Ten Second World War veterans from the US came back to Shenyang,
Liaoning Province on May 21, where they were imprisoned
during the war. Some of them burst into tears when seeing the old
POW camp and talking about their dead battle companions.
Shenyang Allied POWs camp, set up by the Japanese, was the most
horrible of its kind in China. Between 1942 to 1945, POWs from the
US, Britain, Australia, Holland, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore
were kept there, as many as 2,000 at one time. Most of them died
from torture in the camp. Currently only some 30 former American
POWs are alive, who meet at get-togethers once in a while.
Oliver, in his 80s, came to Shenyang with his wife 3 years ago.
Now he can't walk long for a foot trouble. "This is the place I
tried very hard to forget, but now I want to look at it more, as
long as I am alive," said Oliver.
John, with several medals on his chest, was searching the name
list of the POWs on the wall for his number, 578. "I was marked 578
all through those 3 years of humiliation, and I will never forget
that," said John with complex feelings.
Harris was not a "real" POW, for he was captured after the
surrender of Japan. On August 16, 1945, Harris was sent to Shenyang
POW camp to free Allied POWs there; however, the Japanese soldiers
there knew nothing about the surrender, and captured him. Harris
tried to explain, but they wouldn't listen. The next day, Harris
and other POWs were eventually released.
The veterans held a memorial service at the site of the camp to
commemorate the dead and there imprisonment days.
After the service, they donated many documents and things they
used in the camp to the museum on the site of the camp.
(Chinanews.cn May 23, 2007)
