Chronology of Sun Li-jen
孫立人年譜及歷史大事

1893 Mao Zedong 毛澤東 born on Dec. 26, in Xiantan Hunan (湖南﹐湘潭)
1895 Japan occupied Taiwan at end of Sino-Japanese War
1899 Sun Li-jen born Nev. 27 Solar Calander (農曆10月17) in Shucheng, Anhui, China (安徽﹐舒城).
1900 Sun Yet Sen led a revolution war at Huizhou
孫中山惠州起義失敗。
1904 Russian Empire invaded North East of China (東北). Russia and Japan faught in China.
1905 Sun Li-jen's mother died.

Japan defeated Russia and occupied North East China.

1906 Tutoring started for Sun Li-jen and his younger brother by Soong Chih-chung (father of Mz. Soong Ying, wife of Mr. Liei Cheng).
1907 Sun Yat Sen faught a revolution war at Ching Lien, but failed. He went to Singapore.
孫中山欽廉起義失敗。
1908 Sun Li-jen's father Sun Xizhe became the governor of a district in Shandoon Province.
孫立人父孫熙澤任濟南登州知府
Sun Li-jen attended Jinan German School (濟南德文高等小學)。

The emperor Kwan Shu died, and Hsung Tung started his reign.
光緒帝死﹐ 宣統即位。

United States return the redemtion for the fundation of Tsing Hua Imperial College.
美退更子賠款辦清華學校

1910 Chiang Ching guo born in March (蔣經國出生)
1911 Huang Xing (黃興) led the Guangzhou (廣州) Revolutionary War, failed.

October, Sun Yat-sen's Revolution War in Wuhan (武漢) overthrowed the Manzhu Dynasty, and proclaiming the founding of Republic of China.

1912 Nationalist Party Kuomintang was formed.
1921
Chinese Communist Party founded.
2925
Death of Sun Yat-sen.
Chiang Kai-shek emerges as successor to Sun Yat-sen, becomes the commander-in-chief.
1935
Mao Tse-tung becomes the leader of Chinese Communist Party.
1937-45
War with Japan
Chiang Kai-shek becomes president of Republic of China (ROC).
1947 Taiwan restored to China after Japan surrendered unconditionally.

Sun Li Jen's Education

1914-23: Tsing Hua College, Peking, (控す now Beijingㄛ 控儔), China
1925: B. S. in Civil Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
1927: B. A., the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, USA.

Had he permitted to come to the U.S.A. in 1954, he would have received an Honourary Doctorate Degree from Purdue University.

Brief biographical Sketch of Sun Li Jen

1928
Joined Chinese Army beginning as a corporal
1930
Regimental Commander, with rank of colonel.
Commending General of the National Salt Gabelle Brigade.
1937
Japanese invaded Shanhai on August 13. During this battle, he was badly injured ub 13 places and miraculously saved through transfusion of blood donated by an anonymous student. Some fragments of the rifle grenade remained in his body, and went into the grave with him.

Promoted to Major-General

1938
After recovery from the injury, he gathered his men and formed another National Salt Gabelle Brigade with 8 regiments.

Promoted to Lientenant-General.

1942
Four Regiments of the National Salt Gabelle Brigade were converted to the famous New 38th Division. Sun was promoted As the commander, he led the 38th Division

During the early stages of Japanese invasion of Burma, he led the 113th Regiment (of the 38th Division) of 1300 men to the rescue mission of saving 7500 British soldiers and reporters from the encirclement by 7000 Japanese invaders at Yenangyaung. This was the well known Battle of the Yenangyaung. The success of the resure mission brought him the award of the Commander of the British Empire (CBE medal) from King George VI of the United Kingdom. This award is equivalent to a knighthood.

Despite Sun's victory over Japanese aggressors at Yenangaung, three Chinese armies, the British troops, and the American volunteers could not stop the Japanese. Most of the Chinese troops led by other generals perished during this retreat except the 22nd and 38th Divisions of the 5th Army. The withdrew to India along with the British and America troops.

He led the New 38th Division as the rear guard to cover the retreat of the British and Chinese Armies from Burma.

Led the New 38th Division into Burma. Re-grouped and trained Chinese army together with General Joseph W. Stilwell.

In 1942, General Joseph W. Stilwell of became the commander of the China-Burma-India [CBI] and also Chief of Staff of the China Theater of General General Chiang Kai-shek. In September 1944, Daniel I. Sultan became Lieutenant General and replaced Stilwell as commander of India-Burma Theater.

1943
Became the second Commander, and then the Commander of the New First Division. This army along with the American volunteers called Meraudus(?spelling?) recovered Burma. General Sun worked well with Stilwell (first) and Sultan (later) in these wars.

The success of these were marked by the award of the Legion of Merit - Officer from President Rosvelt of the USA, and the Blue-Sky-White-Sun Medal of the Republic of China. These are only some of the highlights of his many military achievements.

Gen. Sun became the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Republic of China when the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. His army stabilized Taiwan, and he won the respect of everyone. His popularity was a concern for President Chiang Kai Shek. Chiang's son Ching Kuo was very jealous of him. The Chiangs fabricated stories, terrorized the army, and placed Gen. Sun under house arrest in 1955. Many who mentioned his name in public or in private fell victim. Chieh exposes the dark side of politics as part of his efforts to exonerate his foster father. Gen. Sun was freed only after Chiang Ching Kuo has died in 1988.

1988
Chiang Ching-kua, son of Chiang Kai-shek and president of ROC died on Jan. 13.
Chung Chieh and his wife arrive Taiwan Jan. 25
Chieh's effective letter campaign for General Sun's freedom received tremendous support for all walks of life in Taiwan, and Gen. Sun is freed from house arrest in April.
1990 General Sun Li Jen died Nov. 19, 1990 (Solar), Taichung, Taiwan.

Taiwan after 1949

1950
January, U.S. Government announces it will no longer help Chiang fighting against Chinese Communist Party.
June, North Korea invades South Korea.
1955
U.S. ratifies mutual defense treaty with ROC. The 7th fleet of U.S. is sent to the Taiwan Strait.
1972
Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, becomes premier
1975
Chiang Kai-shek dies
1978
Chiang Ching-kuo becomes president with Sun Yun-suan as premier
U.S. recognizes People's Republic of China, ceases to recognize Republic of China.