Zhang Fuqing, a combat hero, who kept his past achievements a secret after the war and chose to work and devote his life to Laifeng, a poverty-stricken county in Central China's Hubei province, was recently awarded the Medal of the Republic. 

File photo of Zhang Fuqing. (File photo: Xinhua)

Born in December 1924, Zhang took part in the revolutionary war in Wazi Street, Yichuan County, Shaanxi province in March 1948 and served as a People's Liberation Army soldier in the Liberation War. He was twice awarded the title of Combat Hero during his military career. 

After retired from the army in January 1955, he went to Laifeng County and served as director of the Grain and Oil Institute of Chengguan District, head of Sanhu District, and vice-head of the Laifeng branch of China Construction Bank. In every position, he devoted his life to his work.

Once he took the leadership of the production brigade, he chose to live with the poorest family, did heavy labor work together with the members during the day, and helped carry water and clean the floor after every meeting at night. He was dedicated to taking care of people.

When he was in charge of the Gaodong Precinct, Maodong community to tackle the traffic problem, he led the building of a road on a cliff using sledgehammers.  

When he served as head of Sanhu District, he promoted the construction of the first hydropower station in the district, which gave it electricity. Zhang retired as vice-president of the Laifeng branch of China Construction Bank in 1985 and led a simple life.

For more than 60 years, Zhang has never mentioned his heroic services in the military to his wife and children. It was not until a registration of retired military personnel was carried out in 2018 that his impressive achievements were finally known to the world after more than half a century. 

(Compiled by Yu Lidong)