[alf]

The Japanese forced my family out of China.

My grandfather was a chef at a hotel in Tianjin frequented by the J-occupation brass. He spoke some Japanese and was asked to translate for local interrogations. Not willing to be a traitor he refused and fearing for his life fled to Singapore through HK. Leaving his wife, 3 daughters and son behind. My mother almost died many times in the bitter winters in Nothern China, surviving on scrap.

First hand accounts of atrocities J-forces commited could fill volumes. Oddly, she does not hold a grudge against the Japanese. She simply says that those that commted the atrocities are not the same people in Japan today. I guess she moved on from that time.

My grandfather was able to get his family in Tianjin out to British Singapore after some time. Family reunited.

Singapore fell to the Japanese and the officer that tried to recruit my grandfather moved to occupied Singapore. He found my grandfather with no where left to run in Asia.

Interestingly, he did not try to recruit him nor bother our family. Instead the officer ate at my grandfather's restaurant often and they sort of became (uncomfortable for my GF) friends. When Japan fell, that officer bid my grandfather farewell and left quietly for Japan. They did not keep in touch after.

Heart felt thanks to the Allied servicemen who fought against the Japanese in those very difficult times.