Du Fuguo volunteered to join the China-Vietnam border land mine clearance mission in June 2015. 

On October 11, 2018, Du discovered a weighted grenade during a mine clearance operation in Yunnan Province. He immediately asked his comrades to retreat and stepped forward to investigate the situation alone. Suddenly, the grenade exploded. Du moved to block the shock wave and shrapnel. The explosion took both of his hands and eyes.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives attending a ceremony commending role models with disabilities and people who have made outstanding contributions in helping the disabled, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on May 16, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)

In May 2019, at a ceremony to commend role models with disabilities, as President Xi Jinping stops in front of Du, whose eyes were covered with thick gauze.

Du salutes with his residual arm and shouts a greeting. 

"Hello, chairman!"

Xi gently holds Du's elbow with one hand and pats him on the shoulder with the other in encouragement.

Two months later, Du was awarded the honorary title "Heroic Demining Soldier."

At the honorary title awarding ceremony held by the Central Military Commission, accompanied by his wife, Du walked up to the stage. Xi solemnly hung the medal around Du's neck and carefully arranged the ribbon.

"Take good care of yourself," Xi told Du.

(Compiled by Dong Feng)