Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) grants medals to 30 Chinese and foreign veterans and civilians who fought for China in the World War II, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2015. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
President Xi Jinping granted medals to 30 Chinese and foreign veterans and civilians who fought for China in World War II, ahead of the country's high-profile V-Day celebrations
Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said all national heroes, including those in World War II, are the "backbone" of the Chinese nation and their deeds and spirit are a great driving force for the country.
"Any nation with hope cannot be without heroes and any country with promising prospects cannot be without pioneers," he said.
Xi said the purpose of the medal ceremony is to pay tribute to the war heroes and show that the Chinese people cherish peace and will remember history.
Xi also highly praised international anti-fascist fighters from countries including the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, Korea, Canada and India who fought side by side and forged a profound friendship with Chinese people.
Among those honored with medals were Anna Chan Chennault, wife of American pilot Claire Chennault, who volunteered to fight against the Japanese air force during the war; Joseph W. Stilwell, grandson of Joseph Stilwell, commander of China, Burma, India Theater; and M. W. Bethune, the grandson of Norman Bethune, a famous Canadian army surgeon in China.
Here is the list of 10 international anti-fascist fighters awarded by China.
Thomas Rabe is the grandson of John Rabe, a German businessman who helped to protect Chinese civilians during the Nanjing Massacre in WWII.
G. Shudlo is a veteran of the Soviet Red Army who participated in the battle to liberate the city of Shenyang in northeast China during the WWII.
During the WII, Kobayashi Kancho arrived in China as an enemy soldier but later joined the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
Yuri N. Yasnev is a veteran of the Soviet Red Army, who took part in the effort to liberate northeast China during the WWII.
S. Borkar is the niece of Doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis, who came to China in 1938 to provide medical assistance when China fought against the Japanese invasion. He died in China in 1942.
J.V. Vinyard is a former U.S. pilot who participated in more than 600 hours of operational flights in transport aircraft on the dangerous and difficult Assam-Bengal-China Air Routes during the WWII, carrying goods and materials to China.
Sciences, Makhmut A. Gareev took part in the battle to liberate Mudanjiang in northeast China's Heilongjiang province in 1945.
Joseph W. Stilwell is the grandson of former U.S. Army General Joseph Warren Stilwell, who helped the Chinese government and people to fight against Japanese aggression.
Anna Chan Chennault is the widow of Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault, who was commander of U.S. air operations in China during the WWII.
Mark W. Bethune is the grandson of a cousin of Norman Bethune, a well-known Canadian surgeon who arrived in early 1938 in China's Yan'an to provide medical services to Chinese troops during WWII and died of septicemia in 1939.
(Photo by Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)
|
