Flying Tigers Aid Mission to China Resumes, Delivering Pandemic Supplies to China 飞虎队援华再起航 送防疫物资到中国
Flying Tigers Peace and Aid Mission to Wuhan – Donation Departure Ceremony" was held on June 2 in Livermore. (Photo by reporter Ma Xin) 飞虎队和平援助武汉行动-捐赠物资起航仪式2日在利物摩举行。(记者马欣摄)
陆军退役老兵、77岁的米勒(左)特地赶来支持活动与美中航空遗产基金会主席格林合影。(记者马欣摄)77-year-old Army veteran Miller (left) came specially to support the event and took a photo with Jeffrey Greene, President of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation. (Photo by reporter Ma Xin)
Flying Tigers Peace and Aid Mission to Wuhan – Donation Departure Ceremony Held in Livermore
The departure ceremony for the Flying Tigers Peace and Aid Mission to Wuhan was held on June 2 in Livermore, in the East Bay. Over 50 boxes of supplies, filled with masks and protective suits, will be delivered directly to China this week via China Southern Airlines.
Jeffrey Greene, President of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and a former U.S. Marine Corps pilot, traveled from Los Angeles to the Bay Area to attend. He stated:
“Seventy-five years ago, the Flying Tigers helped China drive out Japanese invaders. American pilots risked their lives to protect the Chinese people, and the Chinese people, in turn, risked being slaughtered by the Japanese to rescue downed American pilots.
Today, 75 years later, mutual support between China and the U.S. has become a tradition. When China was struck by the disaster of COVID-19, the Flying Tigers had no hesitation in stepping up. We quickly mobilized and even reached out to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, hoping to gain presidential approval to use military aircraft for transporting supplies.
‘We are still waiting for that approval, but the supplies can’t wait. The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries will receive this shipment and distribute it to designated hospitals in the affected areas,’ Greene added.”
David Haubert, Mayor of Dublin and President of the U.S.-China Sister Cities Association, also attended. At the invitation of Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Haubert promptly sent a letter and a video message of support to the people of Hubei, which was published in Yangtze Evening News and broadcast on Wuhan TV.
He said, “We want the Chinese people to know that the U.S. military fully supports our efforts. The American people will do whatever we can to help China.”
Haubert emphasized that the legacy of the Flying Tigers lives on, passed down year after year and honored by history. In the face of the epidemic, they rose to the occasion. Together with the Chinese American community and other Americans, they raised donations and procured medical supplies.
“I wrote to encourage the Chinese people to have faith in winning this battle. If the Chinese people win, we all win.”
Douglas Miller, a 77-year-old retired U.S. Army veteran living in Livermore, made a special trip to attend the event.
With deep emotion, he said: “I served from 1967 to 1989. My biggest regret in life is that some of my comrades didn’t make it home. In some ways, I live for them.
But I’m also proud to have served my country. After retiring, I’ve been helping veterans learn skills to integrate into society through community colleges.”
He added: “Although I wasn’t a member of the Flying Tigers, I am a veteran. I support these organizations that do good without expecting anything in return. I hope the people in Wuhan—and all across China—can feel our goodwill. If we can help improve their lives even a little, or contribute to better U.S.-China relations, then it’s all worth it.”
Hua-Bin He, President of the American Entrepreneurs Association (AEA), noted that the success of this donation effort was also due to strong support from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco and China Southern Airlines. Despite the suspension of China-bound flights from San Francisco, they helped arrange transport through Los Angeles.
He especially thanked the volunteers who worked tirelessly to prepare the supplies: “Whenever our motherland needs us, we will always take action.”
Representatives from the Zhixin Alumni Association West Coast Chapter, the Chrysanthemum Club, Zhuhai Association, and the San Francisco Chinese Art Photography Society also attended the ceremony.
飞虎队和平援助武汉行动-捐赠物资起航仪式2日在东湾利物摩(Livermore)举行,五十多箱盛满口罩和防护服的物资本周将搭乘南方航空直达中国。
美中航空遗产基金会主席、前海军陆战队飞行员格林(Jeff. Greene)特地从洛杉矶赶来湾区。他表示,75年前,飞虎队帮助中国驱赶日本侵略者,美国空军冒生命危险保护中国人民,中国人民也冒着被日本人屠杀的风险保护和营救遇险美国飞行员。75年后的今天,中美互助成为传统,当中国遇到新冠病毒带来的灾难,飞虎队责无旁贷,迅速组织力量,甚至联系联邦交通部长赵小兰,希望得到总统的批准动用军用飞机运输物资。「我们仍在等待批准,但物资不能等,中国人民对外友好协会将接受这批物资。然后分发到疫区的指定医院。」
格林指出,身为美中友好城市协会会长的都柏林(Dublin)市长豪伯特(David Haubert)受中国对外友好协会会长李晓林的邀请,第一时间写信及发慰问视频给湖北人民,获《扬子晚报》刊登,并在武汉电视台同步播出。他称,「希望中国人民明白,美国军方非常支持我们的行动,美国人民会作任何我们能做的事情来帮助中国。」
豪伯特表示,飞虎队援华的事迹一年又一年被世人所传颂,被历史所铭记。当传染病发生的时候,他们毅然决然地挺身而出,同包括美国华人在内的美国人民一道组织捐款,购买抗疫物资,「我写信鼓励中国人民有信心赢得这场战役的胜利,如果中国人民胜利了,我们就胜利了。」
住在利物摩的陆军退役老兵、77岁的米勒(Douglas Miller)特地赶来参加活动。他心情沉重地表示:「我1967-1989年当兵,毕生最大的遗憾就是我的一些伙伴没能同我一起回家。某种程度上,我为了他们而活。但我也很自豪在那段时间服务我的国家,退休后我在小区学院帮助老兵学习融入社会的技能。」他指出:「我虽然不是飞虎队的成员,但也是老兵,我支持相关组织做这些不要求回报的善事,希望武汉乃至全中国的人们能感受到我们的善意,可以改善他们的生活,甚至为促进美中关系友好做出微薄的贡献。」
美国AEA企业家联谊会会长何华斌表示,这次捐赠行动还要感谢驻旧金山中国总领事馆和南方航空公司的大力支持,在中国航班停飞旧金山的情况下,协助取道洛杉矶运送物资。何华斌特别指出要感谢义工这些天来不眠不休地整理物资,「任何时候,只要祖国需要,我们都会行动起来。」
执信美西校友会、菊花会、珠海联谊会、旧金山华艺摄影学会等组织的代表也到场参加。