Blood Oath, Echoing Through the Mountains and Rivers of the Border - A Visual Continuation of the Spirit of Heroes by a Border Defense Company of the Southern Theater Army

Passionate Oaths Resound Across the Borders

—— Soldiers of a Border Defense Company in the Southern Theater Command Continue the Spirit of the Heroes

■ Cao Jike, Liu Yalong, Jiang Guilin, Photography Report

Photo of Martyr Wang Jiaguo during his lifetime.

Soldiers pay tribute to Martyr Wang Jiaguo at the site of his sacrifice.

Soldiers learn about the glorious deeds of Martyr Wang Jiaguo in the Honor Room.

Patrolling soldiers traverse the jungle.

Conducting tactical training during the patrol.

Holding a swearing-in ceremony.

In mid-spring, at the southern border.

“Attention! Salute to the Martyr!” Soldiers of a Border Defense Company in the Southern Theater Command stand in formation, solemnly saluting the rushing river before them, deeply commemorating Martyr Wang Jiaguo, who sacrificed his life to defend the border.

With green mountains and clear waters, a gentle breeze blows. Looking at the flowing river, Captain Wu, leading the patrol, has moist eyes, unable to hide his feelings of longing.

Wang Jiaguo was a soldier under Captain Wu when he served as a squad leader. In December 2013, during a brave fight against smuggling criminals, Wang Jiaguo unfortunately fell into the water and sacrificed his life at the young age of 19, fulfilling his vow to loyally guard the border.

“Jiaguo, we have come to see you…” Captain Wu gently placed the flowers in his hand on the riverbank, his voice choked with emotion. As the spring breeze passed, ripples appeared on the river's surface, as if quietly listening and softly responding.

First Class Sergeant Zhou Yuxin stood solemnly nearby, tears silently streaming down his face.

“We enlisted in the same year, went to the border together, and trained in the same squad, promising to guard the national gate well and be the reliable sentinels for our motherland…”

As a fellow soldier from the same year, Zhou Yuxin was in the same recruit camp as Wang Jiaguo when he first enlisted, and after joining the unit, they were assigned to the same squad, establishing a deep bond of camaraderie. “Jiaguo is gone, but his spirit will always remain at the border. I will carry our promise and guard the territory beneath my feet with my comrades.”

That year, after receiving the tragic news of Wang Jiaguo's sacrifice, Zhou Yuxin made a vow: to hone his skills and stand guard at every post! From a rookie soldier to a First Class Sergeant, he has silently guarded his post at the national border for over ten years.

After the memorial activity, the patrol team continued along the riverbank.

“Steel is forged, and I wish to be a piece of steel…” In the company’s study room, another fellow soldier of Wang Jiaguo, First Class Sergeant Mu Ruibao, was leading the soldiers in a heartfelt recitation of the reflections written by the martyr when he first joined the unit. The words were filled with love for the military and loyalty to the border defense mission. Each word was fervent, each sentence resonant, stirring the hearts of every soldier and transforming into the spiritual motivation for defending the country.

Although Martyr Wang Jiaguo's military career was short, the torch of spirit he ignited with his life has illuminated the path of struggle for generations of soldiers in the company.

To remember the heroes and pass on their legacy, the company has set up a memorial display in the Honor Room. Whenever new recruits join or new officers take office, this place becomes an important classroom for soul forging and education. Soldiers stop in front of the display, gazing at the young face of Martyr Wang Jiaguo, listening to his touching story. They take up the martyr's steel rifle, using their youthful blood to forge the towering boundary markers, building an indestructible steel barrier at the border of the motherland.