Date of Letter:1993-04-30
Address of Author:Shenyang City, Liaoning Province
Date of Event:1944-02
Location of Event:Gaizhou City (originally Gaizhou County), Liaoning Province
Name of Author:Gao Wancai
Name(s) of victim(s):Gaowancai’s elder brother
Type of atrocity:Slave Laborers (SL)
Other Details:My elder brother Gao Wangde was born in Gaiping County (now Gaizhou City), Liaoning Province. In February 1944, he was forced by the Japanese army to work as a slave laborer and was tortured to death.
China Research Center on Aging,
Mr. Tong,
Hello!
I am an ordinary cadre in the Facilities Division, Shenyang Water Pump Factory. I once saw a report on Page 6 of Shenyang Daily, February 27, 1993, about your launching a ‘Seek Justice against Japan’ signature campaign. It made me quite excited and my mind could not be calmed for a long time. I deeply respect what you are doing. It is not merely a question of how much monetary compensation we claim against Japan; what matters more is that this action serves as a remembrance from us lucky survivors and our offspring to the millions of our compatriots who have been killed by the Japanese invaders. It also offers a great spiritual comfort to the families of the victims.
Here I would like to tell you one misfortune that fell on my family at that time.
Around February of 1944, in our original family home, Zhanglangzhai Village, Fangtun Township, Gaiping County, Liaoning Province, my oldest brother, Gao Wande, was selected by the Japanese invaders to be a slave laborer at Anshan Steel Works. The Japanese forced my brother to recite in Japanese; but how could my poor brother, who hadn’t gone to school for even one day, manage to recite in Japanese? He was then tortured to death by the savage Japanese. He was still at a young age but already the pillar of my family. My brother had left home for only 40 days and was only 21 years old when he died. The sudden bad news caused extreme grief to the whole family. My mother cried her heart out in front of my brother’s grave every day; both parents missed their son so much that they collapsed physically and mentally! The siblings in the family were young; the conditions of this not well-to-do family became even worse. The situation continued to deteriorate and my mother got sick and died at the age of 48, leaving us – her young kids – behind. This is indeed ‘the country is ruined and the home lost.’ [Editor’s note: A Chinese idiom].
The Japanese invaders murdered my brother directly and killed my beloved mother indirectly. They not only brought physical and economic disasters but also caused psychological traumas to the whole family. Therefore, I strongly request the Japanese Government to compensate for what we have lost. This is to let the soul of my brother rest in peace.
Now my family home has changed to Zhanglangzhai Village, Chengguan County, Gaizhou City, Liaoning Province. My father Gao Changxiang (farmer) passed away in 1973 (77 years old); my mother died of illnesses caused by distresses at the age of 48 (mentioned above). My second and third elder brothers have worked in Shenyang Liming Co., Ltd. and are now retired. The two younger sisters are both working in Shenyang. This is a brief introduction of my family.
Thank you, Mr. Tong, for taking time to read my letter. To restore justice, I hope you can register Gao Wande as one of the Chinese victims who demand reparations from Japan. I would appreciate it if you can reply. Thank you!
Wish you an even more successful career!
Sincerely,
Gao Wancai, the fourth brother of the victim
Facilities Division, Shenyang Water Pump Factory
April 30th, 1993
