Bonds forged on battlefield remembered at ceremony

Political leaders, descendants of war heroes, historians and community members gathered aboard the USS Hornet Museum over the weekend to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, paying tribute to shared sacrifice and calling on attendees to carry forward the legacy of peace and cooperation.

The ceremony, held on the deck of the historic aircraft carrier in Alameda, California, was co-organized by the USS Hornet Museum, the Carter Center, the WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall and other groups. Organizers said the gathering aimed to preserve the historical memory of World War II and deepen public understanding of the China-US wartime alliance through academic exchanges, historical exhibitions and public participation.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng addressed the audience via video, highlighting the profound significance of the anniversary.

"Eighty years ago, the Chinese people, together with the American people and all forces for justice around the world, completely defeated the fascist powers with unbreakable will and heroic resistance," Xie said. "Eighty years later, it is more important than ever for us to take history as our guide, draw wisdom from that victory, and jointly create a future of peace."

Spirit of solidarity

The ambassador cited wartime cooperation efforts such as the assistance from the Flying Tigers air squadron, the Doolittle Raid rescue mission, the "Hump Route "supply line and the Stilwell Road development in Myanmar as enduring symbols of solidarity. The commemoration featured extensive photo exhibitions showcasing these and other pivotal moments of cooperation between both countries during the war.

"The friendship forged between our peoples in blood and fire has been passed down from generation to generation and keeps flourishing," he said, referencing the warm reception US veterans have received in China and the continued efforts of both nations to remember their shared history.

Zhang Jianmin, China's consul general in San Francisco, praised the spirit of international solidarity on display at the event.

"Looking around this venue, we are surrounded by time-honored photos that have captured images of fierce battles, international friends fighting shoulder to shoulder and ordinary people defending their homeland with unyielding courage," Zhang said. "These moving stories reveal a simple but powerful truth: when the international community stands united, we can overcome any evil and safeguard peace for all."

John Easterbrook, grandson of General Joseph Stilwell, attended the event with his daughters and grandchildren, representing five generations of the Stilwell family's connection to China.

Stilwell commanded the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II and developed deep respect for the Chinese people through multiple tours of duty in the 1920s and 1930s.

"Stilwell's legacy of friendship with and respect for the Chinese people has now been perpetuated down through five generations of the Stilwell family," Easterbrook said. "Over the years, we have been involved in a number of joint people-to-people activities designed to build on Stilwell's legacy and give visibility to the assistance America gave to China during World War II."

The initiatives that the Stilwell family has supported include: the Stilwell Museum in Chongqing, housed in the general's former wartime residence; the Stilwell Scholarship, which has helped more than 60 Chinese graduate students attend the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California; and an exhibition called National Memories that focused on the support the US gave to China during the war.

Remembering the raid

George Retelas carried a personal link to a pivotal moment in World War II history, when US and Chinese forces united in a daring operation that changed the course of the Pacific War.

His grandfather, a US Navy mechanic at Alameda Naval Air Station, helped arm 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers on an April night in 1942, preparing them for the historic Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. The mission, which was the US military's first strike against Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack, ultimately relied on Chinese rescue efforts when most aircrews crash-landed or bailed out over Chinese territory.

In a remarkable display of courage that came at enormous cost, Chinese forces and civilians risked their lives to save 64 US airmen after the Doolittle Raid. In Quzhou, Zhejiang province, 51 airmen found refuge in homes and schools as they hid from Japanese forces searching for them.

The rescue operations triggered brutal Japanese retaliation. An estimated 250,000 Chinese civilians in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces were killed in Japan's retaliatory campaigns against communities that aided the airmen.

Retelas, a volunteer at the USS Hornet Museum, discovered historical film footage of the Doolittle Raiders training before their mission. Earlier this year, he visited the Doolittle Raid Memorial Hall in Quzhou, where he proposed an exchange with the staff workers.

"I asked them whether I could trade the film for a piece of US bomber wreckage," Retelas recalled. "They said yes."

An 8-inch fragment of fuselage from the B-25 bomber Whirling Dervish, which crashed in China after the raid, is now displayed at the USS Hornet Museum as a symbol of shared sacrifice.

"It's a testimony to the shared sacrifice of the United States and China," Retelas said. "My hope is that future generations can use this example to find a way forward for cooperation and friendship."

Among the historical displays was a special photo exhibit curated by Zhang Ruwei, founding president of the Shandong Friendship Association of California, titled Taierzhuang Battle Through the Lens of International Journalists.

The exhibit featured wartime photos that documented the 1938 battle where Chinese forces dealt a significant blow to Japanese troops.

"History needs to be preserved and shared," Zhang said. "Every Chinese person should remember the atrocities committed by Japanese militarists. These photos taken by international journalists stand as hard evidence of Japan's crimes, even 80 years later."

Barbara Smith, vice-president of peace programs at the Carter Center, said commemorating the alliance between China and the United States during World War II humanizes international relations and can offer a foundation for renewed cooperation today.

"Commemorating US-China cooperation during World War II is not only a tribute to shared sacrifice, but also a powerful reminder of the potential for collaboration between two global powers," Smith said. "The wartime alliance demonstrates that even amid ideological differences and cultural divides, cooperation is possible when guided by common goals. In today's complex geopolitical landscape, this lesson is more relevant than ever."