Normandy survivor gets top honour
By Xie Fang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-06 05:56
Huang also took part in the Toulon landing with French troops on August 15
the same year.
"We will never forget that you and other Chinese people stood with us
shoulder-to-shoulder when France was facing the most difficult situation during
the war," Schuh said in Chinese at the ceremony.
"It is our responsibility to remember this forever," he added.
Huang's face lit up as Schuh presented him with the medal of the Legion
d'Honneur, awarded to fewer than 200 Chinese. His family members captured the
moment with video cameras.
The father of three made a short speech from his wheelchair, while his nurse
held an oxygen mask beside him.
"It was a great honour to join the anti-Nazi war. After more than 60 years, I
am still very proud about it," he said.
"It (today's occasion) reminds me of other Chinese naval officers who took
part in the operation. The honour is not only for me, it belongs to all of
them," Huang added.
The other 23 Chinese officers died in the intervening years.
Huang joined the Navy of the People's Liberation Army in 1949. He moved to
Zhejiang in 1958 and taught English at Zhejiang Science and Technology
University for seven years before retiring in
1971.
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