Yang Genkui

Yang Genkui (born March 1921) is the last surviving member of the '800 soldiers' who defended the Sihang Warehouse during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at the Battle of Shanghai. Yang had entered the National Revolutionary Army in 1936. Under the command of Xie Jinyuan Yang, and his comrades repelled the Japanese for three consecutive days before being captured. HIs commanding officer was assassinated during this captivity by three traitors who desired China to collaborate with the Japanese invaders. In memory of their commander, the battalion made copper memorial medals.

After the war, Yang returned to his home provience of Sichuan, where he carried on the family legacy as a blacksmith. During the cultural revolution Yang, having been a nationalist soldiers, was one of many categorized as possible enemies of the state. Yang tried to levy concern of his possible betrayl by showing officers in his memorial medal, and explaining that he never partook in the civil war. This however, only resulted in his medal being confiscated, and himself being tortured.

The Chinese Communist Party refuses to provide him, and others like Yang, with veteran benifits; as he was part of the Nationalist armed forces. One officially told him to go to Taiwan if he desired such benefits. To which Yang expressed that he fought for his country, not a political party.

Yang has eight children. He lives with his youngest. Yang makes a living as a migrant worker.