Pearl of the Desert | Chinese History in Arizona, USA (48) Chapter 4: The History of Four Chinese Families Guan Chongqiong Family (10)

Arizona Chinese Historical Association: Zhang Zhaohong The Guan family donated documents to the "Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall" In 2013, for the Guan Chongqiong family,...

Arizona Chinese Historical Association: Zhang Zhaohong

The Guan family donated documents and materials to the "Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall"

2013 was a very memorable year for the Guan Chongqiong family.

At that time, Guan Chongqiong and his wife had been dead for many years. Members of his family are also scattered throughout the United States and around the world. Still in Phoenix City are the sixth daughter Guan Libi and the eleventh daughter Guan Xiuyu of the Guan family. On behalf of the Guan family, they donated a batch of precious historical materials to the "Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall" and received a "Collection Certificate" issued by the memorial hall. The content is as follows:

Ms. Guan Libi and Guan Xiuyu:

The "Photograph signed by a Chinese Air Force graduate studying in the United States and presented to the patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Guan Chongqiong" you donated will be treasured by our museum for a long time. This certificate is specially issued as a commemoration.

>Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

November 20, 2013

> Donated by Ms. Guan Libi and Guan Xiuyu Catalog of donated cultural relics:

> Photos of Guan Chongqiong, a patriotic overseas Chinese leader in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, who served during the First World War (reproduced)

2. Photo collection of the second batch of graduates of the Chinese Air Force studying in the United States (reproduced)

3. In 1942, Deng Jihua, the second batch of graduate students of the Chinese Air Force studying in the United States, presented a photo of Mr. Guan Chongqiong, a patriotic overseas Chinese leader in Phoenix, Arizona, to the United States

4. In 1942, a photo of Cao Shipeng, the second batch of graduates from the Chinese Air Force studying in the United States, signed and presented it to Mr. Guan Chongqiong, a patriotic overseas Chinese leader in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

5. In 1942, a photo signed by He Zhesheng, a second batch of graduates of the Chinese Air Force studying in the United States, presented to Mr. Guan Chongqiong, a patriotic leader in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

6. In 1942, a photo of Wan Kezhuang, the second batch of graduates of the Chinese Air Force studying in the United States, signed and presented to Mr. Guan Chongqiong, a patriotic overseas Chinese leader in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

7. In 1945, a photo of patriotic overseas Chinese (Guan Libi and others) in Phoenix, Arizona, USA participating in a float parade celebrating the victory of China’s Anti-Japanese War (reproduction)

8. In 1945, photos of Chinese soldiers in Fengfeng City, Arizona, participating in a parade to celebrate the victory of China's Anti-Japanese War

9. A copy of Guan Chongqiong's "Certificate of Honor" for participating in the First World War

This "Certificate of Collection" has been treasured by the Guan family and has never been made public. Until 2019, when 97-year-old Ms. Guan Libi passed away, Ms. Guan Xiuyu, who was turning 80, gave me this commemorative album. This is a trustworthy trust! I carefully took it in my hands, recorded it through photography and photocopying, and presented it to the public through the media.

The second group of airmen who graduated from the Chinese Air Force in the United States in 1942 returned to China and became part of the Chinese Air Force's anti-Japanese force. In 1943, they formed a "Chinese and American Air Force Mixed Group" with the U.S. Air Force and were affiliated with the 14th Air Force Group (also known as the "Flying Tigers"). They fought desperately against the Imperial Japanese Air Force in the blue sky of the motherland until they died.

Decades later, these autographed military photos have become witnesses of the history of China’s Anti-Japanese War, providing valuable information for the descendants of these heroes. They also record the contributions made by Chinese people in Phoenix to the motherland’s Anti-Japanese War in that era when the Chinese nation was at stake!

Some photos in the "Collection Certificate"!