Stilwell Road Retraced: Stilwell's descendants retrace his wartime footsteps in Yunnan

The family of U.S. General Joseph Stilwell is in China this week on a historic journey. On Friday, nine family members arrived in Tengchong, Yunnan, retracing the footsteps of their ancestor who fought alongside the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Their visit honors a shared legacy of courage and friendship that transcends borders and time. Gong Ming reports.

The Stilwell family began their journey at the National Martyrs Cemetery in Tengchong, a city near the Myanmar border. They laid flowers at General Stilwell's statue and at the memorial for fallen Allied and Chinese Expeditionary Force soldiers, paying tribute to those who fought side by side more than 80 years ago. For Nancy Millward, Stilwell's great-granddaughter, the visit is deeply personal. She first came here 16 years ago with her father, who helped confirm the identities of 19 Allied soldiers killed in battle. Today, Nancy returns with her own children, keeping alive both family memory and the enduring friendship between China and the United States.

NANCY MILLWARD Great-granddaughter of General Joseph Stilwell "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."

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-Myanmar-India front, sharing the hardships of the battlefield with the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Some family members even recognized familiar faces in the historical records.

NANCY MILLWARD Great-granddaughter of General Joseph Stilwell "That was my grandfather. We know a lot of his stories, passing down to my father, and pass to us."

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.

DENNIS COX Great-grandson of General Joseph Stilwell "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."

GONG MING Tengchong, Yunnan Province "Eighty years ago, General Stilwell and countless Chinese and American soldiers fought side by side against fascism. Today, his legacy still resonates here in China. His family's visit is more than a tribute to history – it's a reminder that the fight for peace continues today. Gong Ming, CGTN, Tengchong, Yunnan Province."