A war documentary captures the bravery of generations past, Wang Ru reports.
Seventy years ago, Chen Zengji sent a letter to his family, writing that he would return home soon. However, they did not receive any more letters from the Chinese People's Volunteers soldier after that.
In 1953, they were informed by a relative, who also served as a soldier in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), that he had died and was buried on the battlefield as a CPV soldier. Upon hearing news of his death, his younger brother Chen Hushan followed in his footsteps and became a CPV soldier in 1956. Chen Hushan then went to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that same year to help with relief efforts.
Last year, the then 82-year-old Chen Hushan, finally reunited with his older brother, whose remains were placed in a box covered in China's red five-star flag.
Since 2014, China has flown the remains of 716 anonymous CPV soldiers back home. With the help of DNA technology, researchers identified the remains of Chen Zengji and contacted his family members, allowing Chen Hushan to meet his brother once more.
The Chen brothers' story is featured in a six-episode documentary For the Peace, produced by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, National Radio and Television Administration and China Media Group, about the war. It aired on CCTV-1 in October, and will soon be aired on more channels in future. Viewers can also watch it on streaming sites Youku, Souhu and Mango TV.