In the serene hills of Lucas Valley, where oak trees sway gently in the breeze and sunlight filters through the foggy mornings, lives a woman whose life has been anything but tranquil. Jean Bee Chan, a retired mathematics professor, is not just another resident of Marin County; she is a living testament to survival, resilience and unwavering advocacy for justice.
Her story begins amidst the horrors of the Sino-Japanese War — a conflict that marked the onset of World War II in Asia — and continues into her later years as a tireless advocate for truth and reconciliation. Born in China in 1937, she witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by Japan’s invasion, which began with the occupation of Manchuria in 1931.
This early aggression set the stage for a larger campaign of violence across East Asia, claiming millions of lives and subjecting countless civilians to unimaginable atrocities. During the war years from 1941 to 1945, Jean lived in Taishan, a village in southern China. There, she endured bombings, food shortages and the constant threat of violence. Tragically, Jean lost her younger brother to illness in 1945, just before the war ended.
After immigrating to the United States, Jean pursued higher education, eventually becoming a mathematics professor at Sonoma State University. Yet, even as she excelled academically, her heart remained tethered to the struggles of those who had suffered under Japanese occupation. Determined to ensure that their stories were not forgotten, Jean embarked on a mission to preserve the memory of the victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
As part of her efforts, she conducted interviews with survivors, including Lester Tenney, who endured the Bataan Death March and later survived the Mukden POW camp. Through these conversations, Jean documented firsthand accounts of unimaginable suffering and resilience, creating enduring testimonies to the wartime atrocities.
Her crowning achievement came in the form of the Pacific Asia War Memorial, which she helped establish at Sonoma State University to promote peace and reconciliation in the world. In Chan’s eyes, the Pacific War — and World War II — began not in 1939 or 1941, but in 1931, when Japan invaded Manchuria. This perspective is reflected in the memorial’s inscription, etched in both English and Chinese: “In memory of victims of the Pacific War, 1931 to 1945.”
Through this project, Jean sought to educate future generations about the full scope of wartime horrors, including the Nanking Massacre, forced labor camps and the use of biological weapons against civilian populations.
Chan’s efforts did not stop there. Recognizing that true accountability could only come through transparency, she joined forces with other activists to push for the declassification of documents related to Japanese war crimes. In 2007, after years of tireless lobbying, Senator Dianne Feinstein played a pivotal role in securing the release of over 100,000 pages of previously undisclosed records.
For researchers like myself, Chan’s advocacy proved invaluable. My own work with my nonprofit, Pacific Atrocities Education, relied heavily on the newly available materials, which provided unprecedented insights into the scale and nature of wartime atrocities. Without Chan’s persistence and determination, much of this information might still be locked away, inaccessible to scholars and historians seeking to understand this period.
Bridging Generational Gaps Through Storytelling
Through her personal narratives, Jean Bee Chan has become a bridge between generations, connecting young people with the often-unheard voices of those who lived through some of humanity’s darkest moments. Her stories are not just accounts of survival — they are powerful tools for fostering empathy, understanding and action among listeners.
One of Chan’s most impactful contributions has been her participation in educational programs like the annual Day of Learning hosted by the Holocaust Center. Before the pandemic, these events brought together students, educators and community members for immersive experiences that explored themes of genocide, human rights and resilience. During these gatherings, Jean would sit down with participants — many of whom were teenagers or young adults — and share her own harrowing experiences as a child during World War II. Her ability to convey both the horrors she endured and the strength required to overcome them left an indelible mark on everyone present. Young attendees often remarked how hearing directly from someone who had lived through such trauma made history feel immediate and personal.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jean has adapted her outreach efforts to virtual platforms. Each summer, she joins my team of interns via Zoom to recount her wartime experiences. As she speaks about fleeing bombings, enduring starvation and witnessing the loss of loved ones, there is a palpable heaviness in the air — a collective silence that underscores the gravity of what she endured.
What makes Chan’s storytelling particularly compelling is its universality. While her individual story is unique, it also reflects the shared experiences of millions of others whose voices have gone unheard. In the decades following World War II, geopolitical tensions during the Cold War overshadowed much of the suffering caused by earlier conflicts, leaving countless victims’ stories buried under layers of political amnesia. For survivors like Jean, sharing their experiences becomes an act of defiance against this erasure — a way to ensure that their pain and resilience are acknowledged.
Every time Jean recounts her journey, it is clear that doing so takes an immense emotional toll. Her voice trembles as she describes nights spent hiding in fear, days without food and the constant uncertainty of whether she would live to see tomorrow. Yet, within that vulnerability lies immense power. By opening herself up to strangers — even virtually — she creates space for connection and healing.
Beyond Survival: A Legacy of Hope
Through Jean Bee Chan’s support and the contributions of many individual donors like her, Pacific Atrocities Education has built a digital archive containing over a million pages of declassified documents, survivor testimonies and historical records related to Japanese war crimes. It serves as a powerful tool for education, research and justice, ensuring these stories remain accessible to all.
Today, this vast repository serves as an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the scope and scale of the suffering endured during the Sino-Japanese War and other conflicts in the Pacific theater.
What sets this archive apart is its accessibility. Anyone with an internet connection can explore its contents, diving into firsthand accounts, military reports and diplomatic correspondence that shed light on events such as the Nanking Massacre, the “Comfort Women” system and the biological warfare experiments conducted by Unit 731. For students, scholars and activists alike, this archive represents a treasure trove of knowledge — a testament to the importance of transparency in addressing historical injustices. It allows individuals to conduct their own research, ask difficult questions and draw connections between past atrocities and contemporary human rights issues.
Chan’s role in building this archive cannot be overstated. By championing the cause of declassification and supporting initiatives like PAE, she has ensured that the voices of millions of victims are no longer silenced. Every page in the archive tells a story — some filled with unimaginable pain, others with resilience and hope. Together, they form a mosaic of humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and courage, reminding us why it is so vital to remember and learn from history.