Loyal souls home after 70 years

The ashes of 19 officers and soldiers of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in World War II are escorted to a national martyr cemetery in Tengchong county, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Sept 13, 2011. In 1942, when the Chinese Expeditionary Force first went to Myanmar at the request of the British colonial government to fight against Japanese aggressors, 50,000 died in battle or in retreat. In the battles to recover northern Myanmar in 1943-45, 15,000-20,000 more Chinese soldiers lost their lives, and 20,000 died in the battle to retake western Yunnan. Nearly 100,000 Chinese gave their lives in that part of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The 19 officers and soldiers representing those who died in battle in the Myitkyina areas, Hsipaw and Lashio, finally returned to their motherland almost 70 years later. About 60,000 soldiers' remains of the Chinese Expeditionary Force are still left in Myanmar, according to a report from China News Service. [Photo/CFP]

A hearse carrying the ashes of 19 officers and soldiers of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in World War II crosses the border port with Myanmar and enters Tengchong county, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, Sept 13, 2011.[Photo/CFP]