Chen Mingren

Chen Mingren (; 7 April 1903 – 21 May 1974) was a prominent military figure from Liling, Hunan Province, and one of the founding members of the People's Liberation Army. He was a top-level military commander in the Republic of China. He then joined the forces of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949. Chen was awarded the rank of Colonel General in 1955.

Biography Early years

Chen was born into family of farmers in Hunan on 7 April 1903. He went through his education in private institutions and underwent military training in 1924. On 19 November 1924, he was transferred to the Whampoa Military Academy. Upon his graduation and stellar military performance during the Northern Expedition, he rose through the ranks quickly. By 1928, he was a Colonel in the National Revolutionary Army.

In 1946, the 71st Army was transported by US warships to the Northeast in preparation for the anticipated Chinese Civil War. With the start of the Summer Offensive of 1947 in Northeast China by Communist general Lin Biao, Chen's 71st Army was forced to retreat to and rendezvous at Siping, Jilin. Mustering local forces and his own army, he had around 30 thousand man waiting from reinforcements.

Between 22 May and 30 June 1947, Chen was able to repel the Chinese Red Army in Northeast China that was led by Li Tianyou. In June, he was able to resist the overwhelming forces under the command of Lin Biao at Siping Street for more than 40 days. For his gallant efforts, he was awarded with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun and was promoted to the 7th Corps Commander. Although successful in the initial stages of the Siping Campaign, the Communist forces who surrounded the stronghold managed to break the Nationalist defenses following a nine-month long assault.

At the eve of the Huaihai Campaign, Bai Chongxi recommended Chen Mingren to Chiang Kai-shek as the garrison commander of Wuhan. Within a year, he became a Deputy Director of the Changsha Military Control Commission, a Deputy Commander of the Hunan Military Region and a member of the Hunan People's Military and Political Committee. After being encouraged by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai to continue his military service, he joined the People's Liberation Army.