"It makes me want to come home and fight even harder to bring that spirit back to our country."
These words from Nell Calloway, granddaughter of World War II Flying Tigers leader General Claire Chennault, capture the profound impact of her repeated visits to China, where she has witnessed not only military parades but also deep currents of patriotism and historical memory.
Ms. Calloway will return to China in 2025 for her third parade visit, having previously attended the 60th and 70th anniversaries in 2005 and 2015. Each journey has strengthened her bond with a country where her grandfather made history. General Claire Chennault, who led the American Volunteer Group known as the "Flying Tigers," was invited by China to organize a group of U.S. pilots to combat Japanese forces. Flying shark-nosed P-40 fighters, they achieved legendary success in protecting Chinese supply lines and boosting morale long before the U.S. officially entered the war.
This upcoming trip will include a deeply meaningful visit to Nanjing, where her grandfather witnessed the atrocities committed by the Japanese troops during the war. "He experienced and witnessed firsthand the brutality," she noted, referring to the estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians killed by Japanese troops. She plans to tour the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum, furthering her mission to raise awareness about this often-overlooked history. "We had never been taught about the brutality faced by the Chinese people," she stated.
As director of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, Louisiana, she actively preserves this history through exhibits, educational programs, and artifacts. One entire wall is dedicated to documenting the suffering and resilience of the Chinese people during the war, helping American visitors understand what they endured. Through these efforts, Nell Calloway ensures that the legacy of China-U.S. wartime cooperation and shared bravery is passed on to future generations.
Reporter: Guo Zedong, Ou Xiaoming
Video script & text: Guo Zedong
Camerman: Guo Hongda
Video editor: Liang Zijian
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
