In the smoke of history, some people's names may not be prominent, but their stories are enough to touch people's hearts.
James George Winneris, an American soldier who lost his way home in the war, and a man who forged an indissoluble bond with China in a prisoner of war camp, is such an admirable being.
Wenneris was born in 1922 into a working-class family in Pennsylvania, USA. Coming from a poor family, he understood the hardships of life since he was a child.
After graduating from high school, he traveled around looking for a job in order to ease the burden on his family, but the era of the Great Depression repeatedly hit a wall. In desperation, he chose to devote himself to the military, hoping to support his family.
The flames of World War II spread all over the world, and Winneris also went on the expedition with the American army. On a small island in the South Pacific, he fought bravely in the face of the indiscriminate bombing of Japanese planes, and made great contributions to the victory of the anti-fascist war.
After the war, he was once again thrust into the battlefield – this time, in Korea.
In the winter of 1950, Winneris was captured by the Chinese People's Volunteers on the Korean battlefield. He spent two years and eight months in the 5th Prisoner of War Camp in Bidong.
During this period, he was deeply moved by the actions of the volunteers, and in his eyes, these volunteer soldiers were not afraid of hardships and hardships, put the interests of the people first, and displayed lofty moral character and spiritual outlook.
After the armistice, prisoners of war had the option of being repatriated, remaining in the host country, or to one of the belligerents, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
Instead, the U.S. government implemented a policy of so-called "voluntary repatriation," allowing prisoners of war a 90-day "cooling-off" period to make their own decisions. Among them, 22 American and British prisoners of war, including Wenneris, made a startling decision: they refused to be repatriated and chose to settle in China.
This decision shocked the world. In the United States, they are accused of being traitors, and in socialist countries they are praised as warriors in the pursuit of peace and justice.
They simply want to pursue the truth and live a truly meaningful life. In China, they found such an opportunity.
Wenneris was assigned to work at Jinan Paper Mill No. 4 in Shandong. Here he started a whole new life. He worked hard to learn XiChinese, mingled with the workers, and actively participated in various activities.
His enthusiasm and integrity earned him respect and friendship. Not only did he find a job here, but he also found a new direction and a new home in his life.
Returning to the United States was a distant option for Winneris. In the decades since he left the United States, his family has drifted apart, and friends have long since lost contact.
What's more, he was suspicious of the U.S. government's "voluntary repatriation" policy, fearing political persecution upon return. So, he chose to stay in China and continue to pursue the truth and peace in his heart.
During his years in China, Winneris never forgot his original intention. He actively participated in cultural exchange activities between China and the United States, building bridges for friendship between the two peoples. He hopes that through his own efforts, more people will understand China and the kindness and friendship of the Chinese people.
Time flies, and Winneris has spent nearly half a century in China. Until his death in 2004, he remained true to his beliefs and pursuits.
The story of Lao Wen is not only as simple as the love affair with China for an American prisoner of war, but also a touching chapter of how ordinary people find their own destiny between war and peace, between the state and the individual.
Lao Wen's story may have come to an end, but his spirit has forever remained in people's hearts.
In the torrent of history, he used his own choices to write a legendary chapter of his life, and such a chapter will forever inspire us to pursue our own path of truth and peace.