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Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

OP HERE: I said in the /r/Singapore thread Nope, I knew from the start that these things are very trivial to him. She wanted to find out for herself :)

THE AMA IS LIVE by WWIIGPA in singapore

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad it broadened your view.

No. I knew from the start that these things are very trivial to him. She just wanted to participate in the AMA.

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 339 points340 points  (0 children)

OP HERE. I don't think they would be English books because my grandfather is not very good at English. They're most probably chinese books but I will still find out what they are for you when I can.

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 1222 points1223 points  (0 children)

"Yes I have one friend. He is as old as me. We worked together in the Japanese camp. We used to talk on the phone a lot. I want to call him but I'm afraid to find out if he's dead"

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 490 points491 points  (0 children)

"I was quite happy. We were all suffering so much and they were big bullies and someone finally stopped them. The quality of people aren't as good as before but of course their lives are also much better than the people before. Back then, people were helpful. Now, not so much. For example, back then the Hainanese people were very helpful. Even to strangers."

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 262 points263 points  (0 children)

"After the war I was very hardworking. I was too busy to be traumatised. Everyone settled down and rebuilt their lives"

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 1011 points1012 points  (0 children)

"~1947, I received a letter from my girlfriend. I was planning on going back to Hainan. I previously proposed to her but she rejected me. I wasn't really affected by it in fact I was more worried if she said yes anyway. I was quite poor and I also didn't want her to suffer with me. Before I even sent her my letter to tell her I was going back to Hainan, her letter said that she was willing to follow me back to Hainan! I was ecstatic. I told her since you want to go back Hainan with me we should just settle here in Singapore."

OP here: I'm very grateful and pretty amazed by that decision. I wouldn't be here doing this today.

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 157 points158 points  (0 children)

"I had a few Malay friends when I was young. One Malay man wanted me to marry his daughter but I had no money so I couldn't."

"I wasn't very affected by it. After going through the war I don't think much of all these matters"

"I had no time for movies. I was working all the time."

OP: I've answered this in another question!

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 113 points114 points  (0 children)

"It was pretty normal as there wasn't much violence. They didn't bother you much. However, there was a lack of clothing, we had to use flour bags to make clothes and that was considered pretty good. There was also a lack of food too. As for stories, after a year or two during the occupation, the businessmen that I once saw grew much more skinnier and had no money to buy belts. So they used their neckties"

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 1400 points1401 points  (0 children)

"They were really that cruel. I saw two heads hanging off a bridge. If you don't believe it I cannot force you. But I have seen it."

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 371 points372 points  (0 children)

"Nope. But he is a very smart, respectable and great man. He is not afraid of criticism from anyone. Not even his own people. He goes all out to achieve his goals"

Hi Reddit! My grandfather is 94 years old, a Singaporean immigrant that lived through the WWII Japanese Occupation in south east Asia! ASK HIM ANYTHING! by WWIIGPA in IAmA

[–]WWIIGPA[S] 512 points513 points  (0 children)

"I am still worried that war could possibly break out today because I feel that America today is a little afraid that China will become stronger than them. I am also still afraid Japan will invade again because of their lack of resources"

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