The Story That will Never End
衢州二中高二（9）班方欣然
“ It was the worst of times . It was the best of times.”
When I read the story of Doolittle Raid, the line from A Tale Of Two Cities came into my mind. It touched my heart like a flash of lightning and brought me to that very day as if it just happened yesterday.
That was a black day. The sky was curdled grey with only a few airplanes flying past. A cool breeze blew through the peaceful country. Everything went as usual. Nobody knew where the airplanes came from and where they would go. However, people comprehended the severity of the situation when they set off bombs.
It was the Doolittle Raid.
On Saturday, April 18th, 1942, Doolittle Raid was an air raid conducted by the Flying Tigers from the United States on Japan’s capital Tokyo and other places on the island of Honshu during World War Ⅱ. 75 pilots were forced to parachute due to the fuel consumption and 64 people was rescued and helped by Chinese people.
A film "Fenghuofangfei" released nationwide on November that year told the historical background of Chinese people rescuing some Doolittle pilots. This movie was meant to arouse public enthusiasm and helped people better know the history of Doolittle Raid. In the movie, American pilots Potter and Bremer were spotted by local farmers and were tied up as Japanese spies. Fortunately, they met Zhu Xueshan, a primary school teacher who knew a little English, which helped clear up their misunderstanding.
However, Chinese people did much more than that. On May 18, a month after the air raid, 50,000 Japanese troops launched the revengeful attack on Zhejiang, completely destroying Quzhou Airport, which had been prepared for the Doolittle pilots to land on. As a result, more than 250,000 Quzhou soldiers and civilians were killed in the first battle of Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces. Worse still, the Japanese army threw bombs which carried bacteria on the area of Quzhou, causing more than 300,000 people infected and more than 50,000 killed. There’s no doubt that Chinese people paid an extremely heavy price for Flying Tigers' successful air raid. After that, almost all the pilots who jumped from the airplanes were rescued.
I reckon these Chinese farmers were as brave as the soldiers who went to the battlefield in person. They are the backbone of a nation!
It is widely acknowledged that the rescues of Chinese farmers enhanced the morale of American people.
A warrior recalled: “it improved the relationships with our Allies and was a favorable reaction on America.”
It suddenly occurred to me that how terrible it would have been if Chinese farmers had turned a blind eye to the warriors in need.
Firstly, the leader Doolittle would have been killed, which would not only have brought down the morale of American peole, but would also have given a heavy blow to both the other pilots of the Flying Tigers and those American families that had sent their beloved to the battle.
Secondly, it would not have formed a bridge connecting the relationship between China and the USA. Until today, Quzhou still has enjoyed a close relationship with Doolittle High School and Quzhou has been one of the sister cities of Red Wing.
As a nation boasting a history of more than 5000 years, we should and we have to undertake the due obligations of helping others and promoting the communication between countries.
I guess life comes down to a simple choice: get busy dying or get busy living . Chinese people chose the latter one. This holy choice has made the cooperation of China and the United States possible, and made Chinese and American a whole family.
What significance will it bring us in the future? I think only time will tell. But I am sure the relationship between China and America will last forever. As the saying goes in The Shawshank Redemption: Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
It was the worst of times, but because of the warm-hearted and magnificent people from China, it was also the best of times.
The story between China and America will never end.