Fascinating! And we all wound up in southern California...My FIL was born near Harbin(it is not certain just which village) and came to SoCal via Shanghai, and then Seattle. Born "Boris," he was "Harry" and an engineering student at Berkeley by WWII and in the military just in time to occupy Japan. A wonderful gentleman, he passed a few years ago.

One story from their escapades fleeing across Siberia - on one occasion, pursued by the Red Army, and very close to capture, their sled containing valuables overturned. Their pursuers halted to collect the goodies, enabling their escape. Yes, valuables do come in handy!