April to June 1989 goddess of Liberty statute, Tiananmen Square, China April to June 1989 goddess of Liberty statute, Tiananmen Square, China
Graduated from USNA in May and was on my way for temporary duty in Beijing at the embassy and Beijing Language Institue for 3 months. Landed in Hong Kong (still UK then) and the Asst Naval attache met me coming off the plane to tell me about the massacre and that my orders had changed - I was not to proceed further. Basically said ‘stay out of our way, stay out of trouble, shit’s going down, we don’t have time for a wet behind the ears Ensign’. Offered to get coffee, help with paperwork, whatever, denied.
Spent the next several weeks in Hong Kong blowing 3 months advance pay before heading back to USNA for the rest of the summer and eventually SWO school in RI.
I have all sorts of publications - books, magazines, papers - with smuggled pictures and stories that made their way out of the mainland during that time. Watched local protests from a distance.
It was something.
Isis?