World War II Woman

Navy experiences in and about the Pacific (continued)

The previous blog about Bob mentions that he saw a Star of David on the outside of a building in Shanghai and asked the rickshaw man to let him off. When Bob entered the building, he found a compound of Russian and Polish refugees who had found a haven there in Shanghai. The compound was basically a food kitchen, providing food and shelter for these wanderers away from home. They were very poor with no source of income. So Bob emptied his pockets.

He wrote home about this experience in a detailed letter. His aunt saw the letter and sent it to Max Lerner, the editor of PM magazine in New York City. Bob’s letter was published.

Years later, Bob and his wife Ruth visited the Jewish museum in Shanghai. They saw a picture of the compound hanging on the wall. When the curator was made aware of Bob’s experience, he asked Bob to relate in more detail what he had found following the war. Bob’s account is now a part of the archives of the museum.

Bob had another experience he related. His aunt was a manufacturer of leather products in New York City. During the war years, she had lost track of one of her leather suppliers from China. This supplier was Lidell and Company in Shanghai. Bob’s aunt asked him to try to track down this company. He went up and down the famous Bund, asking business people if they had any news of him. He learned that Mr. Lidell had been interned by the Japanese, and was just returning to restart his business.

At a reunion of his Navy buddies, Bob discovered one of his shipmates living in a town close by. They became good friends, sharing their common experiences until the death of his former shipmate several years ago.

 For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com

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