“There were moments when I almost thought I wouldn’t come back. I received the decommissioning order on December 2nd last year at the China-India border. Standing on a high ground of more than 5,000 meters, I saw tents set up by Indians on the opposite side, as well as outposts and bunkers built with stones. Below the high ground is the Pangong Lake, which is half occupied by each side.”
A Zhihu user named “Dark Horse Little Prince” called himself a Chinese veteran and wrote an article yesterday about the experience of retiring from the frontline troops facing China and India in December last year. He recalled that “it had been snowing in the Pangong Lake area since October last year, everyone’s hands and faces were cracked. There was no hot water or hot food. Every day, people were sent down the mountain to fetch supplies. They were all high-calorie fast foods. Almost all freezers, duck legs, vacuum-packed beef jerky, and grilled chicken, etc., were frozen hard, just like the ones taken out of the quick-freezer. The conditions were difficult while the organization guaranteed us to the greatest extent. Everyone understood that, and no complaints. Besides, several people on the other side had frozen to death, but everything was fine at our side.”
“In June, four comrades died, and Head Qi was seriously injured. Everyone was high-spirited, and each wrote a posthumous paper and carried it with ourselves, and was ready to sacrifice at any time. In April, when I made a video call to my family, my parents had a few more white hairs in their temples. I said: ‘I will be back home as scheduled in September this year, and take you to take a family portrait!’ I hadn’t contacted them once for more than half a year since then.”
“On December 2nd, when the tension between China and India was already easing, the instructor announced the order to retire. The wind was so strong that it filled my ears. We tried our best to stand upright, but I still couldn’t hear what he said. I just knew I should go. When sending me off, my brothers all cried very sadly, but I didn’t have a single tear. I thought, at that time, I seemed to lose consciousness of all emotions.”
Below this answer, one user said that her boyfriend was originally scheduled to retire in September last year, but was delayed again and again due to the tense situation, which confirms the authenticity of the answer.
In addition, the author also released a photo of Lake Spangur in winter that he took in the Magar Mountain.
