The Bund - major street bordering the Whangpoo River in downtown Shanghai.
Shanghai, China, November 1945: When my 9th Combat Cargo Squadron was reconstituted as the 330th Troop Carrier Squadron, we were based at Kiangwan Airfield some seven miles Northeast of the City of Shanghai. Having a permanent pass to the city, I spent most of my off duty time there. Our shuttle from the airfield would drop us off at the Park Hotel on Bubbling Well Lu (Road) near the Public Recreation Ground in the center of the city.
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The Bund - major street bordering the Whangpoo River in downtown Shanghai.
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On the sidewalk outside the hotel, three or four ragtag Chinese bootblacks set up their stands offering to shine our shoes. The price was right, about ten cents U.S., so I frequented one of the young men's (I will call him Mao) chairs on each trip I made to the city. After the third visit, Mao revealed to me that he was a Communist. He told me that he came to Shanghai from the North near Peiping (now Beijing) and had a very responsible position in the Chinese Communist Movement. He was 20 years old. He proudly proclaimed that Chiang Kai-shek would be defeated and that he, Mao, would have an office in Shanghai. There was no doubt in his mind that the Communists would prevail and take over the government of China.
Mao told me at great length the Communist political philosophy, which at that time went over my head. All I know is that what he predicted all came true. I am sure that Mao's dedication to their cause and his apparent education, did place him in high office when the takeover came.
He told me his real name but the many years have dimmed that part of my memory. Wouldn't it be interesting if he were one of the officials that we read about in our newspapers today.