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Preface
After
years of interviewing and collecting information about Chinese
veterans in Arizona, we published "The Fighting Spirit of the
Flying Tigers" in 2015 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
the victory of World War II, Anti-Fascist War and the War of
Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The book was collected
by the China Overseas Chinese History Museum and was awarded the
Certificate of Honor.
In 2025, all Chinese veterans
who participated in the Second World War in Arizona were passed
away. The author remembered the will of the predecessors, sorted
out the newly collected information, and published the seventh
volume of "Desert Gems" named "Heroic Chronicles of Chinese
Soldiers in Arizona during World War II".
During World War II,
there were less than 500 registered Chinese people (including
heads of households) in Phoenix, but more than 70 Chinese
youngsters joined the army. They were just fresh out of school
or helping out in family-run stores or restaurants.
After a short term of military
training, they were sent to the Asia-Pacific region, China and
Europe to fight. Many Chinese soldiers made achievements in the
battles and were promoted to privates, second lieutenants and
lieutenants in a short period of time. Some Chinese-American
soldiers became professional soldiers and later retired with the
rank of lieutenant colonel. Chinese soldiers were wounded,
captured and sacrificed in the battles, and wrote a youth hymn
of war with their lives.
Eighty years have passed and
many things have been forgotten. The information and related
content collected about Chinese-American soldiers, as well as
their families, are now recorded in a book so that our children
and grandchildren will not forget the history and contributions
of their parents and grandparents.
During World War II, Arizona
was a training base for air forces from many countries. Many
heroes performed heroic deeds and died bravely during training,
but they failed to realize their ambitions! They died in Arizona
and became heroes remembered by future generations. They could
never go home after death! Their bodies were gone, but their
spirits would live forever!
Decades later, their
descendants came from afar to welcome the spirits of the
martyrs, and the heroes will be immortal! A new chapter in the
history of Chinese youngsters! The heroic spirits are with the
blue sky and white clouds! The martyrs coexist with the
mountains and deserts!
I would like to dedicate this
book to the 80th anniversary of the commemoration of the victory
of the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People's War of
Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
！
I would like to thank Mr. Sean
Cotton for proofreading the English content of this book and Mr.
William Tang for the Chinese-English translation and guidance!
Thank you very much to the social groups and people from all
walks of life for their strong support and encouragement!
Arizona Chinese History Association
Homer Zhang
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