On the ruins of the Sichuan earthquake, the shadow of a group of heroes gradually became clear. The story behind this is the secret that every beating heart is eager to uncover.
On May 12, 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake shocked the world, and countless lives were forever changed in an instant. In this violent tear of nature, a special force was urgently mobilized, they were the 15 brave airborne troops, who once jumped from a height of 4,999 meters to face the disaster. At that moment, their figures were engraved in the long river of history and became immortal legends. How are they doing now, years later?
On May 12, 2008, Sichuan Province was struck by a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0, and this sudden disaster quickly swept through the entire region.
At the moment of the earthquake, houses shook and collapsed, roads cracked to break, landslides and rivers were diverted, and the whole of Sichuan Province was plunged into chaos and panic.
The constant shaking and shaking of the ground made many buildings unable to withstand such tremendous force and collapsed, dusty and rubble.
Many villages and towns in Sichuan have been turned beyond recognition, roads have been cut off, transportation has been paralyzed, and much of the infrastructure has been severely damaged, making relief operations in the affected areas even more difficult.
After the earthquake, the state quickly activated the emergency response mechanism and dispatched rescue forces from all over the country to the disaster area. Among these rescue forces, the role of the Airborne Forces is particularly critical.
As a rapid reaction force, the Airborne Forces need to arrive in the disaster area in the shortest possible time to lay the foundation for subsequent large-scale rescue operations. Their tasks include reconnoitring the disaster, searching for and rescuing trapped people, and opening the way for follow-up rescue teams.
In the early morning of May 13, the day after the earthquake, Li Zhenbo received an urgent order to immediately organize troops to Sichuan to carry out rescue missions. Time was pressing, and as night fell, he quickly gathered his subordinates and conveyed the instructions of his superiors.
In order to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of the rescue operation, Li Zhenbo decided to use parachutes for airborne landing, which is riskier but can provide better maneuverability and accurate landing in a complex and changing disaster environment.
In a short period of time, he needs to select the most elite airborne troops from the army to carry out this difficult mission. Taking into account the peculiarity and danger of this mission, Li Zhenbo carefully assessed the skills and experience of the soldiers.
In the selection process, he focused on the physical fitness, emergency response capabilities and performance of the airborne troops in previous missions.
After careful screening, he selected 22 of the best performing airborne troops, and further selected 7 of them as alternates, just in case. Fifteen airborne troops, including himself, were finally identified as the vanguard for the airborne paratrooper.
These selected airborne troops quickly assembled, and as soon as they received the order, they began to prepare for action. Soldiers inspect equipment to make sure parachute kits and other relief supplies are ready.
Although the time was tight, every step was executed in an orderly manner and nothing was missed. During the preparation process, Li Zhenbo constantly communicated with his superiors, reported the preparation in detail, and obtained the latest information about the disaster area to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the action.
Subsequently, they flew to the Sichuan disaster area on a military transport plane.
During the flight, Li Zhenbo and his team carefully studied the map and meteorological data to plan the parachute jump point and rescue route according to the latest situation in the disaster area. They know that the correct choice of skydiving site is not only related to the success of the rescue operation, but also directly affects the safety of the team members.
After reaching the target, the sky was already faintly bright, and Li Zhenbo looked at the terrain below through the cabin window to find the best landing area. He decided to parachute in a relatively open and flat area to avoid the additional risks posed by the mountains and fractured terrain.
On May 14, as the weather gradually improved, Li Zhenbo and 15 airborne troops led by him parachuted at an altitude of 4,999 meters above Mao County.
They cut through the thick clouds and headed to the scene of the disaster on the ground to begin their rescue mission. The Airborne Forces kept in touch by radio during the parachute jump, ensuring that everyone could get to the designated place without errors.
After landing, they quickly assembled and began to make a preliminary assessment of the surrounding damage. Their area is littered with collapsed buildings and clogged roads, littered with rubble and broken furniture, and the signs of the disaster can be seen everywhere. In such an environment, Li Zhenbo and his team need to act quickly to lay the foundation for subsequent rescue efforts.
For the next six days and six nights, they worked almost sleeplessly. The Airborne Forces were divided into small groups, one group was responsible for searching and rescuing trapped residents, and the other group was responsible for surveying the surrounding environment and formulating rescue routes.
They walked along the broken road and through the rubble, stopping to remove obstacles from time to time to ensure a clear path for the rescue teams that arrived later.
During the rescue process, Li Zhenbo and his team encountered various challenges. Due to the changes in terrain caused by continuous rainfall and earthquakes, they had to make their way through muddy and unstable ground, sometimes even climbing broken buildings, in search of possible trapped survivors.
In the process, they used all available tools and equipment, including parafoils, to reach places that were difficult for ordinary rescue teams to reach.
The airborne troops not only had to carry out rescue, but also to survey the entire disaster area, assess the damage and transmit the information back to the command center in real time. They detailed the areas most affected, possible danger points, and specific needs for relief efforts. These valuable first-hand accounts provide key information for the effective implementation of subsequent large-scale rescue operations.
In the course of continuous operations, the airborne troops also shoulder the heavy task of opening up landing sites. Using tools in their hands, such as shovels and axes, they cleared several open spaces suitable for helicopter landing.
These landing sites are critical for the subsequent transportation of relief supplies and the evacuation of personnel. Every time a new landing site is opened, it means that rescue forces can go deeper into the disaster area and carry out more extensive rescue efforts.
During these six days and six nights, Li Zhenbo and his team went through extremely difficult conditions. They are quick to adapt to an ever-changing environment, overcome many obstacles, and keep moving forward.
In this rescue operation, in addition to Commander Li Zhenbo, the members of the Airborne Forces who participated formed a diverse and experienced team.
This contingent consists of 2 Majors, 1 4th Non-Commissioned Officer, 4 3rd Class, 5 2nd Class Non-Commissioned Officers and 2 1st Class Non-commissioned Officers. Each and every one of them played an important role in this rescue operation and together accomplished the difficult task.
These members of the Airborne Forces, both in rank and experience, represent the elite of the Airborne Forces. The two majors, as senior commanders in the team, were not only responsible for strategy, command and coordination during the operation, but also personally participated in many high-risk rescue missions. Their leadership and decision-making skills played a key role in the entire rescue process.
The fourth-level non-commissioned officer, as the technical backbone and squad leader, is responsible for the specific implementation of the orders issued by Li Zhenbo and ensures that the team members can complete various tasks efficiently and safely. They are experienced and able to respond quickly to unexpected situations and ensure that the mission runs smoothly.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) III and NCOs II are the backbone of the rescue team, and they are responsible for carrying out specific rescue tasks, such as searching and rescuing stranded people, setting up temporary shelters, clearing roads, etc.
These non-commissioned officers, with good physical qualities and professional skills, performed well in extreme conditions, and their bravery and professionalism made an important contribution to the success of the rescue operation.
Non-commissioned officers of the first class, although of a relatively low rank, also played an important role in rescue operations. They are usually responsible for specific, critical tasks such as maintaining communication equipment, managing the distribution of supplies, etc. Their work ensured logistical support and smooth communication for the rescue operation, which was critical to the smooth running of the entire rescue operation.
After completing this arduous rescue operation, the life paths of these members of the Airborne Forces diverged. Some continue to stay in the army, continue their military careers, and continue to dedicate themselves to the security of the country and the well-being of the people. Their experiences and skills continue to be put to good use in the military, serving as role models for those who come after them.
Some members chose to retire and move into education or other industries. These veterans continue to shine in the civilian sphere by virtue of their discipline, sense of responsibility and leadership skills cultivated in the military.
For example, some retired soldiers who have moved into education have become teachers or administrators in schools, not only imparting knowledge but also passing on the discipline and resilience of the military to the next generation.
There are also retired soldiers who choose to enter the private sector or public service, where they use their experience and abilities to contribute to the development and progress of society.
September 16, 2021 is an important day for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Airborne Forces. At this milestone moment, the airborne troops who had fought side by side and experienced the rescue mission of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake gathered again.
Over the years, they have experienced changes in their lives and careers, but this gathering has allowed them to reconnect with the present.
The gathering was held in a solemn and monumental place, and everyone involved was dressed in neat attire and wore badges and medals of former honor on their chests.
In the center of the venue is a photo exhibition of the history of the Airborne Forces, including precious photos of the Sichuan earthquake rescue, recording their hard work and fearless dedication at the disaster site.
When these former airborne soldiers met, they shook hands tightly, patted their shoulders, and exchanged their latest information. Although the trajectories of their lives are different, some remain in the military, and some move to civilian work, their shared experiences and memories are like an unbreakable bond that binds everyone together.
As the event progressed, a series of ceremonies and retrospective displays were held. Through the screening of historical photos and documentaries, the glorious history and important role of the Airborne Forces in various periods were reproduced, especially the heroic deeds of the Sichuan earthquake rescue in 2008. Looking at those photos and videos, many people's eyes began to moisten, and the memories of those hard years resurfaced in their minds.
A highlight of the event was recognition and tribute. The organizers awarded commemorative medals and certificates to the airborne troops who participated in the Sichuan earthquake rescue in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice in that operation. Every time a name is called, the audience will burst into warm applause, showing respect and gratitude for their selfless dedication.
In addition to the formal activities, the old comrades-in-arms also held a small gathering, where they sat together to share their life experiences and memories of the past.
There was no lack of lightness and laughter in these conversations, but more of a fond memory of those days of fighting together. They talked about the specific situation of the rescue operation, how they faced the difficulties, and how they supported each other to overcome the difficulties together.
SUN Yanping,CHEN Wenkai,SHI Yitong.Rapid assessment of casualties in earthquake disasters——A case study of Wenchuan earthquake[J].Geological Review,2023,69(S01):512-514