Chapter 1478 The dignity a soldier should have (second update, please subscribe)
When a person reaches middle age, he will definitely encounter a mid-life crisis.
This kind of crisis is inevitable, not only for high-ranking officials and dignitaries, but also for ordinary people.
Even as a colonel with a high monthly income, a wife and seven children, Cheng Wanli still has his midlife crisis.
For example, most of the officers at the same time as him are now brigadiers or even major generals.
And he, at the age of forty-three, was transferred here and sat on the bench. Now, he is just a clerical staff officer.
Maybe you should consider retiring!
Once again, this idea came to Cheng Wanli's mind. He was from the Allied Forces dispatch team. He took a plane to India twenty years ago, and then went to North Africa.
Twenty years of military career.
It seems too long.
What will you do after retirement?
Go to the beach to drink beer and enjoy the sun and sand?
While he was thinking this, he received a report about the return of the body of Sergeant Roger who was killed in the terrorist attack on the representative stationed in Tokyo.
Seeing Roger's information in the report, Cheng Wanli frowned. When he saw his ancestral home, he became even more silent. That night, he couldn't sleep all night.
The next morning, he walked into the general's office.
"Requesting that Sergeant Roger's body be escorted home."
The general looked at his troops and reminded:
"Colonel Cheng, you are a senior officer. Usually this kind of thing is done. It is the responsibility of ordinary officers.”
Cheng Wanli said:
“This kid, like me, is from Shandong Province.”
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Faced with such a request, the general thought for a while and said:
"Okay, but you know, there are special procedures for this kind of thing, and you need some training,"
Escort the Death in Action There is a special process for bringing the remains of officers and soldiers home, and every step is carefully arranged, which fully reflects the respect for the fallen officers and soldiers.
The next morning, Cheng Wanli came to the base. According to regulations, he wore a formal dress. After receiving Roger's body from the morgue, the body was put into a coffin and then put into a cardboard box. , and then loaded into the hearse.
After the handover is completed, when the hearse passes by the base, there will always be soldiers stopping to stand at attention and salute, watching their comrades leave.
The soldiers just watched their comrades leave.
Soon, the hearse drove into the airport. The man and the car were separated here. Cheng Wanli entered the airport through the waiting hall, and the body was sent directly to the airport by the hearse.
Ten minutes later, the plane took off from Chang'an Airport.
As an escort, Cheng Wanli finally took his comrades on a journey home.
Go home!
The road home is long. Some people walk back home, while some people are sent back.
The way of returning home is different, and the circumstances are also different.
"Do you want anything to drink? Sir!"
The female flight attendant pushing the drinks trolley, judging from her appearance, is a typical Asian mixed race, with three-dimensional and delicate facial features, and a quite handsome appearance Beautiful, she asked while squatting in the aisle. Before Cheng Wanli could speak, the passenger sitting next to him asked.
"Is there any beer?"
"Then bring me a glass of beer. I want it cold! Thank you!"
"What about you? Sir!"
"Cold water! Thank you!"
In the female After the flight attendant poured herself a glass of boiled water, Cheng Wanli thanked her again.
"It's free, sir. You won't get anything on the plane if you don't eat it. These things are all included in our tickets, don't save them for them. What! Sir, you are still performing official duties, are you still there? What’s going on?”
The passenger sitting next to him turned to Cheng Wanli and said:
"Yes, on official business!"
Cheng Wanli smiled politely.
"Sir, is this the expedition commemorative medal?"
From the moment Cheng Wanli walked into the cabin, he was the focus of everyone's attention, but he did not pay attention to anyone. The Expedition Memorial Medal and a Loyal Service Medal he wore on his chest always made people want to talk to him.
As we all know, the Expeditionary Memorial Medal is only issued to veterans of the Allied contingent to commemorate their expedition to Europe. If they are veterans who participated in the Battle of Bastogne, there will also be a Bastogne Memorial Medal.
“Yes!”
Cheng Wanli spit out two words from his lips.
The man who originally wanted to continue chatting on this topic didn't know how to continue the conversation when faced with someone who cherished his words like gold.
In this way, they were silent all the way, and Cheng Wanli always maintained a standard sitting posture without relaxing at all. More than an hour later, the gentle words of the flight attendant sounded in the cabin again. Reminding everyone that the plane is about to arrive in Yongning.
Then a flight attendant came over.
"Excuse me, sir."
"Yes!"
Cheng Wanli, who was thinking about something, turned around and glanced. It was the female flight attendant from before. She was bent over He was squatting there with his waist half squatted.
“We’ll be in Yongning in ten minutes. I hope you can accept this!”
While speaking, the female flight attendant put a silver cross into Cheng Wanli's hand. Looking at the cross in her hand, Cheng Wanli noticed some tears in the female flight attendant's eyes. When he was about to ask something, the female flight attendant stood up and left.
"Haha! Girls are so bold now!"
The man next to him glanced at the leaving female flight attendant with envy, and then glanced at the officer next to him , he couldn’t figure out, this was a middle-aged man, how could the female flight attendant give him a gift?
Looking at the cross necklace in his hand, Cheng Wanli was a little confused. He just looked at it quietly. Soon the plane landed. After the plane landed, the captain's voice sounded in the cabin.
“Hello, fellow passengers! First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for a very smooth landing. On behalf of all the crew members, I would like to extend my most sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to you. Secondly, I I would like to ask everyone to sit in their seats for a while..."
After hearing the voice on the radio, the passengers in the cabin were stunned, and some people immediately complained dissatisfiedly.
"What's going on! Why are you not allowed to get off the plane?"
"We are honored to be able to transport the remains of the fallen soldiers on this flight. We may cause you a moment of inconvenience. The escort team must first escort the remains of the fallen martyrs."
The man listening to the broadcast turned to look at the officer beside him. The impatience on the man's face disappeared, leaving only the impatience on his face. His face was full of shame.
Even when apologizing, he stuttered. "I don't know, yes, I'm sorry! Sir!"
At this time, all the passengers in the cabin turned their attention to Cheng Wanli. Some ladies even covered their mouths and noses with their hands, tears streaming from their eyes.
Faced with the apology from the man sitting next to him, Cheng Wanli said.
"It's okay!"
A little restless, Cheng Wanli stood up, left his seat with his briefcase, and walked towards the hatch.
Although the cabin door had been opened, no passengers on the plane got off the plane. After getting off the plane, he saw the captain and crew members standing at the cargo elevator.
“Salute!”
When the coffin was lifted up by the loaders from the cargo hold, Cheng Wanli shouted a command and at the same time slowly raised his right hand to salute. The captain and crew members all stood behind him. Watch as the workers carry the coffin onto the cart.
They are paying tribute to the fallen martyrs in their own way.
At this time, the arriving passengers on the plane have already stepped off the plane, and the passengers who got off the escalator are standing by the runway. They looked at the coffin being carried on the cart. People took off their hats and put their right hands in front of their hearts to pay tribute to the martyrs.
"The ceremony is over!"
After the coffin was placed smoothly on the cart, Cheng Wanli slowly lowered his right hand again and followed the cart to the airport warehouse, where the carton outside the coffin was removed. The coffin was covered with a two-star flag.
Cheng Wanli just sat in front of the coffin, waiting there, accompanying his comrades. Even though they had never met each other, and even though their military ranks were far apart, he was guarding him like this.
Almost ten minutes later, the hearse arrived. After the driver got off the car, he walked to the coffin and observed a moment of silence. Then, with the help of workers, he loaded the coffin into the hearse.
While loading the truck, Cheng Wanli slowly raised his arm, saluted, and then slowly lowered it again, while the workers in the warehouse stood aside in silence.
During the whole process, everyone's expressions were serious and solemn.
Just as the hearse was about to come out, an airport police car drove over, and the police officer in the car took the initiative to clear the way for it.
This is silent waiting, no one arranges it, everything comes from the spontaneity of the heart.
When leaving the airport, there was only one police car driving the road ahead. The flashing police lights, the black hearse, and the double-star flag visible through the hearse reminded people that the martyrs had gone home.
Soon a car noticed them on the road, so a car followed them. The driver of the car took the initiative to turn on the lights.
Along the way, more vehicles followed the hearse one after another. They turned on their lights during the day to illuminate the way home for the heroes in the car. On the way, a convoy spontaneously formed.
No one overtook this car. Everyone followed the hearse quietly.
On the road, more police cars joined them, including local police and military police. A dozen police motorcycles flashed their lights in front, and the patrol officers spontaneously opened the way for the hearse.
The plantation where Roger's family is located is almost 100 kilometers away from Yongning. Along the way, some people quit and some joined, and patrol officers and passers-by continued to join the team.
Among these people are not only ordinary people, but also TV reporters. In the past few days, the TV has been playing news about Roger, showing him jumping on and covering himself with his body during the terrorist attack. Conquer the grenade and save the surrounding brothers.
When the motorcade entered the town, Cheng Wanli saw that every household here had planted a double-star flag.
The blue double-star flag hung low. People came to the roadside early. They stood there to welcome Roger's return. Children in the school were wearing Boy Scout uniforms and holding double-star flags. As the motorcade passed by, people threw flowers on the road to welcome the child's return.
The motorcade stopped at the elementary school, police lights flashing, and according to the procedure, they would leave the memorial service here.
When the coffin was lifted off the hearse, Penny immediately cried and threw herself on it, and several children also started crying.
They lost their husbands and fathers, and a man with gray hair watched all this silently, his red and swollen eyes revealing his inner pain.
"Thank you, sir, for sending Roger back!"
The gray-haired old man held Cheng Wanli's hand tightly, and his eyes were filled with tears as he looked at the coffin. He never thought that he would use this method. Wait until my son comes home.
"It's my pleasure, sir! I'm sorry for your misfortune!"
"Quick! Come in and sit down! Thank you for your hard work along the way."
>"Sir, I want you to know that throughout this journey, Sergeant Roger was treated with dignity, respect and respect. and honor. I have a letter here from Marine Corps Commander Chen Shanhe to you and your family. I want to tell you that you are not mourning alone today. The entire country is thinking of you and praying for you. , you should know that Sergeant Roger touched many people.”
In the living room, Miles Wanli said from the man who was looking at Roger who was still immersed in grief. When he stood up and left, he seemed to remember something.
"This is the last thing I want to give you. This was on the plane. A flight attendant handed this to me as if it had a special meaning to her. I originally wanted to keep it. To commemorate this mission, but I realized that she was not for me, she wanted to give it to you."
Cheng Wanli took out the cross that the flight attendant handed to him from his pocket and handed it to Roger. Father. After taking the cross, the old man's tears flowed down again. He held it and couldn't speak for a long time. After a long time, he sighed and silently opened the letter.
“To the family of Marine Corps Sergeant Roger, Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rodford and Mrs. Penny Rowe and the children, This is the first time I am writing to you and I believe at this time Now you know the news that Sergeant Roger's body has been returned... I would like to express my deepest condolences. You have lost a son, a husband, a father, and we have lost a son. Gone is the death of an outstanding comrade, brother... As a tribute to Sergeant Roger's heroic dedication, I have petitioned your Excellency to award him the Double Star Medal..."
A letter from the Commander is inconsolable In addition to Cheng Wanli, there were also officers from the local Veterans Affairs Office at the scene who were grieving for the living. They sent pensions as soon as possible.
When an SEA soldier is confirmed to have been killed in action, the official will immediately activate the compensation mechanism to ensure that the families of the fallen soldier can receive a pension sufficient to continue living.
This pension is divided into insurance, government compensation and other parts. The first pension received by the families of fallen soldiers comes from the army, amounting to 2,000 yuan. This cash will be put into envelopes and handed over to the families by specialized officers together with death notices.
This has been a tradition in the military for many years to divert the attention of families of fallen soldiers with cash, thus having the effect of easing their grief.
The second pension comes from the government and is worth 10,000 yuan. It will be deposited into the bank account of the family members a few days after the soldier is killed in action. The third pension comes from the life insurance purchased by the soldiers themselves. They pay premiums every month. If they are killed in action, the beneficiary in the contract will receive up to 20,000 yuan in compensation.
If the soldier is married, the widow will receive a monthly living allowance of 50 yuan, which will continue until the soldier dies or remarries. If he has children, each of his minor children can receive a monthly subsidy of 30 yuan until they reach adulthood. And this standard is adjusted annually based on average annual income.
However, simple money may not be able to heal the psychological trauma of losing loved ones, so the government has also introduced many additional welfare policies for the families of fallen soldiers.
These family members can apply for free medical treatment for up to three years. In addition, they can also receive an ID card of the fallen soldier. Just holding this card can enjoy preferential treatment in many stores.
If the insurance and the government pension are added together, the family members of a fallen soldier will receive a pension of up to 30,000 yuan. This amount of money is enough for an ordinary family to have no worries for several years.
Although money cannot make up for the pain of losing their loved ones, it can prevent the families of fallen soldiers from falling into poverty. And this is what Li Yi'an has repeatedly emphasized - it is a shame for the entire country to let the military survivors fall into poverty because of their sacrifices, so the country's responsibility is to do its best to take care of their families. Generally, soldiers are an indispensable labor force for their families, so adequate pensions are essential for their families.
It is precisely for this reason that SEA soldiers will risk their lives on the battlefield, because they know very well that even if they die in battle, their families will be well taken care of.
Seeing the lieutenant from the Veterans Affairs Office, Cheng Wanli walked over and asked if the pension had been delivered to his family. The answer is yes. Then the two people started chatting,
"We can give them money, but...how can we make up for the pain of losing our loved ones?"
Lieutenant Fang Aliang, his tone was a little low, and his mood was even Somewhat lost, he has been here for the past few days, offering any help he can.
"Sir, this is my first time to send a death notice. I really don't know how to handle this kind of thing...I'm not even ready. Three days ago, on the way here, he kept Thinking about what to do, tell his parents the news, you know, white-haired people give black-haired people..."
Listening to the lieutenant's words, Cheng Wanli said:
"No one is prepared for this kind of thing... We can only try our best to take care of the family of our fallen comrade. This is our responsibility."
Who can prepare for this kind of thing in advance?
The officer's words made Fang Aliang let out a long sigh. He looked at the coffin covered with the double-star flag. His dead comrades were lying in the black coffin. It took him a long time to say:
"Yes. Yes, sir, this is our responsibility!”
After a brief communication with Fang Aliang, Cheng Wanli, as an escort, originally completed his mission here, but he still decided to attend Roger’s funeral. Go again.
After all, they were from the same hometown, and he felt that he had to send Roger on his last journey.
(End of this chapter)