Anna Chen Chennault

"Chen Xiangmei"

Wife of famous WWII aviation hero Claire Lee Chennault, Chen Xiangmei, or 'Anna Chan', (or Anna Chen Chennault) was 'a very busy lady', and has had an illustrious career in her own right.

Early life and career

Born in Peking, China on June 23, 1925, Chen Xiangmei "received a B.A. degree in Journalism from Lingnam University in Hong Kong in 1944, and an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Chungang in Seoul, Korea in 1967". She "began her career as a journalist, serving as a war correspondent for the Central News Agency from 1944 to 1948. She was a feature writer for the Hsin Ming Daily News in Shanghai, China from 1944 to 1949."

Chen Xiangmei "was married in 1947 to Claire Lee Chennault, who died in 1958. She has two children, Claire Anna and Cynthia Louise."

Life After Her Husband's Death

Her husband's death has not seemed to have slowed her career: "she served as a special correspondent for the Central News Agency from 1965 to the present [1999] and as a U.S. correspondent for the Hsin Shen Daily News from 1958 to the present [1999]. In addition, she was a broadcaster for the Voice of America from 1963 to 1966." In addition, Chen Xiangmei served as an editor and public relations officer for the Civil Air Transportation in Taipei, Taiwan (formerly Formosa, from 1946 until 1957. After her husband's death, Chennault was vice-president of international affairs for the Flying Tiger Line, Inc. "She has served as president of TAC International from 1976 to the present [1999]."

Career as an Author

'Anna' Chennault has written several books:

'Chennault and the Flying Tigers: Way of a Fighter' (1963)
'A Thousand Springs' (1963), a best-seller
'The Education of Anna' (1980)
'Song of Yesterday' (1961) in Chinese
'M.E.E.' (1963) in Chinese
'My Two Worlds' (1965) in Chinese
'The Other Half' (1966) in Chinese
'Letters from the U.S.A.' (1967)
'Journey among Friends and Strangers' (1978, Chinese edition)

Sabotaging of the Paris Peace Talks in 1968

At the urging of Richard Nixon, Anna Chennault helped sabotage the Paris Peace talks of 1968.

Career in Public Affairs

"Chennault has been a member of the President's Advisory Committee for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since 1970...served as a member of the United States National Committee for UNESCO from 1970 to the present [1999]...as president of Chinese Refugee Relief from 1962 to 1970 and has served as president of the General Claire Chennault Foundation from 1960 to the present [1999]."

Political career

Chennault "has served as a committeewoman of the Washington, D.C. Republican Party since 1960...was the founder and chair[woman] of the National Republican Asian Assembly" and has advocated greater participation in political affairs by Chinese- and other Asian-Americans, and also has discussed relations between the U.S. and China. She has also been honored with several awards: