Seyyed of Quarters 15 (14)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

We were in Qasr-e Shirin to Gilan-e Gharb road and close to the defile of Imam Hassan (AS) Shrine, when the Iraqis suddenly appeared. They were not far away of us more than thirty or forty meters. We run toward the mountain. The Iraqis, who knew they will lose us in Bazideraz Mountains, began to shoot us with heavy machine-gun and DShKM on tanks. We run faster and hid in one of grooves of Bazideraz slopes further than the previous location. We were out of Iraqis sight.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (13)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

At the beginning of 1988, no good news was heard from the front. Iraqis had operations in the Faw , Shalamcheh and Majnun Islands and taken back the region from the Iranian forces. We spent days with bad news until Iran accepted the Resolution and ceasefire was declared in the region. It was commanded that we went back one line and took only individual equipment with ourselves. Some fighters were happy and said the war has been over and we will return to our homes very soon. As delivering his grenades to the armory, one of fighters said: "we go back to rest, because ceasefire has been declared."

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (12)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

Behind the earthwork, we flattened somewhere with the help of soldiers to play football at the leisure hours. Two or three days later, the soldiers of company set two rods with distance and tied a rope at the end of each one, and then they were divided in two groups and began playing volleyball. Commander of company played very well. He was agile and served the ball and played the spike-ball well.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (11)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

I read the letter and tears flowed from my eyes. I was in a mood. The face of my martyred friends came to life in front of my face and their memories struck. I was choking because of having a lump in my throat. I went out of the trench. I was like someone who looked for something but did not know what it is. I went down from a valley which was near the trench. Now I had been away from the rest. I shouted the name of my martyred friends one by one and cried my eyes out.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (10)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

Iraqis fired the region when they had nothing to do. One day I saw a newly-arrived soldier has stood in the center of battalion grounds, when Iraqis were shelling the region. Other soldiers had entrenched, but he looked around baffled. I ran out of the trench, took his hand and dragged him into my trench. "Don’t you see they are shelling?" I said.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (9)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

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.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (8)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

I was eighteen and had taken the conscription papers from Ardabil Gendarmerie regiment three days before. The date of my dispatch was on 10th October 1986. I was not curious to find out where I will be dispatched, but many struggled to find out where we will be dispatched. My parents advises continued until midnight. Making them relieved, I promised to take care of myself.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (7)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

From a few days ago, radio and television broadcasted the attack marsh and we heard different news about clashes of fighters in Faw. I felt apprehension each time I heard about an operation. I was waiting for bad news each moment. Those days I heard the body of some martyrs has been brought to Ardabil for obsequies. After preparing the coffins and spraying them with rose water, people accompanied the martyrs funeral in front of Mirza Ali Akbar mosque.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (6)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

The next day I packed my holdـall and went to dispatching base. I hid myself away from Moghadams and others eyes and stealthy got on the bus and sat down into the seat of the second last row, right over the rear tires of bus. That row of seats was a little higher than the others, because it was placed over the tires. Suddenly Moghadam got on the bus. I filled with horror. He looked at passengers one by one, like someone who is looking for something, until he reached the back of the bus. He gave me a stare.

Seyyed of Quarters 15 (5)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

The school bell rang. We walked out of class. It was clear and the sun was in the center of sky. It was in the late April 1981 and as usual, some of students were coming to grips with each other in front of the school; as if our days didn’t elapsed without it. I walked toward our house with two or three of my classmates. I saw a motorcycle is coming toward us with all speed, while we were crossing the Gendarmerie intersection. It collided to me before I can step aside. Like a football ball, I was shot into air and then fell down the ground.