Tienanmen Sq. (We were there)

Yes,we were there in 1989 during the Tienanmen Square Massacre. We were at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai..But the event was a nationwide civil disorder. President Bush (First one) ordered all Americans out of China. This was a political move not a necessity. By that, I mean that the Chinese People, at the time had no negative view toward Americans. Janey walked about 4 blocks to the Consulate each morning. That's because we had only one single car and I needed that to get to the Consulate very early...around 6 AM. In fact when we were there (88-90) there were no private cars on the road..every vehicle on the road was either government or business owned. Private citizens were not even allowed to have a car. I was permitted one only as a diplomat. Anyway, each morning Janey walked the 4 blocks to work and all the shop keepers along the way..even the traffic cop standing on the pedestal directing traffic would wave to her as she passed each day. Several times, during her walk, some china-man who had been rejected a visa to the U.S. would recognize her and somehow think she was to blame for his rejection would spot her and accost her on the street but she never feared because shopkeepers would rush from their shops with brooms, sticks etc and chase him away. I'm sure that the policeman also would have stopped traffic (Only bicycles mostly) and come to her aid if needed. My point is that the Tienanmen Sq massacre had nothing to do with Americans..It was against the Chinese Government. So the evacuation of all Americans from China was a political move only..not to protect Americans because Americans were never in danger. On the day of the massacre, Shanghai, China's main Metropolitan city for commerce, was also in turmoil..Bus's were overturned and burning in the streets, etc. That evening, Janey and I had been invited, by Northwest Airlines, to a celebration at the main ballroom of the Hilton Hotel, celebrating Northwest Airline's 15th year in China. They had the main Ballroom divided into quadrants with foods flown in from all over the world, complete with whole roast pig etc, a string orchestra and each guest, just on entering the ballroom was presented with a wristwatch commemorating the celebration. But while about 300 guests had been invited to this (by invitation only) event, only about 30 showed up because of the Tienanmen Sq massacre and nationwide civil unrest So they went down to the hotel lobby and invited all who wished to come to dine and dance with the rest of us. The families of all the consulate staff evacuated the country. I was, of course, considered necessary personnel and remained at my post. Janey and the Consul General's wife were the only wives to remain by choice. Janey was spending 10-12 hour days in the consular department helping to evacuate Americans. Of corse the phones were ringing endlessly, plus a line-up at the consulate itself. I believe it was about 4 days she did this, until a flash message came in from the White House, saying, "Get those 2 women out"..(More political pressure). So Janey boarded a plane bound for the U.S. At one point during her trip, she was in Chicago, awaiting a flight to Cincinnati Ohio, and at an elevator there was also a man waiting (In uniform). Janey commented that she hoped that the plane would be on time. The man replied.."It will be on time..I'M THE PILOT". They chatted and he learned that Janey had just come from China. He said, that his daughter was in China traveling and that he was worried sick because they had not been able to contact her. Janey asked for her name, and he gave it to her. Janey replied, "I SAW YOUR DAUGHTER YESTERDAY AT THE CONSULATE...I PUT HER ON A PLAN WITH HER FRIEND TO HONG KONG AND SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL YOU"! Needless to say, Janey had a very smooth flight to Cincinnati. Never at any time were Americans at risk. The peoples anger was at the Chinese government. The students had constructed a small replica of our Statue of Liberty which they were carrying at the protests. One thing that was very noticeable during our 2 years in China is that the Chinese are very adept and selecting names for their country which suggest something good. For example when we went to Xiang (where the terra cotta warriors are), the street outside our hotel was called "Highway Everlasting", and it was so full of potholes that it was barely navigable. At the Tienanmen square massacre site..the tanks came through the archway called "Gate of Heavenly Peace". Imagine that. The only misgivings the Chinese had against Americans at the time, is that they, for some warped reasoning, had thought that when they challenged the Chinese Government, that the U.S. would step in and fight with them. If you're wondering why would we think that the civil unrest was noticeable in Shanghai, a long ways from Bejing...There was a troop train carrying troops bound for Bejing passing through Shanghai..A band of people, probably thinking of the Way things go in America..decided to lay down on the tracks and stop the train. Guess what? The train didn't stop but in fact accelerated (Probably so his wheels wouldn't get gummed up with human bodies). The mobs pulled the engineer off the train and beat him to death right there beside the tracks. Today, Aug 3 2014, I added 2 pictures..The Chinese "Ybon" (Foreign Office) 4 times per year invited diplomats on various tours of up to 10 days..all expense paid..air fares, hotels, meals..everything..In these 2 pics you'll see my wife on a Chinese Gunboat.  The one of her standing on the fantail shows the spray kicking up..because were moving at high speed..and you can see the covered gun mounts..I can tell by the shape under the canvas that it covers twin 40 MM mounts and although I was not invited below deck..as a former 25 year veteran sailor, I can tell from the speed and the sound that it was powered by twin, very tight, very sweet diesels.  They took us on a 2 hour run to offshore islands where we had lunch.