Liu Fangwu | |||||||
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Native name | 劉放吾 | ||||||
Born | Renyi Town, Guiyang County, Hunan, Qing China | April 17, 1898||||||
Died | June 29, 1994 Los Angeles, California, U.S.A | (aged 96)||||||
Allegiance | Republic of China | ||||||
Service/ | National Revolutionary Army | ||||||
Years of service | 1929–1954 | ||||||
Rank | Major general | ||||||
Unit | Chinese Expeditionary Force | ||||||
Battles/wars | |||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 劉放吾 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 刘放吾 | ||||||
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Liu Jishu | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 劉繼樞 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 刘继枢 | ||||||
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Buji | |||||||
Chinese | 不羁 | ||||||
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Liu Fangwu (Chinese: 劉放吾; 17 April 1898 – 29 June 1994) was a Chinese Nationalist (KMT) general, a graduate of Whampoa Military Academy, best known for his leadership in the Battle of Yenangyaung.[1][2][3]
Liu was born Liu Jishu (Chinese: 劉繼樞) in Renyi Town of Guiyang County, Hunan, on April 17, 1898. He attended the Lanjia Joint Middle School (now Guiyang No. 1 High School). After graduating from Whampoa Military Academy, he enlisted in the National Revolutionary Army. In July 1942, he participated in the Battle of Yenangyaung led by Sun Li-jen in Burma, rescuing more than 7000 British soldiers and 500 American journalists and missionaries.[4]
After the Chinese Civil War, he moved to Taiwan with his family. Liu retired in January 1954 and emigrated to Los Angeles in 1977.
In 1992, the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met with him and thanked him for saving the British army.[1] On July 27, 1992, former US President George W. Bush wrote a thank-you letter to him.[5]
Liu died of illness on June 29, 1994, in Los Angeles.
Liu married Liu Zhenru (Chinese: 柳振如), their son, Liu Weimin (Chinese: 劉偉民), is a Chinese-American entrepreneur.[6][7]
It is said that the character Long Wenzhang (Chinese: 龍文章) of My Chief and My Regiment (Chinese: 我的團長我的團) is based on the real-life of Liu Fangwu.[8]