The Story of Lei Feng

Author: Li Jie, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Set up ideals, inspire humanity! Treat comrades like spring is warm, treat work like summer is fiery, treat selfishness like autumn sweeps the leaves, and treat enemies like winter is ruthless.
Lao Xing Yearbook:
1940, 1 year old, born on December 18.
1947, 7 years old, became an orphan.
1950, 10 years old, entered school in summer.
1954, 14 years old, joined the Young Pioneers.
1957, 17 years old, joined the Communist Youth League on February 7.
1958, 18 years old, learned to drive tractors.
1958, 18 years old, worked as a bulldozer operator in the coal washing workshop.
1960, 20 years old, enlisted in the army on January 8.
1960, 20 years old, became a driver in March.
1960, 20 years old, received commendations from the army in August.
1961, 21 years old, promoted to squad leader in August.
1962, 22 years old, promoted to corporal on January 27.
1962, 22 years old, tragically died on August 15.
Lao Xing was a great communist fighter and a model of serving the people wholeheartedly. He was from Wangcheng County, Hunan Province. Born into a poor peasant family in 1940, he became an orphan at the age of 7. He had a deep affection for the Communist Party of China and joined the Chinese Communist Youth League and the Communist Youth League. He worked diligently and was repeatedly honored as a "Red Flag Awardee," "Work Model," "Labor Model," "Advanced Producer," and "Active Member of Socialist Construction."
In January 1960, Lao Xing joined the army and was admitted to the Communist Party of China in November of the same year. He firmly established the idea of serving the people wholeheartedly and set an lofty goal of dedicating his life to communism. He never forgot the hardships of his class and understood "how to be a person and who to live for." He remained loyal to the Party, the people, the motherland, and socialism. With the spirit of a "nail," he studied Mao Zedong's works and scientific and cultural knowledge diligently, constantly improving his ability to serve the people. With the spirit of being a "screw," he devoted himself to his work, loved it, and excelled at it, achieving extraordinary deeds in ordinary positions.
Assigned as a truck driver, he worked hard to master driving skills and became a qualified driver. After becoming a squad leader, he took bold management, set an example in everything, and led his squad to become an advanced unit in the army. He loved the collective, cared about his comrades, and cared about the masses. He considered "selfless and dedicated to others" as the greatest happiness and joy in life and practiced it in action, dedicating his limited life to serving the people. He sent money he saved by living frugally to disaster victims and to comrades in need. He served as a part-time counselor outside the school, using his exemplary actions to influence and inspire the younger generation to grow healthily. Humble and unassuming, he never boasted about his achievements and remained modest even when praised, never revealing his name after doing good deeds.
On August 15, 1962, he tragically died while on a transportation mission. During his 2 years and 8 months in the army, he received one second-class medal, two third-class medals, multiple commendations, was honored as a "Model Communist Youth League Member" and "Saving Model," and was elected as a representative to the Fushun Municipal People's Congress.
Lao Xing's exemplary deeds and noble thoughts had a profound impact both in and outside the army. The Ministry of National Defense named his former unit the "Lao Xing Company." On March 5, 1963, Mao Zedong issued the great call to "Learn from Lao Xing." On March 5, 1990, Jiang Zemin and other leaders of the Party and the state inscribed messages, calling on the people of the country to further learn from Lao Xing, promote the Lao Xing spirit, and strive to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.
In the extensive and lasting campaign to learn from Lao Xing, numerous Lao Xing-style heroes and models emerged from all units of the army and across the country's various battlefields. The Lao Xing spirit nurtures new generations to grow.