Engaging with the Iliad: Long Delayed Recognition for World War II Warriors

Citizens have great respect for soldiers and honor their sacrifice for the protection of their country. Warriors regularly gain praise and recognition for their services, but this shocking story may reveal some of the noblest acts that went unnoticed for six decades!

A young man by the name of Sun Yinbai, was an interpreter between Chinese and American forces during World War II. While stationed at an airfield in Ankang, which safely landed multiple U.S. soldiers, Yinbai helped commence the refueling and repair of military airplanes. Although, most aircrafts successfully landed, there were a few that occasionally collided with other airplanes and thus created fatal explosions. As a result, many of the fallen soldiers not only died, but had their bodies vigorously torn apart, which Sun had to collect and piece together to form complete corpse

When recalling the noble acts of Sun Yinbai, one would assume that he would receive some type of commendation. However, many who had served under the Chinese leader, Chiang Kai-shek, went unacknowledged. The controversy of receiving recognition lied on the idea of opposing nationalistic and communistic views. Many communists believed that the nationalists held little to no significance in war. Therefore, the leading communist party did not want to associate the opposing nationalists with heroism. They did not want that glorified image to be connected to those who were not part of the Soviet regime. However, many people like Xue Gang, an amateur historian seeking justice for nationalist soldiers, have helped reform this idea. While speaking to communist officials, Xue Gang mentioned many of the contributions nationalist troops made within the war to aid their perspective in what was really important about China as a whole.

Despite the disputes between different political views within a nation, the noble acts of citizens who served in war should never be ignored. Warriors serve the most honorable roles in society for their courage and service to their country. Leaving their experiences and contribution out of history is equivalent to saying they never existed. People like Sun Yinbai will live forever, thanks to Xue Yang and many social justice warriors for unveiling the truth.

Makinen, Julie. "In China, Long-delayed Recognition for Troops Who Fought in World War II." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2015. <http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-war-veterans-20150901-story.html>.

Viewing War Through a Specific Lens

Islamic Jihad parade. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

War is one of the many traditions within a race that shape its culture and ethics. The activity has been practiced over centuries and helped create nations of both powerful geographic structure and political stance. One of the most controversial wars of the 21^st century centers around the attacks on Gaza, which exemplify the gruesome tragedies of war within a nation.


The image above portrays the many aspects of vulnerability and solemn, which a group of people feel while experiencing traumatic events of war. The woman displays her effort in resolving the issues between Israel and Gaza as she waves peace signs on both her hands.  The soldiers beside her march with the same purpose and signify their preparation to confront future Israeli attacks if necessary. This image is incredibly powerful because of its ability to convey the emotions of civilians, duties of soldiers, and the circumstances of a country as a whole. Standing side by side as one force, they symbolize the strength of their physical and mental capabilities. 

The purpose of this image is to show viewers what people around the world are facing as they undergo the fear of death and destruction in their countries with every given day. Devastation and trauma are the main effects of war on people. After suffering from anxiety and constant paranoia for their near death, all these people really want to feel is a sense of security through mutual understanding and tranquility. There will never be a time where everyone in the world will understand each other and live in harmony, but the means of resolving the issues that come with disagreement are what will lead humanity towards a brighter path for success. Mark Twain states, “War is what happens when language fails”. Let us not live in silence, or communicate with violence. Our words can change the world and we must depend on them to create peace.

Beauchamp, Zach. Los Angeles Times. N.p., 17 July 2014. Web. 1 Oct. 2015. <http://www.vox.com/2014/7/16/5904691/hamas-israel-gaza-11-things>.