People's Liberation Army welcomes 'Uncle Joe'

• Source: The Global Times
• [20:01 May 17 2009]
• Comments

Wang Chuying visits a private World War II museum in Nanjing on July 5, 2007. (Photo: CFP)

The 87-year-old veteran Wang Chuying, who directly served General Stilwell said he was a man with integrity, a man who loved his soldiers.

“It was like a father and son relationship,” said Wang. “He required his soldiers to maintain strict military discipline during training and fighting. But at the same time, he treasured his soldiers and loved them. He took good care of them.”

Stilwell was famous among soldiers at that time for his “democracy in conducting wars, his amiability and the easiness with which you could approach him,” according to Yang Yuxiang, an 84-year-old veteran of 207th division of the Chinese Expeditionary Army.

The caustic character belied a deep concern for the ordinary enlisted man and a contempt for formal military dress codes, etiquette and ceremony.

“In leading the troops, he stressed practicality, effectiveness and pro-activity. He knew what the right decision was to make. He loved and respected the Chinese people and he believed the Chinese people should prevail,” said Wang.

Stillwell was famous for his valiancy in combat. He ordered the Chinese Expeditionary Army to fight in Burma and India, directly contradicting Chiang Kai-shek, chief commander of the Kuomintang, who preferred a defensive posture for complex political reasons. Stilwell reportedly wrote in his diary: “The trouble was largely one of posture. I tried to stand on my feet instead of my knees.”

Embroiled in constant disagreements with Chiang, the relationship deteriorated as Stilwell insisted on a stronger engagement by Chinese forces and made diplomatic approaches to the Chinese Communist Army commanded by Chairman Mao Zedong.