A poignant gathering, captured in the documentary “Informal,” recently brought together Sacred Defense narrators and veterans with Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution. The meeting served as a profound platform to recount the raw realities of the Iran-Iraq War, shedding light on the youthful innocence, immense sacrifices, and deeply relatable humanity of the soldiers who fought on the front lines.
Youthful Fervour and Altered Documents
The recollections of the veterans highlighted how deeply the call to defend the nation resonated with the youth of the time. Many narrators revealed that they were merely teenagers—some as young as 13 or 14—when they first sought to join the war effort. Driven by a powerful sense of duty, many resorted to forging their birth certificates to bypass military age restrictions:
One veteran recounted how he altered his birth year from 1967 to 1965 to appear two years older so he could be sent to the front.
Another humorously recalled manipulating the numerical digits on a copy of his birth certificate but forgetting to change the written text at the bottom, leaving the inspecting guard completely bewildered.
Despite being turned away repeatedly due to their small stature and young age, these teenagers remained unyielding in their determination to serve.
Tales of Ultimate Sacrifice
The narrators shared heart-wrenching stories from various battlefronts, ensuring that the heavy price of the conflict is never forgotten by future generations.
The Final Message in Talaiyeh: During a fierce operation, a young soldier named Assadi was fatally shot. In his dying moments, surrounded by his comrades, he did not ask for his wounds to be bandaged or to be evacuated. Instead, he handed over his personal cassette recorder, urging his friends to take it so that the true narrative of their struggle would survive and not be forgotten.
The Siege of the Hanzaleh Battalion: During the preliminary Operation Valfajr, the Hanzaleh Battalion found itself completely surrounded by enemy forces in the Fakkeh region. A written message later recovered from the pocket of Martyr Mahmoudvand revealed the grim reality: the men had been under siege for five days, strictly rationing their meager bread and water. Ultimately, severe thirst claimed the lives of the soldiers, who died resting side by side in a canal.
Deconstructing the Myth: Ordinary Youths
A central theme of the gathering was the absolute necessity of humanising the martyrs. The narrators stressed that these soldiers should not be portrayed as flawless, unattainable myths, but rather as ordinary, life-loving young men who had dreams of the future.
Dreams and Aspirations: These were youths who wanted to go to university, get married, and become doctors or engineers.
Care for Appearance: The narrators fondly remembered comrades who were meticulous about their looks. Martyr Majid Zarif, for example, would shower twice a day at the front and spend time styling his hair. Similarly, Hassan Pour-Esmail wore a hat to protect his face from the sun, hoping to avoid wrinkles before he got married.
Childhood Sensitivity: Martyr Alireza Tousi was remembered as a pampered, sensitive boy who would cry during neighbourhood games of marbles if a ball hit him too hard.
These anecdotes served to bridge the gap between the monumental sacrifices these men made and their very normal, human beginnings.
The Leader’s Guidance on Storytelling
Ayatollah Khamenei actively engaged with the narrators, offering crucial advice on how to preserve and transmit these historical memories. He validated their approach of telling the unvarnished truth about the soldiers’ lives.
Spiritual Transformation: The Leader emphasised that the true miracle of the Sacred Defense was the spiritual transformation of these ordinary youths. While they may not have possessed profound theological knowledge initially, their proximity to danger and eventual martyrdom elevated them to extraordinary spiritual heights.
Avoid Exaggeration: He strongly cautioned the narrators against exaggerating or embellishing the stories of the war. The reality of their bravery, their normal human flaws, and their ultimate sacrifice is powerful and inspiring enough on its own.
Providing Reassurance: Ayatollah Khamenei noted that sharing these relatable, human details gives today’s youth self-confidence and reassurance, showing them that greatness is achievable by ordinary people.
By remembering the martyrs not as distant legends, but as vibrant, relatable individuals who loved life yet gave it up for their country, their authentic legacy remains a guiding light.
