Ten Second World War veterans from the US came back to Shenyang, Liaoning Province on May 21, where they were imprisoned during the war. Some of them burst into tears when seeing the old POW camp and talking about their dead battle companions.

 

 

Shenyang Allied POWs camp, set up by the Japanese, was the most horrible of its kind in China. Between 1942 to 1945, POWs from the US, Britain, Australia, Holland, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore were kept there, as many as 2,000 at one time. Most of them died from torture in the camp. Currently only some 30 former American POWs are alive, who meet at get-togethers once in a while.

 

Oliver, in his 80s, came to Shenyang with his wife 3 years ago. Now he can't walk long for a foot trouble. "This is the place I tried very hard to forget, but now I want to look at it more, as long as I am alive," said Oliver.

 

John, with several medals on his chest, was searching the name list of the POWs on the wall for his number, 578. "I was marked 578 all through those 3 years of humiliation, and I will never forget that," said John with complex feelings.

 

Harris was not a "real" POW, for he was captured after the surrender of Japan. On August 16, 1945, Harris was sent to Shenyang POW camp to free Allied POWs there; however, the Japanese soldiers there knew nothing about the surrender, and captured him. Harris tried to explain, but they wouldn't listen. The next day, Harris and other POWs were eventually released.

 

The veterans held a memorial service at the site of the camp to commemorate the dead and there imprisonment days.

 

After the service, they donated many documents and things they used in the camp to the museum on the site of the camp.

 

 

(Chinanews.cn May 23, 2007)