By Shi Hanbing (http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4b02a21a01009vlj.html) 07:09:33, May 16, 2008

They truly deserve to be called soldiers.

They have set an example of courage and honor in these terrible times.

When the disaster struck, soldiers were the first to arrive at the scene, the first to rescue victims, at the risk of their own lives. They were reckless of their own safety; their only thought was to save the lives of others. When they witnessed the suffering of the people, they could not help but burst into tears, but they remained strong and continued to carry out their duty.

The victims place all their hope and trust in them. They are symbols of hope in these dark times.

These rare photos record just a few moments of the courage and dedication of ordinary soldiers taking part in rescue operations. I thank my colleague Feifei for sending them to me.

Best wishes to the troops in the front line!