Sun Li-Jen
From Hoopedia
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 8, 1900 | |
| Place of birth | Jinnu, China | |
| Date of death | November 19, 1990 (age 89) | |
| Nationality |  Chinese
| |
Sun Li-jen (Traditional Chinese: 孫立人; Hanyu Pinyin: Sūn Lìrén) (December 8, 1900 – November 19, 1990) was a Kuomintang (KMT) general, best known for his leadership in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. His achievements earned him the laudatory nickname "Rommel of the East". His New 1st Army was reputed as the "1st [Best] Army under the heaven" and credited with defeating the most Japanese troops. He was also known as Sun Chung-neng (孫仲能, Sūn Zhòngnéng) and had the courtesy name Sun Fu-min (孫撫民, Sūn Fǔmín).
Sun led China to an upset victory over the Philippines, 30-27, in the championship game of the 1921 Far Eastern Championship Games, China's first gold medal in international basketball. This game had enormous political implications, boosting Chinese self-confidence at a time when the country was fragmented by feuding warlords and often referred to as Asia's "sick giant."
He was the star of the Tsing Hua (Qinghua) Imperial College (清華學堂) team.
He studied at Purdue University, graduating in 1924 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. While there he was known as Chia Chi Sun. He is a member of the Purdue Engineering School Wall of Fame.
