Veteran with hidden glories dedicates to lifetime grassroots service

These missions required Wang's unit to relocate the missile and radar systems vigorously across deserts, mountains and forests under harsh weather conditions and with limited supplies. "We were still using missiles that had been kept in the warehouse for years, but thanks to hard training and honed tactics, we made it," said Wang.

Discharged from active service in 1973, Wang returned to his hometown and got a job at a local department store. Colleagues knew only him as a hardworking and highly principled manager, but few were aware of his military record of flying colors.

Wang put away his medals and photographs from military service, and rarely spoke about his past. "There is no need to mention my previous achievements since I am now in a new walk of life," he once said.