Resolving crisis

During the War of Liberation (1946-49), Guo helped improve Party organization and strengthen leadership during a particularly critical period when not all troops were ideologically committed.

In the autumn of 1946, he was serving as the political commissar of a local armed division, whose deputy commander and a company commander had previously been bandits and whose habits did not conform to Party doctrine.

Guo patiently explained the purpose and discipline of the army and paid close attention to the Party's leadership, organization and execution to instill proper discipline, eventually reorganizing the troops.

After taking part in the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign (April-June, 1949), Guo's regiment moved west into Guizhou province to fight bandits.

At the beginning of 1950, he was placed in charge of educating troops revolting against the country's political direction and taught them the Party's policies and the principles of Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Despite the constant possibility of rebellion, Guo managed to reform the dissenting officers and soldiers and was able to reorganize them into regular PLA divisions to bolster the army's strength.

Active after retirement

In 1979, Guo retired from his post as deputy political commissar and in 1982, he and his family moved to the cadres retreat center in Liaoning. Since then, they have led a simple life.

"The schoolbags we used when we were little were made out of my father's old army raincoats," Guo Huili, the veteran's fourth daughter, said. She said that her father had a sweater that he had worn for more than 10 years, and when the sleeves became torn, he cut them off and turned the sweater into a vest.

"We were influenced by what our father said and did. He also devised the family motto, which is to never bring trouble to the Party or the country," she said.

Guo Ruixiang has a lot of experience in politics and kept up with theory after retirement. It's only by studying the Party's latest theories that he feels able to stay abreast of contemporary political developments.

He not only studies by himself, but also encourages those around him to study together.

As long as his health allows, he plans to remain active in Party education and study activities organized by the cadre retreat center, and he encourages other elderly cadres and Party members to keep learning, too.