World War II in China 1937 - 1945

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World War II in China 1937 - 1945

Doris Rinell (aka Holmquist, Brown) relates her experiences in China during World War II to her grand-daughter, Krysta Whitman, circa 1997, for a high school project Krysta had due.

Doris was the daughter of Swedish missionaries to China.

Language(s)
English

Subjects
Living in China during the World War II Japanese occupation, torture Chinese by Japanese soldiers, trains for transport, types of money (Japanese, nationalist Chinese, communist Chinese), smuggling of money pass the Japanese soldiers, town walls of Kiaohsien, Chinese giving missionaries food, sweet potatoes, goat's milk, visit by Japanese officer to home of Swedish missionaries, piano lessons, concentration camp (internment camp at Weihsien), destruction of x-ray machine, wearing of armbands, ID cards, inoculation records, killing of Pastor Gung, miracle, impaling of Chinese woman, lighting by peanut oil, contraband short wave radio, news by private telephone network, pilot signaling end of war, Swedish flag painted on roof of missionary home, surrender of Japanese in ceremony in Tsingtao, 16mm movies of marines parachuting and of surrender, Japanese sword,

Names of People Mentioned
Krysta Michelle Whitman, Bernard Holmquist (Mofa, Morfar), Len (Lennart Holmquist), Oscar Rinell (papa Osa), Hellen Rinell (Momo, Mormor, mama Hella), Roy Rinell, Chiang Kai-shek, Lally Rinell, Johnny Rinell, parents of Lally and Johnny (Egron and Gerda Rinell), great-great-grandmother and grandfather (Johan Alfred and Hedvig Rinell), Pastor Gung, Dave Talbot (family friend years later in California), General Eisenhower, Luan, Olle Ericksson, Madam Chiang Kai-shek, Doris teaching English on Taiwan (circa 1960-62),

Names of Places Mentioned
Kiaohsien, Tsingtao (Qingdao), Shantung province, Wangtai (China), Guam, Okinawa, Weihsien, Channel Island and Port Hueneme (California), Taiwan, Japan.

Note
Doris mentions that all but three marines were killed in Bernard's unit. Actually, according to Bernard, all but three were killed or wounded. Regarding use of gas in Japan, probably Doris meant to say use of gas in Germany. Regarding Dutch in Tsingtao - not Dutch but Germans in Tsingtao. Regarding Japanese sword used at surrender ceremony was not actually used at the ceremony, but was purchased by Bernard Holmquist from a fellow marine. Sword now owned by Bernard's grandson, Kristofer Holmquist.