During the Korean War, there were tens of thousands of Chinese-Americans in the U.S. military camp, and their faces and language were indistinguishable from those of Chinese. Once they encounter an encounter on the battlefield, how should the volunteers respond? Whether they should be regarded as compatriots or enemies? The question once put the volunteers in a dilemma. However, after a painful lesson, the volunteers finally gave a clear answer. What exactly happened, and how did the volunteers respond? This aroused our curiosity.
"Chinese" in the camp of the US military
During the Korean War, a special group of "Chinese" appeared in the US military camp. Although their faces and language are no different from those of the Chinese, they wear US military uniforms and fight side by side with the US military. Who are these people, and how did they join the U.S. military?
Most of these "Chinese" are descendants of Chinese who immigrated to the United States in the early days. In the mid-to-late 19th century, a large number of Chinese peasants went to the United States to earn a living in order to escape the war and poverty at home. They are engaged in the hardest and most exhausting work in the United States, such as building railroads and mining. Despite the hardships of life, they still cherish the attachment to their homeland and hope to return home one day.
However, as time went on, the descendants of these early immigrants gradually became less and less connected to their homeland. They were born and raised in the United States, received an American education, and lived a lifestyle that was no different from mainstream American society. Although parents still teach them to speak Chinese and understand Chinese culture, for these Chinese descendants born and raised in the United States, the United States is their true home.
When World War II broke out, a large number of Chinese-Americans were drafted into the U.S. Army. Because they were highly consistent with the lifestyle and mindset of mainstream American society, they quickly integrated into the US military system. Some of them even established outstanding military exploits during the war, receiving promotions and awards.
By the time of the Korean War, this "Chinese" force of Chinese Americans had reached tens of thousands of people. Although their faces and language are no different from those of the Chinese, their ideology and values have been completely Americanized. For them, the United States is their allegiance, and China is a strange existence.
When the Korean War began, this "Chinese" unit was sent to the Korean battlefield to confront the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. On the battlefield, they wore U.S. military uniforms and armed with American-made weapons, fighting side by side with the U.S. military. And facing them were volunteer soldiers from the motherland. Although the faces and languages of the two sides are similar, they represent two very different beliefs and philosophies.
The volunteers were bewildered by the "Chinese".
In October 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteers went to the Korean battlefield to participate in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. On the battlefield, the volunteer soldiers encountered an unprecedented dilemma - there were a large number of "Chinese" in the US camp!
At first, when the volunteer soldiers saw those "Chinese" whose faces and language were no different from their own on the battlefield, they were very puzzled and confused. Some fighters even subconsciously thought that these people were captured Chinese, so they relaxed their vigilance.
However, this is far from the case. These "Chinese" were not prisoners, but American soldiers wearing US military uniforms and armed with American-made weapons. Although their faces and language are no different from those of the Chinese, their ideology and values have been completely Americanized.
In battle after battle, the volunteer soldiers witnessed these "Chinese" shooting and attacking the volunteers frantically. A "Chinese" American soldier named Lu Chaoran even used his Chinese face and Chinese accent to trick the volunteers into letting down their vigilance, and then shot the volunteers.
Faced with this situation, the volunteer soldiers felt unprecedented confusion and pain. They cannot understand why the faces of the same Chinese would shoot mercilessly at their own compatriots? What is the reason why these "Chinese" have completely betrayed their motherland and nation?
Some of the young volunteer fighters even wavered. They cannot be sure whether they should regard "Chinese" as enemies or compatriots when they encounter them on the battlefield; if they treat them as compatriots, they may cause themselves to be harmed; if they regard them as enemies, they violate the principle of loving each other.
This confusion and pain stirred in the hearts of the volunteer soldiers for a long time. Some young fighters even developed fear and distrust as a result, and subconsciously shot back when they encountered the "Chinese", resulting in some unnecessary casualties.
Peng Dehuai's decision and order
The confusion and casualties of the "Chinese" American soldiers encountered by the volunteers on the Korean battlefield soon reached the ears of Peng Dehuai, commander-in-chief of the volunteers. As a military strategist of a generation, Peng Dehuai has a deep understanding of the harmfulness of this incident.
At that time, the volunteer soldiers had serious differences and confusion about how to treat these "Chinese" American soldiers. Some of the young fighters even developed fear and distrust as a result, and subconsciously fired back when encountered, resulting in unnecessary casualties. Such internal contradictions and divisions will undoubtedly seriously affect the combat effectiveness and morale of the volunteers.
As commander-in-chief, Peng Dehuai realized that it was necessary to fundamentally solve this problem and give clear instructions to unify the actions of the whole army. So, he convened the senior generals of the Volunteer Army to conduct in-depth research and discussion on this matter.
After repeated analysis and weighing, Peng Dehuai finally made a major decision: as long as the "Chinese" wearing US military uniforms and holding weapons, regardless of their faces and language, they must be regarded as enemies and resolutely attacked.
Peng Dehuai's decision reflects his firm belief in the general interests of the nation and his profound understanding of the laws of war. He believes that on the battlefield, the distinction between nation and camp is the most fundamental, and any "Chinese" must be regarded as an enemy as long as he joins the enemy's camp.
After making this decision, Peng Dehuai immediately issued the famous order of "fighting is fighting", which was conveyed to every soldier in the army. The content of this order is: As long as the "Chinese" wearing US military uniforms do not lay down their arms and surrender, they will resolutely strike at them and will never be soft.
Peng Dehuai's order was like a slap in the face, giving the whole army a clear understanding and code of action on how to treat "Chinese" US soldiers. This undoubtedly greatly unified the thinking of the volunteers, eliminated internal differences and contradictions, and enhanced their combat effectiveness.
After the order was issued, the volunteer soldiers no longer had any doubts or wavers about how to act when they encountered the "Chinese" American soldiers. Bearing in mind Peng Dehuai's orders, they resolutely regarded those "Chinese" who joined the enemy camp as enemies and resolutely attacked them.
The new approach of the volunteer army to the "Chinese".
Peng Dehuai's order to "fight is to fight" pointed out the direction for the volunteers to treat "Chinese" US soldiers. Since then, the volunteer soldiers will never hesitate or waver when encountering these "Chinese".
However, Peng Dehuai's order only solved the ideological problem, and in the actual battle, the volunteer soldiers still faced some specific difficulties. Those "Chinese" American soldiers often use their Chinese faces and Chinese accents to trick volunteers into letting their guard down and then carry out sneak attacks.
In order to cope with this dilemma, the Volunteer Army has also made corresponding adjustments and innovations in tactics. They have strengthened the education of all officers and men, demanding that under no circumstances should they be confused by the disguises of "Chinese" US soldiers, and that they should always maintain a high degree of vigilance.
At the same time, the Chinese Volunteers also sent a special detachment composed of Chinese to identify and arrest these "Chinese" US soldiers on the battlefield. The members of this team are all descendants of Chinese who immigrated to the United States in their early years, and they are not only proficient in English, but also have a deep understanding of American culture and lifestyle.
With these advantages, the squad quickly established an excellent record on the battlefield. They were able to quickly identify which were the real "Chinese" U.S. soldiers and apprehended them. Sometimes, they even use their linguistic and cultural advantages to conduct psychological warfare against "Chinese" American soldiers to induce them to surrender.
At the same time, some descendants of Chinese who grew up in the United States also returned to China and joined the ranks of volunteers after learning that their motherland was being invaded. They not only provided valuable intelligence to the volunteers, but also personally participated in the strike against the "Chinese" American soldiers.
It was with these innovative tactics and measures that the volunteers finally succeeded in meeting the challenge of "Chinese" American soldiers. Those U.S. soldiers who tried to use Chinese faces and language camouflage were eventually identified and arrested.
end
As for Lu Chaoran, who once used his Chinese face and language to hurt the volunteers, his fate was also extremely miserable. During a battle, he was disguised by the Volunteers, attacked by the snipers of the Volunteers, and was seriously wounded and captured. After that, he was sent back to the United States and has been away from the battlefield ever since. Until his death, he was unable to get his wish and gain the recognition and respect of the Americans.