Nine descendants of U.S. General Joseph Stilwell arrived in Tengchong, Yunnan Province, on Friday to honor the wartime legacy of Sino-American cooperation along the China-Burma-India front.
Their journey pays tribute to a shared history of courage and friendship that continues to resonate across generations and borders.
The Stilwell family began their visit at the National Martyrs Cemetery in Tengchong, a city near the Myanmar border. There, they laid flowers at General Stilwell’s statue and at the memorial for fallen Allied and Chinese Expeditionary Force soldiers, commemorating those who fought side by side more than 80 years ago.
For Nancy Millward, Stilwell’s great-granddaughter, the visit carries deep personal meaning. She first came to Tengchong 16 years ago with her father, who helped identify 19 Allied soldiers killed in battle. This time, she returned with her own children, continuing both a family tradition and the enduring bond between China and the United States.
"Understanding what General Stilwell did during the war was very important as I was growing up, but actually being here and seeing where he was physically makes it very different. I think it's much more emotional. And I think it's important for our children to learn about their family legacy, but in a broader context, the legacy that General Stilwell has left and the relationships that he built with the Chinese people during the war and before the war," said Millward.
At the Western Yunnan Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, the family carefully examined wartime archives and photographs, reflecting on how General Stilwell worked alongside Chinese forces. Between 1943 and 1944, Stilwell, together with his son and two sons-in-law, participated in the campaign along the China-Burma-India front, sharing the hardships of the battlefield with the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Some family members even recognized familiar faces in the historical records.
"That was my grandfather. We know a lot of his stories, passing down to my father, and pass to us," said Millward.
The family also toured historic sites along the Stilwell Road, including the old Houqiao and Wanding Bridge, which once served as crucial supply routes during the war. As they walked these paths, they could sense the endurance and determination of their ancestor's generation.
"It's nice to really connect and see what my great grand-father would have seen. The difficulties faced the engineers and the crew and the soldiers fighting through jungles. General Stillwell was able to bring everybody together and accomplish one mission, so it's just an inspiring story that I think we can learn from today as we interact with people from different countries," said Dennis Cox, great-grandson of Stilwell.
Eighty years ago, General Stilwell and countless Chinese and American soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder against fascism. Today, his legacy continues to resonate across generations in China.
Descendants of US General Stilwell retrace wartime footsteps in China to honor WWII legacy
