Tears start to well up in 93-year-old Huang Zongde's eyes even now when he hears the song that was sung across China during the War to Resist United States Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53).

Huang, who joined the military at the age of 17, was awarded last week the nation's highest honor, the Medal of the Republic, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

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He is a recipient of a series of honors, including the Second-Class Combat Hero title, first-class and second-class merit awards and the Order of the National Flag (First Class) from Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Huang often recalls the names of his fallen comrades, saying "I am a survivor; they are the true heroes!"

In 1952, 21-year-old Huang was sent to the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53).

In July 1953, the company where Huang served in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army participated in a counterattack. The battle raged throughout the night, and by the end of the fight, only 13 men remained in the company.

The next day, Huang encountered remnants of the enemy hiding in a tunnel all by himself. Despite his submachine gun being damaged and a wound to his right chest, he did not retreat.

With a determination to sacrifice himself, Huang used his only grenades and explosives to blow up the tunnel. The enemy surrendered one after another, according to Xinhua.

In this battle, Huang destroyed three enemy bunkers, killed seven enemies, and single-handedly captured 22. More than 70 years have passed, but he still breaks down in tears when recalling his fallen comrades.

"They are the heroes. I accepted the honor on their behalf," he said.

Born in 1931 to a poor farming family in Rongcheng, Shandong province, Huang's brother-in-law and sister were underground Party members. In December 1948, 17-year-old Huang enlisted in the army, becoming a soldier in the coastal defense brigade of Rongcheng.

In April 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, in which Huang participated. "I couldn't swim, but I had one belief: I must not die here; we must liberate all of China," he recalled.

Reflecting on his revolutionary journey, Huang said he was so proud to join the Communist Party of China in 1949, the year in which the PRC was founded.

"In June 1949, in a dilapidated temple in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, I took the oath to join the CPC," he said. "The Party nurtured me from a poor youth into a revolutionary soldier," Huang added.

Wang Jinhua, 88, is married to Huang for 67 years. Talking about her husband, Wang said, "He rarely talks about his past combat experiences with me or our children." To her, he is just an ordinary soldier.

Wang recalled, "All our three children were born while he was in the army, not by my side," noting that her husband was always devoted to his work and rarely took care of the family.

"But I don't blame him. He is a soldier, belonging to the army and the country," she said.

Inspired by Huang, all their children joined the army.

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After returning from the Korean battlefield, Huang served in various positions, including regiment political commissar and deputy division political commissar.

In 1986, Huang retired from his position. Post-retirement, Huang has devoted much of his energy to promoting patriotism.

Meng Wei, the political commissar of his retirement sanitarium, said that Huang has served as an off-campus instructor for many primary and secondary schools and has given dozens of lectures in government agencies, enterprises and communities.

Now in his nineties, Huang remains deeply concerned about national defense and military development. "A strong military is the guarantee of national peace. Comrades in the military should be loyal to the Party and the people, improve their skills, and make greater contributions to defending the nation and world peace," Huang said.

jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn