They arrived in Taiwan January 23. In the decade since, that date has been observed as Freedom Day in the Republic of China and many other anti-Communist countries. For this January's 10th anniversary, celebrations will center in Taipei, where 100,000 persons will rally in front of the Presidential building to honor those who triumphed over Communist brainwashing to win their own liberty.
Today, as in 1953-54, the 14,000 "witnesses for freedom" are convinced they made the right decision. Not all and wealthy, not all are happy or satisfied. The former paws are much as would be any random group of 14,000 persons. However, they have the difference of knowing and hating life in the Communist military establishment, and of having risked their lives to get away. To a man, they attest that their new life is worthwhile and a dramatic contrast to the, hopelessness of existence on the mainland.
Most of the former repatriates have put away their uniforms and adjusted to civilian life. Many of them have married and have families of their own. Their occupations range through the professions, business, agriculture, and government employment. All stipulate to their readiness to return to the armed forces for the counterattack and mainland liberation. Almost all have relatives behind, the Iron Curtain and look forward to, reuniting of family group.
This article tells something of the story of nine representative former POWs, their trials on the mainland, their triumphs in free China, and their aspirations for the future. They are fairly typical of the group—better off than some, not so fortunate as others. The real common denominator of the 14,000 is continued firm adherence to anti-Communism and the hope that they can continue to play a role in rescuing those who had to be left behind in the choice of a new, free way of life.
Big Difference
Yu Tse-tsai became a soldier when he was 19. Now 37 and a restaurant owner in Taiwan, he has vowed to take up arms again once the bugle sounds for the counterattack.
Yu hails from Chung Ning, a picturesque village in the prosperous province of Szechuan. His family was well-to-do and his father had hoped to make him a farmer, as all his ancestors had been. Had it not been for the Japanese invasion, Yu would have been content with work in the field, would have married a neighbor girl and lived the busy yet tranquil life of a farmer. When news came that the Japanese invaders were near mountainous Szechuan, Yu left his home and joined the Youth Army, members of which were patriotic young men eager to defend their country.
Before he made contact with the enemy, Japan surrendered and the war ended. Young Yu decided to stay in the army.
When the Communists overran the mainland, his unit went over. Yu had no choke but to join the Communists. He admits that he then was young and ignorant, and didn't much care.
Soon he was to find there was a difference. Under the national government, he was poorly paid, yet he could think and act for himself and his past was never questioned. As soon as the Communists came to power, he was picked as a "petit bourgeois", accused of being a "bad class element", and subjected to repeated investigation, accusation, and struggle. All this because his family owned a few acres of land.
When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Yu was in a labor reform camp in Chengtu, Szechuan. The trainees were called one night to listen to their commissar. "Comrades," the Red official said, "the American imperialists are invading our great ally, Korea. It is our duty to help our friends resist. I have reported to my superior that all of you volunteer to help the Koreans. Any objections?"
No one dared to say a word. So off they went. They crossed the Yalu River in April, 1952, and soon found themselves in north Korea's bitter cold. For several days they had nothing to eat except cooked rice powder and wild plants.
Restored to Health
After they crossed the Han River, American planes began to attack them. They came under the fire of tanks and many were killed. Dead, wounded, and the sick littered the road. Soon almost half of the regiment was gone.
Tired and scared, Yu was much relieved when they made contact with the Americans. He threw away his rifle, raised his hands, and was taken prisoner.
After several months in prisoner of war camps in Taegu and Keju, and then the brainwashing session of the Communists at Panmunjom, he was soot to free China.
Yu's health was seriously undermined by the rigorous conditions of the war and POW camps. He was evacuated to Taiwan by plane and missed the rousing welcome accorded his comrades. Taken to the First General Hospital in Peitou, he stayed there almost a year and left fully recovered. The care was free. He is still thankful to the government for restoring his health.
After leaving the hospital, he came under the guidance of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen. After six months of training, he was assigned to a Veterans' Cooperative Farm in eastern Taiwan. He saved about NT$2,000 (US$50) and decided to start a business of his own. Friends loaned him NT$8,000, and he opened a small restaurant in the Taipei suburb of Chinmei. He specializes in Szechuanese food, which is popular in Taiwan. As a boy, he had learned many recipes from the family cook.
Business is good. Taiwanese and mainland Chinese enjoy such dishes as fish in hot chili sauce, doubler-cooked pork, and spiced bean curd. In eight years, he has paid all his debts and now owns his three-room restaurant-home.
Yu married a Taiwan-born girl three and half years ago. He met his wife through a matchmaker, because he "was too old-fashioned to run after a girl myself." They have a two-year-old daughter, and Mrs. Yu is expecting another baby next spring.
After a busy day cooking, Yu relaxes with his family, reading the newspapers, listening to the radio, playing with his daughter or Visiting his old buddies from Korea. Four of his former comrades also live in Chinmei, three of them selling vegetables and meats. Yu buys food from them at reduced prices.
"I am living comfortably now," Yu said. "However, I do not consider this place my permanent home. Once the government sounds the bugle of counterattack, I shall not hesitate to take up arms again and help fight our way back. I shall take my wife and children to my native Szechuan, where my old parents are waiting for me." Mrs. Yu nodded approval of her husband's determination.
Doctor's Life
Chang Hun-chun is a successful doctor (File photo)
Chang Hun-chun deserted the Communists because he could not stand their cruelty in killing wounded soldiers when retreating. In Taiwan, he is carrying on his lifesaving work as a doctor of medicine.
Chang was not ill-treated by the Communists. An army doctor before the Red takeover, he was welcomed by the "people's government", which was in desperate need of medical men. To get rid of his "class superiority feelings," he was ordered to a labor reform camp for a month. He paved roads, dug ditches, and split rocks. Then he was signed to a Communist army hospital and promoted to major.
When the Korean War broke out, Chang was encouraged to "volunteer". He was stationed at an army field hospital at Mingyuli. As he recalls, far more Red soldiers suffered from disease, malnutrition, and exposure than wounds. The Communists didn't even try to save seriously wounded soldiers, he said.
After about three months, the United Nations forces counterattacked. Orders were given for retreat and able-bodied men were told to look out for themselves. Nothing was done about 400 bed patients. Bewildered, Chang went to the Commissar to make inquiries, but was told to mind his own business. Soon a platoon of engineers arrived. Chang was shocked to learn the Communists were going to dynamite the hospital, wounded soldiers still in their beds.
Further Training
Outraged but helpless, Chang decided to desert. Together with two male nurses, he fled south. They hid in an air-raid shelter for two days and nights, then were taken prisoner by south Korean troops.
While in prison camps, he cared for sick and wounded. He was treated well by the UN authorities and respected by his fellow prisoners.
Chang didn't care much about politics, but when the Communists tried to talk him into going back to the mainland, threatening the lives of his parents, who were still residing in his native town of Lingshui, Szechuan, he refused. He was among the last to be sent to Taiwan. He was released only after the camp was closed and medical care no longer required.
In free China, he was assigned to the Psychological Warfare Center as medical officer. Finding his mainland medical training inadequate for work in a modern clinic, he requested and was given a year of training in the National Defense Medical College.
Chang has served in various army hospitals on Taiwan. He also has practiced on the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu, treating soldiers and citizens wounded by Communist bombardments.
One great difference between the national government and the Peiping regime, Chang said, is their differing evaluation of human life. "The government treats man as man, and often spends much money and effort on trying to save a single life," he said. "The Communists will never hesitate to sacrifice hundreds of lives to achieve their end."
Chang retired from active service in January of 1960. He practices, in the small town of Kulinlin in northern Taiwan. As the only doctor in the village, he sees about 10 patients a day. After paying his living expenses, he is able to save NT$1,000 (US$25) a month.
Chang also operates, a pharmacy and has his own small surgery. He married, a local girl in 1961 and they have a daughter.
Old comrades often go to Dr. Chang for medical care and advice. He rarely has time to visit them—but they know where he is and that they are welcome.
Red Brainwashing
Wang Shu-ching is expert on Communism (File photo)
Wang Shu-ching feels he wronged the country by joining the Communist ranks and is trying to make amends by exposing the tricks and plots of Communism.
Since reaching free China, he has been teaching a course in "Political Indoctrination of Chinese Communist Troops" at the Political Staff College. He has written three books about how the Communists attempt to brainwash their fighting men.
Wang, 39, from Honan province, is a veteran soldier and graduate of the famed Whampao Military Academy. He was a lieutenant in the national army when the Communists overran the mainland. His whole division surrendered. Wang had no choice but to go over.
"I was much distressed," Wang said. "Once I refused to smear the national government at a so-called 'accusation rally', and was a 'struggle' victim for two weeks."
The daily political meeting was especially vexing to him. Wang was told by the Reds that this was "everyday brainwashing", and that "people should wash their brains daily just as they do their faces."
Because of his "unstable political status", he was among the first to be transferred to Korea "to fight the imperialist invaders." He deserted at the first opportunity.
After arriving at Taiwan, he received treatment for a wound, then became a lieutenant in the army.
Wang volunteered to tell his unit about Communist political methods. He did so well that he, soon was recruited to teach in the Political Staff College. He is an instructor with the rank of major and teaches the senior class.
Rules for Cadres
Wang says the Peiping regime controls its enormous armed force through political activity. He identified three basic characteristics of a Chinese Communist:
1. He is always ready to submit to Soviet Russia and follow the latter's leadership. The Moscow-Peiping dispute is only Mao Tse-tung's struggle against Khrushchev, not against Russia.
2. He is always ready to resort to violence to carry out the class struggle.
3. He never hesitates to cheat, threaten or blackmail to achieve his own goal.
One of Wang's books, A Brief Introduction to Communist Political Work at the Company Level, is a textbook in the Political Staff College.
His other works are How to Counter Communist Political Work and Communist Plot and Tactics in Handling Prisoners-of-War. He received recognition and a cash award from the government for the latter. He is writing a fourth volume, How to Recruit Reserves for the Counterattack.
Wang's body bears three tattoos. On his chest is: "Shed my blood to live up to the instructions of the President; exert myself to glorify the spirit of the Whampoa Academy."
On his left arm is: "Determined to go back to the mainland; counterattack to reconstruct the nation."
On his right arm: "Be responsible, be loyal; live honorably, die worthily."
Death of Father
Chang Shih-chin and his bride at party (File photo)
Chang Shih-chin, 38, from Chengtu in Szechuan, worked for the national government as a clerk at the Meng County Office upon graduation from middle school. Toward the end of 1949, the Chinese Communists overran Szechuan. They massacred tens of thousands of landlords and wealthy farmers, then turned on the well-to-do of the cities, of whom Chang's father was one.
A surgeon, the father was accused of treating Nationalists and capitalists, and put on public trial. He was hanged head down from a tree and clubbed.
Chang Shih-chin was drafted into the army. While receiving recruit training and Communist "ideological re-education", he learned his father had died from the effects of Communist tortures. Family properties, even furniture, were confiscated.
Camp Instructor
In 1950, Chang became a cultural instructor of the Communist 540th Regiment, 108th Division, 60th Army, with rank of second lieutenant. After special training, his unit crossed the Yalu River March 27, 1951, and entered the Korean War. Two months later he and about 3,000 others occupied a hilltop and hung from trees everything they had that was white. Their surrender was quickly accepted.
At his prison camp, Chang Shih-chin became an instructor responsible for news reporting and analysis. He helped counter rumors and the false reports of Communist agents, and urged his fellow prisoners to have faith in the voluntary repatriation promises of the U.N. forces.
In October, 1953, the Chinese POWs were taken to Panmunjom for interrogation by Chinese Communist brainwashers. Chang Shi-chin said he found the Indian Custodial Command troops friendly to the Chinese POWs and even anti-Communist, although the Indian government was pursuing pro-Communist policies. He became friends with an Indian interpreter, who was a sinologist, and exchanged Chinese poems with him. One of Chang's poems was as follows:
In Korea I've passed some autumns gray,
On festivals I've felt more sad and lost,
I've thought of home and parent miles away,
And shed my silent tears each night and day.
Successful Author
When Chinese Communist interrogators told Chang Shih-chin that the Chinese mainland was prosperous, that if he returned he would be richly rewarded, and that his mother missed him very much and needed his care, Chang told them he wanted to go to Taiwan and nothing could compel him to go back to the mainland. He even tried to persuade his interrogators to defect, and told them they would face persecution if they went back to Peiping empty-handed.
During his first year on Taiwan, Chang worked at the Psywar Center. He toured Taiwan, telling the people the grim facts about the mainland and his trials and final triumph in seeking freedom. He also made broadcasts to the mainland, urging the people to seek freedom at every opportunity.
He spent the next year in writing two books: The Success Story of the Chinese Prisoners of the Korean War and the Anti-Communist Movement in Szechuan. He also contributed a short story to Selected Works of the Chinese Prisoners of the Korean War. Some of his books have been airdropped to the Chinese mainland.
For the last several years he has been evaluating mainland intelligence and formulating counter measures in the Sixth Section of the Kuomintang.
In 1959, the Overseas Chinese Movie Studio became interested in the story of the Korean War POWs. Chang Shih-chin helped write the script and played a bit part in "14,000 Witnesses", which was a smash hit in Taiwan. The picture also was shown at some 50 Chinese embassies and consulates throughout the world.
In early 1963, Chang Shih-chin married. Although happy and prosperous, he waits for return to a mainland China that has been restored to freedom.
No Defense of Nation
Wang Fu-tien enjoys family life denied him on the mainland (File photo)
Wang Fu-tien, 43, is from Kaoyang in Hopei province. The son of a farm family, he received a middle school education. In 1938, as the war with Japan raged into its second year, the Communist Eighth Army persuaded Wang and his two brothers to volunteer to "guard homes and defend the nation". He soon discovered that the Eighth Army did nothing to defend the nation, but went from one village to another carrying out liquidations and purges of landlords and well-to-do farmers. Property was confiscated by the army.
As time went on, Wang came to hate Communism, but even after V-J Day, there was no escape. The Eighth Army went north to occupy the Manchurian provinces. Control was tightened. Every three men of the army constituted a group, and each man was responsible for the loyalty and conduct of the other two. Mail was censored. No one was allowed more than 200 yards from his barracks.
Trips Abroad
Every evening officers and men were forced to criticize themselves and others. Silence was forbidden. Once Wang Fu-tien bought some peanuts and ate them alone. He was accused of "epicurism" and "lack of a sense of brotherhood" for not sharing the peanuts. As punishment for his "capitalist act", he had to clean the latrines.
Wang Fu-tien was with the first group of Chinese troops Sient into Korea. As soon as they encountered the UN forces, Wang and 203 others surrendered. He was a prisoner for three years, but his determination to gain freedom never weakened. He became a Presbyterian and is still active in that church.
"It was better to live as a prisoner of war in Korea than a Communist on the Chinese mainland," he said. "At least I had hope."
On reaching Taiwan, he was assigned to the Psywar Center with rank of major. In 1954, he was one of six former prisoners to visit Japan. For a month he told the Japanese of the atrocities of the Chinese Communists on the mainland and of his personal struggle for freedom. In 1957, he made a similar tour of Thailand, this time for six months, visiting all 71 provinces.
Upon his return, he accepted work in the government's counter-propaganda unit. Married to Miss Huang Hsiu-chin, a nurse at the Mackay Memorial Hospital, in 1958, he now has a son and a daughter. He finds family life one of the most dramatic contrasts with existence on the Communist-occupied mainland. On Taiwan, he and his wife go to the movies twice a week. On Sundays, they attend church and enjoy picnics.
"It is impossible to have a family life on the mainland," Wang Fu-tien said. "There man and wife are just reproductive machinery. They cannot love and trust each other as human beings. Even when they do, they dare not talk to each other indulgently for fear someone may be listening in. They dare not cook their favorite dishes for fear of being accused of epicurism or of being interrogated on their source of income."
His appreciation of freedom runs deep. As he expressed it:
"It is such a wonderful thing to have gained the freedom not to do or say anything against my own will, and the freedom to plan my own future and to work to realize my own ambition. One always has hope when one has freedom, and one has happiness when one has hope. I shudder to think of the days when I was a Communist. There was no freedom, no hope, only constant fear."
Tattoos of Freedom
Ku Chu-san and family in front of their house (File photo)
Ku Chu-san, 36, is still at the Psywar Center, devoting his life to the anti-Communist cause. He is not a man of eloquence, but of action, courage and determination. He likes to show his tattoos, which were done in POW camp.
On his back is a tattoo of the flag of the Republic of China, and on his chest the emblem of the Republic of China topped with four Chinese characters: Loyalty to Party and Nation". On his left arm is the slogan "Fight Communists and Resist Russians" and on his right arm "To Destroy Communism for National Recovery". He said:
"Hundreds of us had tattoos made while in the POW camp to show our anti-Communist determination. First we had to take a written oath, and then we had patterns drawn in Chinese ink. Before the ink was dry, needles, the only sharp things we had, were pricked into the flesh along the inked patterns. Then the blood oozed out to mix with the ink. It took thousands of pricks to make one. Chinese character. It took me more than a week to have all my tattoos made."
Ku Chu-san joined the Army while in his teens to fight the Japanese invaders. When the Chinese Communists were pushing south in 1949, Ku was a platoon leader and his unit was stationed in Kweichow, his native province. His unit had orders to evacuate to the Burma border but was intercepted by Communist forces. The force moved back to become guerrillas in the tri-junction area of Szechuan, Kweichow, and Yunan provinces.
The troops gradually ran out of ammunition and supplies. In July, 1950, Ku Chu-san was taken prisoner by the Communists. After a month of reform through labor and another month of brainwashing, Ku was told to atone for his crimes by joining the: Communist forces. On March 1, 1951, he crossed the Yalu River. His watch, pen, and a gold ring had been taken away and placed "in the custody of the people".
One day Ku picked up a leaflet strewn by UN planes and assuring safe conduct to those surrendering. At first opportunity, he started south and was picked up by an American tank.
At the Psywar Center, he has designed many leaflets and made many broadcasts. His rank is that of captain. Married to Miss Lai Chuen-hwa in 1960, he has two sons. Late in 1963, the Kus were able to build a house of their own near the Psywar Center.
Engineering Career
Keo Yung-fei has own engineering firm employing many of his old buddies (File photo)
Keo Yung-fei, 35, is the chief engineer of his own enterprise, the Anti-Communist Compatriots' Chung Yee Reconstruction Company.
Chung Yee means loyalty in Chinese. Keo said this is to remind him of his devotion to counterattack.
Keo started his company two years ago with capital of US$15,000 that he had been saving since 1954. His office is on Chung Cheng Road, one of the busiest streets in Taipei. He has two ·engineers, and six staff members, and 250 workers, all former POWs. By Taiwan standards, pay is average, but Keo believes it is too low.
"I have made no profit for the last two years and don't expect to make any for the next three," he said. "But this is only the beginning. I shall make good profits in the second five years and then will pay more to my compatriots."
Keo has great confidence that his construction projects will benefit the country. He has about 20 projects under way in various parts of the island and visits them frequently.
Keo served in the army after arriving in Taiwan. Retiring in 1956, he worked for various engineering firms in preparation for establishment of his own business. His experience includes work on Shihmen Dam, one of the largest in the Far East.
Marriage Deferred
Keo is still unmarried. No time, he says. But he has a girl friend in Kaohsiung and hopes to marry in a couple of years. His hobbies are reading and correspondence. He made many foreign friends while in Korea.
A native of Kansu province, he received his education at a vocational school, specializing in mechanical engineering. At 15, he joined the Nationalist Air Force as a mechanic.
After the fall of mainland, Keo joined guerrillas in the northwest. Captured, he was compelled to join the Communist army and sent to Korea nine months later. He deserted near Kaesong after another half a year.
Keo's parents, three younger brothers, and an elder sister are still on the mainland. He is looking forward to reunion with his family after national recovery.
Owner of Store
Li Ting-wen with daughter at variety store (File photo)
Li Ting-wen became a soldier at 14. Twenty years later, he owns a variety store at the highway bus station in Peitou near Taipei.
Li started his business in 1959, soon after his retirement from army. He had saved some money and obtained additional capital from friends. With profits and a small pension from the government, his income exceeds US$50 a month, above average for Taiwan.
Li married in 1960 and has a son and a daughter. He works hard but considers his life a good one. There is enough money for food, clothing, and even recreation. By mainland contrast, Li said, he lives a life of plenty.
Looking forward to enlargement of his store, he also plans to give his children advanced education.
Li is a native of Szechuan. He was 19 and had only a primary school education when the Communists took over. This made him "politically reliable" in Red eyes, and he was sent to Korea as a commissar. One night after a battle, he was helping to evacuate wounded soldiers. He slipped away to freedom.
Student of Law
Kao Win-jium at desk in his dormitory (File photo)
Kao Win-jium, 33, is a fifth-year student at Soochow University in Taipei, majoring in comparative law and hoping to study abroad after his graduation next summer. A top student, he is also chairman of the Resident Students' Association. He receives a tuition scholarship and pays his other expenses from part-time earnings.
Kao was a member of a five-man goodwill mission of former Korean POWs who toured the United States, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, and Hongkong in 1954. He said he could speak only a little English at the time and made up his mind to study upon his return. While serving in the army, he studied at night school and now speaks fluent English. He retired from the army in 1958 but said, "I am ready to take up weapons again whenever my country needs me."
Kao will take next summer's Ministry of Education examination for students going abroad. If he passes, he will go to the United States for three years, then "return to work for my country." His second choice is to become a lawyer.
Kao has not yet married. He said, "My purpose is not to settle down on this island, but to join the people here in fighting back to the mainland."
Born to a well-to-do family in Mukden, he fled ahead of the Communists just after finishing middle school. Then Szechuan was taken and he fell into the hands of the Reds. "I saw many killed by the Communists," he said. "I often wondered when it would be my turn."
He was spared because of his youth, and then was forced to join the Red army as a commissar. He said he did not receive any training, but was "reformed" before being sent to Korea in February, 1951.
Kao thought of defection as soon as he reached Korea. He said the Communists killed some soldiers as an example for the many who were thinking of desertion. When the Reds were defeated in a battle north of Seoul, the army retreated. He and some friends started walking in the other direction. They knew the chance was then or never.