was he born in Iran then he had gone America?

Yes, their house was in Gisha, Tehran.

Do you remember his name?

Yes, martyr Mohammad Maleki, who his house was in alley 36. After martyrdom of Maleki, his teacher sent an interesting letter from America. In Nesareh when all could sleep during 5- 6:30 A.M, he gathered wood and made tea for everyone. Pure and anonymous people die like that.

Exactly...

After about two or three months that we were in Hoveyzeh, we went to Operation Ramadan. When you neutralize 100 mines in a day, you become expert, but we would not be so proud too. Because if you were proud in minefield you would die, it means one of the lessons was that if minefield were normal, come out, leave it, don't continue at all, that is if you do not fear you mustn't stay, because just one mistake was enough. .

The first mistake was the last mistake…

Well, we cared a lot, none of us martyred, but we had many martyrs, had a lot of injured and cut leg off, in Hoveyzeh, Karkhenoor to Talaieh. In Operation Ramadan, I was again destructor. I was not in the operation night, but when operation was started and some battalions aligned, we were responsible for defusing minefields. There was so easier because there was soil and it had been watered and landmines had less risk in comparison to Hoveyzeh. But there was not just risk of mine. Because we had captured Iraq's line, the minefield was also in this side. When Iraq was shooting cannonballs and mortars we were in minefield among shells and mortars. For example, we had 500 detonators (He is laughing), that is there was risk of being destroyed continuously. Detonators also hadn't been properly protected. We had a keffiyeh that put mine detonators inside the keffiyeh that was on our neck; it shows we worked so substandard. (Smilingly) but specialization that we acquired in Hoveyzeh was very great. I do not think someone get access to so many mines easily!

What did happen after Operation Ramadan?

I was in Operation Ramadan until end of summer 1982 then I pursued my education. I think I just reached Tehran in September. I was studying at Khwarizmi School and wanted to go to Mofid School. I got Tehran September 25. One of my friends was studying in Mofid School, he said: Come to Mofid. The school had interview. Time of the interview was in May and June, I had got September, but I went for an interview. Who do you think interviewed me?

I do not know.

For example?

Among the present figures?

The current Minister of Education, Mr. Fakhreddin Ahmadi-Danesh-Ashtiani.

I had heard he had been manager of Mofid School.

Yes, but then he taught algebra and trigonometry, but he interviewed me and asked what are you? Who are you?

Hadn't been he manager still?

Yes, five or six teachers had come from Alavi School and other different places and In fact, they were heads who were running the school. I still, after more than thirty-four years, have contacted them. When they are minister I usually don't go to meet them but when they aren't minister we communicate with each other. I remember Mr. Danesh too...

Do you remember his questions?

I do not remember, but both my learning was good and that I had gone the front.

Had you said that you had gone the war?

He asked, "Why did you come now?" I told, "Well, I was in the front. He immediately accepted, that is I entered Mofid School in the same 25 September.

Did you go to class directly from interview room?

At that time I went to class with my Mofid's friends including Asghar Kazemi. We were about more than thirty five students in mathematical science and twenty to thirty students in Natural Science. The school had two senior classes and then senior (fourth class) was last year in diploma. I educated there, but we always talked that go to the front, try a competitive examination and … there were detailed discussions that we did not know what should we do? We had these discussions with friends like Mr. Keshavarz and Mr. Ebadi.

To be continued...