New Book '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' Released, Featuring 24 Veterans' Experiences

To commemorate the history of the 823 Battle, pay tribute to the veterans, and pass on the precious memories of the battlefield to the next generation, the Republic of China 823 Battle Veterans' Association held a press conference for the new book '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' on the 14th. Veterans, their families, and guests from various sectors attended the event, where the veterans shared their personal experiences. The Ministry of National Defense and the Veterans Affairs Council presented commemorative gifts, expressing the highest respect for the heroes who fought for the country. The 823 Battle was a war in which all military and civilian personnel jointly resisted the enemy. In addition to the ROC military personnel who retreated from the mainland to Taiwan, many Taiwanese conscripted soldiers and young women also participated in the battlefield work. The Kinmen Civil Defense Self-Defense Team also participated in logistics and medical support tasks, standing side by side with the military to protect their homeland. However, previous books about the 823 Battle have focused mainly on national-level and high-ranking officers' strategic decisions, with fewer stories about the personal experiences of grassroots soldiers and civilians. Therefore, the 823 Battle Veterans' Association signed a joint publication plan with the Honorable Veterans Foundation on June 13, 2025, with the foundation providing a subsidy of NT$300,000 and adopting 'The Little Stories of the Old Heroes' as the main theme of the entire book. The '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' was edited by Chuang Kuo-ping, Vice Secretary-General of the 823 Battle Veterans' Association. The editorial team visited various parts of Taiwan to interview 24 veterans, compiling their personal experiences during the 823 Battle into a 207-page book rich in text and images. The book's photos are diverse and precious, including historical photos cherished by the veterans, archival photos from the Military News Agency, and previously unpublished precious images taken by Yang Yan-li's late husband, Yu Jingbo, when he served as the chief photographer of the Kinmen Defense Command. This makes the book not only historically valuable but also allows readers to revisit the true face of the battlefield through one photo after another. The '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' was also prefaced by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Yen Te-fa, the Minister of National Defense, Kuo Li-hsiung, and the Chairman of the Association, Huang Yi-pin, leaving important testimony for this precious war memory. The 24 veterans included in the book come from different units and different corners of the battlefield, including communication soldiers who risked their lives to repair battlefield communication lines, navy personnel who braved the waves to land and provide supplies, artillerymen who defended the trench positions, and young women's work teams who traversed the front lines to comfort the wounded. Each story is a true memory of life and death, also showcasing the deep camaraderie between soldiers and civilians. The Republic of China 823 Battle Veterans' Association held a press conference for the new book '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' on the 14th. (Photo by Chang Yao-lin) Chairman Huang Yi-pin said that first of all, he wanted to express gratitude to all the soldiers who fought tirelessly against the enemy on land, at sea, and in the air during the battles of Guningding and 823, as well as the comrades in the Kinmen and Matsu civil defense and self-defense teams. At the same time, he mourned the military and civilian martyrs who sacrificed themselves to resist aggression and defend the territory and people of the Republic of China, as well as the innocent civilians of Kinmen and Matsu who perished in the war. Huang Yi-pin pointed out that the 823 Battle not only shows military victory or defeat but also represents a collective memory that transcends party, ethnicity, region, and identity. Many soldiers and civilians at that time may not have left behind glorious military achievements, but it was precisely the perseverance and sacrifice of these ordinary people that became an important foundation for resisting aggression and protecting the homeland. The Republic of China 823 Battle Veterans' Association emphasized that the '823 Battle Heroes' Stories' not only preserves 207 pages of text and photos but also a segment of national memory jointly guarded by 24 veterans. These stories will remind future generations that peace is never taken for granted but is something that countless predecessors have guarded with their youth, courage, and lives.