friends advised your father Atamyrat to move to another area. He moved to Kerki city in this way, where he worked as a teacher. Later he lived in the village of Gökdepe from 1935-36. In 1937, he bought a house in Aşgabat and settled there and began to work there. At that time we were really close friends. Saparmyrat, I remember your father’s face; he was always a pleasant, attractive, forward-thinking, patient and fine-manly person.”

I did not led him go on but asked: “When is the last time you saw my father?”

From 1941 onwards we fought against the German invaders in the same troop. Another day I will tell you how we saved our country. There is no such thing as a sweet war and, indeed, in this bloody war, there were times we won and times we were defeated. In 1943, near to Wiladikavkaz in North Ossetia after an intense battle, we were taken prisoner by the enemy. The Germans were trying to control the situation and shouting to each other while holding the automatic weapons. Russian soldiers were collected in one place after throwing away their weapons. There were five of us from Türkmenistan, four Türkmen and a Russian. At that time, a friend of ours, took out a piece of tobacco and wrapped it with old newspaper. We were taking it in turns to smoke it. When the cigarette came to Atamyrat, there was a Russian on his right, and a Türkmen friend said ‘Atamyrat do not give it to the Russian. The Germans are going to kill us now. Give it to me and I will have a smoke before dying.’

‘No, friend, this friend also fought with us and put his life in danger to save the country. He should smoke when his turn comes. There is God and we should not lose our hope even to our last breath.’