The following years he left his footprints in nine provinces on the mainland, witnessing and surviving numerous battles until the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

The last war Chen fought in was on the Korean Peninsula in the 1950s, during which he was an anti-aircraft gun operator.

"Only a handful of my comrades in my company finally survived the war," Chen said, staring at the tablets. Many of them bear his comrades' names.

"So I am lucky, at least I am alive. So it's my duty to take care of them."

He retired from the army at 28. Although he had chances to stay in the army, he chose to return to Longchi.

"After he returned, the township government invited him to become the town's deputy head, but he declined," said Wei Tieliang, a resident familiar with Chen. "He thought being illiterate meant he was not qualified for a leader position."

However in 1979 when the local government tried to find someone to manage the shrine, Chen said he was suitable for the job.

The shrine had been abandoned for 33 years before Chen took charge.

"I was so sad to see the yard covered by grass. They should not live in such an environment," Chen said.

In addition to keeping the shrine clean, Chen frequently burns incense to offer sacrifices to his fallen brothers-in-arms.

Chen lives in a small room in a corner of the shrine's yard. His bedroom is simple with an old television, square table and several wood chairs.

Recalling his late wife, who just passed away on Jan 9, Chen said: "She had the opportunity to live in a government-run senior's home and enjoy a better life, but she chose to live with me. I owe too much to her."

"Chen is respectable as he has dedicated more than 30 years of his life to taking care of the shrine," said Sun Xuejun, a businessman in Weifang. He read Chen's story in the newspaper and came to visit.

With Chen's efforts, the shrine has developed into an educational base for local students. People frequently come to help clean the shrine and pay tribute to the martyrs.

"The shrine proves a good place for children to get to know the hard times our country has been through during the wartime," said Wei Fengshe, headmaster of the Baita Village Primary School, who often leads her students to visit the shrine.

By Zhao Ruixue and Wang Qian (China Daily)

(China Daily 01/31/2012 page2)