Revisting the Burma Road

What was the situations and circumstance of Burma when General Sun Li-Jen led the New 38th Division and later the New First Army fighting the Japanese in that region?

Photos of the Burma expedition, pictures of American and Chinese soldiers standing shoulder-to-shoulder, stories of combatants and film clips of activities during the war against Japanese in Burma all remind me of my foster father Sun Li Jen.

What was Burma like then, and how is Myanmar (new name for Burma) today?

Paul Loseby, the webmaster of Burma Star Association, introduced me to Henry de Frahan Alain. His website " Retracing the Old Burma Road with a World War II Jeep" is fascinating.

Alain and I had communicated about making another trip to Burma. Unfortunately, I could not get away from work at that time. However, we kept close contact, and some of our messages are as follows.

On Dec. 30, 200, Alain wrote:

By chance, I have found a French version of the "Stilwell Papers", published in 1949. Extremely interesting! I have read approximately half of the book, so far. I am stunned to discover how rotten the Chinese hierarchy was at that time and how stupid and arrogant Chiang Kai-shek was... Appalling, really. The only one who benefits from a really flattering appreciation from Stilwell is Gen. Sun Li-jen, who is dear to your heart. Was he actually (legally) your adoptive father? "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell deserves the highest praise for having born "Peanut" and his rotten and incompetent clique without resigning. What a man! Best wishes for 2001! My reply goes this way: Happy New Year, first of all.
Thanks for letting me know that there is a French version of Stilwell Papers. I appreciate your telling me how you felt about Gen. Sun.
I have read the English version of Stilwell Papers, and I was also surprised to learn how selfish Chiang Kai Shek was. I felt his military strategy appalling. I cannot forgive Chiang for having sacrificed so many Chinese lives. General Sun personally told me that the military leadership was part to blame for the humiliation by the invading Japanese. He was a commander of a regiment at that time, and could not do much except killing as many Japanese invaders as his Regiment had done. He was badly injured in Shanghai fighting Japanese invasion.
General Stilwell and Chiang had more than a personality conflict. Stilwell strongly disliked Chiang. After I have learned more about Chiang Kai Shek, I really think he should be condemned. Unfortunately, Gen. Stilwell was a victim of Chiang's evil action too. Upon his return, he was not accessible to the media, because President Franklin D. Roosevelt kept him out for the interest of U.S. not to upset Chiang. Chiang spent a lot of money making his image in China and U.S.
There is no doubt that Sun was Stilwell's strongest supporter. Many Americans fought in Burma appreciated Sun and his troops. they wrote to me thanking him for having saved many American fighters.
I certainly want to return love for the love Sun has given me, but it is also the fact that he deserves to be loved. Gen. Sun did not legally adopt me. However, he supported my schooling and treated me as if I was his son. There is certainly a difference in ways he takes care of his own biological children and ways he takes care of his foster sons, but that is very natural. In fact, he treated every one in a unique way.

Publicly, we are known as Adopted Father and Son.

NARA Photos - Tips from Alain

Dear Peter,

I told you I would give you the list of US Signal Corps photo albums I had gone through to duplicate pictures. Here it is ! The six albums about the training of Chinese forces in Ramgarh (India) are very interesting. There are many more albums about China, sorted out by groups of locations put in alphabetic order. You will have a lot of work... and experience a huge excitment !

All the best,

Alain

US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) US Signal Corps photo albums SCA III

CBI

SC 1043 to 1089 World War II, Burma, books 1 to 47
SC 1122 to 1127 World War II, China-Burma-India, books 1 to 6
SC 1128, 1129 World War II, China, Burma Road, books 1, 2
SC 1132 World War II, China, Cha to Che (cfr Chefang)
SC 1134 World War II, China, Chunking
SC 1141 to 1163 World War II, China, Kunming, books 1 to 23
SC 1172 World War II, China, Lungling
SC 1174, 1175 World War II, China, Mangshih, books 1, 2
SC 1179 World War II, China, Paoshan
SC 1185 to 1187 World War II, China, Tengchung, books 1 to 3
SC 1192 World War II, China, Yunnan
SC 1878 to 1883 World War II, India, Calcutta, books 1 to 6
SC 1884, 1885 World War II, India, Chabua, books 1, 2
SC 1891 World War II, India, Karachi
SC 1893 to 1897 World War II, India, Ledo, books 1 to 5
SC 1900, 1901 World War II, India, Margharita, books 1, 2
SC 1902 to 1904 World War II, India, New Delhi, books 1 to 3
SC 1907 to 1912 World War II, India, Ramgarh, books 1 to 6
SC 3066 World War II, Aerial views, ...Burma...
SC 3299 Bombing activities, World War II, China Burma India
SC 4319 Landing operations, World War II, ...Burma...
SC 4359 to 4363 China-Burma-India, Ledo Burma Road, books 1 to 6
SC 4393 Maps & Charts, World War II and after,...Belgium...Burma...Cambodia
SC 5274 Sight seeing, World War II and after, ... Burma ...
SC 5325 Supplies, World War II and after, ...Burma...

My reply

Dear Alain,

I have printed a copy of your list and I will put it in my document that I will bring to the NARA to search for things. Furthermore, I have put your e-mail in my website so that I can access it whereever I am on the Internet.

Just want to let you know how important is the information you have just provided me, because I cannot just say thank you to express my sincere appreciation.

I have a pretty good digital camera HP Photosmart 618. My son baught me a 125-MB card which allows me to take 250 excelent (medium resolution) photos, (500 good, or 125 high resolution). I think I will get another card to copy the photos, and another package of batteries.

Would you please tell me how you copy the photos? I am always learning.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH Again,

Sincerely,

Peter