A soldier from photo company gets his angle.PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

“This picture is of, rather than by, Greenberg, so it’s very precious,” said Yan, who had regularly corresponded with the former soldier by email and wrote the family a letter of condolence when the veteran died.

In the photo, Sydney Greenberg is shown sitting in an army jeep with five Chinese youths.

“Horror and amazement; a camera for a few years and an adventure of a lifetime — that’s what China meant to dad,” said Philip Greenberg, who, inspired by his father’s example, became a photojournalist and undertook more than 2,300 assignments for major U.S. newspapers and magazines. “I followed dad’s work, and I became part of his legacy.”

Reflecting on his father’s experiences in wartime China, he said: “They (the Chinese) showed him kindness and gave him their time. He honors them daily in his photographs.”

Zhang Yuchen contributed to this story.