# February 23!

Receiving congratulations on the holiday, I remember the days given to the defense of the Motherland.

A vivid memory is September 1, 1983, when the Korean Boeing was shot down by the Soviet Union. An alarm sounds, everyone runs out of the barracks to the parade ground, where everyone takes their places.

Night, everyone is confused. Rumors immediately flew along the lines - war? I did not want to believe in it, we stand, we wait. From the aerodrome, the duty link of interceptor aircraft, noise, rumbling goes. The top window shutter flew for some reason, although it was not like that before. Nervousness is added.

The company commander with frightened eyes comes and takes his place. Shrugs his shoulders in answer to dumb questions. I myself was ripped off from a warm bed. We stand and wait. In general, a poor prediction recedes slowly. The guys started joking. Healthy guys 18-20 years old, at this age all the same. War is so war, but if not, then no.

Regular MiG - 23 leave in normal mode. There are suggestions that these are just teachings. However, why stand on the parade for nearly an hour. So it's not so simple. Commanders above the company can not be seen. They probably sit at the headquarters. We begin to smoke inconspicuously, changing in turn in order. In the back rows with a cigarette held in the palm of a hand, the covered smokers are not noticeable. The company commander is silent, he probably wants to smoke, but he keeps. Nerves still on the limit.

Literally three days before that, we all filed for transfer to Afghanistan. Perhaps because of this? This theory does not find support. Andropov is dead? No, he seems to be a strong man. We did not know, in those days, about the health of our leaders. Teachings? Again, no. Everyone wants to sleep, because they pulled us out of warm beds. Someone remembers that in the evening it's our turn to watch in the kitchen and peel potatoes, which means that we will return to the barracks again at night. Rotary commanders are summoned to the headquarters. Soon, we will know why we are standing on the parade ground.

Dawn begins, feet are already buzzing. A company commander comes running, he says something to platoon commanders. Everyone is dismissed back to the barracks, and we went to the smoking room. We sit, smoke, our commander approaches, apologizing asks to smoke. He forgot the cigarettes at home. Immediately said that he did not know anything, why they kept everyone up until morning on the parade ground. We go to the barracks, we have one hour to sleep. Everyone is already asleep. All-clear.

In the afternoon they learned that Boeing had been shot down.

Happy holiday you defenders of the Fatherland!