China in WW2

Living Heroes, Part 5

• By Guest blogger
• 26 June, 2015
• No Comments

This is the fifth in a series of articles introducing Chinese veterans of the Second Sino-Japanese War, some of whom are now about 100 years old. The fact that a broader public can now finally learn their stories is all thanks to the Youxin Foundation, which looks after many of the old heroes. The copyright of all photos on this page belongs to the Youxin Foundation.

Wang Xingjun (b. 1924 – see photo above) was a private 1st class in the 1st Platoon, 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Regiment, 10th Division of the Chinese 93rd Army. He now lives in Luzhou, Sichuan province. He was drafted into the army in February 1944 and took part in the Battle of Guilin-Liuzhou. He was repeatedly involved in close combat. In the battle of Darong River north of Guilin, he faced two Japanese soldiers and received a bayonet wound to his chest. He was severely injured and sent to a field hospital.

Chen Peinan (b. 1923) was a soldier in the 476th Regiment, 159th Division of the 65th Army. He now lives in Maoming, Guangdong province. He joined the army in 1941, serving in the transportation and telegraph corps. In 1944 his unit moved to Guangxi, and he took part in the Battle of Guilin-Liuzhou. During the battle of Mengxu, he was injured in the calf. He also served in the guard unit protecting the regiment’s deputy commander, forcing him to stay close to the frontline. After the victory he traveled to Guangxi and Indochina as part of units accepting the Japanese surrender.

Lan Jinxin (b. 1922) was a soldier in the 64th Army’s 156th Division. He now lives in Yangjiang in Guangdong province. In 1944, he followed a group of young men from his village to join the army. He took part in the Battle of Guilin-Liuzhou, but doesn’t remember the exact names of the places where he fought. He has suffered a stroke, and is care for by his son.