From left: US Congressman Ralph Abraham, Shandong Yuhuang Chemical Company Chairman Wang Jinshu and Chinese Consul General Li Qiangmin (right) present a gold medallion to Richard Sherman, the last surviving member of the Flying Tigers Fourteenth Air Force Bomber Squadron.

More than 70 years ago, Lieutenant General Claire Chennault, recruited and commanded the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force during WWII to help China fight the Japanese invasion.

Last Saturday, some Chinese fans flew across the Pacific and went to Monroe, Louisiana, Chennault’s hometown, to present gold medallions to five surviving members of the Flying Tigers squadron at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum.

"When I was a child, my teacher told us the story of General Chennault and his Flying Tigers. Now that, after years of economic development, China become affluent and Yuhuang is able to make investments overseas, the first thing I thought of was Louisiana and the Flying Tigers,” said Wang Jinshu, chairman of Shandong Yuhuang Chemical Company, referring its $1.5 billion methanol plant to be built in LA. “I am glad we can make some economic contribution to Chennault's home state."

Yuhuang specifically commissioned and designed the gold medallions to honor the Flying Tigers.

"What we have here is solid gold medallion,” said Charlie Yao, CEO of Yuhuang Chemical Inc. “They are expensive, but the relationship between the US and China, the relationship between people in the US and people in China, cannot be measured by money.”

In addition, Yao presented a check for $10,000 to Nell Calloway, director of the museum and granddaughter of General Chennault, to show the gratitude of the Chinese people to the Flying Tigers and support the museum.

Wang, along with Chinese Consul General Li Qiangmin and Congressman Ralph Abraham, presented gold medallions to J.V. "Jay" Vineyard, Frank Burnside, Richard Sherman, and family members representing Charles "Chuck" Baisden and Carl Kice Brown.

Calling Flying Tigers "a symbol of China-US relationship," Chinese Consul General Li Qiangmin said that the upcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping will chart the course for the future development of that relationship.

"The Flying Tigers were the trailblazers of China-US cooperation,” Li said. “With the blood we shed together, we achieved the victory against Japan and built the new world order which aims to bring peace and prosperity to all mankind."

The three Flying Tigers members received a warm welcome from the more than 200 attendants to the special event. A middle aged man walked up to Richard Sherman, took his hand, and said: "I want to shake your hand so I can say that I shook the hand of a Flying Tiger."

"Well that's good, as long as I don't fly away," quipped 91-year-old Sherman with a laugh. Sherman flew 52 missions in 13 months as a Flying Tiger pilot and is the last surviving member of General Claire Chennault's Flying Tiger 14th Air Force Bomber Squadron. He now lives at a war veterans home in Monroe.

Hump pilot Jay Vineyard recently returned from viewing the Sept 3 military parade in Beijing. “It was magnificent. I enjoyed it and had a nice seat. I was at the same level as President Xi, to his left side. I am glad he is coming to visit," said Vineyard, who lives on a small farm with his wife 30 miles outside of Monroe. He transported supplies between India and China and did 87 perilous round trip missions over the eastern Himalayan “hump”.

Frank Burnside, another hump pilot present to receive a medal, turned 100 years old last February.

Dr Feng Jianwei, a heart surgeon from Houston, said he was there to represent the Chinese-American voice. "General Chennault is an inspiration to me,” he said. “While I will never be an international hero to the magnitude of General Chennault, I owe him for the opportunity to be here and to live out the American dream."

Feng also mentioned the marriage of Chennault and Anna Chen as a testimony that not only can the US and China be politically together, they can also be friends and even love and grow old with one another.

"There are no borders to love and friendship," said Feng.

From left: US Congressman Ralph Abraham, Shandong Yuhuang Chemical Company Chairman Wang Jinshu and Chinese Consul General Li Qiangmin (right) present a gold medallion to Richard Sherman, the last surviving member of the Flying Tigers Fourteenth Air Force Bomber Squadron. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY