American ninety veterans looking for old Chinese ladies, why
In 2010, American World War II veteran Allen Larsen toured China, which aroused the attention of many people. The veteran is in the spotlight because of his deep ties to China.
More than 70 years ago, as a member of the "Flying Tigers" of the United States, he fought against the Japanese in China and made great achievements for the country. 70 years later, he compiled the ** taken in China that year into a book, which became a precious material for studying the social landscape of China at that time.
When Larsen arrived in Shanghai, he was warmly welcomed by the Chinese, which made him, an old man in his nineties, ecstatic. In addition to wanting to see the style of China in the new era, he also had an important purpose, which was to find an old friend.
Alan Larsen once had a relationship with a girl named Doudou. The girl was holding a doll that Larsen had bought, and the two took a photo together in Chongqing in 1945, when Doudou was only five years old.
Larsen hoped to find the old man, and if she was still alive, he wanted to catch up with her; If she had died, he wanted to send a flower to her grave. But with a population of 1.4 billion, it was very difficult to find the girl.
She is now in her 70s, I wonder if she is still alive, can Larsen's wish come true?
Larsen, who has been curious about China since he was a child, has always dreamed of experiencing this mysterious ancient country in the East. However, there has never been a chance for him to fulfill this wish. It wasn't until 1943 that Larsen finally waited for a precious opportunity.
At this time, China was going through the ordeal of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and in order to help China fight against Japan, the United States selected Chennault's flying troops, affectionately known as the "Flying Tigers".
Larsen's dream came true, and he finally had the opportunity to experience China first-hand and fight alongside China's anti-Japanese fighters.
When Larsen was 20 years old, the country was in the midst of war, and he had to leave his studies and join the Air Force to work in cartography. He was then drafted into the Flying Tigers and came to China to fight in the war.
Before coming to China, Larsen was so excited that he bought a Kodak color camera to capture the richness of China. In September 1943, he flew to the southwest of our country, overlooking the green rice fields from the plane, and was full of curiosity about this land.
When landing at Kunming Airport, he couldn't wait to look around and take a deep breath of the local air. Then, he and his comrades took to the streets of Kunming to take a closer look at the country.
The streets of Kunming are bustling with activity, with small traders and pedestrians looking at them foreigners with curious eyes.
Under the lens of Alan Larsen, the ancient city of Kunming presents a scene of harmony and prosperity. Instead of feeling the pain of war and poverty, he was attracted by the scene of people coming and going, and felt a sense of ease that he had never felt before.
He was deeply touched by the warmth and simple smiles of the local people, which he had never experienced before in the United States. He excitedly picked up his camera to record the beautiful picture of this legendary ancient oriental country.
Kunming citizens are immersed in the world of pictorials, and during this period, in addition to daily training, Larsen also has in-depth exchanges with Chinese. For Chinese, Larsen's impression can be described in two words: enthusiasm.
This impression lingered throughout his life and made him full of respect for the Chinese. However, this peaceful life did not last long, and the frenzied Japanese invaders were already eyeing Kunming.
On Christmas Day in 1943, the Japanese army launched a fierce bombing of Kunming that night! Larsen and his comrades engaged in a fierce battle with the Japanese that night, which lasted all night!
The next day, the Japanese retreated, but the city of Kunming had been bombed to pieces! On that day, the streets were full of debris and broken walls, as well as the cries and cries of children for help.
It was at this moment that Larsen understood that the Chinese had endured countless hardships, but they hid their sorrows deep in their hearts and lived strongly.
After the night attack by the Japanese invaders, the airport was severely damaged and the runway was urgently repaired. The airfield where Lassen was located became a target for Japanese bombing. In such a difficult time, the kind and simple Chinese people reached out to help.
They used their hands to dig and fill in the soil to help the members of the "Flying Tigers" repair the airport road. Larsen and the Chinese build roads together, full of energy! Although the Chinese people had few tools, they accomplished the difficult task with their hands, and even cared for Larsen, handing him a bowl of water to quench his thirst.
At that moment, Larsen's heart was full of warmth and he felt the diligence and kindness of the Chinese. These fond memories made him convinced that the Chinese people would be able to defeat the Japanese invaders. After the airport was repaired, Larsen picked up his camera and took pictures of these precious **, and cherished this beautiful memory forever.
After the war, Larsen served in Kunming for more than a year, fighting many fierce battles with the Japanese army. However, in his busy military life, he always found time to record everything in China with his camera.
One day, he saw a little girl with a lollipop in her hand, following her mother on the street, and this image reminded him of his mother, as if he had gone back to his childhood.
So he stepped forward, took a picture with the little girl, and named ** "Lollipop Girl". Larsen sent this ** to the United States on the other side of the ocean, so that his mother could also see this warm scene.
Larsen, who originally wanted to give the lollipop girl doll and lollipop, had to leave because the war was drawing to a close. Although he very much hoped to see the girl again, the population was highly mobile, and finding her was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
With regret, Larsen could only go to Chongqing to stand by.
After Larsen, a child from Kunming, arrives in Chongqing, he meets a girl he will never forget. Their story began in early August 1945, when Larsen and his comrades were stationed at Chongqing Air Force Base, and he was fascinated by the beauty of the city.
As the war drew to a close, and Larsen had more free time, he began to take pictures on the streets. He had planned to send the doll to Chongqing, but unfortunately, there was no one to send the doll out.
However, on this day, Larsen met another little girl, and their encounter made Larsen have a deeper attachment to Chongqing.
Larsen and his comrades went to the field hospital, and in the courtyard of the hospital, he met a lively and cute little girl. The little girl wore a small white dress, very similar to the girl he had seen in Kunming.
Larsen excitedly walked up to her, greeted and wanted to take a picture of her. Sadly, though, she wasn't the kid Larsen was looking for. But this little girl surprised him, she was not timid, she was vivid and cute.
Larsen's heart was warmed by her, and he picked up the camera, wanting to capture a beautiful moment for her. At this time, a few ** came over and said something to the little girl.
Larsen couldn't understand Chinese, but he heard one of the ** call her "Doudou." Larsen was convinced that "Doudou" was the girl's name, so he tried to shout, "Doudou." ”
Unexpectedly, the little girl really answered him: "Hello uncle! This made Larsen very happy, and he hurried back to the dormitory with his comrades, took out a doll that had not been opened, and gave it to the little girl.
After the little girl got this doll, she ran around with joy, and Larsen took the opportunity to take a lot of **. He found out that the little girl's mother was the one.
* After seeing the doll in the little girl's arms, he said to Larsen, "You hurry up and return the doll to your uncle." However, the little girl was very fond of this doll and refused to let go.
Larsen stepped forward and patted the little girl's mother, and then pointed to the camera in his hand, and the little girl's mother also understood what Larsen meant, so she stood in front of the camera and asked Larsen to take a few group photos.
The little girl's mother also wanted to return the doll to Larsen, but Larsen refused and left.
The people of Chongqing were ecstatic to celebrate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, and at this moment of celebration, Larsen washed out and gave away **, giving them to Doudou's mother. On this day, which coincided with August 15, 1945, the exciting news came on the radio: "Japan surrenders unconditionally, and the war is over!" ”
This news caused a huge shock among the Chinese people. The entire hospital, the streets, and even every corner that Larsen could see were filled with the cheers of the Chinese people and the good news passed on to each other, and the excitement and excitement of the scene made Larsen unforgettable.
Unable to understand Chinese, Larsen did not know much about this historic news, and he just celebrated it in the streets with the Chinese people, thinking it was a holiday.
However, when he returned to the base, he learned that Japan had announced its surrender.
On the wharf in Chongqing, Larsen was full of joy. He had not returned for three years, and now that the war was over, he was about to return to the United States. But he deeply regretted the imminent farewell to China.
Before he left for China, he decided to spend time with his Chinese friends. He often visits Doudou in the hospital and takes her to buy food. During that short but beautiful time together, Larsen and Doudou mother and daughter developed a deep friendship.
When Larsen was about to leave Chongqing, Doudou's mother and daughter also came to see him off. He thought that Larsen would not cry, but when he saw the tears in Doudou's eyes, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
After leaving Chongqing, Larsen did not return to the United States directly, but traveled to Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shanghai according to the arrangement of the people**. In the process, he used his camera to record the great rivers and mountains in China at that time.
Larsen boarded a plane back to the United States in January 1946, and when he returned home, he washed all the **s out. Looking at a few photos with Doudou, his heart was full of nostalgia.
He decided to return to China one day and see Doudou again. After returning to the United States, Larsen went to Boston University, where he served in the U.S. military for 40 years, worked as a civilian, had a happy family life, and had a wife, five children, and five granddaughters.
However, he has always had one wish, which is to return to China. In his home, it was full of ** that he took in China that year, among which the photo with Doudou was placed in the center.
Larsen was curious when he left Shanghai to photograph his grandchildren, and the grandson asked, "Grandpa, who is that little girl?" Why is it in the middle? Larsen smiled and replied, "This is a Chinese girl, an old friend of mine." ”
Over the years, Larsen has not only put ** at home, but also actively communicated with Chinese people in the United States. Because he was deeply moved by Chinese's personality, whenever a Chinese person encountered difficulties, he would always lend a helping hand and go to help.
He also taught his children to respect the Chinese, because the Chinese are a respectable nation. Because of Larsen's friendly attitude towards Chinese, he gradually gained popularity in the Chinese community in the United States, and many Chinese would visit his home to listen to the story behind his **.
When a Chinese writer visited the United States in 2005, he was warmly welcomed by his friend Larsen. At Larsen's home, the writer was fascinated by a wall of Chinese scenery** and exclaimed: "These ** are precious materials for the study of Chinese society. ”
At the suggestion of the writer, Larsen decided to organize and compile these **, and finally published a photo album "China in the Eyes of the Flying Tigers" in 2010, which attracted a warm response from Chinese Americans and wide attention from Chinese academics.
The color** photographs taken by Larsen and his comrades-in-arms have become valuable materials for studying that period of history. Although it shows China under the devastation of war, the warmth and firmness in the eyes of the Chinese deeply moved everyone who saw it.
At the urging of the scholars, Larsen finally received an invitation from China to set foot on this familiar land again. When he learned that he had the opportunity to meet Doudou again, his eyes immediately turned to the ** hanging on the wall, including the photo with Doudou.
While Larsen expressed a desire to find Doudou, finding a man in populous China is not an easy task. In the three years since the news of the missing person was released, there have been no clues.
In May 2013, an uncle in Chengdu accidentally found a group of **, and his eyes were full of surprise, because he saw his sister in this group**.
This uncle's name is Wang Xin, his sister's name is Wang Zhi, and her nickname is "Dudu". Although the pronunciation is different, ** will not lie, because the person on ** is his sister.
Uncle Wang Xin immediately called his sister who was far away in Xinjiang and told him: "Sister, you have become a celebrity among the American Flying Tigers!" Hearing the news, 73-year-old Wang Zhi also felt very puzzled, she asked her younger brother to find a way to send ** over and let her confirm it with her own eyes.
Wang Zhi looked at the ** in her hand in surprise, it was her father's **. She began to recall the bits and pieces of the past, it turned out that her father's name was Xiong, a ballistic scientist who studied in the United States; His mother's surname is Lam and she is from Hong Kong.
After the outbreak of the war, his father studied in the United States, and his mother became the first in Chongqing Hospital. During that time in Chongqing, Wang Zhi met Larsen and had a good time.
However, shortly after Larsen left Chongqing, Wang Zhi suffered a major blow.
Wang Zhi's mother died in a car accident in January 1946, which is heart-wrenching. When her father learned the bad news, he flew back to Chongqing from the United States to deal with his wife's funeral. However, my father could not accept this cruel reality and died of depression soon after.
In just two months, Wang Zhi's parents passed away one after another, bringing her unspeakable trauma. Whenever Wang Zhi felt lonely, she would stare at her mother's **, which was taken by Larsen.
This ** became her spiritual sustenance to her mother. Fortunately, her father's friend Wang Guozhang adopted her and changed her name to Wang Zhi. Wang Guozhang is a mechanical scientist who developed artillery for China during the Anti-Japanese War and participated in the Battle of Songhu.
After the founding of New China, he took Wang Zhi and Wang Xin to the Northeast and made great contributions to the industrial construction of New China, becoming the chief designer of Anshan Angang in Liaoning Province and the chief designer of Anshan Design Institute.
Under the guidance of Wang Guozhang, Wang Zhi was successfully admitted to Peking University in 1959, and after graduation, in response to the call of the motherland, he went to the west to build the country, and in 1971, Wang Zhi and her husband moved to Karamay, Xinjiang to develop oil fields, settled down, and stayed for more than 40 years.
Her younger brother, Wang Xin, chose to engage in research in Chengdu and loved to read in his spare time. This special hobby actually reunited Wang Zhi and Larsen! After Wang Xin saw **, he immediately began to look for clues to Larsen.
He found out that Larsen had been to China three years ago and said he was looking for his sister Wang Zhi. This made Wang Xin excited, and he quickly contacted **, and finally found Larsen through **.
Under the arrangement, Wang Zhi and Larsen had a cross-international conversation.
Wang Zhi and Larsen greet each other and share each other's stories in **. Larsen was deeply moved by Wang's story and invited him to fly to the United States to meet him in 2014, Larsen's 90th birthday.
Wang Zhi was also very excited when he heard the news and gladly accepted the invitation. In 2014, Wang Zhi took his family to Austin City, USA, where Larsen was already waiting.
Two gray-haired old men sat next to each other, reminiscing about the events of those days. Larsen also learns for the first time that he has been calling Doudou for so many years is wrong and should be called Doodoo!
The atmosphere was very cheerful, Wang Zhi's grandson and Larsen's grandson had a lot of fun, and the two old people chatted about family life, although the two families were thousands of miles apart, they met on the other side of the world at this special moment!
This touching story, spanning 70 years, is being recited by people. When China's ** learned of this, it specially invited Wang Zhi and Larsen to participate in a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
As a representative of China-US friendship, Larsen witnessed China's grand military parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015. Looking at China's advanced equipment, he sighed: "China has really become stronger, and there is no need to worry about being bullied anymore!" ”
The September 3 military parade caused a shocking response, and Larsen, who had participated in the event, accepted the invitation to the press conference and shared his feelings. Also present was the grandson of the Soviet general Zhukov, who together ** the topic of military parades and war.
Larsen said: "As an eyewitness of that era, I deeply understand the far-reaching significance of this military parade. Through the parade, we can remind people of the cruelty of war and the bravery of those who died.
In the United States, we often hold similar events, and these military parades are a sign of respect for history and hope for peace. He also recalled that China was still a relatively backward country at that time, but the pace of development today is astounding.
Finally, Larsen shared his story with Wang Zhi, emphasizing that exchanges between China and the United States should be strengthened, and he was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm of the Chinese people and China's development.
He said: "The story of Doudou and I is a symbol of the friendship between China and the United States, and I hope this friendship can last for a long time." ”
Accompanied by Wang Zhi's family, Larsen revisited Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Chongqing, where he had fought. For him, these places are the best memories of China.
At that time, China was poor, backward and devastated, but now, China is prosperous, rich and strong, and the country is peaceful and peaceful, and this huge change has deeply shocked Larsen. He told Wang Zhi: "I have to take some ** pictures to show my American friends, who may still think that China is very backward." ”
Wang Zhi replied with a smile: "They are welcome to come to China to have a look!" ”
Even if one day we are gone, I want my descendants to remember this beautiful friendship! ”
The story of Wang Zhi and Larsen is a friendship that spans time and space and spans more than 70 years, showing the kindness and simplicity of Chinese. Their stories have touched the people on the other side of the ocean, and also made the Chinese people always remember this international friend who helped China and recorded China.