John Lee (left) and Peter Mills (right)
In October 1945, while still a student at Yuying Middle School, John Lee was asked to serve as an English interpreter for a visiting American officer, Peter Mills, who was then a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander. Mills had come to speak at the school in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and Lee’s ability to move comfortably between Chinese and English made him a natural bridge between the two worlds. What began as a simple act of translation during a school lecture would grow into a lasting connection, one that would ultimately shape the direction of Lee’s life.
Some photos that Peter Mills took while he was at Peiping, China. The original films are being kept safety by Peter’s son, Paul Mills.
Letter exchanges between John Lee and Peter Mills over the years.