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Fu's kindheartedness was also felt in the surrounding villages. A longtime drug addict, Huang Jingbo had unsuccessfully tried to quit his habit several times. In 2011, when Fu was patrolling by his house, Huang collapsed. Fu broke in and took Huang to hospital.

In the following months, Fu kept in regular contact with Huang and succeeded in persuading him to receive treatment. To help Huang regain his confidence in life, Fu helped him build a new house.

"He was a brother to me, giving me hope for my life," says Huang, who is a group leader in his village.

Born to a farmer family in Henan province, Fu was the second of five children. Although he was not wealthy, he was always generous, giving what little he had to others. He was reluctant to spend money on himself even to buy much-needed shoes.

He sponsored a 15-year-old girl to return to school and donated 4,700 yuan ($774) to the father of one of his soldiers so he could receive medical treatment, says Fu's superior Huang Delong.

For Fu's wife Liu Chengbing, her husband's sacrifices were also her own. He devoted more time to his soldiers than to her, but she says she understands her husband's commitment.

"I could tell from his daily calls that he loved his job. Every time he returned home, he tried to do all the things to make up for the lost time," says Liu.

When Fu was on vacation, he would visit both parents with Liu, free her from housework and take care of their 3-year-old son.

"I'm proud of my husband. I know he was guarding our country's frontier. He was a real man," Liu says, her eyes full of tears. "If I had a second chance at life, I would marry my husband again."