Memoirs of Issa Daraee from combatants of Malek Ashtar Battalion

The following memoirs are released for the first time…since they have been recorded in 1980s the fate of the narrator is not known…
“…The brigade was supposed to leave the city of Khorramabad for a new area. We went to Shafi Khani area. Since a mission had been announced to the brigade, the battalions started war games. It was at that time when a large of number teachers in the form of Basiji (mobilized volunteers) forces had been sent to war fronts from different schools. Thus, the brigade had many qualified forces. After a while, the brigade was ordered to move toward the northwest of the country. After two or three days, we reached to the town of Naqadeh. It was said there, that Iraq had counterattacked and was going to seize the city of Piranshahr with several brigades and divisions and the Islamic Republic was planning to stop them. One of the brigades which had the mission to do this was Brigade 57. We were in Naqadeh for one night. The next day we left for the suburbs of Piranshahr and it was announced there that we must go forward at the same night and stop the enemy. The enemy was advancing when our battalion moved toward an area known as Hadj Omran. We took a little rest at night. The unit’s authorities visited the area and ordered us to be ready for advancing at midnight to counter the enemy. Finally, it was around 12 AM when we were ordered to move. Our battalion started moving in two columns. Since the enemy was in full preparation, and had deployed some ten brigades and divisions, the area was under the enemy’s heavy fire in a way that many forces of one of our companies were either martyred or wounded. Thus, we had to deploy the forces in one column so that the casualties fell down. After moving forward, it was in the early morning that we reached the front line where there was a clash. However, with the recognitions the battalion’s authorities had carried out at the same night, the situation had changed to some extent. The first company was in front, and martyr Shekarchi as the battalion’s commander was moving in front of the company along with the radio carrier and the company’s commander behind him. The enemy’s forces had realized our plan in a way that they ambushed and almost surrounded the first company along with martyr Shekarchi. Most of the company forces were either martyred or wounded except for a few who managed to withdraw including martyr Shekarchi who was martyred in the same area. His body remained there and nobody could find it. Then it was the turn of our company the second one which had to defend and stay in front of the Iraqi forces. We were careful not to fall in the trap of the enemy. Therefore, we started shooting with machine guns and RPG-7 grenade launchers. However, we were not familiar with the area so much and had not enough information about the enemy. The clash continued until noon and a number of our comrades were either martyred or wounded. At that time, I was shooting with a RPG-7 launcher when a mortar hit beside us and simultaneously, the grenades of my launcher blew off as a result of which the two who were beside me were severely wounded. One of them was probably martyred later. I was also wounded from shoulder and in view of the area’s situation, the relief workers were not able to come forward. So, I inevitably had to go back and I was told to reach to an ambulance.
Yes, with regard to martyr Shekarchi. He was the commander of Malek Ashtar Battalion in that operation. Before the operation, he always accompanied us in military exercises and war games. His behavior with the military forces was very interesting. He joked with the comrades at a proper time and even attached importance to sport. In the rallies, he behaved in a way that nobody felt tired and we always liked to be alongside him.
After Haj Omarn operation, the brigade went on leave and then after the end of the leave, we came back to the same headquarters in Shafi Khani area. The Malek Ashtar Battalion was also deployed there and after a while I introduced myself to the battalion. I talked to brother Raji, the then battalion commander about my health conditions. I said I was fine and could work. Then I became the official member of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and became the commander of one of the units of the first company. After a while and necessary trainings, we left Shafi Khani area for Eslam Abad Gharb. We were told there that the force had to carry out an operation in Shakh Shemiran in order to liberate the area. The brigade was there for a few months and the battalions were carrying out war games round-the-clock. However, the operation was revealed and the enemy bombarded the entire Shakh area with chemicals and the operation stopped. Those days were concurrent with Ashoura ceremonies. We held the ceremonies in Eslam Abad and after Ashoura, we left the area for Shafi Khani. Then it was announced that the Islamic Republic was going to carry out operations in the south. The operation was named Karbala 5 and the Brigade 57 was part of the operation units. After several days we moved toward the south for more physical and spiritual preparedness."

Translated by: Mohammad Baqer Khoshnevisan