Air Raid to Al-Waleed (1)

The Story of Demolishing Fighters and the Equipment in Al-Waleed Triple Military Bases ‎Known as H-3‎

There is less air force in the world that has to endure more than a few months of the war. ‎After creation and use of air force in its modern form; that is from the end of World War I, ‎so far, only a handful of countries, which had been either manufacturer and had have ‎strong economic strength or strongly have supported by the great powers materially and in ‎equipment, has recorded experiences of long aerial combat in their file ‎. The reason is the ‎high cost of air warfare, the sensitivity and complexity of the equipment, the rapid aging of ‎the force and other factors which can’t be explored in this book.‎

Daughter of Sheena 61

With red and baggy eyes, friends, families and relatives arrived from Qayesh by several minibuses tomorrow morning. Samad's friends came and said: “Samad’s body has been transferred to Revolutionary Guards’ office.” We all got ready and went to see it. They had put my Samad’s coffin in a big refrigerator truck. It had come with other martyrs. The door of truck was open. Coffins were stacked. My brother-in-law, Teymour had stood next to me. I said: “Samad! Please bring my Samad. We haven’t seen each other for long time.” Mr. Teymour climbed up to the refrigerator part and lifted down several coffins with the help of a few other people. Samad’s coffin was not among them. Mr. Teymour placed a coffin in front of my feet and said: “this is my brother.”

Daughter of Sheena 60

I came back home. My brother was not with children. He went to the other room and sat next to my father-in-law, talking together in a low voice. They stopped talking as soon as saw me. My anxiety increased. “Why haven’t you still slept?” I said, “What’s wrong? If there is anything I should know, please tell me. I’m very worried.”

Daughter of Sheena 59

It was Esfand (March). Samad, who had gone to the front and it was supposed came back two or three days later, hadn’t still returned after twenty days. On the other hand, my father-in-law also hadn’t backed. It was a dismal afternoon. The children were watching television. It had been a little warmer.

Daughter of Sheena 58

The next morning my father-in-law appeared. I was preparing breakfast. He said: “Last night I dreamed Sattar. I was confused in my dream. I said: ‘Sattar! Are you fine?’ he turned his head and said: ‘I’m Samad.’ I went forward to kiss him, but he disappeared.”

Daughter of Sheena 57

We returned to Hamedan that afternoon. This time we brought Sattar’s daughter, Somayeh, with ourselves again. The next day, Samad woke up early, prayed and said: “Qadamkheyr! I’m going, please take care of our kids. Take after Sattar’s Somayeh too. Don’t let her be unhappy; also let her stay here till whenever she wants.”

Daughter of Sheena 56

“Sattar had martyred. Our operation had leaked. We were being defeated. We had to come back. Many of my fellow comrades, who had martyred or were injured, were inside Iraqi territory. Enemy fire was so great that we couldn’t do anything. To those who had been safe, I said go back. You don’t know how hard it was the last moments; say farewell to fellow comrade, say farewell to Sattar.”

Daughter of Sheena 55

The house was crowded by lots of guests. I ran into the courtyard. Samad had come; in what a situation! Thin and weak with tousled hair and black and emaciated face. I couldn’t bring myself to greet him in front of Sediqeh, or go ahead and say something. I hid behind a few people. I threw my Chador over my face and cried.

Daughter of Sheena 54

The year of 1365 was a difficult year. I was the mother of five little kids at Twenty-four. I couldn’t deal with all my works single-handed. The war had reached to critical points. Samad had been involved in war and successive operations. Khadija was in the second year of primary school. Masumah was in the first year. I could go to Qayesh fewer because of my kid’s schooling. My father also couldn’t drop in on us because of Sheena’s illness.

Daughter of Sheena (53)

Samad’s going to and coming back from Mecca took forty days. Ten days more also elapsed until he throw his parties. As the days passed, he became more impatient and said: “I'll go crazy. It is fifty days I haven’t heard about my guys. I don’t know in what situation they are. I should go soon.”