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I spent after dinner time in conversation with my grandpa. He told me of his time in china. He volunteered for china. He went to help build air fields and communications facilities for command and control during world war 2. The japaneese were still occupying portions of the country and he volunteered. He told me so many stories. Of being a guide for the other troops on shopping exhibitions cause he learned the language. He told me of being put up in hotels at some points right next to Marine generals. He has so many stories that want to save cause I know he will not be here forever and i want these stories to stick around even after he goes.
My favorite story, was the time a new fellow in country managed to get supplies for nuns in a mission out in the country side. Grandpa offered to help him get out as he had a jeep. He drove the supplies out and helped them unload. After they were done he asked if they had a phone. The mother suppieror said yes and had a girl show him the way. The girl escorted him to the phone and asked him in chineese "Do you speak chineese?" he replied that he spoke a little. He then picked up the phone called the hotel he was staying and had a 15 minute conversation on the phone in chineese. The nuns stopped talking around him. His friend was also quiet and didn't talk to him for a bit. Later he found out why. The missionairies seeing him speak chineese fairly well and the fact he was comfortable going out in the countryside simply assumed he was OSS(the predacessor to the cia).They apparently had been friendly with the japaneese during the occupation so as to avoid trouble and they were affraid he was there for them.
someday I would like to go to china and see the places my grandfather saw. He is not an easy man to get along with but he has had a life that rivals any you may name. I used to say he was a hemingway of science. He had been there and done that.
oh well enough rambling
TechNoir
My favorite story, was the time a new fellow in country managed to get supplies for nuns in a mission out in the country side. Grandpa offered to help him get out as he had a jeep. He drove the supplies out and helped them unload. After they were done he asked if they had a phone. The mother suppieror said yes and had a girl show him the way. The girl escorted him to the phone and asked him in chineese "Do you speak chineese?" he replied that he spoke a little. He then picked up the phone called the hotel he was staying and had a 15 minute conversation on the phone in chineese. The nuns stopped talking around him. His friend was also quiet and didn't talk to him for a bit. Later he found out why. The missionairies seeing him speak chineese fairly well and the fact he was comfortable going out in the countryside simply assumed he was OSS(the predacessor to the cia).They apparently had been friendly with the japaneese during the occupation so as to avoid trouble and they were affraid he was there for them.
someday I would like to go to china and see the places my grandfather saw. He is not an easy man to get along with but he has had a life that rivals any you may name. I used to say he was a hemingway of science. He had been there and done that.
oh well enough rambling
TechNoir