World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseSun Li-jen (Pinyin romanization: Sun Liren; Wade-Giles romanization: Sun Li-jen) was a general of Chiang Kaishek's Nationalist Army. He was born in Jinnu Town, Lujiang County, Anhui Province, with ancestry in the Shucheng County. He was a civil engineering student at Qinghua University who later transferred to Purdue University in the United States. After graduating in 1925, Sun Yatsen recommended the already militarily-inspired Sun a career in the military to better serve his home country, and thus Sun enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute. It is interesting to note that Sun lied about his age, making him four years younger on his papers so that he would come under the maximum age for enrollment. He would graduate in 1927 and return to China to serve under Chiang Kaishek.

ww2dbaseSun's experience in VMI was not a pleasant one. He recalled a chapter of his VMI student life:

ww2dbaseUpon returning to China, Sun was commissioned a general in the Nationalist Army. He served in the Northern Expedition against Chinese warlords when these warlords divided and ruled most of China proper. During the prologue to WW2 in China, he led troops against the Japanese in Shanghai, and was wounded seriously. After he recovered, he led a number of successful campaigns against the Japanese with his newly formed 38th Division. He was known as a general who consistently achieved victories, defeating Japanese units of equal size at a time when it took many Chinese casualties to cause one among the Japanese. One of Sun's proudest achievements took place 17-18 Apr 1942 at the Yenangyaung Rescue Mission when he led the 113th Regiment to Burma. His 1,300 strong force killed nearly 1,000 and captured 500 Japanese, rescuing two beseiged British brigades from destruction. During this mission, he also commanded a small group from the British Second Royal Tanks, the Essex Yeomentry, and remnants of Yorkshires, making him the first time a Chinese officer to command British troops. For his gallantry at Yenangyaung, King George VI honored Sun with the Commander of the British Empire (Order of the British Empire) medal.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2, when Mao's Communist Army took control of mainland China, Sun escaped to Taiwan with Chiang's government, and remained in the military in various roles, including the Chief of Staff of Armed Forces.

ww2dbaseDuring the late 1940s, the United States lost faith in Chiang's leadership and alledgedly approached Sun to overthrow Chiang. Sun, who lacked personal ambition, was said to have declined the American offer. In 1955, Chiang learned of this rumor and placed Sun under house arrest. He remained under arrest until 20 Mar 1988, shortly after President Chiang Chingkuo's death.

ww2dbaseSun passed away in Taiwan in 1990. Ten years later, the Control Yuan of the Republic of China posthumously cleared him of all charges.

Sun Li-jen Interactive Map

Photographs

Sun Li-jen Timeline

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4.  Alan Chanter says:
14 Jan 2008 03:26:53 AM

"For his gallantry at Yenangyaung, King George VI honored Sun with the Commander of the British Empire (Order of the British Empire) medal." Actually what really happened was that Sun wanted to place his 38th Division under Slim's command, but Winterton convinced Alexander to place the Chinese under Stilwell. To save Suns face Alexander took the decision to give Sun a medal, and with a pair of scissors cut off his own CBE to present to the Chinese General. A gesture that would later earn Alex. a stiff rebuke from Buckingham Palace.