Date of letter:1992-09-26
Address of author:Longjiang City, Jilin Province
Date of event:1936-02-10
Location of event:Anxin County, Baoding City, Hebei Province
Name of author:Li Jinhe
Name(s) of victim(s):Li Jinhe
Type of atrocity:Others (OT)
Other details:I am Li Jinhe, native to Anxin County, Hebei. On Feb. 10, 1936, my family and I (5-year-old) stayed at home, when we heard Japanese steamboat speeding outside. We heard gunshot and then I was found lying on the ground, a leg wounded by a bullet which passed through my calf and entered the bottom of my thigh.
Chinese civilian victims
Demanding Japan Compensation Federation:
I am a native of Dongdi, Duan Village, Anxin County, Hebei Province (Baiyangdian). Name: Li Jinhe, 57 chronological age. When I was five years old (born on February 10, 1936), one day before the Dragon Boat Festival (people in my hometown named it the temple fair), the Japanese steam boat mopped up Baiyangdian. My mother was cleaning the house before the holiday (She put me on the river bank, in front of the gate). At this time the Japanese steam boat suddenly passed in front of my home. I heard a gunshot, then I collapsed to the ground (back then I was sitting on the ground with crossed legs). Although I was small, I was fully able to know clearly that as the gun sounded, I felt I were being pushed by someone, then I used my hands to fumble around, and was shocked to see smeared blood. As I cried out, my parents and fellow villagers immediately approached. Seeing my wounded leg, my mother fainted on the spot, and only came around after a longtime. After examination, the bullet found to first enter the calf, coming out from the back of the leg, then entered the base of the thigh, and seemed to be stuck there.
Afterwards, my eldest uncle accompanied my parents to send me into Oslo Hospital in Baoding (the exact pinyin is unclear). I was treated at the hosipital for a month before I was discharged. After discharged, I continued to feel sick for a number of times (swelling, pain, infection, festering……) the pain was unbearable. Until today my thigh still feels sore and bursting. It’s not clear if the bullet has been removed. In the recent years I also developed thrombophlebitis, where the doctor diagnosed the cause was from external injury
Today, although China and Japan has established friendly relationship, an innocent child experienced so many hardships in the Japanese Invasion War, and even lifelong trauma, coupled with national hatred, it’s really difficult to remove my resentment.
About how to give me compensation, I believe you will be fair.
Looking forward to your reply, thank you.
Li Jinhe
Yanbian Dongxiang Dongchuan Prospecting Team 605
1992.9.26
