Date of Letter:1993-02-20
Address of Author:Linfen City, Shanxi Province
Date of Event:1937-05
Location of Event:Linfen City, Shanxi Province
Name of Author:Liu Jiujiang
Name(s) of victim(s):Liu Jiujiang’s father
Type of atrocity:Murders (MU)
Other Details:In May, 1937 of lunar calendar, Liu Jiujiang’s father was murdered by Japanese invaders with bayonet, which can be proved by the village committee with the committee seal on the letter.
Mr. Tong,
How are you?
First, I would like to offer my greetings! May everything go well with your work and your family!
My name is Liu Jiujiang. I am 56 years old, and I live in Dongjiequ Village, Tunli Township, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. I have been a farmer all my life.
My father Liu Ruben died when he was 25; It was on May 30, 1937 of the lunar calendar, the first day that the Japanese Army entered our village which was close to the vital lines of railway and main road. Most of the villagers escaped to the west of the Fen River, leaving behind dozens of young men, including my father, to defend the village. When the Japanese Army entered the village, they began to search everywhere. They took my father to the railway outside of the East Gate and accused him of sabotaging the railway. My father could not answer so the soldiers killed him with bayonets on the spot. My father died at a young age and with much sadness.
At the time of my father’s death, my grandfather was over 60 and disabled on the right leg, and my grandmother had been in poor health for many years. As a middle-aged widow, my mother was left with the responsibility of taking care of my grandparents as well as raising my 3-year old sister and myself. With the exception of getting help from several relatives, we received no assistance from the government after the invasion by the Imperialists. After 7 years of hardships, my mother died of exhaustion and illness before my grandparents died. This shows what a bitter and miserable life my family and I had at that time. People say, heaven (god) always allows us to find a way out! But I have never seen my father since my birth. In the old society, I grew up lacking adequate food and clothing. At that time, it seemed to me that there was no way out, not to mention that at a young age, I had to bury my grandparents on behalf of my father. This is the story of Liu Jiujiang’s life, a story well known to the villagers.
Because of my hardship and suffering since birth, I hate the Japanese Imperialism. This debt is recorded in the book of Japan’s invasion of China. This is the hatred that I will never forget as long as I live. Indeed I have no one to express my pain and no way to seek revenge!
Mr. Tong, for many years after the Liberation, I couldn’t find a channel to vent my grievances. I heard that you are a socially responsible person, and I am willing to share with you my sorrowful life story, and to seek revenge for my father. Hope I can get help and support from you.
Thank you very much.
Liu Jiujiang
February 20,1993
Verified to be true and correct.
Dongjie Village Committee,
The People’s Government of Tunli Township,
Linfen City (Committee Seal)
February 21, 1993
