Rotary on the ‘Gripsholm’ by Emily Hahn

During World War II, the MS Gripsholm, a Swedish-American ship, was used by the U.S. State Department from 1942 to 1946 for repatriation missions under the International Red Cross. Commanded by a Swedish crew, it completed 33 voyages, exchanging civilians, diplomats, POWs, and nationals between Japan/Germany and the U.S./Canada, repatriating over 27,000 people. On its September to December 1943 voyage, 44 Rotarians from 13 clubs across China, the Philippines, Mexico, and Hong Kong were aboard. Among them was Dr. James McClure Henry, president of Lingnan University and Rotary International Governor of District 96 (covering South China, Hong Kong, and Macau) before his internment by Japanese forces during the Pacific War. Emily Hahn, a biographer connected to the Rotary community and knowledgeable about China, recorded these historical events on the Gripsholm.

Durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, o MS Gripsholm, um navio sueco-americano, foi usado pelo Departamento de Estado dos EUA entre 1942 e 1946 para missões de repatriação sob a Cruz Vermelha Internacional. Comandado por uma tripulação sueca, realizou 33 viagens trocando civis, diplomatas, prisioneiros de guerra e nacionais entre Japão/Alemanha e EUA/Canadá, repatriando mais de 27.000 pessoas. Na viagem de setembro a dezembro de 1943, 44 rotarianos de 13 clubes da China, Filipinas, México e Hong Kong estavam a bordo. Entre eles, estava o Dr. James McClure Henry, presidente da Lingnan University e Governador do Distrito 96 do Rotary International (cobrindo o Sul da China, Hong Kong e Macau) antes de sua internação pelas forças japonesas durante a Guerra do Pacífico. Emily Hahn, biógrafa ligada à comunidade Rotary e conhecedora da China, registrou esses eventos históricos no Gripsholm.

二战期间，瑞典-美国轮船MS Gripsholm由美国国务院于1942年至1946年作为国际红十字会的遣返船使用。由瑞典船长和船员指挥，完成了33次往返日本/德国与美国/加拿大的交换任务，遣返了超过27,000人。1943年9月至12月的一次航程中，船上有来自中国、菲律宾、墨西哥和香港13个扶轮社的44名扶轮社成员。其中包括岭南大学校长、太平洋战争期间被日军拘禁的岭南大学校长及第96区（华南、香港、澳门）扶轮国际区长亨利博士。与扶轮社区相关、熟悉中国的传记作家艾米丽·汉恩记录了这段Gripsholm上的历史事件。