Name Gao Jiancheng | ||
Gao Jiancheng (高建成) (1965–1998), was a political instructor of the Chinese Air Force known for fighting the Yangtze flood. Gao was originally from Xiangyin County in Hunan Province.
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Personal experience
Gao Jiancheng was born in October 1965 in a peasant family in Xiangyin County in Hunan Province. He loved study and think since he was a child. While studying at school, he was a high academic achiever and a rare outstangding student. After graduated from Xiangyin No.4 high school, he passed into Air Force Academy in 1984. After graduation, he served in Air Force in Wuhan. He successively held the posts of platoon lead, assistant engineer, deputy political instructor, political instructor. During his 14 years of military service, he always studied diligently and worked solidly. And he was successively awarded by the army several times.
His death
During the summer of 1998, flood disaster occurred in the Yangtze River Basin and the loss of it is the maximal one in natural disasters at that time. On July 27, after Gao Jiancheng’s unit receiving the order, they headed to the disaster zone (Xianning, Hubei Province) to carry out disaster relief efforts. In spite of running fever for several days, he led his men fighting in the first line of rescue work.
On August 1, he led his troops to transfer to Paizhou Bay. During their rapid march, the levees burst. As the huge waves near, Gao ignored personal safety and danger to rescue the disaster-stricken people and soldiers. He took off his own lifejacket and gave to a new warrior Zhao Wenyuan. Gao showed great courage in rescuing people and soldiers. After 21:00, the situation was worsening. He decided to give life to a few weak soldiers and risked death himself. He pushed Liu Nan, a new warrior who was struggling in the flood, to a big tree. Gao was swept away by a huge wave.
His family
Gao’s mother is Yang Youxiu(杨友秀), his wife is Lu Bei (鲁蓓). And they have a daughter, Gao Jieyuan(高洁缘). After his death, his mother sent his brother Gao Jianmin to the troops to inherit Gao’s career.