By Xinming Li, bostonese.com
Hangzhou, China, August 6, 2015, — To commemorate 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War, remember history, cherish the memory of martyrs and peace, a book donation ceremony was held at the Gongshu District Fire Department meeting room in the afternoon of of July 30. One hundred books of Chinese American WWII hero Arthur Wong’s biography were donated to firefighters of the department.
Firefighters receive the book donation(file photo).
The books were donated by writers of the biography: David Li and Amy Yang. Biography Arthur Wong, Proud Chinese Who Landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day was published by Hangzhou Publishing House in June 2015 in simplified Chinese. The biography was named to the list of 100 best new WWII books by Chinese government in July 2015. A traditional Chinese version titled Late Glory was published by Boston Bilingual Media & Publishing House in Nov. 2014.
Mr. David Li mentioned that the bravery and the pride to be a Chinese were the two characters of Mr. Arthur Wong that impressed him the most while working on the biography. He thanked Mr. Xu Hairong, CEO of Hangzhou Publishing House, and Wang Yijun, president of Overseas Chinese Association of Gongshu District for arranging the book donation ceremony.
“Hopefully, the fighting spirit of Mr. Wong will inspire those brave firefighters and other young people in China,” said Mr. Li.
Immigrated to Boston in 1938, Arthur Wong was among the first groups of American soldiers who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was later seriously injured in November 1944 when the Allied Forces advanced into Germany. Sixty-five years after he returned from WWII battlegrounds, Arthur Wong finally received nine U.S. military medals, including Purple Heart and Bronze Star, with the help from Senator John Kerry in 2010. Mr. Wong, 91, lives in Boston Chinatown.
The following is a video of Mr. Wong interviewed by Miss. Menglei Han, reporter for bostonese.com, in January 2015. The interview is in Cantonese.
David Li and Amy Yang are senior reporters for Chinese newspapers and online media in the greater Boston area. This in-depth biography includes over 30 never published historical photos and first-hand interviews with WWII veteran Mr. Arthur Wong whose very first battle was the famous Invasion of Normandy on D-Day. This books documents Mr. Wong’s early life in Boston after he immigrated in 1938 from Taishan, Guangdong, China, his army life, Battles of Normandy, liberation of Paris, invasion of Germany and many other major historic events.
“It was my great honor working with Mr. Wong on this book. His indomitable character and optimistic spirit made himself a war hero in spite of the tough circumstances,” said Mr. Li.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has graciously agreed a photo of Arthur Wong and him taken at the 2014 New England Wong Family Association Spring Banquet in Empire Garden to be used on the book cover. He thanked Arthur Wong for his sacrifice for the country and contributions to local communities after the war.
The two authors have conducted over 40 interviews and meetings with Mr. Wong over a period of 18 months. This biography will provide fresh materials and distinctive perspectives for the historical research of Chinese Americans in WWII, and Chinese immigration during the Chinese Exclusion Act period from 1882 to 1943. Mr. Li hopes that this book will allow more Chinese people around the world to learn about such outstanding Chinese American veterans as Mr. Arthur Wong and their historical contributions to the victory of the Anti-Fascist war.
The list price of Late Glory(ISBN:978-1-942286-00-4) is $18.82($20 with MA sales tax). Free shipping is offered for online orders within the United States and Canada. Please click the Buy Now button above to order Late Glory or buy from amazon.com, and own a piece of the glorious history of Chinese American WWII veterans!