American War Veterans Visited Northern Burma
April 6, 2005

The Kachin Post

Two American World War II veterans toured memorable trip to northern Burma where they served as U.S soldier in 60 years ago to fight against Japanese Army, according to the Myanmar Times report.

Elmer Hauldren, 82, and Veikko Kauppila, 80, visited some locations of historical Ledo Road in the middle of last month. 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) long Ledo Road, also know as Stilwell Road, connects northeast India town of Ledo and China’s southwest city Kunming via northern Burma.

Both of them were U.S service men serving under different platoons along the Ledo Road during the World War II. Elmer Hauldren was a sergeant at U.S supply convoy and Kauppila served at Namhkam-based engineering unit which built Ledo Road near China border.

Hauldren said, his worst times were ambushes by Japanese soldiers and, the most wonderful times were kindly treatment by native Kachin people and beautiful scenery along the road. Hundreds of Kachins served under U.S Army during World War II. “It was exciting to visit the areas where I served after 60 years,” said Hauldren.

On February 2, 2005, U.S embassy in Beijing held a meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the completion of Ledo Road, China’s only land transportation route during World War II. The first convoy of 100 U.S Army vehicles carrying war supplies reached Kunming on February 4, 1945, which also marked the first overland transportation after Japanese Army left northern Burma.

Ledo Road was built in 1942 and completed in 1945.