For Wampler, the most valuable part of the collection is a handwritten manuscript by General Peng Dehuai. He said that Peng personally gave it to his father. It is titled “The Eighth Route Army’s Three-year War against Japan.Recalling the war period
Wampler said his parents came to China in the early 20th century before he was born. Inspired by the faith of “one family in the world,” his parents and their friends started a charity trip into rural China, and finally they arrived at Qinxian County, Shanxi Province.During the three years in Shanxi, his parents and their peers distributed relief grain to local farmers, helped them set up factories and hospitals. They also provided farmers with new varieties of crops.
In return, locals also helped them at the most difficult times when their houses were destroyed by Japanese bombs.
As a foreigner, Wampler recalled, it was easy for them to access the communist leaders. His father was once a close friend of Bo Yibo, who later became China’s vice premier. The family left China in 1949 due to political reasons, and Wampler returned in 1985 for an international conference.
“The stay in China was very moving ... for me,” Joe said. “I hope these materials may helpveal details about the war time.”Joe said he would properly choose the National Museum to donate his collection to, and will leave Beijing in late November.