15 US World War II veterans become honorary Kunming citizens
Zhang Rui and Gao Zidong
A group of US veterans, mostly pilots of Flying Tigers, boarded nine Jeep Wranglers in front of Kunming Changshui Airport. These off-road vehicles were born because of World War II, very commemorative. said Annan, a member of Flying Tigers Club.
After attending the military parade on September 3, the 15 US World War II veterans were invited to Kunming to join another commemorative event sponsored by Yunnan Tae Tea Group Co., Ltd. in honour of Chinese and US heroes that once fought in the War of Chinese Peoples Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. They were mostly pilots of Flying Tigers. The youngest of them is 90 years old and the oldest, 97 years old. In the three-day commemorative event, they attended a tea party specially arranged for anti-fascist heroes, met with media and joined in the Tower of Peace celebration, in which more than one million people signed their names to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan.
I was not yet 21 at that time, said J Vinyard, When I came to Yunnan, I was shocked. I saw buildings flattened by Japanese bombing, poverty-stricken people and large tracts of farmland everywhere. However, people were united, brave and friendly.
In order to transport the much-needed military supplies into China, the United States and China jointly opened an air route between Assam in northeast India and Kunming in southeast China, the most dangerous air route in the world aviation history and military history. Powerful storms cut off all radio communications and navigation signals. Strong winds blew twin-engine and four-engine transport aircrafts off their courses by over a hundred miles, He continued. To make things worse, the Japanese fighters went to any length to stop the transport of military supplies. The aircrafts of Flying Tigers could be shot down or crash into the mountain at any time, so this air route was also referred to as the death route.
When J Vinyard left Yunnan after the mission, he doubted if he would ever again set foot on this land. To his surprise, nearly 60 years after the war, he returned to Yunnan. In 2004, he came to Kunming and attended the First International Seminar on Sino-US Friendship in World War II at invitation. He said excitedly, I am pleased that the Chinese people have not forgotten us.
This time, he came to Kunming with his grandson.
When grandpa told me about the history, I felt that I should have a look at the place where he had fought. I see everybody respects him, and Im very proud, said J Vinyards grandson, I accompanied grandpa to the parade in Beijing, and then we were invited to Kunming. I can deeply feel the value of what grandfather did back then.
After so many years, we have come to Kunming for the same reason. Seeing the comrades of the Flying Tigers, I feel as if I have got home, said Huang Yuzhen, a veteran of the 407th Air Service Squadron. From 1944 to August 15, 1945, he served as a bomber gunner in Xian, Zhijiang, Chengdu, Laohekou, Wuhan and other air bases. He was born in Guangdong and settled in the United States with his parents when he was 11 years old. When he was 16, the war started and he decided to return to motherland. I came, leaving behind the peaceful life in the United States. I came to China to fight. I must defend my motherland, Huang Yuzhen recalled the old days decades ago.
In 2005, when celebrating the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Worlds Anti-fascist War, the Kunming Municipal Government recognised 44 US Flying Tigers veterans as Honorary Citizens of Kunming. This time, 15 US veterans and the family members of two deceased veterans are awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Kunming.
