Photos of heroes, 1945 and now mtpre-@aol.com
Jan
01, 2001 15:59 PST
Hello, everybody:
Happy New Year.
Natalie Peterson, who started our Weihsien bulletin board, has suggested that
we nudge our recollections by posting "then" and "now"
photos of ourselves and some information to bring everyone up to date. What a
great idea! I think only a couple of people have posted the snapshots.
Here are some of mine, in several e-mails, for ease of downloading.
I thought you'd enjoy some of the "then" and "now" photos I
included in a photo scrapbook I created a couple of years ago as a Christmas
gift for each of the heroes who liberated Weihsien. I tracked them all down in
1997 and then criss-crossed America to visit each one -- survivors and widows.
In Weihsien, I was Mary Taylor, a student in the Chefoo School's Lower School
Dormitory (we called it LSD). My sister Kathleen, Jamie, and John and grandpa
Herbert Hudson Taylor were also interned in Weihsien. We LSD girls lived first
in Block 23 and then, after the escape of Hummel and Tipton, on the second
floor of the hospital. I was 12 years old when the Americans parachuted from
the B-24 to liberate the camp, August 17, 1945.
I started my career as a high school teacher --English and journalism -- until
our daughter, Alice, was born. Alice is an attorney who also helps me take very
elementary steps on the Internet. For nearly 27 years I've directed a youth
detention center that serves the toughest-of-the-tough delinquent teenagers --
about 1,600 a year. My book, HUNGRY GHOSTS, tells about Weihsien as well as the
astonishing story of how a suburban housewife (me) took over an exploding
juvenile lock-up and turned it around. I'm now also serving my second term in
the New Jersey state legislature and continue
to speak to audiences around the country.
I hope all of you will also bring us up to date with your own stories and
snapshots.
Mary Taylor Previte
RE: The lists you are compiling,
Ron. Have you these.....? David
Birch
Jan
01, 2001 23:36 PST
Ron,
A family who returned at the same time as the Chefoo party were named 'Turner.'
The Turners had two sons, Micky and
Peter, both likeable boys about the same age as my brother John and I, (John
Alfred Birch, b. 04Mar1934 and I, GDB b. 25Nov1931).
We all, the Chefoo party and the Turners (possibly others too) came in to
Vancouver, CANADA via Great Northern Railroad from Oakland, California, in the
evening of Thursday, 08Nov1945.
I recall seeing a quotation in, I think, the 'Vancouver Province' newspaper, probably
dated the tenthNovember1945, although it could have been Friday, the ninth's
issue, quoting Mr. Turner as saying the camp experience included 'slow
starvation.'
At the time, I recall thinking and mentioning to someone in our group that this
really was an exaggeration. However, within a very few years, I realized that
Mr. Turner had been correct in his remark. In 1948 I began receiving hospital
care that a remarkable medical doctor, Leslie Arthur Patterson, MD, attributed
to what he termed ADRENAL CORTICAL STARVATION resulting from prolonged
malnutrition in a Japanese camp during World War Two. Dr. Patterson was, I
believe, a remarkably knowledgeable medical practitioner. He was a 'disciple'
of a Dr. John Gregory who practiced medicine in California, USA. He even took
my file with him down to California to confer with Dr. Gregory. Dr. Patterson
had a very large part in enabling me to have sufficient self confidence to walk
out of a Provincial mental hospital with my sanity intact.
Anyway, Ron, there are the Turners. Do you have them on your list. The younger
Turner lad walked with a limp.
Do you have Dr. Eugene Chan on your list? His father was a medical practioner
who lived in our camp at Weihsien. Eugene was known as "Junior Chan"
and was a pitcher on one of the softball teams, a good pitcher too.
When I was fifteen or sixteen, and home was a dairy farm which my father was
purchasing, and the Birch boys and girls were helping our parents to 'make a go
of' Eugene walked over from the "Dyke Road" now known as Wharf
Street. Our farm was bounded by the Fraser River on the south. Apparently the
Dr. Chan's family had relatives living in a home by the river's edge. The Chans
may not have actually been considered British subjects at the time. It was not
till soon after the war that Canadians of Chinese descent were accorded the
right to hold Canadian citizenship.
Thanks again, Ron, for the work you are doing.
Very sincerely,
David Birch
GDB/b.25Nov1931
p.s. Jr. Chan, practices medicine (he is a dermatologist):
Dr.
Eugene J. Chan
523-625-5th
Avenue
New
Westminster, BC
He lives in West Vancouver:
Dr.
Eugene J. Chan
3664
Cedaridge Place
West
Vancouver, BC
He may recall some names of people he knew. (We used to have baseball games
with 'Britain vs. America.')
Re: Photos of heroes, 1945 and now
David
Birch
Jan
01, 2001 23:36 PST
Thank you Mary.
You are an inspiration.
May blessings abound in 2001 for you. I quite clearly recall you now. Looking
out your window overlooking
where Torje and I used to play basketball.
David
GDB(b.11/1931)
Overload! Linton Conway
Jan
02, 2001 00:12 PST
Dear Mary and other ex-Chefusians,
I feel I have to get in now and ask to unsubscribe from this bulletin board. Having just spent 16 minutes
downloading 10 pages of photos and
material, and then to read an invitation for everyone else to start sending in their photos as well. HELP! Please.
I think there ought to be some
self-imposed restrictions on how much material is sent round. With respect, there are those of us with other
things to do in life as well, and to
have the email constantly taken up with two or three Weihsien stories or comments every time you switch
on, gets a bit heavy. I would suggest
that if anyone has larger amounts of material they alert the BB to that and let those who want it request
it.
Sorry if I sound ungrateful - I'm not. I confess I was not at Weihsien myself (though several friends and relations
were), but as the Secretary of the CSA
in New Zealand, I came on the BB, on behalf of one or two that did not have email. Even they are now
wearying a little I'm sad to say. I
have read some amazing stories and feel that I know so much more
about the internship - all of which
causes me to praise a wonderful God for His
care and deliverance. More amazing still to see the way God is using
this event nearly 60 years later to
bring further blessing and opportunities
for witness and testimony.
I must confess I don't know how to unsubscribe - so if whoever put me on could take me off, that would be
appreciated. Thanks for everything.
Linton Conway
New Zealand
Re:
Overload!
Beard
Jan 02, 2001 01:06 PST
As the person who downloads the email
and prints it off for David, I sympathise with Linton. Large graphics
attachments take time to download and may be in a format recipients cannot
open. I think it would be better if messages to the List were restricted to
plain text. If anyone has photos available, they could send a plain text
message to say what was available and in what format it could be sent. Then
anyone who wanted the photos could have them sent to their own personal email
address.
Margaret Beard
Linton Conway,
As per request, I have taken your name off our list. Sorry.
Natasha Petersen
Mary,
I have been able to download only some of the photos. Thank you so much. I know
that there are messages that perhaps do not interest all of us. I have printed
many, and intend to do something with them. At this time, I am putting them in
a separate folder.
Natasha
RE: The lists you are compiling,
Ron. Have you these.....?
Joyce
Bradbury (nee Cooke)
Jan
03, 2001 03:11 PST
David Birch. Re your message to Ron about the
Turners in Weishien. I can add a little to the story of that family because
they were in the same living room as my family and me separated only by a clear
glass sliding door which had a sheet covering the glass. Nora Turner, the mother
erected that sheet. We lived in this way for the whole of the period we
were
In the camp and consequently, came to know them very well indeed. We were in
the only block which had two stories and the de Zutters lived above us. The boy
with the limp had a shoe with a special spring to help him walk because of what
is now known as polio. There was also a sister, the youngest child, named
Barbara. I am interested in whatever became of the family. Doctor Chan had two
sons, Guy and Eugene and they were in the camp. Dr. Chan was our family doctor
in Tsingtao before the war and he attended to me when I had typhoid. Guy Chan
is known as junior and his younger brother is Eugene. Guy Chan is now a
professor in ophthalmology and is married to an ophthalmologist. They have two
grown up children, Paul and Maria. My husband and I had lunch with them in
Atlanta several years ago. I think Dr. Chan's wife originally came from Canada.
Junior Chan signed my autograph book in Weishien on 9 Oct.,
1943.
FW: Weihsien memories from Franciscan
nuns
Joyce Bradbury (nee Cooke)
Jan 03, 2001 03:14 PST
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Bradbury [SMTP:bobj-@tpg.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 1:00 PM
To: 'weih-@topica.com'
Subject: RE: Weihsien
memories from Franciscan nuns
Dear Pamela. I am now able to finish off my message
regarding the names of nuns who autographed my book in Weishien Camp. You may
have wondered why my previous message suddenly terminated. It was entirely
accidental when I pressed SEND instead of something else. My apologies. Here
are the rest of the nuns. From Sister M. Eustella - May the pleasant memories
of two "concentrations" remain with us until we meet in the blissful
concentration of Heaven. Wei Hsien C.A.C. September 4, 1943." - From
Sr.M.Donatella O.S.F. "Dear Joyce. Miles may separate the dearest of
friends but they can never efface a memory. May God bless and protect you
always, lovingly. Weishien 1943." From Sr. Mary Ludmilla O.S.F. Think of
me sometimes. Think always of God. Your Weishien friend." From Sr. Mary Veronica. O.S.F. May God bless you and keep you. And may
the love of Jesus and Mary ever grow stronger in your heart. Sept. 9,
1943.Weishien." Also from the following who made no notations, Sr. Mary
Blanda O.S.F.; Mother Clarisse F.M.M Mother Anicetus S.M.M.
and Mother Christopher, F.M.M. Sister Mary who was Portuguese
was also in the Camp but I do not have her autograph. All of the nuns I have
mentioned were, as far as I remember, from Tsingtao. I have many other autographs
of civilian inmates and members of Religious Orders which I can detail if
anybody is interested. I think there were other nuns in the camp but probably
no others from Tsingtao. Regards, Joyce Bradbury.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce Bradbury (nee Cooke) [SMTP:bobj-@tpg.com.au]
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 5:00 PM
To: 'weih-@topica.com'
Subject: RE: Weihsien
memories from Franciscan nuns
Dear Pamela. Your message re the Sisters of Our Lady
of the Angels from Tsingtao has prompted me to add some information which may
be interesting particularly to ex-Weishien and Tsingtao people. I attended both
Holy Ghost Convent and St. Josephs middle school from the age of about 5 years
until the Japanese came when I was thirteen and a half years old. Quite a lot
of the nuns from Tsingtao, were taken into Weishien and in fact travelled with
us by train to the camp from Tsington. They consisted of British, American,
Dutch, Portuguese and one from France. They did wonderful work in Weishien. I
have the signatures of quite a few of these nuns and I list their names and any
comments they made in my autograph book. I also have the autographs of many
priests and brothers which I shall put into the net if there is anybody
interested in their names The nuns I have are;
(The following are all from St Josephs) - Sr Verna OSF who wrote "Dear
Joyce. If as you grow older you come closer to God your life will have been
successful. Lovingly, SR. Verna" - :Sr.Hiltrudia, who wrote, "May God
bless you and guide your footsteps to our Heavenly Goal, lovingly Sr.
Hiltrudia; - Sr. Mary Elaine OCM(?) "May mother Mary ever keep you the
sweet girl you are now is the sincere prayer of Sister Mary
Elaine":
RE:
The lists you are compiling, Ron. Have you
these.....?
R.W. Bridge
Jan 03, 2001 03:56 PST
David,
It is indeed a small world. Thanks for the info re you and your brother and the
Chans. I am One day older than your brother! Pre the 1948 British nationality
Act all British Passports were interchangeable except Canadian ones which were
separate because of the British North America Act of 1867 when passports for
the general public were introduced. The Chans were listed as Canadians in
Weihsien.
New Zealand, Australia, South Africa Indian etc were all listed as British. Yet
a British person who happened to be in say Kenya when his passport needed
renewing got a Kenyan Passport, British Passports were only issued in a non
Commonwealth Country where there was a Consulate or at the Passport Office
London. This is causing endless problems with the British Governments decision
to pay out to former British Internees and PoWs
The entries that I have for the Birches, Chans and Turners are enclosed.
Our family knew the Turners well, Frank Turner was the Manager of McKenzie
& Co a cotton press packing plant and exporter in Tientsin, the chief
engineer was Tullis Lewis my uncle by marriage and when his wife Freda(Neé
Bridge) was widowed she visited us here in the early 1970's and I used to take
here over to see Frank and Norah Turner at a place called Parsons Green about 5
miles south of here. When Freda died in 1974 I lost track of the Turners. The
boys Peter and Mickey were non-identical twins and I have a photo here of a
chdlrens birthday party in Tientsin in 1940. I went to school and played with
them and my parents played tennis/majong etc with Frank and Nora Mickey had
polio when he was small hence the limp, there was also a sister. Mickey was the
only British boy born circa 1933/4 in Tientsin that did not end up flying somehow
I think that he went into the HongKong Shanghai Bank. Peter came to the UK
joined the RAF for his national service and became a pilot. I think he did 3
years and then went to HK to join his brother and transferred to the HK
Auxilary AF, to complete his reserve service sadly he hit one of the hills in
HK flying a North American Harvard in 1955.
Now to the questions of the effects of malnutrition, I have been involved in a
lot of the problems caused that have manifested themselves in the past ten
years since I got involved with ABCIFER (see www.abcifer.com)
Looking at the statistics the incidence of girls of puberty and two years pre
puberty in Japanese camps having children is about one fifth of the average of
their contemporaries who did not have the "Internment experience". I
suspect with modern medicine it would have been overcome but that was not
available when they were after a family in the late 50's and 60s. The law in
this country allows for War pensions for those affected by malnutrition as a
result of enemy action and I am involved in about a new case a month and tend
to win all the cases, the pensions are modest, around £2500 per annum but they
do help many who have fallen on hard times. My own view is that those of you in
Canada and the USA that were civilians caught by the Japanese should pursue a
case with Ottawa, citing their own payout to the Canadian forces that were
caught in HK and the British Govt handout to POWs and civilians.
Rgds
Ron
B-24,
POW, Amelia Earhart, ...RE: Ch
Frank Otto
Jan 03, 2001 11:30 PST
Joyce,
Good to hear from you. I'm looking for WW2 Veterans who were on the USS Mt.
Olympus AGC-8. Thanks.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: mtpre-@aol.com [SMTP:mtpre-@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 10:04 AM
Hello, Everybody,
In California, the Hi-Desert Star filled most of
a page in its Section, December 2,
2000, with a story about Lt. James Hannon, one of our rescuers. In the story
headlined, STRANGER THAN FICTION, Lt. Hannon = "claims to have spent over
five weeks with Amelia Earlart after she was reported missing."
Let me quote from this article in the Hi-Desert
Star: In Weihsien, Lt. Hannon says he was "asked to look after a
semi-conscious woman who was being kept in her own room and being given high
doses of morphine. 'She was so drugged she couldn't speak.' Hannon determined
this woman was Amelia Earhart."
The article pictures the rescuing B-24 bomber
dropping relief supplies after the American team parachuted to the fields
beyond the barrier walls of the camp.
I wish
you all a Happy New Year.
Mary
Taylor Previte
B-24,
Aug. 17, 1945, ...POW, Re: Photos of heroes, 1945 and now
Frank Otto
Jan 05, 2001 14:48 PST
Mary,
Great information. Thanks.
Frank
RE: The lists you are compiling,
Ron. Have you these.....?
David Birch
Jan 06, 2001 01:54 PST
Ron,
Thanks for your clarification of the situation. I am grateful for your
explanation re. the difference for Canadians owing to the passage of The
British North America Act of 1867.
It may be, that we have received all that we are legally entitled to receive;
however, as you suggest, I plan to make some further inquiries. It may be that
someone at Douglas, Symes & Brissenden, in Vancouver, may be able to
recover my file (from the mid to late nineteen fifties). Possibly though I
should start by contacting my Member of Parliament, a young man with his
constituency office not far from where I live here in Maple Ridge.
How interesting that you knew the Turner family so well! I clearly recall that
the Turners were likeable, friendly and altogether 'decent' people. I should
have liked to have known them, but 'was never introduced.'
Do you remember a family at Weihsien named Jones? Mr. Jones, a Britisher, used to sketch with india ink I recall.
He did a number of landscape scenes. I don't clearly recall Mrs. J. but faintly
remember her. They had two boys, Richard, my age or a year or two older; and
Robin, possibly a year or two younger.
Robin was a good highjumper, and startled everyone by jumping almost if not
actually his own height (5'1" or so) on sports day. I was a highjumper,
having been encouraged by Miss Bea Stark, a legendary nurturer of youthful
talent whether in art, poetry, history or even outdoor sports. Also she got me
started in learning French, which I can read rather slowly, and
speak, just 'un peu' today, and with a definite British rather than North
American accent. But my high jumping was limited, to the prosaic
"scissors" style.
And did not extend, sad to say, to Robin Jones's dramatic "western
roll."
Has anyone heard of Stanley Fairchild? He attended Chefoo/Yentai, and later
transferred, I think, to the Tientsin Grammar School in Weihsien.
Do you recall Ivan Girling, an engineer I think. Or Percy Gleed, a highly
gifted pianist who played for services in Weihsien Camp's church. Including the
special service of thanksgiving following VJ Day? You must have Mr. Waters on
your list. I recall one little Chefoo girl making a crayon sketch for a school
assignment. It depicted the said Mr. Waters holding forth outside the camp
library to a great host of captives. Little Joan T. entitled her masterpiece,
"Mr. Rivers Giving out the Ten Commandments."
Won't keep you any longer. But it's marvelous being able to share memories with
one another.
Thanks again Ron, and all of you, for sharing! Then of course there was the
imperturbable Mr. McFarlane, who headed the "Discipline Committee."
And the wonderful Mr. and Mrs. Lawless, he a former policeman as I recall, and
she a motherly and truly gentle woman who brought a sweet and wholesome
influence into classrooms at Chefoo's Prep school (the first four years). After
the war, when we were reunited with our parents and brother and sisters on the
farm in BC's Fraser Valley, my brother, John, used to tell our family stories
Mrs. L. had related. But space does not permit telling any here tonight.
Warm
regards.
David Birch
(GDB)
RE:
The lists you are compiling, Ron. Have you
these.....? Joyce Bradbury (nee Cooke)
Jan
06, 2001 14:07 PST
David. I note in your message to Ron that you ask
after Stanley Fairchild. I spoke to him by phone a few minutes ago. He is in
London but will be here in Sydney with his wife next week end to stay with my
husband Bob and me for a week or two He said to say hello to you and to tell
you he is alive and well and has left school now. He lives in Hong Kong and has
recently retired. He will be contactable on my email. He also gets a mention in
my autobiography "Forgiven But Not Forgotten" which deals with my
experiences in China, Weishien and subsequently Singapore and Australia which
is now in print. Regards Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.
Let's shower Weihsien rescuer Tad Nagaki
with birthday cards
Jan 06, 2001 17:18 PST
Hello, Everybody:
Tad Nagaki, one of the heroes who liberated Weihsien,
will celebrate his 81st birthday on
January 25. Tad continues to farm sugar beets, corn, and beans in Alliance, Nebraska.
His address is:
5851 Logan Road, Alliance, NE
69301 Phone: 308-762-2968
Let's shower him with birthday cards or letters. Tad is
widowed, and his son died two years
ago, so he lives alone. He enjoys mail and phone calls.
Tad was one of a select group of Japanese-Americans
recruited by the Office of Strategic
Services (OSS) in World War II to infiltrate enemy territory in Asia and to do sabotage and demolition there. He was
assigned to Burma, but when the war
wound down in Burma, he went to Kunming, where he volunteered for the Weihsien rescue mission. He functioned as the
Japanese interpreter on the rescue
team.
I am awestruck still at how America teamed young men of
such different backgrounds for these
rescue squads. Tad's parents were first generation in the USA -- working as tenant farmers in Nebraska. And Tad himself
didn't speak English until he went to
school. When I visited Tad in Alliance in
1998, we drove through the Nebraska heartlands so I could see the
tenant farmhouses where he grew up
poor. I took pictures of him in front of the
tiny two and three-room schools he attended as a boy.
Tad remembers girls in Weihsien cutting off chunks of
his hair for souvenirs -- mind you, he
was engaged to be married, he tells me -- as though any of us cared about that. We girls loved them all.
Dr. Guy Chan got in touch with me in 1985 after my
story about Weihsien appeared as the
cover story of The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ending of World War II. Guy
lived in Philadelphia and was teaching
there at Temple University Medical School.
I've not had further contact with him. Does anyone have his current address?
Mary Taylor Previte
FW:
"Before" and "After" photos
Jan 06, 2001 20:09 PST
Here is the second file, as mentioned in my previous
email.
Regards
Joyce
FW:
"Before" and "After" photos
Jan 06, 2001 20:17 PST
Dear All
As suggested by Mary recently, I have two "before and after" photos I
am sending to the bulletin board. They
were taken after my Australia arrival
in 1959 and in 2000. The are both .bmp files, each about 360KB in size.
In the first file (attached herein),
the baby kangaroo was a pet, and note the
dog and cat asleep on my lap in our home.
The second file (in my next email) was taken at Scottsdale OCH Reunion
last year.
I hope you all find them interesting.
Regards
Joyce
RE:
The lists you are compiling, Ron. Have you
these.....?
Jan 07, 2001 14:02 PST
Thank you Joyce! And a warm "Hello"
Stanley! Glad things are still going well for your after all these years!
David Birch
GDB
p.s. Let's continue to keep in touch.
Re:
The lists you are compiling, Ron. Have you
these.....?
Jan 08, 2001 10:21 PST
Ron:
Just a small clarification regarding your message to David regarding the
Turners. My brother John and I, as well as Joyce and Eddie Cooke, lived in the
same block as the Turners. As the Turner boys were the same age as I was, I
knew them well in the camp, and we played running games, etc., together. Mickey
was a fine runner before he contracted meningitis in the camp, after which he
had a limp. As boys around 11 years of age, who is the faster runner, etc., is
important, and I clearly remember that Mickey was a faster runner than his
fraternal twin brother, Peter, before Mickey got sick.
Joyce Cooke also said Mickey got polio, but when I reminded her that it was
meningitis, she agreed.
I am reminded that I promised to send you the list of internees which I
received from the National Archives in Washington, and I will do so.
Albert de Zutter
Please
Drop My Name off Your List
Jan 09, 2001 09:14 PST
Hi --
It's with regret that I ask this: But as I'm in business, and it took me
forever to get my messages this morning as I had to wait, and wait, and wait
for pix to come through from Weihsien Topica (97% of my message scroll!) before
I could get the important e-mail that runs my business -- and requires prompt
response -- I have no other choice.
PLEASE remove my name, immediately. Any
ex-Weihsien-ites who want to contact me can reach me on pamela@hendersonhouse
.com. I'll look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards to all.
Pamela (Bobby Simmons) Masters
photos
Jan 09, 2001 11:18 PST
Hi,
Some months ago, I asked that photos before and after be sent. These
photographs take forever to receive, and this causes problems for some. Perhaps
it would be better to send an e-mail saying that there are photos available
from ? and if an ex internee wishes to receive them, he (or she) needs only to
ask that the photo be sent direct. I hate to see our list of ex internees
dwindle. I am sorry for causing this problem.
Natasha
Re: photos
Jan 14, 2001 20:54 PST
Hello Natasha,
I think this is a great learning experience for all of us. How thoughtful, and
generous you are! Thank you for your consideration and helpfulness.
And may blessings abound!
Sincerely
David Birch
RE:
The lists you are compiling, Ron. Have you
these.....?
Jan 15, 2001 12:48 PST
Dear David. I am having some difficulty casting
my mind back almost sixty years. Please
tell me about yourself and refresh my memory. Did we go to school together? My wife and I are staying
with the Bradburys for a while in
Sydney but we live in Hong Kong where I am retired.We had 100 degrees heat in Sydney yesterday which was not
unwelcome after being in chilly London
until a few days ago. Regards, Stan Fairchild.
POW, China, Chefoo,...RE: The lists you
are compiling, Ron. Have you these.....?
Jan 16, 2001 11:48 PST
Joyce,
Thanks for the info.
Frank
e-mail
Feb 14, 2001 09:05 PST
Dear Weihsieners,
I cannot believe that no one has written since the middle of January.
I miss reading messages.
Natasha
RE:
e-mail
Feb 15, 2001 01:13 PST
Dear Natasha. I too was wondering why
no messages because I like to read them
too. I just tried to send this message but I think I made an error so I will try again. I will mention that I
heard four days ago of an ex-Weihsiener
lady in Hong Kong who was not aware that the British Government has agreed to pay 10,000 pounds compensation to
ex-internee British subjects. So now
might be an appropriate time to mention this
again. I am waiting for my payment which is supposed to be this month.
I am also waiting for my cousin Walter
Booriakin of Scottsdale Arizona to give
me a report on an OCH (Old China Hands) Chinese New Year get together in Scottsdale on 4 February. Otherwise no
news. As the weather is always
pertinent I can tell you we in are enjoying a beautiful summer with temperatures each day 25-35 celsius. Cheers
and best wishes from Joyce Bradbury
(nee Cooke) and husband Bob from Sydney, Australia
Re: e-mail
Feb 16, 2001 01:12 PST
Joyce, did you know that while the use of
"Cheers" is culturally acceptable in Australasia for closing emails,
it seems to be offensive in some other cultures! I have found it so difficult
to find something that is internationally acceptable for closing email
messages, that now I usually just close with my name.
Margaret Beard
RE: e-mail
Feb 16, 2001 16:18 PST
Dear Margaret
Thanks for the info - I did not know!
However, I will probably continue to use it, as I was brought up with it back
in both Tsingtao and Singapore days.
Best regards
Joyce
Re: e-mail
Feb 16, 2001 17:36 PST
I am new to this page.
I just want to say "hello" at this time.
Audrey Nordmo Horton in British Columbia, Canada
Re: e-mail
Feb 16, 2001 21:24 PST
Dear Natasha,
Thank you for your message! I was beginning to wonder whether our 'chat line'
had been discontinued.
I was feeling a little uncomfortable, thinking that maybe I had been using it
too much, and that maybe some of the rest of you were tired of hearing my 'two
bits worth' of contributions.
Actually, I've found this avenue of communicating with fellow Weihsien campers
incredibly stimulating. I'm tremendously thankful to you for making it
possible! Perhaps now that a cash
settlement has been approved for many of our fellow internees some may be taken
up with making sure they are included. This may have diverted some attention
from the chat line for a while.
Let's not let this valuable communication link die for want of use.
Thanks again, Natasha et al!!!
David Birch
(no subject)
Feb 17, 2001 06:15 PST
Dear Natasha,
I am not a bit surprised that there has been a lull in the writing. There have
been all sorts of reasons for us to have been excited and for the memories to
surface...but we are talking about more than fifty years ago and we have all
been living full lives and that is just one segment of it. I think also that
the ex gratia payment both brought things to the forefront and in a way also
brought closure on our time there.
I have been incredibly grateful for the memories, and particularly for the
books that have been recommended. For virtuous little Chefusians, the world of
the Mushroom Years is quite a revelation. And Stanley Nordmo very kindly gave
me a copy of Langdon Gilkey's book which did an interesting job of both
fleshing out details and of reflecting upon them as a theologian. My sister
Elisabeth galloped through both of them this last month and both of us have
great fun talking, reminiscing, letting one memory spark another. I think we
are so lucky to have had such a vivid childhood so that many incidents live on,
maybe distorted over the years, but live vividly.
I am running a three day seminar at the moment and last night when the
participants were describing an experience when they felt part of a bigger
picture I found my self telling of walking and singing from Chefoo on the way
to the boat "I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid, I will look
upward and travel onward, and NOT BE AFRAID" This was the first of many
times in my life that showed me that the inner world was bigger, more powerful,
more beautiful, than any outside circumstance. It also showed me how well the
teachers were working in the real light of consciousness. by giving us this
good form to follow. We as kids adapted to the situation, but the teachers were
doing the real work of human beings, they were evolving their consciousness
(not just adapting it) in response to the situation, acting as mediators to
shape the context for us all
So now I must run off to this group of students...a large proportion of them
are counselling psychologists, some teachers, a police man, a communicator,
half of them Native Americans and the rest a wonderfully mixed bag where we
discuss the differences between interactions and relationship, where we move
beyond the personality on stage to the actor's integration, where we move beyond
unconscious regimentation to expanded understanding, deepened sensitivity,
where the past has little leverage and the future calls for discovery. So may
we all have a discovering day!
Cheers and best regards and laughter and fondness from this beautiful mauve
shocking pink dawn breaking over snow covered Granite Mountain high in
Arizona! Alison Martin Holmes
Lu-Doh
for Chinese New Year!
Feb 17, 2001 11:51 PST
Joyce,
Good to hear from you. I too need info about my shipmates onboard
the USS Mt. Olympus AGC-8 during WW2. Thanks.
Frank
Re:
Lu-Doh for Chinese New Year!
Feb 17, 2001 20:23 PST
Mary,
You are a constant source of encouragement and inspiration!
May God continue to bless, guide and encourage you and to make your life an
ever-expanding source of encouragement to all those who are fortunate enough to
come within the orbit of your influence!
Sincerely
David Birch
Re: The Martin Legacy
Feb
17, 2001 20:39 PST
Dear Alison,
I have often, over the past five decades, felt deeply thankful for the
influence of your father and
indeed the Martin family on my life in those long-ago days in Chefoo and
Weihsien!
How beautifully you express your feelings for and appreciation of the vital
contribution our teachers made to our young lives! Really those teachers of
ours at Chefoo and at Weihsien were saints of a calibre easily equally that of
any who have been canonized by mortal pontiffs. I look forward to one day being
reunited with those heroic Christian missionary teachers of ours in the Home
our Lord Jesus Christ went to prepare for his own. Your dear parents as well as
the rest will forever hold a special place in my heart! As far as I am
concerned they were real heroes of the
faith.
Sincerely
David Birch
Re:
The Martin Legacy
Feb 18, 2001 13:45 PST
David,
Even though you and I
were Chefoo/Weihsien classmates and
childhood friends with similar upbringing, I am intrigued to observe
that a)
my memory for these details is not as good as yours, and b) that my
memories often seem to have a different twist from yours !
Do you remember when we
first moved to the Boy's School (1940 or
'41 ?) - Goopy Martin used to read to a considerable group of us at bed time. I remember him reading Charles Reade's
The Cloister and the Hearth
. It was a ripping yarn, and I was transfixed ! (I didn't realize until later that it was all about Gerard agonizing
about taking up the religious
life). While Gerard and Denys were waiting for the
horrifying "Abbott" to come
up the stairs, I'm quite sure that I was slack-jawed and wide-eyed ! (seeing us all in
this state was no doubt part of Goopy's reward !) I know that those evenings contributed to our lifelong love of
books; and it put the phrase
"Courage, mon ami ! - le diable est mort !" into my head where it seems to be firmly stuck !
Stan Thompson
PS. I agree, Mary's little story about the lu-doh beans was a gem !
The Martin Legacy
Feb 18, 2001 18:51 PST
To Stan &
Dave: 2/18/01 1830
Thanks for bringing up your recollections of Gordon
Martin. I have several. He was an outstanding teacher, through use of object
lessons, in the morning church
services; through his paper, ink, and pen drawings; through his graphical
portrayals of European History; through his use of the hairbrush or hand on the
bottom of a bare seat in Weihsien (for lipping
off to the teachers).
I remember him challenging us to read through the
chapter on the Prussian wars in Europe
and graphically portraying the leading characters, places, events, dates and if possible the reasons. I
chose the use of waterfalls to show the turbulent times, main characters and
split in alliances at that time. That must have been back in about 1949 - 1950.
I remember him using the easel, plus the Chinese ink
pen, draw, and paste technique. He illustrated the spiritual armor in Eph. 6
worn by a Christian. He would paint magically on paper the different pieces of
armor, cut them out, and then paste them on the soldier. Our attention was
glued to his great artistry and lesson. We were too busy watching him create
this fighting soldier, than to make
rabbits out our handkerchiefs or to catch flies with a little spit in the palm of our hands.
His teaching was like a graphical flowchart of today.
He was years ahead of his time, tying in truth to a simple flowchart.
Mr Martin, taught like the apostle Paul, and Mr Stanley
Houghton taught like the apostle John. Stanley Houghton, understood the
separation and loneliness caused by separation from parents, and responded with
understanding and compassion.
Dave
Allen dan-@fidalgo.net
Re:
The Martin Legacy
Feb 18, 2001 20:18 PST
It touches me so much to hear these thoughts
about Pa. I had been sad that when he died there was so little that was written
about him. His life in Chefoo, Weihsien and Kuling was his very being. He
continued teaching after going to England in the fifties, but it never had that
engrossing, all involving quality that Chefoo had had for him. School was his
opportunity to share his love for the classics, to teach people rowing which he
had learned to love in Oxford,, to exercise his artistic skills ("It's
just a question of practice") and to write doggerel to celebrate occasions,
any occasion! He would have rejoiced to read these thoughts and he loved it
when old pupils came from far and wide. Thank you on his
behalf!
Re:
The Martin Legacy
Feb 19, 2001 19:07 PST
To David, Dave, Stan Thompson and former pupils
of Gordon Martin
I wonder how many remember their first introduction to the Gettysburg address?
In my case it was not during a course in American history but in the Latin
class taught by Gordon Martin. Assuming that we now knew enough Latin, he
challenged us to compose the Gettysburg address in Latin. By the time he gave
us his version, he had convinced us that Lincoln's words were indeed timeless.
This praise impressed us all the more coming from one who was an Oxford scholar
of the Classics.
The respect for our schoolmaster is seen in the foreword to his book Chefoo
School 1881-1951, first published in 1990
"When we* wrote asking Old Chefusians to help us launch this book, we were
delighted with the prompt and enthusiastic response, and encouraged by the
comments in many of the accompanying letters showing the writers' love and
respect for Mr. Martin. One person wrote: 'Whatever subject Mr. Martin taught
became interesting and memorable.' Our thanks are due to all the donors who
have so generously made the publication of this book possible. "
*Jimmy Bruce, Norman Cliff, David Landsborough and Roland Stedeford. (My note:
David Landsborough was the only one of the above not interned in Weihsien)
Best regards
Stanley Nordmo (1935-1945)
Torje
Torjeson
Feb 21, 2001 19:04 PST
Hello, Everybody,
Natasha, will you remind
everyone how to access the archives to our
wonderful memory bulletin board? Some of our new members want to read from
Memory One on to the present.
Does anyone have an e-mail address of Torje Torjeson,
one of our Chefoo
and Weihsien classmates?
Mary Previte
RE:
Torje Torjeson
Feb 22, 2001 07:15 PST
Dear Natasha. Stanley
Fairchild went to Chefoo school and may be able to help re Torje Torjeson I will ask him when he visits us on 28th
February and let you know. Maureen
Starkey who was in a camp in Shanghai is in the eary stages of organising a re-union of ex-internees in Sydney at
a good Chinese Restaurant, wants to
hear from anybody who was in, or knows about
Chapei Camp in Shanghai. Would anyone contact me on my email so I can
pass it on to her. Joyce Bradbury nee
Cooke.
RE:
Torje Torjeson
Feb 22, 2001 13:04 PST
Mary,
I know the Torjesen tribe
well. Not only in Chefoo and Weihsien,
but Torje and I were good friends in college days in Minneapolis.
Torje and his wife Reidun live in
Norway (Ostrengveien 17, 1405 Langhus, Oslo,
NORWAY).
Edvard and his wife Jenny live in the Pacific Northwest. Kari and her husband Bob Malcolm were missionaries in The
Philippines for a while and now live
near St Paul (3175 105th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55075). Hakon, (who was best man at our wedding) married a medical school classmate of mine (Karen Olness), and
they have been all over the world doing
useful and generous things for other people, and are still active at this sort of thing. Karen is a
pediatrician at Case Western Reserve in
Cleveland and has not yet retired, but their home is in Minnesota. (44500 66th Av. Way, Kenyon, MN 55946).
Hakon is a great man to have at a
Chefoo reunion; he can sit at a piano and play all the old Chefoo songs and most of the hymns we knew
the best.
As far as I know there
isn't an email in the lot . . . .
Stan
Thompson
RE:
Torje Torjeson
Feb 22, 2001 16:18 PST
To Mary, Stan Thompson, and Joyce
I have just checked with my fellow Norwegian, Edvard Torjesen. He is certain
that his brother Torje does not have an e-mail address. Hakon does have an
e-mail address through Case Western Reserve.
Edvard has an e-mail address in connection with Evergreen Family Friendship
Service.
The home address:
Jenny and Edvard Torjesen
2339 Chambers Lake Drive
Lacey, WA 98503
Regards
Stanley Nordmo
Re:
RE: Torje Torjeson
Feb 22, 2001 17:34 PST
Stan:
When I want to e-mail Kari Torjeson Malcolm, I send through her husband's university e-mail.
Mary Previte
testing
Mar 05, 2001 13:47 PST
I have been having trouble getting messages
after Feb 22nd, and had been informed
by Topica that I was not a subscriber when I tried to send a message. I was given instructions by Topica,
and am now checking. I apologise for
taking up your time. I hope that this is working.
Natasha
e-mail
addresses
Mar 05, 2001 13:54 PST
Hi, again
Several subscribers have wanted to know the e-mail addresses of Weihsien
subscribers. The only way that this can be done is for those who wish to give
name and e-mail address should send an e-mail to weih-@topica.com ; Each person then can copy into his own address book.
Mine is: Natasha Petersen nata-@roanoke.infi.net
I do hope that this works.
Re:
e-mail addresses
Mar 05, 2001 14:12 PST
Natasha, the email address of the person from
whom the message comes is always on the email message after From. All I have to
do is click on it and a New Card comes up with the details for me to enter into
my address book.
Margaret Beard bea-@xtra.co.nz
Natasha Petersen wrote:
Several subscribers have wanted to know the e-mail addresses of
Weihsien subscribers. The only way that this can be done is for
those who wish to give name and e-mail address should send an
e-mail to weih-@topica.com ; Each
person then can copy into
his own address book.
Mine is: Natasha Petersen nata-@roanoke.infi.net
Re: e-mail addresses
Mar 05, 2001 15:34 PST
I
use Eudora, and if they have that neat trick that Margaret describes, I haven't discovered it yet.
Stan Thompson
boo-@ginniff.com
archives
Mar 06, 2001 09:01 PST
As per Mary's request -
www.topica com/lists/weihsien/read is the URL for the Weihsien
archives. Subscribers can read this list by retistering with Topica
You can help by: supp-@get.topica.com
You need to give your name, e-mail address, and the Weihsien posting address: weihsien@topica.com
Natasha
Did
Japan commit atrocities in China in WWII?
Mar 08, 2001 19:39 PST
Hello, Everyone on our Weihsien Memory board:
In trying to find Eddie Wang, the Chinese interpreter
on the mission that liberated Weihsien,
I got hooked into an e-mail network of Chinese who are interested in preserving the true history of
China under Japanese occupation during
World War II. I think you'll be fascinated by this exchange between World War II generation Chinese with a young
American of Chinese origin.
The sequence of questions and responses are very mixed
up. Mary Previte.
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Re:
[Fwd: Fwd: Re: I-Search Research Paper]
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2001 8:10:40 AM
From: wch-@mail.fyi.net
To: cha-@duq.edu
From: wch-@mail.fyi.net (Wen-Hsuan Chang)
To: cha-@duq.edu
OH, SC:
We need to try our best to preserve the true history. That is our
obligation. I feel. Pay something back
to the society.
At 11:50 PM 3/6/01 -0500, Shih-Chi Chang wrote:
WH: Prof. Hsu gave me a book "What Really
Happened in Nanking" by Tanaka Masaaki. You may already have the book. The
author says the Nanking Masscre was a fabrication. The Japanese must spent a
lot of money and printed a huge amount of copies, and they distributed
everywhere. He wants you to know about it.
A high school student asked Prof. Hsu questions about Nanking Massacre. He gave him a short answer and asked me to
forward this e-mail to you so the kid can get more information. So here is.
choyun hsu wrote:
S.C.
Please forward this bunch of materials to Wen-hsuen.
This young man deserves our encouragement.
Thanks,
Choyun
Note: forwarded message attached.
Subject: Re: I-Search Research
Paper
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 21:32:32 -0800
From: Eric Cheng <diox-@dioxide.net>;
To: choyun hsu <hsu-@yahoo.com>;
Dear Mr. Hsu,
I have
received your two messages and I thank you so much for taking the time to
answer my questions. I am especially grateful for you writing your lengthy and
detailed account to me in your condition. I was very excited to read what you
responded, because it will help my paper immensely. Ever since my grandparents
have mentioned little things about a terrible memory of their past, I have been
interested about what happened in China in World War II. Your vivid description
was fascinating as it was informative of the horrible events that took place
during that time and this has encouraged me to continuing researching and
learning more.
I actually found your name listed as an Expert on the Princeton University
Nanking site, and thought that you would be a good person to talk to, which you
were! I thank you for your openness to helping me further and the time you have
spent to aid my research paper.
Thank you again and regards,
Eric Cheng, Los Altos, CA
choyun hsu wrote:
Dear Eric: I hope you have received my message. Now, let me briefly answer your questions. Yes, Japanese did commit all
those crimes you mentioned. The number
of people killed by Japanese in the first week of their occupation of Nanking is estimated about two hundred
thousands, most of whom were civilians,
while some were disbanded unarmed soldiers. I assume you have read Iris Chang's RAPE OF NANKING [1997] . The
total casualty in eight year war is
hard to count because the chaotic condition and the prolonged disorder
during war period prevent to have good
statistics. It is estimated that seven
million soldiers died in combat, and roughly same number of civilians
died along battle line or under
Japanese oppression. In my own experience, for
instance, I witnessed Japanese pilots machine-gunned over two
hundreds civilian refugee on a river
boat marked clearly the sign of International
Red Cross. I also saw Chunking burned to ground after heavy bombardment
of air raid. The entire city of
Wanhsien was completely wiped out after two
days of unceased air raids. My family was scattered in many places. I
and my parents hardly stayed in one
place more than a few months. The impact of War upon China is tremendous. Starvation, malnutrition, sufferance on
the road of constantly fleeing. All
these caused my generation growing up smaller and more vulnerable than people of your cohorts. Run-away inflation
and destruction of industries made
China virtually collapsed. At the end of War, CHINA WAS BLEEDING TO WHITE !
All these trauma was not known to the Americans, because usually the
people here cared more on what happened
in European War Theatre, and that China fell
into Civil War right after the WW II was over and then divided
subsequently also complicated the
situation. Japanese rightist faction so far still show no remorse of their crimes. Last week a
Japanese Foudation distributes
thousands copies of a book claiming that the Nanking massacre is
fabricated by Chinese in order to smear
the noble cause of Japanese "liberation of China" ! I grew up in the war years. What I said here is my
own memory and experience. Being a
historian of ancient China, I do not claim expertise on modern history. Therefore, I suggest that
you get in contact with two of my
friends as I have mentioned in the previous letter. Nevertheless, you
are welcomed to call me when you feel I
can help.
By the way, is there some one who suggested to you to reach me ? Is such a person knowing me personally ?
If he or she happens to be an old friend of mine, please let me know.
Best wishes,
Choyun Hsu
University Professor Emeritus, University of
Pittsburgh, and Seman
Distinquished Visiting Professor, Duke Universty
--- Eric Cheng <diox-@dioxide.net>; wrote:
Hello,
My name is Eric Cheng and I am a sophomore at Los Altos High School in California. In my English class, we've begun
work on a fairly large I-Search
research assignment where we choose a topic of our choice; I've chosen
the topic of the Japanese atrocities
committed in China during the time of World
War II. As almost nobody in my generation has even heard of what
happened in China during that time around here, I think this would be
beneficial to inform at least a room of
honors English students of the truth which I am trying to discover.
I would like to ask you a few questions over
e-mail as an interview.
Because of your extensive knowledge and research done on the topic, I
think that an interview with an expert
such as yourself would give me much more to
write, help the validity of the paper, and give me much more insight on
the topic. Please consider this and if
you could answer some or any of these
questions, I would be very grateful.
Horrible atrocities committed by the Japanese military in China during World
War II are slowly gaining public awareness.
Did such war crimes really occur? Are they exaggerated?
Were disarmed soldiers mass executed and civilians massacred by the
Japanese military?
Did the Japanese experiment with biological weapons on the Chinese people?
Were Chinese females, from young children to elderly women, raped indiscriminately?
It is said that many experts agree that around 300,000 Chinese people were
killed and 20,000 women raped during the Nanking massacre alone.
Do you agree with these numbers? If not, what is your opinion?
What do you think is the approximate total death toll of Chinese people at the hands of Japan during World War II?
What were the physical, psychological, and monetary affects of China after this war?
Why do you think that the history of this period of time have remained buried for all this time?
Do you think Japan has apologized and/or made reparations for the damage
it caused?
Do you think that the Japanese government has intentionally forgotten or
avoided dealing with this time period?
Many thanks for your time and regards,
Eric Chen
15 Feb 2001 18:06:17 PST
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001
18:06:17 -0800 (PST)
From: choyun hsu <hsu-@yahoo.com>;
Subject: Fwd: Re: I-Search Research Paper
To: shichi chang <cha-@duq.edu>;
MIME-Version: 1.0
S.C.
Please forward this bunch of materials to Wen-hsuen.
This young man deserves our encouragement.
Thanks,
Choyun
RE:
e-mail addresses
Mar 13, 2001 13:50 PST
Natasha Petersen wrote:
Hi, again
Several subscribers have wanted to know the e-mail addresses of Weihsien subscribers. The only way that this can be
done is for those who wish to give name
and e-mail address should send an e-mail to
weih-@topica.com ; Each person then can copy into his
own address book.
Mine is: Natasha Petersen nata-@roanoke.infi.net
I do hope that this works.
Get well
cards
Mar 15, 2001 04:57 PST
Hello, Everyone,
Jim Moore, one of the heroes who liberated the Weihsien
concentration camp in 1945, is ill and
struggling to get back into circulation. Jim lived in Chefoo from 1920 to 1936.
Let's shower him with get well cards. Tell him who you
are and what you remember about the day
his team liberated the camp.
Jim's address is: Jim Moore, 9605 Robin Song Street,
Dallas, TX 75243, USA
Mary Taylor Previte
Mary
Cookingham, Yenching Univ., Weihsien 1943
Apr 09, 2001 08:37 PDT
Greetings:
I am researching the life of my grandfather's first cousin, Mary G. Cookingham, who worked at Yenching
University from approx 1922 until 1948.
She was held at the Weihsien Center until being repatriated back to the U.S. (with five other female staff
from Yenching) in August 1943 on the
Swedish ship M.S. Gripsholm. She returned to work at Yenching after WWII and stayed there until 1948. She
was married late in life to a former
collegue, Vernon Nash, whom she had known in China. Mary Cookingham Nash died in Santa Barbara, Calif
in June 1978 at age 84. A collection of
her papers and correspondence is on file at the Yale Univ. Divinity Library as are the papers of many
other American civilians who worked in
China before WWII. The Univ. of Oregon also has a collection of China Missionary documents that may be of
interest to readers of this list.
I am interested to hear from anyone that may have a rememberance of Mary Cookingham. I would also like to learn how
was the decision made to repatriate
some persons from Weihsein to the U.S. in 1943?
Regards to all,
Ron Merritt
Re:
Mary Cookingham, Yenching Univ., Weihsien 1943
Apr 10, 2001 22:59 PDT
As you may remember, the Chefoo group arrived
in Weihsien less than two weeks before
the US internees left for their trip back to the States on the MS Gripsholm. So I have no recollection
whatsoever of Mary Cookingham.
Ron Merritt may be able to find further information on
Mary Cookingham's work at Yenching
University from the Harvard - Yenching Research Center or from writings on Christian Universities in
China. There was a gal (Lutz, I think
her name was)who did a massive job of research on the Christian universities in China. Any books on or by
Leighton Stewart, the former president
of Yenching University, may also give further information. I have called my friend, Richard Chen, a Yenching
University grad here in HongKong, but
he has no recollection
Concerning how the US repatriates were chosen, I can
only refer you to Langdon Gilkey's
SHANTUNG COMPOUND. As I recall, he addresses this question. I suspect that no military age men would
have been allowed to go. Beyond that, I
can only speculate.
James H. Taylor, HongKong
Mary
Scott and softball
Apr 21, 2001 14:14 PDT
Hello, Everyone,
Several of you have writen of Mary Scott before. But
you girls who learned from Mary Scott
how to play softball in Weihsien will enjoy this chunk that was cut from my PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER MAGAZINE story
about the camp (1985). I interviewed
Mary Scott face to face when she was visiting my brother, Dr. John Taylor, in Dayton, Ohio, a few years ago. Mary
Scott was still a dynamo and a saint.
"In Chefoo we had played all the proper -- very
proper -- British games: tenni quoit,
cricket, tennis, hockey, prisoners' base. In Weihsien, with its postage stamp field too small for baseball,
Mary Scott introduced us to the joys of
softball. A Nazarene missionary from America's heartlands, a lively English teacher from Hammond High, Mary
Scott gew up the only girl in a family
of seven brothers. They blistered her hands with hardball in the back yards and sandlots of Hammond, Indiana. This
5'2" dynamo could play like a
pro. But the starvation diet was taking its toll. In
the summer league games, when the
Peking Panthers or the Tientsin Tigers ran out of men with enough stamina to finish a game, they called
Mary Scott from the bench. It was unheard
of in the 1940's -- a woman coming in to save the faltering male line up.
There was nothing Southern Cute nor Boston Brahmin
about this ball of energy; Mary Scott
was Midwest Wholesome. After school on the open space near our dormitory, she coached us girls in playing softball.
In Chefoo, sports had all been so prep-school-proper.
For a brilliant run in cricket, we
would clap politely or call demurely across the lawn, 'Well played, Sir!' But in Weihsien, when the Tientsin Tigers
were whupping the Peking Panthers or
the Priests' Padres in the softball games on summer evenings, we whooped, we hollered, we flipped hand springs, and
slapped each other on the back. Our
teachers shuddered. Alas! Exposed to the troubling new world in this prison camp melting pot, we might escape the
war without falling prey to the triple
threat of sin, sex, and sophistication, but from our first taste of softball it was clear that we would never
escape the taint of American
enthusiasm."
Mary T. Previte
Watercolor
Paintings of Weihsien
May 01, 2001 18:50 PDT
My Grandparents, George and Gertrude Wilder,
were interned in Weihsien from April to September, 1943, when they were repatriated
on the Gripsholm. During that time, my grandmother painted 22 watercolors, each
about 4 1/2" x 6 1/2", which she was able to smuggle out in the
bottom of her sewing basket. Her subjects include: the front gate, the church,
the noon bell, a view of the village west of the compound, the "white
elephant," the moon gate, the south end of "Main Street," the
hospital water tower, a watch tower, the part of the wall where the black
market flourished, plus some other scenes.
I would be willing to make color copies of these paintings for any Weihsien
internees who would like them. The entire set would cost me $13 to reproduce
and mail, so if you would like copies, please send me a check for that amount
and I will send you the copies of the paintings.
Many thanks to Mary Previte for telling me about this site. I hope that some of
you will find the paintings enjoyable.
Re: Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May 01, 2001 19:40 PDT
Hooray!
Please send me copies of them all! I will gladly send you the cheque when I
have an address to osend them to. My address is Alison
Holmes, 2985 E. Sunset Butte, Prescott, AZ 86301. Please,photocopy them
on the best paper, with the best system, so that they will be a pleasure to
frame together. Thanks so much
Re:
Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May 01, 2001 22:43 PDT
Hi Alison
My name I Gordon Buist and I was 9 months old when we went into Weihsien, with
my parents Fred and May and with my two older sisters Kathleen(5yrs) and beryl
(3yrs). I don't know how old you were then, or if you remember much about the
camp, but my parents were with the salvation Army.
I would love to hear from you again as this time I am sure it was by mistake. I
received your message which I think was supposed to be sent to the guy who has
the paintings but I seem to have received it in error. What luck.
You may be interested to hear that Kathleen is living in Gloucestershire,
England and is married to a retired farmer, Beryl has been in Philadelphia for
40 years and has a family and husband. Her husband is a Methodist minister. I
have now retired (early I may say) and now live in a small town in Thailand. Mum
and Dad have both passed on some years ago.
Life is good.
I would love to hear from you.
Gordon Buist.
Watercolor
Paintings of Weihsien Camp
May 02, 2001 06:57 PDT
I forgot to include the mailing address in my
email. To receive copies of the 22
watercolor paintings of Wehsien, you can send a check for $13.00 to:
Donald Menzi
5 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10003.
Re:
Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May 02, 2001 08:54 PDT
Gordon, I remember with pleasure your Dad's
cornet playing - as I'm sure does
everyone who was in Weihsien CAC - wherever there was music, there was Capt. Buist. I confess that I was especially
fascinated by the way he drew air in at
the side of his mouth while playing !
Stan Thompson
Re:
Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May 02, 2001 09:38 PDT
Good to hear from you. I will write again soon
as I am off to bed as it is midnight here in Thailand.
regards
Gordon
Re:
Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May 04, 2001 02:00 PDT
Dear Donald,
I want to order the 22 watercolours which you have kindly put on offer, but
first need to check as to whether the cost of US$13 is valid for overseas
orders. So would you please advise what the cost would be for me in New
Zealand. Have you any facility by which you could accept payment by Visa? If
not, I can still make payment, but not having a US cheque account, I'd have to
get a bank draft.
Sincerely,
David Beard
Re: Watercolor Paintings of Weihsien
May
04, 2001 17:52 PDT
Donald I'm not sure if you have given you
address. where should I send the check
or money order for the watercolor paintings?
Donald
Menzi's water colors
May 04, 2001 18:05 PDT
Hello, Everybody,
I'm a little teary-eyed right now from poring over Donald Menzi's watercolors of Weihsien. What a gift!
And what an artist his Grandmother Wilder was! Her
detail is extraordinary. I kept looking
at one of the guard towers where the Japanese
guards used to haul us kids up and over the wall when we
"accidentally" threw our ball
over the wall. They'd let us play over the wall for a few minutes while we searched for the ball. Moments of
delicious freedom!
I'm thrilled at your numbering the Weihsien map to
identify the site of each
painting. You paintings will flood each of us with memories.
The canteen! The White Elephant
Exchange! The church! My, oh, my!
These pictures are doubly important now that most of
these buildings have been torn down.
Donald
Menzi's watercolors of Weihsien
May 04, 2001 18:48 PDT
Hello, Everyone,
I'm a little teary-eyed right now from poring over
Donald Menzi's watercolors of Weihsien.
What a gift!
And what an artist Donald's Grandmother Wilder was! Her
detail is extraordinary. I keep looking
at one of the guard towers where the Japanese
guards used to haul us Chefoo girls up and over the wall when we "accidentally" threw our ball over
the wall. The guard tower was near the air
raid shelter. Remember? They'd let us play over the wall for a few minutes while we searched for the ball. Moments of
delicious freedom!
I'm thrilled that Donald has numbered the Weihsien map
to identify the site of each
painting. These paintings will flood each of us with
memories. The canteen! The White Elephant
Exchange! The church! My, oh, my! Bless
my soul! What a gift!
These pictures are doubly important now that most of
these buildings have been torn down.
Donald's Grandmother Wilder
was an early prisoner in Weihsien, evacuated
on the Gripsholm. They are distant relatives of American Pulitzer prize-winning writer, Thornton Wilder, who
attended Chefoo School with my father,
James Hudson Taylor. Americans will recognize the Thornton Wilder play, "Our Town," as a classic we
all had to study in high school.
A Chinese municipal official from Shandong province
recently linked me to Donald Menzi.
This Shandong official had heard me tell the Weihsien story last November at the University of New Haven
(Conn). The Provost at the university
had invited me to speak there after he heard the National Public Radio broadcast last May about the
liberation of Weihsien. The University
of New Haven has a unique, six month management program for Chinese officials from Shandong and other provinces.
The Provost said that Shandong
officials would feel more connected to America if they met an American
who had lived in Shandong. My whirlwind
visit worked like magic.
A couple of weeks ago, one of these Shandong officials
told me about Donald Menzi.
Donald, I hope you'll tell us all about your present
work and of your travels to China.
Mary Taylor Previte
Address
for Weihsien Paintings
May 07, 2001 08:47 PDT
For all those who didn't get (or didn't read)
my second email, the place to send a check for $14 for the Weihsien paintings
is:
Donald Menzi
5 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10003
I will be waiting for a couple of weeks until I am sure I know how many copies
to make, so please be patient.
Re:
Address for Weihsien Paintings
May 07, 2001 19:27 PDT
Donald,
Thank you very much for making these pictures available to us. I will be
sending you a money order very soon for $14. in U.S. funds along with my
mailing address. My years as a young boy at Weihsien were among the most
formative of my life, and from Mary Taylor Previte's description of your
grandmother Wilder's watercolors I am sure I should have a set. Thanks again!
David Birch
Weihsien
internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 10, 2001 19:29 PDT
Hello,
I just received a phone call from my cousin, regarding information on the
Weihsien Compound. My mother was in the camp as well, and is the older sister
of the people you have been in contact with (Isabell Sharp Gregoire, Lisa
Gregoire - her daughter in law that you have been e-mailing). My mother is
Myrtle (Sharp) Granger. She is 68 yrs. old, and a resident of Detroit,
Michigan. I am her youngest daughter - Theresa Granger, and am 32 yrs. old.
I have heard stories all my life about this compound, and am waiting for my
sister to finish the book, "Shantung Compound" so I can read it. My
mother sketched a picture of the compound when she was younger and keeps the
sketch in the book.
It was a great surprise to hear the news from my cousin, and I will be signing
up for my mother, as she does not own a computer. Can you give any information
(such as volume, etc.) of the Good Housekeeping magazine the article was in? I
would like to contact the publishers to see if I can order a copy.
Thank you very much for all of the information you have provided us.
Sincerely,
Theresa M. Granger tt-@juno.com
May , 2001, issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine - page 85
Re:
Weihsien internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 11, 2001 08:09 PDT
What Good Housekeeping article?
RE:
Weihsien internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 11, 2001 19:22 PDT
Dear Theresa. Thanks to me being an addressee
to weisien@topica I received your
message that you are anxious to obtain information about Weihsien Compound. My family and I who were residents
of Tsingtao were interned from Pearl
Harbour day until 17 August 1945 . We were in the first batch of internees to arrive at Weishsien and we
spent the rest of the War there. I was
13 years old when the War started and 17 when it ended. My autobiography was published just before last
Christmas. It deals in considerable
detail with life and events in that Compound until our liberation by members of US Parachute
Infantry. It is not available in US
bookstores (Yet?) but I can airmail a copy or copies to anybody desirous
of purchasing it. A check for $US17
would cover total costs of postage,
conversion etc at current rates. My home address is 100
Coxs Road, North Ryde 2113 Australia.
If you email your address I can send a copy
immediately. Sincerely, Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.
[Bob Bradbury] dney, Australia
Re:Weihsien
internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 11, 2001 20:41 PDT
Hello, Everybody,
I'm answering Alison Martin Holmes's question about a
recent magazine article about the
Weihsien.
The May 2001 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine has a
brief story about the liberation of
Weihsien and my tracking down our heroes. See page 85. It's entitled, "Finding Her
Angels."
The writer heard the National Public Radio broadcast
last May about the Liberation of
Weihsien and decided to write this magazine story about it.
Several long lost Weihsien internees read this GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE article and have
contacted me. I'm trying to get each one signed up onto our Weihsien Bulletin Board.
Donald Menzi is delaying reproducing and mailing his
Grandmother Wilder's watercolors of
Weihsien until everyone who wants them has dropped him a note and the money. He hopes to do one big
reproduction and mailing. Believe me,
these watercolors are worth having. With his mailing he includes a map
of the camp, noting where each
watercolor was drawn.
Speaking of artists, how many of you remember Mrs.
Eileen Bazire, one of our Chefoo
teachers? Mrs. Bazire was a musician and artist. Among her duties, she made magnificent drawings and
watercolor posters announcing cultural
events in the camp -- concerts, lectures. When I visited her in Bath, England, in 1985, she showed me a
collection of these remarkable
posters. She had saved them. Mrs.
Bazire told me that at first she was
permitted to post these posters at will around the camp. Later, the
Japanese made a rule that no posters
were to be posted until they had first been
reviewed and approved by the Japanese. Those which had been approved
were marked with a small Japanese
"chop" or seal.
Peter Bazire, do you have your mother's collection?
Mary T. Previte
xpressnews.com features
story about Tad Nagaki, Weihsien liberator
May 14, 2001 18:20 PDT
Hello, Everybody,
Xpressnews.com features a fascinating
front page story today about one of the
heroes who liberated Weihsien. On its Internet
news page it tells the story of Tad
Nagaki, the Japanese-American who served as the Japanese interpreter on the
team. The story is entitled They had Japanese Faces but American Hearts and American Minds.
You'll find the story at xpressnews.com
Talk about ripples! The author
of this xpressnew.com story, Mary Wernke, of Alliance, Nebraska, read Mr. Nagaki's name in the
story in May 2001 issue of Good
Housekeeping Magazine. It details my tracking down the heroes who liberated Weihsien
. Mr. Nagaki also lives in Alliance, Nebraska. So she tracked
down him down.
Be sure to click all the underlined phrases in the
story to bring up several other related
stories of this search for the heroes who liberated us from the Japanese. The author of
xpressnews.com has reprinted several
Associated Press stories of my finding these heroes.
Do comment on the xpressnews commentline. Let's
encourage writers to produce more
stories about these heroes.
Mary T. Previte
Thank
you for the photo
May 19, 2001 00:58 PDT
Dear Desmond
Thanks for the photo. I only know three people in it - Leo, Boo-Boo
Cameron and Jolly Cooke. Pity he is not
here to see this.
I went to a camp internees reunion in Sydney last Wednesday. Only four
from Weihsien - Alex Strangman, Treetee
Dunjisha, Eddie and I, and our spouses.
Many from Shanghai and Hong Kong. Eight-course Chinese banquet - very yummy!
Still no results re: my Compensation. Am getting less confident.
Where are Tony and Betty Lambert now?
Regards
Joyce
Family
of Weihsien internee asking for information
May 19, 2001 17:36 PDT
Hello, Everyone,
Can anyone send helpful information to this writer? Her aubt, Martha Kramer, was in Weihsien, evacuated on the
Gripsholm.
Mary Previte
Dear Mary-
I can't tell you how pleased I was to hear from you. Just got
home late yesterday from St. Louis,
where my husband had some surgery (doing well,
incidentally), thus the reason you haven't heard from me until today.
It was my husband's aunt, Martha M. Kramer, who was the internee at Weihsien.
She was Dean of the Home Ec Dept. at Yenching University (Peiping) from fall of 1937 until Pearl Harbor, when the
Japanese took over the University and
impounded the staff. She did not go to the camp until March of
1943, and was returned on the Gripsholm
in Sept. of 1943. Her stay was blessedly short, but it changed her
life. She was involved in the "egg shell" program, designed to get some calcium into
the children, especially. We had a lot of her papers in our attic until we went to China
ourselves, shortly before Hong Kong
reverted back to the Chinese. After our trip, I was totally intrigued with her letters to family
and friends, many of which had been
returned to her after she came home. We decided they were
too meaninful for the family, not to be
put together into a book, and so I took
it on as a personal project, eventually printing "Aunt Martha's
China" for the
family. If all goes well, we will return to China in
August. One of these
days, I would love to go to Weihsien-I understand that Tom Scovel, who also returned on the Gripsholm when Aunt
Martha did, and with whom I have had
contact, has been back on more than one occasion. Any
information you could add to mine,
would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Sue Kramer
SueT-@aol.com
RE:
Martha M Kramer and others
May 20, 2001 04:49 PDT
Martha Kramer is listed in the New York Times
of the 15th October 1943 as an evacuee who travelled on the Taia Maru to Goa
India and then on the Gripsholm to the US. She is obviously not listed in the
lists of inmates dated 30th June 1944
Coming from Beijing (Peking) she would probably have lived in a Room in Blocks
10 through 18.
The egg shell programme I well remember, the one egg a week ration each had the
shell crushed between two spoons and fed to children - I was one.
On eth list of inmates I am still hoping to will the names of those beginning S
after Stevens - Page missing - and after Monica Wulfson – Page torn. Anyone out
there with a full list that can help.
For more general information I am working on a List of British Internees in the
Far East which is now helping the British Govt establish eligibility for their
payments. Where other nationals are involved I have included them Weihsien is
fairly complete but I have not got a copy of the Catholic Fathers who were
interned in March 1943 and sent to Peking in August 43 I have the Nuns. Can
anyone help. Overall I have put together some 15,000 names of those detained in
the Far East and adding more daily.
Ron Bridge
Originally Block 42 Room 6 then Block 13 Room 12.
Currently Chairman Association of British Civilian Internees of the Far East.
Re:
Digest for weih-@topica.com, issue 124
May 20, 2001 21:51 PDT
I was very interested to read the posting from
the relative of Ms. Kramer, who was on
faculty at Yenching Univ., and repatriated on the chartered Swedish vessel, M.S. Gripsholm in 1943. My
relative, Mary Cookingham was Bursar at
Yenching Univ before WWII and I have some correspondence addressed jointly to both Ms. Kramer and Mary Cookingham
as they journeyed home on the
Gripsholm. There were several other faculty members from Yenching Univ
on the same trip of the Gripsholm. Mary
Cookingham returned to Yenching after
WWII and stayed until 1948.
Please contact me directly for more information.
Sincerely,
Ron Merritt
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
ronme-@hotmail.com
Re:
Weihsien internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 21, 2001 05:44 PDT
Hello Joyce ~
I would love a copy of your book. Should I mail a check? Please let me know. It
has been wonderful to read the e-mail that is circulated regarding Weihsien. My
mother has been telling me stories of the place for as long as I can remember
(I am 33), and she is enjoying reading the memories as well. Soon I will place
one of her memories for everyone to read.
My address is: Theresa Granger
19461
Poinciana
Redford,
MI 48240 USA
Sincerely,
Theresa Granger
memories
May 23, 2001 07:06 PDT
My name is Beryl Buist Rogers - I was interned
in Weihsien with my parents - Fred and May Buist who were with the Salvation
Army and my sister Kathleen and brother Gordon. I was 2 years old when we went
into the camp. I have many memories - strangely most of them happy as our
parents protected us from all that was not pleasant. I do remember vividly the
pantomimes that were put on and I remember the electricians daughter was the
fairy and she was all lit up with lights. I also remember when the American
plans flew over to liberate us. I was very scared as they seem to touch the
roofs of our little huts - and there was so much confusion (at least in my
eyes) as everyone was running around. I remember running out of the camp - the
guards just standing there as everyone ran out of the compound.
I also remember the roll-call in the middle of the night after some of the
internees escaped and we all had to stand outside our hut and be counted!
Thank you for sharing your memories. Especially when people remember my father
playing the cornet. He has gone to be with the Lord now and he would have loved
to have reminisced with us. Neither of my parents talked about camp - and we
could not get them to - so this sharing now is great as it fills in the many
gaps in my life. Do you remember my mother singing in the musical concerts that
were put on. She had a beautiful voice.
Keep the news coming
Beryl Buist Rogers ( I now live in Pennsylvania USA)
RE: memories
May 23, 2001 15:54 PDT
Dear Beryl. I was also an internee in Weihsien
and have written a book about my
experiences there. In it is mention of the Salvation Army, the escape you refer to, roll calls etc. I was
17 year old when we were released and
still have an excellent recall of events during our incarceration. I think you would find the book most interesting
as it gives an excellent account of
that camp from its inception as a CAC until War's end. If you want a book I can air mail it to you immediately at a
total cost of $21 Australian or a US
currency check for $US16 would cover
conversion and all other costs My address is 100 Coxs Road, North
Ryde, 2113, Sydney Australia. Sincerely
Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.
RE:
Weihsien internees connected via Good Housekeeping Magazine article
May 23, 2001 16:45 PDT
Dear Theresa. Sorry for delay but I have been
away. I have posted air mail a book to
you this morning. I hope you enjoy reading it. I would be happy to receive your check for $US17 which covers
all costs. My adddress is 100 Coxs
Road, North Ryde 2113, Sydney, Australia.Sincerely, Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.
(no
subject)
May 25, 2001 07:35 PDT
For those who are new to this site and are
interested in memories of Weihsien and China I cannot recommend too highly
Pamela Maters' The Mushroom Years.This is solidly researched, vividly written.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. She is a writer and delightful human being. To order pam-@hendersonhouse.com or fax 530 647 2000 phone 530 622 0851, Shall I put the mailing
address? Why not? Henderson House Pulbishing
1390 Broadway, Suite B 295, Placerville, CA 95667. $19.95, s&h 4. It's well
worth it! I have no interest in recommending this, I just loved it!!!
Australian Government ex Gratia Payment
to former PoWs/Internees of Japan 1941/4
May 27, 2001 06:20 PDT
The Australian Government ahs followed the lead
of Canada, Isle of Man, United Kingdom and New Zealand to award a payment to
former internees of the Japanese qualifying date is to be alive 01Jan2001.
Currently Canada has restricted their recognition to those that were in the
Canadian Military. Details of the Australian Scheme are on
www.dva.gov.au/media/aboutus/budget/budget01/budget2.htm
Rgds
Ron Brideg
Chairman
ABCIFER
Weihsien
liberators
May 29, 2001 04:35 PDT
Hello, Everyone,
Keeping in touch with our Weihsien heroes ranks near
the top of the delights of my life.
This Memorial Day weekend, I chatted by phone with all the team or their widows.
Actually, Jim Moore and Carol Orlich phoned me first,
because the mailman had just delivered
to them another flurry of hero worship letters from Girl Scouts and school children. In February,
when I was telling this amazing story
to 4th graders who had been studying World War II at a local school, I asked the children if they'd like to write
to my heroes. You should have seen the
hands waving in the air. These three classes of 4th graders made hand made Valentines Day cards and mailed
then to the team. I wish you could have
heard the reaction from the team.
Since then, when I speak to children's and youth groups
-- (that happens quite often) -- I take
along the names and addresses of the team to pass out to these spellbound young listeners. It's pure joy for the
children who send and, believe me, to
the team that receives. Several of our heroes are
now very frail and isolated and this
mail brings joy.
Major Stanley Staiger continues in very poor health. He
told me yesterday that he doesn't drive
any more. Tad Nagaki still farms-- bless
him! -- in Alliance, Nebraska. Jim Hannon and his wife are about to
move from California's high desert
closer to civilization. They've have both had
a series of health problems this year. Jim continues writing -- and connecting with people interested in
producing movies from the two books he
has written.
Teeth, hips, knees, back, heart -- these are the
trouble spots for our heroes who are
now all in their 80s.
By the way, Carol Orlich -- widow of Pete Orlich, the
radio operator on our rescue team --
will celebrate her 80th birthday on June 13. What a delight she is! Send her a card or a note. Her address is 15727
20th Road, Whiteston, NY 11357 Pete
orlich was the youngest member of the team -- age 21 the day he parchuted into the fields beyond the barrier walls
of our
"Civilian Assembly Center."
Mary Previte
Re:
memories
Jun 06, 2001 05:53 PDT
Dear Joyce:
Yes I would like to order the book you mention. My address is PO Box 387, Warrington
PA 18976, USA
I will get a check to you for $16.00 US correct - let me know.
Beryl Rogers
RE:
memories
Jun 07, 2001 21:08 PDT
Dear
Beryl. Thank you $US16 will be fine. I have posted the book to you a few
minutes ago. I do hope you like it. Best regards.Joyce Bradbury.
Wilder
pictures
Jun 11, 2001 14:48 PDT
These are just gems! I am surprised at how
green it all looks, the cosiness of the views, the big trees by the
church....my strongest memories are of the bare field outside the church, and
of the alfalfa we picked on the rolling ground above the air raid shelter near
the morgue. What a gift parcel it is, with the maps, diary excerpts and all.
How different it looks with the student blocks having little gates into their
courtyards. We were in block fifteen, looking straight out at block 23. That
was where we made our coal balls, grew our castor oil plants, and the morning
glories.
I hope, Donald, that my other parcel is coming...I sent you a second cheque on
the 7th May knowing that you needed to have all the orders in when you were
doing the priniting and I wanted to send three sets to my siblings.
Those of you who haven't asked for them yet should do so! It really is a total
delight! Thank you so much, Donald. Great to think of your grandma smiling at
her work bringing so much pleasure to so many at this late date. Thank you,
thank you!
Lushan
- Kuling Statistics
Jun 11, 2001 21:44 PDT
Dear Weihsien and Kuling
Classmates: 6/11/2001
Sorry but this info is for those who
were in Kuling and much is about myself. I'm sorry about that. They come out of
my letters and were then sorted into categories. Activities; Book read; Weight
and height statistics while growing up ; places hiked with dates; Beginning and
ending of terms etc. If you hate statistics this might bore
you.
Date Cat Events
4/13/42 A Sport scores: Livingstone 257; Patton 119; Carey 78
4/13/42 A Wally Desterhaft high
jump 5' 3 1/2"
4/22/49 A High jump : 1st at 4' 9"
4/30/49 A My Long jump record: 12" 6"
5/3/49 A I win cricket throw 188 ft 4"
5/3/49 A I win shot put 28' 5"
5/6/49 A I win high jump 4' 3"
5/6/49 A I broadjump 15 ft; In USA in 1947 did 13 ft 1 "
6/16/49 A Cricket match and BasEball game on Whole Holiday
2/3/50 A Saturday Scouting: Stalking, Rock climbing,
discussions
4/14/50 A High jump 4' 11"
4/22/50 A Shot put 33" 4" my
winning shot.
4/22/50 A 90 yd dash I came in 4th
4/22/50 A 200 yard dash I came in second
4/22/50 A Long jump: 1st at 15" 11"
4/22/50 A 440 yards run: 2nd after Keith Butler
5/17/50 A Junior Sports Day races
6/1/42 B Aladdin and his wonderful lamp
9/12/48 B Austin Boy's Adrift read
9/13/48 B Austin Boys Marooned read
9/14/48 B Fighting for Freedom read
10/24/48 B Twelve Famous Evangelists read
12/12/48 B Greenmantle by John Buchan read
1/8/49 B Three hostages: Mr & Mrs Porteus read
1/11/49 B Story of Baden Powell read
1/19/49 B Swiss Family Robinson read
1/23/49 B Wolf Ear the Indian read
1/25/49 B I will repay by Baroness Orczy read
1/25/49 B Mystery of the Broken Bowl and Stolen scrolls read
1/27/49 B The scarlet ship read
2/17/49 B Pickwick papers read by Mr Houghton
2/21/49 B Through Forest and Fire by Edward S. Ellis read
2/24/49 B Abraham Lincoln's life read
2/25/49 B The Bells of Enderberry read
2/25/49 B Assignment to Brittany by Baroness Orczy read
2/29/49 B In the grip of the Druids read by Mr Houghton
3/10/49 B Paris - Underground read
3/27/49 B The Flight of the Heron read
4/11/49 B The two gangs read
4/17/49 B Peter the Whaler read
5/1/49 B Story of Eric Liddell read
5/12/49 B Dr Apricot of Heaven Below read
6/4/49 B The Nazarene read by Mr Houghton to us
6/10/49 B The restraining hand by R.A. Bosshart read
7/7/49 B Life of George Washington Carver read
7/20/49 B The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle read
8/6/49 B Feversham's Fag read
8/9/49 B Hanand's Investigations
8/10/49 B King Solomon's mines by Rider Haggard read
8/16/49 B Seven Sea Stories read
8/18/49 B The Golden Mirage read
12/5/49 B The mutiny of the Flying Spray read
12/7/49 B Over the Rockies with the Airmail read
12/9/49 B The Spanish Brothers read
12/9/49 B The nine Taylors read by Mr Martin
12/18/49 B Twice Lost read
12/20/49 B The Ghost of Exlia Priory read
12/21/49 B Done and Dared in Old France read
12/22/49 B Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens read
12/23/49 B The Lost Trail read
12/23/49 B Midwinter read
12/24/49 B Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey read
12/25/49 B A girl of the Limberlost by Porter read
12/27/49 B The Life of Edward Bok read
1/17/50 B The Fifth form of St. Dominics read
2/10/50 B The Scarlet Pimpernel read
3/31/50 B Beau Geste read
4/1/50 B I am Graf Spe's prisoner read by Mr Houghton
4/13/50 B Middle Temple murder read
4/13/50 B Last of the Mohicans by Fenimore Cooper read
5/10/50 B The Boys of Gresham House read
5/10/50 B Dr Main of Hangchow read
5/19/50 B King Solomon's Mines read by teachers to us
5/22/50 B Ladder of swords read
6/13/50 B Twelfth Night read
10/24/44 Bd Phillip Paulson's birthday
10/24/44 Bd Torge Torgerson birthday
2/7/44 D Eric Liddell died
4/7/49 D Mrs Wupperfeld died 1 AM
3/22/49 E Mr Moyer and Miss Dolder married
4/2/49 E Mr Searle and Miss Draffin married
4/20/49 E Being restricted to hikes in view of school
12/25/49 E Santa Claus comes in thru bay window in Assembly Hall
12/25/49 E Punch and Judy Show
2/16/50 E Set toboggan record down ice ramp on ball field.
4/22/50 E End of term concert
4/22/50 E David Simpkin show collection of twigs leaves and
trees.
7/24/50 E Not allowed to swim unless water temp 60 F
10/3/48 H Hike to Paradise Pools to swim
11/2/48 H Played attackers and defenders
12/3/48 H Hike to Lions Leap
12/16/48 H Hike to Hun Yuang Peak via Temple in the clouds
12/18/48 H Hike to Cave of the Immortals
12/23/48 H Pine cone fights up at the cemetery
1/14/49 H Hike to Heights of Abraham
3/19/49 H Hike to Morris hill and Russian Valley
3/27/49 H Hike to Emerald Grotto and Stone Bridge
4/16/49 H Hike to Russian valley and water cistern
5/8/49 H Hike to Monkey Ridge
5/10/49 H Hike to Hun Yuang Peak
5/12/49 H Hike to Paradise Pools to swim
7/6/49 H Hike to Three Graces (waterfalls)
8/10/49 H Hike to Temple in the Clouds via Nankong pass
8/10/49 H Then on to Hun Yuang peak.
8/19/49 H Hike to Poyang Ridge beyond Monkey Ridge
10/1/49 H Hike to Wolf's Ravine ... Stone Bridge ... Dark
Forest
10/1/49 H Then Three Trees and home.
10/26/49 H Trip to Hun Yuang peak
11/20/49 H Trip to Elephant Hill via pagoda.
11/20/49 H Wildfire on hillsides around Lushan
12/9/49 H Hike to West Valley to ruined house for slate.
12/9/49 H Piece of slate carved with school emblem
1/10/50 H Hike to Botanical Gardens and Nankong Pass
1/14/50 H Hike to Heights of Abraham
1/16/50 H Hike to Hun Yuang Peak
1/20/50 H Hike to Sunset ridge above monument
1/23/50 H HIke to Russian Valley Bridge
1/24/50 H Tree competition: Identify 22 trees
1/24/50 H Trip via Dragons Tooth Tingtse, Larch Forest
2/5/50 H Hike to Bell Tower with Stephen & Norman Austin
3/4/50 H Hike to Russian Valley
3/26/50 H Hike to Russian Valley: Gordon C. & Stephen A.
4/9/50 H Hike to Pine Walk
4/30/50 H Hike to Elephant walk with Gordon A.
5/1/50 H Hike to Three Graces (waterfalls)
5/2/50 H Adventure badge journey: See separate details
5/4/50 H Trip for Venturer Badge: see details
5/10/50 H Hike to Pine walk
5/20/50 H Trip to three graces
6/11/50 H Hike to West Valley
10/10/41 J No letters from 10/10/41 - 4/12/42 to parents
10/3/41 M Robert Clow with scarlet fever
10/10/41 M School quarantine for scarlet fever
5/25/42 M Paul Thompson broke his arm: taken by Japs to
hospital
6/29/42 M I come down with Heat stroke - temp 105 F
6/2/42 S Dudley Woodberry & Grace Woodberry leave for America
6/2/42 S Eddie Lindberg leave Chefoo for America
1/27/49 S Shanghai party returns from vacation holiday.
1/26/50 S Nanking party returns from vacation holiday.
9/8/41 W
Height Weight
58 lbs
3/25/42 W Height 4'
9" Weight 77 lbs
1/12/44 W
Height Weight
70 lbs (Weihsien diet)
2/23/49 W Height 5' 8 1/2" Weight
137 lbs Stretch 5' 9"
6/18/49 W Height 5"
9" Weight 133 lbs
2/1/50 W Height 5"
10" Weight 148 lbs
3/10/50 W Height 5" 10 1/2" Weight
152 lbs
10/26/48 X Ice storm at Kuling - 30 power lines down
1/29/49 Y Starting of new term
4/3/49 Y New Class schedule
6/25/49 Y Helped Miss Bromiley clean Laboratory
7/25/49 Y Exams and end of term
12/6/49 Y End of school term
12/6/49 Y 12/6 to 1/18 Winter Holidays - Yunnan group excluded
1/18/50 Y Start of new term
4/22/50 Y End of term
5/8/50 Y Beginning of new term
7/24/50 Y End of Term
5/18/48 Z Communist soldiers hike up to Kuling
I trust that the hikes I listed brought back some
fond memories
of hikes you took and sled rides down onto the ball field. You will
notice that in 2 years of Weihsien diet I lost 7 pounds when I should
have gained 20 pounds. You will also see that I did quite a bit of reading.
That was because I spent a lot of time in sick bay with boils etc.
Something I tried to pass on was the love of being read to by the teachers. My
kids were too busy in athletic events to spend time reading. I still
love to read.
Regards, David
Allen dan-@fidalgo.net
Re:
Lushan - Kuling Statistics
Jun
12, 2001 08:00 PDT
Thanks David! It was a great list...and showed
how very well read we were indeed! I remember the Girl of the Limberlost
because there was a scene where there were pink and gold water lilies in a
bedroom with pink and gold counterpane and someone said Very French! and
when-ever I see pink and gold together I mutter under my breath Very French.
How funny to have Pa read The Nine Tailors...a Dorothy Sayers book involving
bell ringers in East Anglia. We lived in such a curious little bubble...I wish
we had spent more time learning about Chinese history and literature...what was
the name of our language teacher? But truly we were blessed to live in such a
spot...and the hikes were spectacular. Remember the azaleas in
bloom along the contour paths? Jolly impressive long jumping. Thank you for
reminding me of so many names and places.
Re:
Lushan - Kuling Statistics
Jun 12, 2001 16:31 PDT
David, what a fascinating record! You make me
wish again and again that I had kept
such notes.
Your list of books brings back a flood of memories. I
loved The Scarlet Pimpernel. Does
anyone remember our teachers reading Les Miserable to us?
Have all of you received the remarkable set of drawings
of Weihsien from Donald Wilder Menzi?
They were painted by his Grandmother Gertrude Wilder, who speny six months in Weihsien before being evacuated on the
Gripsholm. I can't say enough thank
yous, Donald. What a gift to all of us!
Mary Previte
Re:
Lushan - Kuling Statistics
Jun 12, 2001 19:54 PDT
Hi-this is Sue Kramer speaking, and my computer
crashed last week, and is just now up
and running again, so I lost a lot of stuff. I would
really love to have a set of the
pictures you spoke of, but do not remember how to make contact. Can you please
help? thank you, Sue
(no
subject)
Jun 12, 2001 20:00 PDT
Thank you Donald! Two more copies have come
today!
Re:
Lushan - Kuling Statistics
Jun 12, 2001 22:43 PDT
I have just sent out 16 sets of the Weihsien
paintings to those who requested them. You should be receiving them in a few
days.
Hope you enjoy them.
I still have four sets left from the first batch of 20 that I had copied. We're
off to China for three weeks, including a day in Weihsien, so I won't be able
to respond to any more requests for a while.
Sue
Kramer's request for information
Jun 12, 2001 22:43 PDT
Sorry about your computer crashing. I've had
some misfortunes too lately.
I think it's the sunspot cycle or something.
To get a set of the Weihsien paintings, send a check for $20 to me at the
following address:
Donald Menzi
5 EAst 10th Street
New York, NY 10003
The cost has gone up because I decided they should really be printed on heavy
weight paper, which costs 50% more. I was fortunate on the first batch of 20
sets to get a lower price because the print shop was running a special on
multiple copies printed directly from disk. The special is over, so from now on
I have to pay $1.50 per sheet, which contains two paintings, plus postage. I
think that you will find that this is still a bargain.
Re:
memories
Jun 14, 2001 05:35 PDT
Dear Joyce:
I have received your book - that was fast - I hope the US mail is as fast as
yours with my check to you. I am already into the book - enjoying it immensely.
thank you so much
Beryl
Re:
memories
Jun 18, 2001 15:42 PDT
Dear Beryl. Your check arrived yesterday 18th.
Thank you. Joyce Bradbury.
Re:
memories
Jun 20, 2001 07:42 PDT
Joyce, I apologize - the check for your book is
going out in the mail today. My computer was down for a while, and I did not
write your address on paper. Thank you for the book - I read through it before
giving it to my mother.
(no
subject)
Jun 20, 2001 09:09 PDT
I have lost Donald's email address so excuse me
for doing private business in public! I have received three out of the four
sets of the Wilder watercolours and would dearly like the last set to send on
to my brother. Hope the trip to Weihsien was interesting for you. It is
certainly a very different place from the paintings. The people at the middle
school are unfailingly polite and helpful with all these emotional visitors who
are transported back in time. How lucky we are to have lived through and seen
such things. Thanks....
Re:
Jun 20, 2001 10:10 PDT
Dear Alison:
Read your e-mail and was intrigued with the fact that you went back to
Weihsien. I am planning a 4 day trip to Beijing in September and was wondering
if it is difficult to travel up to Weihsien and if we would be allowed. How did
you get there? If you or anyone has any hints, please let me know. Could it be
done in one day?
Thanks
Beryl
Re:
Jun
20, 2001 19:39 PDT
I think someone like Stanley Nordmo or almost
anyone could answer you better than I can! I know we travelled over night from
Beijing to Weifang and were champing at the bit to get to the site whilst
everyone was having siestas...so we just took off It is so different to find
that the town is right around the site. Check with your travel agent or guide.
If you are going such a long way four nights is not enough time...unless you
are going to go to other parts of China of course. It's really worth the trip
if you have time to see how strong your memories are...when we found ourselves
on the playing field we were just breathless....and standing in the school and
looking out as if from block 23 onto our home had us both in tears. Block 15
had been pulled down but the one behind was in complete chaos...and showed us
the view from our accommodation. We went and had tea with a delightful young
couple who asked us in and to be in the exact size of room was incredibly vivid
on our nerve endings. Elisabeth spent much of the war in the hospital with TB
and she found her bed now used by a young woman with all her belongings tucked
underneath. So it was a great, great visit for us...but I am no good at giving
you travel details! Sorry...and let us know how it was for you
if you go.
Re:
Jun 21, 2001 06:49 PDT
Dear Alison
Thank you for your comments. We are going to Korea - our son is stationed there
in the US Army and are taking this 4 days trip to Peking. You are right - it
probably is not enough time. I will let you know if we go!
Beryl
Re: Australian Government ex Gratia
Payment to former PoWs/Internees of Japan 19
Jun 29, 2001 08:49 PDT
Ron,
Have you heard whether there is any move afoot by the Canadian government to
recognize civilian interness of WWII with financial compensation as the British
government and Australian government have done.
I do earnestly hope that something will come from all your efforts for those of
us here in Canada. After all, we were British subjects during the time of our
incarceration and all that we suffered as a result of those years under the
Japanese. If nothing is going to come of this for us at all, will we be
refunded the hundreds of dollars we paid for membership in ABCIFER. I'm almost
ashamed even to mention this, but the reality is that I am in very modest
financial circumstances. My hopes were greatly built up through ABCIFER and I
very sincerely hope that something truly worthwhile will come of your laudatory
efforts. Again, please do not misunderstand me Ron. I am most grateful for all
that you have done and are now doing to try to bring about a just settlement
for us.
Very sincerely
David Birch
WWII Civilian Internee
Chefoo(Temple Hill)
Weihsien
RE: Australian Government ex Gratia
Payment to former PoWs/Internees of Japan 19
Jun 30, 2001 02:16 PDT
The UK Government have paid a lot of people who
were British at the time and where they live is of no consequence, we know of
hundreds in Australia/Canada/USA/Europe/South Africa/ New Zealand et al. ON the
25th June they changed the definition of British and are excluding
at this time those who do not have at least one parent or grandparent born in
the UK.
This ABCIFER are fighting tooth and nail and will win. Parliament is already
well briefed. The Australian Scheme and NZ scheme restrict payment those that
had residence in Australia or NZ prior to being captured. The UK are liasing
with those Governments to ensure that there are not double payments thus there
might now be hold ups to those that fall into those categories. AS the ABCIFER
the case\ in Tokyo is going ahead the date of the next hearing is still not
known, there is some delay because the Dutch case has complications in that
Japan apparently misread the Stikker protocol of the 1951 Peace Treaty,
Sticker, the then Dutch foreign minister did a Deal with Japan that although
the Peace Treaty precluded Holland seeking reparations from Japan it did not
stop Dutch citizens in their own right seeking damages.
I watch that space with interest.
Meanwhile those living in Canada could well help the cause by asking their
Member of Parliament why has Ottawa singled out payments to former POWS and
excluded civilians it is the only Commonwealth Government to do so. Similarly
those in the US could well pester their Senators/Representatives and ask why
did the US Govt pay the Nissei for unconvincing them whilst those that suffered
for being American are left to their own devices. There is a Bill present
before the House of Rep seeking action under Article 26 of the peace Treaty. To
refresh you this allows for any government to re-open the Peace treaty if Japan
does a better deal with any other country, to date 17 countries have benefited
better than the UK and probably the same for the US. IT was\ because of
ABCIFER's very real preparations to go to the European Court of Human Rights
that the UK GOvt decided effectively to settle out of court. Trying to modify
that now means that we may yet see them in Court. Trust that answers your
query.
RE:
memories
Jul 07, 2001 23:48 PDT
Dear Theresa. Many thanks for your check, glad
your mother enjoyed reading the book. I
am sending books to various people who were in Weihsien living in many different parts of the World. I am
still waiting for advice from the
British Govt as to whether I am eligible for compensation for internment as I cannot prove a parent or
grandparent was born in England
although my great-grandfather undoubtedly was. But I will have to wait
and see. Good luck. Joyce Bradbury.
Visit
to Weihsien (re-sent)
Jul 08, 2001 09:32 PDT
NOTE: I tried sending the following message
with four photos attached, but
it was rejected because the photos exceeded the message size that topica would
allow. Anyone who wants the photos should contact me and I will send them to
you directly.
========================
My family and I just returned from three weeks in China that included a visit
to Weihsien.
We found only two of the "old" buildings surviving. Both were
"out of bounds" to internees. For those of you who requested my
grandmother's paintings, their upper parts appear behind the wall in paintings
#14 and #15.
The main school building has been replaced by a building whose design echoes
the original, with a central section higher than the sides.
The area where the internees lived is now a running track.
We were received cordially by the Principal, and copies of Gertrude Wilder's
paintings and the portion of my grandfather's diary dealing with their
internment were accepted with thanks. They will be included in their historical
collection, which is not presently being exhibited but will be on display at
some time in the future.
Those of you who ordered pictures just before we left, or whose orders are
still incomplete should receive them within a week. I would like very much to
hear your reactions or recollections upon seeing them.
Re:
memories
Jul 09, 2001 10:39 PDT
Joyce, how would I begin to research whether my
mother would qualify for any compensation? She was actually born in China
(Tinsin- ?). Her parents are from the US (father) and Japan (mother). If there
is any way I can research this, please let me know. Thank you very much, I
appreciate it.
~Theresa
RE:
memories
Jul 09, 2001 15:43 PDT
Teresa,
The British Government are making an ex- gratia payment to British Nationals
who were interned in by the Japanese.
AT the present time they are even qualifying the term British in that the
claimant, or one of the claimants parents or grandparents must have been born
in the UK but remember if it was before 1922 Ireland counted as well.
The Australian and NZ Governemnbts have got similar schemes. Canada has not
included civilians at the time the US has not got a scheme at all and of course
Japan is still denying there was a war.
RE:
memories
Jul 09, 2001 23:38 PDT
Theresa. As I understand it the British
Government agreed to pay an Ex Gratia
Payment to ex-civilian internees who were British citizens at the time of their internment. The Government
appears to be now saying they will only
pay people who had a parent or grandparent born in England. I understand that ABCIFER is trying to have
the definition extended but this is
presently subject of final determination. I suggest you contact your local British Consul, or Embassy and ask
them to send you a form to enable you
to apply and that way you will know for sure whether you or your mother may be eligible. No doubt you have read the
email from Ron Bridge who knows more about this than I do. Good luck. Joyce.
Re:
memories
Jul 10, 2001 01:32 PDT
The British Government accepted the following
documentation from my husband:
His own birth certificate - he was born in a British Concession of China and
his birth was registered with the British Consul.
Birth certificates of both parents who were born in England.
Birth certificates of the four grandparents who were also born in England.
Marriage certificate of his parents - this was registered with the British
Consul in China.
Marriage certificates of both sets of grandparents who were all married in
England.
Three printouts of the 1881 UK Census showing three of the grandparents
resident in England in 1881.
As we couldn't reliably identify the fourth grandparent in the 1881 Census, we
sent copies of his military record in the Coldstream Guards and his death
certificate.
To get verified birth/marriage certificates we downloaded application forms
from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/registration/certificates.asp
We had done our own research to get GRO index reference quotes, by using St
Catherine's Index which is held on microfiche in New Zealand National Library
and is also held by most LDS (Mormon) Family History Centres. This cut down the
cost to 24 pounds for priority service for each certificate, but this still
amounted to a lot of money especially with the low exchange rate on the $NZ.
We faxed the completed forms to the Family Record Centre and the certificates
were posted to us.
We heaved a sigh of relief!
Margaret Beard
ex-gratia payment
Jul
15, 2001 11:52 PDT
Dear Weihsieners,
I received a form letter from the War Pensions Agency that I am not eligible to
receive the ex-gratia payment. None of my parents, nor grandparents was born in
Great Britain. (specific reason not given), but that is the only measure that I
cannot claim.
What are the chances of changing this particular criterion? I don't suppose
that I can do anything at this time!
Natalie Somoff (in Weihsien)
Natasha Petersen (now)
Re:
Sue Kramer's request for information
Jul 17, 2001 13:01 PDT
Hi Donald
I sent a check back in the beginning of June for two sets. Have you sent them
yet as I am concerned that nothing has arrived yet. You did mention that you
were get some more copies made. Thanks for checking for me.
Beryl Rogers
Re:
Sue Kramer's request for information
Jul 17, 2001 17:23 PDT
Thank you so much Donald for sending me my last
packet! I am sure you have been busy catching up after your China trip and I
really appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing these gems with us. My
siblings are delighted.
Thanks
RE: ex-gratia payment
Jul 18, 2001 14:02 PDT
Natasha,
I am working on it. there are 600 of the 2452 civilian claims rejected for this
reason,
Parliament is trying to sort it out as the …..
Re:
Fw: (no subject)
Jul 23, 2001 13:26 PDT
Not enough info on this for me to be happy to
open it...there is a virus creeping around at the moment...and so I return this
to you.
Re:
Fw: (no subject)
Jul 23, 2001 14:33 PDT
I wouldn't open it either. Jim, Can you past it
in plain text into the main body of the email message?
margaret Beard
"Justice
for US POW Act of 2001"
Aug 01, 2001 13:12 PDT
For anyone
interested, a bill (S.1154) will soon come before the US Senate offering Senate support of the Claims
Settlement Agreement (3 UST 3169)
signed by Japan on Sept 8th, 1951, in which Japan clearly agreed to accept liability for illegal and inhumane
conduct towards members of the Armed
Forces of the Allied Powers held as prisoners of war.
Some US servicemen were very
badly treated by the Japanese during
WW2, mostly in the Philippines and in Japan. A few of these guys are
still alive. They should probably be
entitled to some retroactive pay for the
forced labor they did for Japanese companies while they were prisoners
of war.
As I
understand it, S.1154 is an effort to reaffirm the right of these surviving POW's to ask for this kind
of compensation from Japanese
individuals or companies, as laid out in article 26 of the 1951
Claims Settlement Agreement , by :
1.) dismissing the Japanese Corporate lobbyist's claim that article 14(b) of the same 1951 treaty constitutes a waiver
of this right for US servicemen !
2.) making
available the information on the use of POWs in chemical and biological tests; information that was handed over
to the US by the Japanese Government at
the end of WW2.
You can get more information about this situation
a - by watching Ted Koppel (ABC Nightline) some night this week
b - by e-mailing Wendy Behan at wbe-@hermanmathis.com
c - by checking the website www.justiceforveterans.org
If you think this bill is a good idea, you might want to write to your senator.
Stan
Thompson
VJ Day
15.08.2001
Aug 15, 2001 02:58 PDT
NZ probably led the world
to-day in being the first to celebrate VJ Day No 56. In the capital,
Wellington, at 11am (NZ time), our Far East Prisoners of War organization held
a wreath laying ceremony of remembrance, followed by a luncheon at Parliament
Buildings and finally an afternoon tea hosted by our Prime Minister herself.
After a number of armed forces veterans spoke of their experiences of being
incarcerated by the Japanese during WW2 - in Burma, Singapore, Indonesia and
Japan itself- I got a word in to keep alive the memory of civilian internees in
China, specifically Weihsien Civil Assembly Centre. Present also was Marjorie McKenzie
(nee Wallis), formerly of Tientsin (now
Tianjin). I've encouraged her to subscribe to the list, so any who know
her might like to send a message in a few days time.
Regards from 'down under' - i.e. NZ !
David Beard
RE: VJ
Day 15.08.2001
Aug 15, 2001 14:47 PDT
London,
Cenotaph Whitehall at 3pm a short service with wreath laying was preceeded by
lunch at the Methodist Central hall and a March up Whitehall. The Military were
represented by Japan Labour Camp Survivors Association led by their President
Martin Bell (Former BBC World Correspondent and MP) Civilians led by Ron Bridge
(Weihsien) Chairman Association of British
Internees Far East Region who carried the Union Jack that was flown over
Lungwha Camp Shanghai when liberated in 1945.
The Service was taken by Rev Norman Cliff (Weihsien) and there were several ex
Weishien in the group that marched at took part.
COMMENTARY
CELEBRATINGH THE END OF WORLD WAR II
Aug 15, 2001 18:06 PDT
Commentary for The Philadelphia Inquirer
If I could pick one month to wrap my arms around
America, it would be August.
I fell in love with America fifty-six years ago.
Americans were spilling from this
low-flying B-24 bomber, dangling from parachutes that looked like giant poppies. They were dropping into the
fields outside the barrier walls. I
dashed to the barracks window in time to see the American star emblazoned on its belly. God’s rescuing angels had
come. Six gorgeous American men,
sunbronzed, with meat on their bones. It was August,
1945.
“Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center,” the Japanese
called our concentration camp in China.
I was twelve years old. For three years my two
brothers and sister and I had been captives of the Japanese. For five
and a half years warring armies had
separated us from our missionary parents.
But now the Americans had come.
Weihsien went mad. I raced for the entrance gate and
was swept off my feet by the
pandemonium. Men ripped off their shirts and waved at the bomber circling above. Prisoners ran in circles and
pounded the skies with their fists.
They wept, hugged, cursed, danced. Wave after wave of prisoners swept me past the guards into the fields
beyond the camp.
A mile away we found them -- six young Americans, all
in their twenties -- standing with
their weapons ready, surrounded by fields of ripening broom corn. Advancing towards them, intoxicated
with joy, came a tidal wave of
prisoners. We were free in the open fields.
Back in the camp, we trailed our angels everywhere. My
heart flipped somersaults over every
one of them. We wanted their insignias. We wanted their signatures. We wanted their buttons. We wanted snips of
their hair. We wanted souvenir pieces
of parachutes. They gave us our first taste of
Juicy Fruit gum. We children chewed it and passed the sticky wads from
mouth to mouth.
We made them sing to us the songs of America. They
taught us “You Are My Sunshine, My Only
Sunshine.” Fifty-six years later, I can sing it still.
As the decades passed, I could never understand why six
Americans would parachute in a suicide
mission to rescue 1,400 people they didn’t even know. It was beyond my imagination. I wanted to know these men. I
wanted to know what makes an American
hero.
Four years ago, in a string of miracles I tracked them
down: Major Stanley A.
Staiger; Ensign James W. Moore; 1st Lt. James J Hannon;
T/5 Peter C. Orlich, radio operator; Sgt. Tadash Nagaki, interpreter; T/4 Raymond N. Hanchulak, medic. Imagine it!
After more than 50 years! Four heroes
and two widows, all in their 80s now -- in Pennsylvania, New York, Nebraska, Texas, Nevada, and California.
What words would ever be enough to thank a man who
risked his life to give me freedom, to
give me all the opportunities America gives its children?
Talking to them by telephone, sending them cards, didn’t feel like thanks enough.
So I started my pilgrimage -- crisscrossing America to
visit each one of them face-to-face to
honor them. From New York to California, I went looking for the soul of America. And it is
beautiful!
Each one is different: Tad Nagaki, a Japanese-American
farm boy who didn’t speak English until
he went to school. Jim Moore, a former FBI agent and the son of missionaries to China. Jim Hannon, an adventurer
who prospected for gold in Alaska.
Major Stanley Staiger, an ROTC student
snatched from his third year at the University of Oregon. Raymond
Hanchulak, a boy from the coal mines
and ethnic enclaves of Pennsylvania. The youngest of the team -- Pete Orlich, a kid with a scholarship to college
whose family needed him to work, not go
to school -- who memorized the eye chart so he
wouldn’t be excluded from the rescue team because he wore glasses.
Pete taped his glasses to his head when
he parachuted down to liberate the camp
that day.
Some folk tell me America has no heroes. I know they’re
wrong. I see the face of heroes in the
weathered faces of these six men and the thousands of American men and women who look like them. These are the
heroes who saved the world.
(Mary T. Previte is an Assemblywoman, representing the 6th Legislative district.)
Tomorrow
is a good day to say thank you to our heroes
Aug 16, 2001 18:22 PDT
Hello, Everybody,
What's your most vivid memory
of August 17, 1945?
If you'd like to phone our
heroes, here are their current addresses
and phone numbers. (Jim Hannon recently moved, but his mailing
address remains the
same.) They would LOVE to hear from you. Tell them what
you remember about the day they
liberated the camp.
Mary Previte
WEIHSIEN RESCUE TEAM (DUCK MISSION) -- current addresses
Mrs. Raymond Hanchulak (Helen)
Birthday
of Raymond Hanchulak: August 23, 1916
Birthday
of Helen Hanchulak: April 18
Phone: 570-472-3520
P.O. Box 4
243 Laurie Lane
Bear Creek Village, PA 18602
James J. Hannon Birthday: November 12, 1919
Phone: 760-364-2210 Fax: 760-565-3320
P. O Box 1376,
Yucca Valley, CA 92286
James W. Moore Birthday: October 5, 1919
Phone: 214-341-8695
9605 Robin Song Street
Dallas, Texas 75243
Tad Nagaki Birthday:
January 25, 1920
Phone: 308-762-2968
5851 Logan Road, Alliance, NE 69301
Mrs. Peter Orlich (Carol) Birthday of Peter Orlich: May
4, 1923
Phone:
718-746-8122 Birthday
of Carol Orlich: June 13, 1921
15727 20th Road
Whiteston, N.Y. 11357
Stanley A. Staiger Birthday: December 30, 1917
Phone: 775-825-3766
Village of the Pines
700 E. Peckam Lane, Apartment 259
Reno, NV 89502
Trial
Aug 31, 2001 14:12 PDT
This is a trial e-mail to Weihsieners. Mary's
e-mail did not go through. Shall try to get this fixed.
Natasha
Omaha.com
Story from mary Previte
Aug 31, 2001 15:20 PDT
mary Previte has sent you a message:
I sent this tribute to newspapers near each of our heroes. Here it is today in
the Omaha World Herald. I hope you''ll comment on the comment line. Mary
---------- Begin Omaha.com Story ----------
Published Aug 31 2001 6:45:00:000PM
Mary T. Previte: U.S. Rescuers in 1945 Seemed Like Angels
BY MARY T. PREVITE
<i>The writer is a New Jersey state assemblywoman. She remains in contact
with the Americans who in 1945 liberated the prisoners of a Japanese
concentration camp where she was held. </i>
Trenton, N.J. - If I could pick one month during which to wrap my arms around America,
it would be August.
I fell in love with America 56 years ago …… see text
here above !
Re:
Trial
Aug 31, 2001 15:27 PDT
Natasha, I've received this trial just fine.
I've also tried for a second time today to forward to
everyone a tribute I wrote about our
heroes. It appears today in the Omaha World Journal, the largest newspaper in Nebraska, where our
liberator Tad Nagaki lives.
If the article does not come through, you can access it
at <omaha.com> You'll find it
under columns. I hope you'll take time to write a comment on the comment line so newspapers like this
will know what pleases readers.
Mary Previte
Weihsien Visit
Sep 02, 2001 20:05 PDT
Thanks to Mary for the copy of the article.
By now all of you who have asked for copies of Gertrude Wilder's paintings of
Weihsien camp scenes should have received them, along with the section of
George Wilder's Diary dealing with the six months they were there. I would
appreciate it if you would email me your reactions to them, so I can include
your comments in the material I am compiling about that period.
In July, we took my three sons back to Weihsien for a brief visit, leaving
behind copies of the pictures and taking some photos of present conditions for
ourselves. The only original buildings left standing are two gray brick houses
that were in the "out-of-bounds" area, both of which are partly shown
in two of the watercolors. I will send copies of the photos to anyone who asks
for them.
The main classroom/administration building has been replaced by a not very
attractive modern building that is vaguely reminiscent of the original building
in it basic shape, with a high central section and lower wings. The area where
the prisoners' 9'x12' rooms were located is now a running track and athletic
field.
The school's Principal was friendly, and promised to add the paintings to the
school's historical exhibit. The first time we were there, four years ago, we
saw that they have quite a few photos and other memorabilia, which are not
presently on display, however, but they say will again have their own display
room in the near future.
If any of you are able to get to Weihsien, be sure to visit one of the city's
kite "factories." Weihsien is the kite-making "capital" of
China, where the best kites are made, all by hand, and hand-painted, of course.
Once again, thanks to Mary for helping to keep the memory of Weihsien alive.
Re:
Weihsien Visit
Sep 02, 2001 20:38 PDT
A very warm 'thank you' Donald, for the
beautiful copies of the watercolour paintings done by your grandmother at
Weihsien some fifty-seven years ago.
They, along with your grandfather's journal written at that same time certainly
brought back some wonderful memories to me. In September 1944 I was twelve
years old, a youngster who arrived at Weihsien with the crowd of 300 or so
children and teachers from Chefoo. I still recall my first meal at Weihsien
Camp. I remember joining a line-up outside Kitchen #1 (I think it was), and
receiving an informal welcome to Weihsien from friendly camp 'veterans.'
Interestingly, nearly all my recollections of Weihsien are pleasant. These
include school classes conducted in bedrooms; chores such as pumping water into
a water tower by the Ladies' Showers; making coal balls and 'briquettes' with
mixtures of slack coal and mud which we dried in the sun; queuing up in great
long lines to fill our coal buckets with coal from a huge heap in the Japanese
quarters; concerts in some of which I and my classmates took part in choral
singing; baseball games, and so on and so on and a lot more. Of course, the
rescue by the U. S. airmen is a particularly vivid and treasured memory.
Your grandmother's delightful pictures and your grandfather's journal certainly
stirred my own memory.
Thanks again Donald!
Sincerely
David Birch
RE: Omaha.com Story from mary Previte
Sep 02, 2001 23:18 PDT
Dear Mary. You article about the liberation of
WeiHsien on 17 August 1945 brought back
the same memories to me. Your description of the event is exactly as I remember it. I was a mere 17
years of age at the time and I, like
many others obtained some souvenirs. My most memorable is a drawing of a parachute with the signatures of each and
every member of the seven original parachutists. I have read with interest the
present position of the survivors. I
wish them well and will never forget them.Thanks for bringing it all back to me such cogent manner. Regard. Joyce
Bradbury nee Cooke.Sydney Australia.
Ronald Bridge
Sep 09, 2001 18:26 PDT
My
Dear Ronald,
It
has been a long time since we were in the camp and in Tientsin, at St. Louis
College.
I
have a couple of photos of you in a group during one of Huguette's parties.
These look as they were taken right at the end in Tientsin and you probably do
not have them.
I
can always send them over to you by e-mail, please give me your address if you
want to have a look.
warmest
regards
Leonard
Mostaert
DISGRUNTLED
WEIHSIEN CAMPER
Sep 09, 2001 18:52 PDT
Hello all the readers.
I am Leonard Mostaert No.248 Room 1 Block 53 Kitchen 2
The dead hand of Belgian Bureaucracy has landed
on my shoulder. I wonder if there is anyone out there that has had a similar
experience.
Belgium is about to give reparations to the
Belgians that were in the camps throughout China and Indonesia. At first I
thought that my ship had come in, but no....It seems that Belgium does not give
any funding to those that are no longer Belgian subjects, this law on their
statutes is wrong, not compatible with any E-U legislation, and is contrary to
all natural justice, as the reason that we were in Weihsien were solely because
we were Belgian.
I did take out Australian Nationality after we
came to Australia, and now the Belgian Government does not want to know me.
Is there anyone out there that has fallen into
the same category ?
Thinking about those times, what about the
Italians in their own little camp ? Should they not get reparations?
There were many more nationalities there, as an
example there a Spanish couple at the end of our block, a Mr. and Mrs. Lopez,
what about them. This has become a very twisted path indeed.
Leonard
Mostaert
RE: DISGRUNTLED WEIHSIEN CAMPER
Sep 10, 2001 02:35 PDT
Leonard,
I remember you well, I am having a big fight with the UK government for those
British interned as British, still British let alone those that have gone
elsewhere. I may have tog o to the European Court of Human Rights on their
behalf so keep in touch rwbr-@freeuk.com.
I had a few letters from Huguette up to a couple of years ago when her second
husband left for someone younger she was then living in Georgia
Rgds
Ron (The Ronald) Bridge
Chairman
Association of British Civilians Internees Far East region
RE:
Ronald Bridge
Sep 12, 2001 02:28 PDT
Leonard,
Many thanks I had seen the bottom one round the table at Huguette's house but
not the other one.
Best Wishes
Ron (fka Ronald)
United
States darkest hour
Sep 14, 2001 08:51 PDT
Dear Fellow Internees,
Since the Tuesday tragedy, I have attended several meetings. At the beginning
of each meeting, we not only gave the Pledge of Allegiance, but also sang
"God Bless America" The singing brought tears to my eyes - I
remembered so well singing this in Weihsien. This tragedy has brought back the
emotions of the war years in Weihsien. God bless the United States. Let us say
a prayer for the souls of those who perished and for the recovery of those hurt
both physically and emotionally.
Natasha
RE:
United States darkest hour
Sep 14, 2001 22:17 PDT
Our thoughts are with all Americans in this
tragic hour and especially for the
fallen and their loved ones. May retribution be swift and sure. The Australian Government, fully supported by
the people, has pledged its support in
any way required. I too, still remember the words of "God Bless America" and remember how we were saved
in Wei-Hsien. God bless you. My brother
Ed Cooke has asked me to send his sincere condolences. Joyce Bradbury, nee Cooke and husband Bob.
RE:
United States darkest hour
Sep 15, 2001 20:47 PDT
Dear Fellow Weihsien Internees,
How very I too thank God for our dear neighbors and friends, the people of the
United States of America!
Truly we are "family!"
I pray that all our friends in the USA will be able to find comfort in knowing
that all around the world people are remembering them at this time and giving
thanks for a generous and noble people who have consistently given so much of
their abundance to help others who are less fortunate. May we try at this time to
be very very careful to remember that the vicious acts committed against
America are the fanatical acts of a comparative few. A comparative few who are consumed and blinded
by hatred and may we show loving concern and solidarity with ethnic and
religious communities who through this whole tragedy are in serious danger of
becoming the victims of a careless and cruel backlash of unreasoning anger!
Yes, may God continue to bless America, still a bulward of hope and freedom in
this world
Thank God for the courageous American airmen who rescued us at Weihsien Camp
fifty-six years ago.
With love,
David Birch
Here's
a speech I gave this evening to celebrate America
Sep 16, 2001 18:19 PDT
Speech by Mary T.
Previte
September 16, 2001
at HADDONFIELD, New Jersey's outdoor, candlelight Community
“Coming-Together”
I spread the snapshots of America across the album of my heart this week. And I felt proud.
This was a week of carnage and courage.
First, came the bullies, the cheats, the terrorists, the sneaks.
They trained in our flight schools. They used our airplanes. They savagely murdered our citizens. They stole our sense
of security. They shook our being to
the core. They planned to destroy and devastate our cities. They counted on our being a collection of
“me-first” individuals. They thought we
would crumble.
They were wrong. A tragedy that could have torn us
apart made us a
family. It brought us the warm courage of
national unity.
Tonight let's open the albums of our hearts. Look at snapshots of our America:
* The passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, responding with valor as
dread ruled the skies above
Pennsylvania. They apparently gave their lives to save countless others. America showed its soul
this week. And I feel proud.
* The firefighters, police and other emergency responders of New York
City, who hesitated not one second to
plunge into a wobbly hell to save their
fellow citizens. Thousands of people who forgot about themselves and
went to help.
* Firemen hoisting Old Glory on a giant crane above the rubble of New
York. America showed its soul this
week. And I feel proud.
* The rescue workers, doctors and nurses who have shrugged off
sleeplessness and stark horror to keep
searching the rubble for any who could be healed and many who could not.
* Tough-guy, he-men chanting U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A. Tough guy, he-men
weeping. I loved it that they wept. And
I wept too. America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
* On the steps of the nation’s Capitol --Congressmen and women, Senators -every race, gender, ethnic and political
group, hand in hand -- singing “God
Bless America.” America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
* Hometown snapshots in the album of my heart -- Kings Highway flying red, white, and blue from one end to the other.
* Very proper neighbors wearing flags on hats, fluttering them along driveways, on their dogs, on cars, waving
them wildly to make sure that everyone
would see.
* Up the street, Lucky’s Ice Cream parlor posting a sign in the window: 5 percent of all its profits would go to
families who lost so much this week.
* The voice on the intercom reminding shoppers in my grocery store -- You can
put bottled water, band aids, gauze, Danish in the containers right up front and it will all be in New York for
rescue workers by noon. The sign said the grocery chain would match contributions to the
relief fund --up to a million dollars.
America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
* A social worker in my neighborhood volunteering as a grief counselor in
New York. A county maintenance director
personally posting small American flags
on county buildings. A secretary in my workplace, printing red,white
and blue flags from off her computer
and posting them on the door of every office
in the building. The lady at the library’s magazine
counter wearing red, white, and blue
ribbons pinned to her shoulder. America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
Some people say America has lost its soul -- they say
that America has no heroes. I know
they’re wrong.
May I tell you a very personal story? I met America’s
heroes a long, long time ago. I fell in
love with America 56 years ago. August 17, 1945. I will never forget that day. They were spilling from the belly
of a B-24 bomber. Six America heroes --
like those this week -- risking their lives
for people they didn’t even know. For three years I had been a child prisoner in a Japanese concentration camp in
China. For 5 1/2 years I had not seen
my missionary parents. And now American heroes were dropping from the skies. We turned these liberators into
gods. We wanted their buttons. We
wanted their insignia. We cut off souvenir pieces of their hair. Oh, yes, yes, yes! We sang, too. God bless
America.
In 1997, I went looking for the soul of America and it
is beautiful. Through a string of
miracles, I tracked down these heroes from 1945. I found them. Then I criss-crossed America to say
thank you to each of them face to face.
I keep in touch with them.
Yes, America has heroes. I know their names. I have
seen their faces. I stand here tonight
because of their heroism.
This week I found -- America found -- new heroes.
What will we give? Who will work just a little bit
harder? Give a little more, study just
a bit more, hug a little more, spend more time with our children, be a little more vigilant, and vow
to fight evil with good? I for one.
Twelve year old Bridgid Ryan wrote in today’s
Philadelphia Inquirer:
“I have never seen such evil. And yet, I have never seen such good.
I see faces that, days ago were self-absorbed,
now brimming with compassion.
I witness arms that were once clutching briefcases, donating life-giving blood. Through the smoke and rubble, I have
glimpsed faces and arms and hearts that
I might never have known. And this is what I can dream about.”
This is our America, my friends. YOU are our America. I
feel proud of you.#
World
Trade Center
Sep 16, 2001 19:49 PDT
not sure whether or not I sent this to the
Weihsien group. If so, please excuse
the duplication. It's something that my wife, Jane, wrote for a community prayer vigil at our synagogue.
==========================================================
We had
heard that first plane fly over us. Like all New Yorkers we hear planes go over us so often we don't hear them, but
we took note of that plane. Much too loud, too low, grinding, roaring
through, much too fast. But it was
still early in the morning for us and we didn't make much of it. It was maybe five minutes later,
however, when we heard WINS say,
"This just in. . . . " And then we knew what
we had heard.
Now, along with others - mostly NYU students spilled
out of their dorm - we stood on the
corner of Fifth Avenue and 10th Street where we live. Looking south, we watched. We'd already seen the first impact,
although only on our tv screen. Now
that we were out on the street, we stood
staring, my camera at the ready but not I. Horror setting in, I waited; what else to do? And
then, as we watched, all at once - the tower on the right, the first to have been attacked - just . . . . lowered
itself. It sank. Imploding, it took
our people and their stories with it. The
integrity of its shape was. . . . gone. The clouds no longer
billowed around it; the clouds were
it. Viscerally some part of me sank with it.
I gasped and my hands dropped down, the camera swinging somewhere at
knee level. And then, almost
immediately, a surge. I swung the camera up -
quickly, very quickly - the weight of it satisfying, and my hands
deftly finding all the right buttons,
and the clouds were in my viewfinder and I
clicked. I clicked again. And again. It was now very important that
I capture this whirling evanescent
shape. That I stabilize it, even as it
was disappearing before my eyes. I was holding on to something even if
it was only the process of vanishing.
Keep clicking. I clicked many times. I
don't know how many, but many. And finally, I wheeled around to the source of the moans I had been hearing and
deliberately ignoring thinking that they
can wait, the story of the constantly changing clouds could not. I clicked here too. The faces were raised
upward, staring south of course -
stunned, pained, disbelieving. I was struck by how many had covered their mouths with a hand (why? I wonder
what a psychologist would say?) - and
I clicked again, feeling self-conscious and intrusive. But I didn't stop clicking for a long
time. Then, turning south again, but now slowly, resignedly, spent, I took one final
shot of what was left; the emptiness
beyond Washington Square Arch. The memorial to the World Trade disaster will be in the eloquence of that
negative space.
Much later in the day I described this scene to one of
my sons. He said, "Why?"
"Well, why what?" "Why did you take these shots? Why would you
ever want to see them
again?" Well, I hadn't thought about why. Until
then.
But, of course, it must have been because I experienced this as an "historic moment". What is that?
Well, perhaps the "historic moment" is the moment of transition - the split second when what was. . . .
will never be again. And inevitably,
when something else begins. While that
expanse of sky will never hold those towers again and will remain empty
for many of us - no matter what is
ever built there - our collective lives
will not remain empty. Other - nascent - configurations of the
World Trade Center - political,
economic, architectural, cultural - are poised to form. Transition.
*
* * * * I
didn't rush to print the roll of film. I've not done it
yet. I'm not ready
for that transition, to whatever it might be. Past and present - and surely the future - are equally
formidable. There are those who would destroy us for whom we have no coordinates.
Confronted as we have been with the
grotesque mixture of tribal passions and today's technology, we will need to stay very close to one another. All
throughout our city - and others -
there are homes behind whose walls people are grieving and suffering ineffable sorrows. They are not ready yet for the
transition.
But it will come; it's still very
early. We don't know what things will
be like. We only know nothing will ever be the same.
But in varying
shapes most of us have known ineffable sorrow at one time or another. Two years after my first
husband died, a young friend of mine
lost her husband with whom she had been very much in love. Somewhere in our many talks I told her that, even though
she couldn't believe it then, she
would some day want to love again. She laughed, amused but unbelieving. Now, three years later,
Shelley is no longer alone. Yes, I'm
sure she still grieves, and nothing will ever, ever be the same, but she also has a good new life and she is not
all alone. With help from one another, individually and collectively, we will eventually -- as
Mordecai Kaplan said and as we have
chosen to inscribe in our sanctuary -- "discover within ourselves unsuspected powers of the spirit."
My spech at Haddonfield, N.J.'s
candlelight "Coming Together"
Sep
17, 2001 08:11 PDT
Here's a speech I gave last night
for an open air, candlelight "Coming
Together:" in our town, Haddonfield, New Jersey.:
Speech by Mary T.
Previte
September 16, 2001
I spread the snapshots of America across the album of my heart this week.
And I felt proud.
This was a week of carnage and courage.
First, came the bullies, the cheats, the terrorists, the sneaks.
They trained in our flight schools. They used our airplanes. They savagely murdered our citizens. They stole our sense
of security. They shook our being to
the core. They planned to destroy and devastate our cities. They counted on our being a collection of
“me-first” individuals. They thought we
would crumble.
They were wrong. A tragedy that could have torn us
apart made us a
family. It brought us the warm courage of
national unity.
Tonight let's open the albums of our hearts. Look at snapshots of our America:
* The passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, responding with valor as
dread ruled the skies above
Pennsylvania. They apparently gave their lives to save countless others. America showed its soul
this week. And I feel proud.
* The firefighters, police and other emergency responders of New York
City, who hesitated not one second to
plunge into a wobbly hell to save their
fellow citizens. Thousands of people who forgot about themselves and
went to help.
* Firemen hoisting Old Glory on a giant crane above the rubble of New
York. America showed its soul this
week. And I feel proud.
* The rescue workers, doctors and nurses who have shrugged off
sleeplessness and stark horror to keep
searching the rubble for any who could be healed and many who could not.
* Tough-guy, he-men chanting U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A. Tough guy, he-men
weeping. I loved it that they wept. And
I wept too. America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
* On the steps of the nation’s Capitol --Congressmen and women, Senators -every race, gender, ethnic and political
group, hand in hand -- singing “God
Bless America.” America showed its soul this week. And I feel proud.
* Hometown snapshots in the album of my heart -- Kings Highway flying red, white, and blue from one end to the other.
* Very proper neighbors wearing flags on hats, fluttering them along driveways, on their dogs, on cars, waving
them wildly to make sure that everyone
would see.
* Up the street, Lucky’s Ice Cream parlor posting a sign in the window: 5 percent of all its profits would go to
families who lost so much this week.
* The voice on the intercom reminding shoppers in my grocery store --
You can put bottled water, band aids, gauze, Danish in the containers
right up front and it will all be in
New York for rescue workers by noon. The sign said the grocery chain would match
contributions to the relief fund --up
to a million dollars. America showed its soul this week. And I feel
proud.
* A social worker in my neighborhood volunteering as a grief counselor in
New York. A county maintenance director
personally posting small American flags
on county buildings. A secretary in my workplace, printing red,white
and blue flags from off her computer and
posting them on the door of every office
in the building. The lady at the library’s magazine
counter wearing red, white, and blue
ribbons pinned to her shoulder. America showed its soul this
week. And I feel proud.
Some people say America has lost its soul -- they say
that America has no heroes. I know
they’re wrong.
May I tell you a very personal story? I met America’s
heroes a long, long time ago. I fell in
love with America 56 years ago. August 17, 1945. I will never forget that day. They were spilling from the belly
of a B-24 bomber. Six America heroes --
like those this week -- risking their lives
for people they didn’t even know. For three years I had been a
child prisoner in a Japanese
concentration camp in China. For 5 1/2 years I had not seen my missionary parents. And now American heroes were
dropping from the skies. We turned
these liberators into gods. We wanted their buttons.
We wanted their insignia. We cut off souvenir pieces of their hair. Oh, yes, yes, yes! We sang, too. God bless
America.
In 1997, I went looking for the soul of America and it
is beautiful. Through a string of
miracles, I tracked down these heroes from 1945. I found them. Then I criss-crossed America to say
thank you to each of them face to face.
I keep in touch with them.
Yes, America has heroes. I know their names. I have
seen their faces. I stand here tonight
because of their heroism.
This week I found -- America found -- new heroes.
What will we give? Who will work just a little bit
harder? Give a little more, study just
a bit more, hug a little more, spend more time with our children, be a little more vigilant, and vow
to fight evil with good? I for one.
Twelve year old Bridgid Ryan wrote in today’s
Philadelphia Inquirer:
“I have never seen such evil. And yet, I have never seen such good.
I see faces that, days ago were self-absorbed, now brimming with compassion.
I witness arms that were once clutching briefcases, donating life-giving blood. Through the smoke and rubble, I have
glimpsed faces and arms and hearts that
I might never have known. And this is what I can dream about.”
This is our America, my friends. YOU are our America. I
feel proud.#
Re:
World Trade Center
Sep
17, 2001 21:31 PDT
Thank you so much Donald...and Jane.. for that
thoughtful piece. May we indeed move beyond emotions to feelings as you so
beautifully did, using the mind as a gathering place to sift and evaluate,
transmuting reaction into a full response to contact. As much as we love, that
much we will understand.
As much as we understand, that much we will love. So onwards and upwards with
the work of a human being! No more can we think rationality can be establish
from a basis of violence and fear, no matter which side does it.
Let's be mediators, not manipulators. Love to us all as we
move through this trauma, Alison Martin Holmes
RE:
World Trade Center
Sep 18, 2001 19:52 PDT
Bill. Mum thinks you look beautiful. So do I.
You do not seem to have put on weight.
Was that Australian wine on the table?
You are the best judge about investments it was only a thought from me. I saw in the Herald today that the
Thunderbirds from USA are cancelled. I
have not heard from the trip operator whether it is still on or not but
I will decide what to do when I hear
from him. I am growing pretty cold on
the trip because of last minute cancellation problems. I might say I
will pay at the check in counter but I
will at the moment wait and see. Have a
good time at the function. You have not told us what the function is
about and we are thinking Singapore is
going to great pains to welcome you. It's
a nice thought. Weather is good here - about 24 today. Love Dad.
Re:
Weihsien Visit
Sep 24, 2001 10:57 PDT
Dear Donald:
I still have not received my two sets of pictures ordered three months ago.
Could you let me know if you have received my order and the check that
accompanied it. Thanks.
Beryl Rogers, PO Box 387 Warrington PA 18976
Re:
Weihsien Visit
Sep 24, 2001 11:17 PDT
I'm pretty sure that I sent them, and cashed
your check, but if they didn't arrive, I'll send another two sets.
Re:
Weihsien Visit
Sep 24, 2001 11:29 PDT
Dear Donald
When did you send them. That will give me an idea of how to look and plan.
If they did not arrive to day - I will let you know.
Beryl
Beryl Rogers (nee Buist)
Sep 25, 2001 02:44 PDT
Hi Beryl
This is your little brother. Please do me a favour (do you notice that I use
the English spelling ! !!!).
Please send me a message with your e-mail address as my hard disk failed and I
have had to replace it. I have therefore lost all the Rogers family addresses.
I look forward to hearing from you VERY soon.
Love from the best looking member of our family.
G
Re: Beryl
Rogers (nee Buist)
Sep 26, 2001 05:48 PDT
Hi Gordon:
My current e-mail address is bro-@haberern.com however I am going out on disability (actually I went out Sept. 1) so
it might be better to use Don's donr-@sw-mins.org. Technically I am out on disability but the owner of the business is
dying of brain tumours so I am still coming in periodically to help out until
agency is sold. . How are you. Keeping well I hope. Kris was talking about
coming to visit you with his family over the Christmas break. I guess you have
heard that. We have just returned from visiting them in Korea and we took (all
of us) a 4 day trip to Beijing. We thought it was going to be cancelled because
of the bombing in NY but he got clearance on the 16th to go and we left the
next morning. We had a great time. Some places seemed familiar - some of them I
had seen pictures of Mum and Dad in the same location so it was really neat to
be a part of the same memory.
I will have to move my e-mail address at the weih-@topica.com also. Got to get back to work. Love you.
Beryl
monday
and tuesday
Sep 26, 2001 18:41 PDT
On
Monday we e-mailed jokes
On
Tuesday we did not
On
Monday we thought that we were secure
On
Tuesday we learned better
On
Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes
On
Tuesday we relearned who our heroes are
On
Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived
On
Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met
On
Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools
On
Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where
someone
was not praying
On
Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room
On
Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids
On
Monday people were upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast food drive through line
On
Tuesday people didn't care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood for the dying
On
Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity
On
Tuesday we waved only the American flag
On
Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, colour and creed.
On
Tuesday they were all holding hands
On
Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich or poor, gay or straight, Christian or
non-Christian.
On
Tuesday we were Americans
On
Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses
On
Tuesday grief stricken they sang 'God Bless America'
On
Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children
On
Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children
On
Monday we had families
On
Tuesday we had orphans
On
Monday people went to work as usual
On
Tuesday they died
On
Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property
On
Tuesday the same people all said 'God help us all' while thinking, Thou shall not kill'
It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into
perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have
taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully
will never be forgotten again.
Re: FW: e-mail charge
Sep 28, 2001 20:13 PDT
apparently its hoax, looks like I'll fall for
anything anymore.
Fwd:
Check out Imagine...
Sep 29, 2001 20:36 PDT
May
God bless our President.
Note: forwarded message attached.
Birthday
of one of our liberators
Nov 03, 2001 18:41 PST
Hello, Everyone,
Jim Hannon, one of our Weihsien liberators, will
celebrate his birthday on November 12.
His address is:
James J. Hannon, Phone: 760-365-2210
P.O. Box 1376
Yucca Valley, CA 92286
The next birthday coming up is Major Stanley Staiger on
December 30.
Stanley A. Staiger, Phone:775-825-3766
Village of the Pines
700 E. Peckam Lanes, Apartment 259
Reno, NV 89502
Mary Previte
Contact
the manufacturer or source
Nov 18, 2001 23:06 PST
If you have a question regarding
Microsoft Transaction Server, Microsoft
Message Queue Server, or Microsoft Data
Access Components, see the Pay-Per-Incident topic
included in the Direct Assistance section of this Help file.
NOTE: Support may be limited if you are running Windows 98 Second Edition on hardware that is not on
the Hardware Compatibility List. You
can find the Hardware Compatibility
List on your Windows 98 Second Edition disk or CD. However, the list is updated as necessary.
VIRUS
in "Re: Contact the manufacturer or source"
Nov 19, 2001 11:04 PST
****Virus Alert****
The attachments to Joyce Bradbury's message below contain Virus W32.Magis-@mm.
Joyce, you need to get your computer disenfected for the virus. Margaret Beard
Happy
Thanksgiving
Nov 21, 2001 05:47 PST
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone,
I have so much to be thankful for -- including long-ago
friends like you.
You Chefoo students, I LOVED your Weihsien memories
that appeared in the 2001 CHEFOO
MAZGAZINE -- reprinted from this memory bulletin board.
On Veterans' Day last week, I spoke by telephone to all
of our living Weihsien rescuers-- Major
Stanley Staiger, Jim Moore, Tad Nagaki, and Jim Hannon. Stanley Staiger is very frail and suffers from a variety
of ailments that keeps him in bed much
of the time. The other three say they are in
pretty good health.
Tad Nagaki continues farming in Alliance,
Nebraska. Though he tells me he's cut
back this year.
Jim and Pat Moore continue to be active in an
astonishing range of activities that
keep them circulating in their community and their church in Dallas, Texas. I stayed overnight with them
late this summer when I was in Texas to
train juvenile justice professionals.
In California, Jim and Gin Hannon continue working
non-stop on their manuscripts. One of
Stephen Speilberg's projects interviewed Jim recently about his experience escaping from a German POW camp in Europe
during World War II. Jim was captured
and imprisoned the year before he was part of the team that liberated Weihsien. Jim's been writing a book about
that experience -- hoping that it will
turn into a movie. He continues to mention finding Amelia Earhart in the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center.
Mary Previte
Holiday
greeting for our rescuers.
Dec 02, 2001 15:24 PST
Hello, Everyone,
If you'd like to mail Christmas cards to the heroes who
liberated us from Weihsien in 1945,
here are their current addresses. Also, let's shower Major Stanley Staiger with birthday cards for his 83rd birthday,
December 30. He's continues to suffer
very frail health and is completely alone.
WEIHSIEN
RESCUE TEAM (DUCK MISSION) --
current addresses
Mrs. Raymond Hanchulak (Helen)
Birthday
of Raymond Hanchulak: August 23, 1916
Birthday
of Helen Hanchulak: April 18
Phone: 570-472-3520
P.O. Box 4
243 Laurie Lane
Bear Creek Village, PA 18602
James J. Hannon Birthday: November 12, 1919
Phone: 760-365-2210 Fax: 760-365-3320
P. O Box 1376,
Yucca Valley, CA 92286
James W. Moore Birthday: October 5, 1919
Phone: 214-341-8695
9605 Robin Song Street
Dallas, Texas 75243
Tad Nagaki Birthday:
January 25, 1920
Phone: 308-762-2968
5851 Logan Road, Alliance, NE 69301
Mrs. Peter Orlich (Carol) Birthday of Peter Orlich: May
4, 1923
Phone:
718-746-8122 Birthday
of Carol Orlich: June 13, 1921
15727 20th Road
Whiteston, N.Y. 11357
Stanley A. Staiger Birthday: December 30, 1917
Phone: 775-825-3766
Village of the Pines
700 E. Peckam Lane, Apartment 259
Reno, NV 89502
Mary Previte
Research
question
Dec 19, 2001 15:25 PST
Can anyone suggest how I find out more details
about how long it would have taken in 1945 to travel by the SS Arawak from
Hongkong to London? I think we slept in hammocks and the food was awful after
the bounties our liberators brought us. I want my memories fleshed out with
facts! Thank you so much. Alison Martin Holmes
Re:
Research question
Dec 19, 2001 19:26 PST
Dear Alison. Sorry I cannot answer your query.
All I remember is it took a lifetime to come from Hong Kong to Australia via
Rabaul. All the best for Christmas. Love. Joyce Bradbury.
Re:
Research question
Dec 20, 2001 11:01 PST
On Wed 19 Dec 2001 (15:17:57), ahol-@prescott.edu wrote:
Can anyone suggest how I find out more
details about how long it would have taken in 1945 to travel by the SS Arawak
from Hongkong to London?
I think we slept in hammocks and the food was awful after the bounties our
liberators brought us. I want my memories fleshed out with facts!
Thank you so much.
Dear Alison,
Yes, I can, because I was on the ship too. It was called the SS Arawa, and the
journey took 4 or 5 weeks. I remember that we travelled via the Suez Canal.
There was an awful storm in the Mediterranean, which probably slowed us down a
bit, but we had good weather in the Bay of Biscay.
To keep us safe and occupied, the staff continued to teach us. We owe them a
tremendous debt for all they did for us, both in camp and afterwards, as I
hardly need tell you, Alison. On the ship, some of us shared cabins, but many
slept in hammocks as you said.
I hope these sentences are helpful. Greetings to you and your family, and best
wishes for a happy Christmas from Joanna Crick (nee Goodwin), CSA.
"God is still on the throne"
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.c-@argonet.co.uk>;
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
Welcome,
Joanna,
Dec 20, 2001 16:05 PST
Welcome, Joanna Goodwin,
How lovely that you've joined our memory network! I
hope you'll keep our e-mail lively with
Weihsien memories.
My GOING HOME FROM WEIHSIEN story was an adventure. Six
Chefoo children -- Kathleen, Jamie,
Mary, and John Taylor, David Allen, and Raymond Moore-- were flown from Weihsien to an American Office of
Strategic Services base in Sian, Shensi
province, September 10, 1945, in the second plane load of prisoners repatriated from the camp.
We Taylor children had not seen our parents for 5 1/2
years. We were reunited with our
parents, James and Alice Taylor, on September 11, 1945, in Shensi province. (After the year 2001, none
of us in the USA will ever forget that
date -- September 11.) While our parents finished out a year at the Bible School where they were teaching,
we Taylors stayed in China for almost a
year after Americans liberated us. Then we adventured across China, heading for Shanghai in spring less mule
carts, on trains jammed, wall-to-wall,
inside and outside with Chinese travellers trying to get home.
Sometimes at night we slept on mule carts under the stars. On the dusty roads on those mule carts, mother gave us
raw Chinese turnips to eat to slake our
thirst.
In Shanghai, we stayed at the China Inland Mission
headquarters on Sinza Road, trying
desperately and unsuccessfully to get passage to the United States. The whole world -- it seems -- was
trying to get to America. In
Shanghai, I was dazzled by neon lights, Coco Cola, and Nancy Drew
books. Some of us -- me included -- had
contraced trachoma -- so were banned from
getting into the USA until were were treated and pronounced clear of
this dreaded eye disease. Besides this,
no ship heading to the States had room
for six Taylors. (We had added a new Taylor brother while were
separated from our parents.) So to get
"home," the Taylor family finally split up. Jamie went ahead. The rest of us followed on the American troop
ship, USS Meigs. I can't remember how
long the trip took from Shanghai to San
Francisco. But I remember seeing the Golden Gate Bridge.
What were your adventures going home?
I'm enjoying the new Eric Liddell biography, PURE GOLD,
by David McCasland, Discovery House
Publishers. You'll love the memories triggered
by the photos, drawings and names from Weihsien as well as the whole
section of the book about Eric in
"Weihsien Civil Assembly Center." You'll
remember the names -- Brigadier
Stranks, Father Scanlon, Joe Cotterill, Father
DeJaegher, Mr. Egger (the Swiss emmissary).
Happy holidays to each of you,
Mary Taylor Previte
Re:
Research question
Dec 20, 2001 16:23 PST
Alison, We were on a
similar ship. I disremember its name, but it was not the ARAWAK. It had once been a frozen mutton transport ship
from Australia to England. We also
slept in hammocks and had a supply of
ancient dusty chocolate bars. Out of Hong Kong he South China Sea was
like a mirror. We stopped in Singapore
and Colombo but were not allowed off the
ship. We watched in fascination as we passed through the Suez Canal.
Near Malta we had some high seas, but
soon we were crossing the Bay of Biscay
and docked in Liverpool in late December 1945. I would have guessed that
we were 6 weeks out of Hong Kong.
Stanley
Thompson
RE:
Research question
Dec 21, 2001 10:07 PST
Alison,
The journey largely depended on how many stops. But Typically HK, Singapore,
Penang, Colombo, Suez, Port Said, UK was four weeks. However from the name of
your ship it could have been a converted freighter and may have taken a week
longer. I did Shanghai to Liverpool in late 1946 in five weeks and HK to
Tilbury(London) in Four weeks in 1951. The times for ships had been relatively
static since world war 1.
Rgds
Ron Bridge
"FORGIVEN
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"
Dec 31, 2001 11:22 PST
I am trying to find out where Armen Baliantz
can buy a copy of Joyce Bradbury's book
"FORGIVEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". (Mrs. Baliantz was held in the Weihsien Internment Camp during World
War II and wants to read your book.) I
thank anyone in advance for any help they can offer.
WALLACE POTTS