In Appreciation of the Guomindang
Paratroopers Who Revolted1
(May 18, 1949)
(Xinhua News Agency, Beiping) According to a news report from Beiping on the
18th, commanders and soldiers of the Guomindang’s former Third Paratrooper
Division revolted and sent a telegram to Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief
Zhu on the 18th of last month. Today, Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief
Zhu sent a telegram back to express their sympathy and appreciation. The content
of the telegram is as follows:
To Regimental Commander Liu Nongjun (1912–1976, born in Shaoyang,
Hunan), Regimental Deputy Commander Jiang Jian (native of Jilin), and all commanders and soldiers:
Congratulations on your brave action to break away from the reactionary
Guomindang and join the People’s Liberation Army. We hope you will work hard
on political and technical study and strive to build the new Chinese paratroopers!
Mao Zedong
Zhu De
Our source for this text is Renmin ribao, May 19, 1949. It was also published in Dongbei ribao on May 20, 1949, where it was addressed to “seamen and paratroopers.”
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-269