New statue recalls enduring legacy of US general in China

A new full-size bronze statue of the late United States Army General Joseph W. Stilwell (1883-1946) was unveiled at the Chongqing Stilwell Museum in Southwest China's Chongqing city recently.

This statue, replacing the previous head sculpture, commemorates the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Stilwell Road during World War II and the enduring friendship between China and the US.

The statue, located in the museum that was once the general's residence, depicts him with a carbine slung over his shoulder, striding confidently and gazing resolutely forward.

As this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, the event, attended by Stilwell's descendants and scholars, highlighted the historical significance of the Stilwell Road — a vital military supply route during World War II — and paid tribute to General Stilwell's legacy and his wartime contributions.

The Stilwell Road, also known as the China-India Road, was a significant military supply route constructed under General Stilwell's leadership. Built from late 1942 and completed in early 1945, this over-1,700-kilometer route connected China with India and Burma (today's Myanmar).

"The unveiling was magnificent," said Susan Mai Easterbrook Cole, General Stilwell's great-granddaughter, during her sixth visit to Chongqing on Thursday. "I think it is a testament to how the Chinese people feel about him, and in return, how he has always felt about the Chinese people."

The statue's unveiling was part of a broader commemoration. On Friday, nine members of the Stilwell family, along with experts from Chongqing city and Yunnan province, embarked on a journey to retrace the Stilwell Road in Yunnan. Their journey will conclude in a visit to the Flying Tigers Museum in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, on Tuesday.

Stilwell commanded the China-Burma-India theater during the war. He had developed deep respect for the Chinese people through multiple tours of duty in the 1920s and 1930s.

The museum received several significant donations on Thursday. Stilwell's great-granddaughter, Nancy Easterbrook Millward, on behalf of her father, John Easterbrook, donated a collection of historical materials. Other donations came from Manny Dume, CEO of the Stilwell Academy, and Tang Xuefeng, an expert from the Chongqing Stilwell Research Center.

Additionally, Tang Boming, former president of Chongqing Jiaotong University, donated a book he edited, Traffic History of the Second World War — The Stilwell Road, to the Stilwell family, Dume and Tamara Roper, headmaster of the Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership.

Notably, on Wednesday, the two great-granddaughters of Stilwell were invited to the V-Day military parade staged at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

"The parade celebration showcased a wonderful display of Chinese patriotism and love of the country, and you just could not get over how spectacular the entire event was," Nancy Easterbrook Millward said. "I think General Stilwell would be so proud to see how far we have come in 80 years in the relationship between the US and China."

Mou Zhixian, former chief expert of the Chongqing Stilwell Research Center and adviser to the Chongqing Flying Tigers Museum, said: "Stilwell was an energetic and talented general who knew a lot about China and spoke Chinese fluently. He led an army known for its strong cohesion and combat effectiveness. He introduced principled, advanced military practices to China and greatly contributed to military aid. He also played an important role in building friendship and cultural exchanges between China and the US."

Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn