Legacy of the Lone Sentinel

This book highlights the journey of a fourth-generation Chinese-American and how his life’s experiences overturned the popular notion that conscientious career planning is a prerequisite for achieving success in America today. On the contrary ad-hoc planning in response to serendipitous events and circumstances invariably presented twists and turns along the way that nevertheless produced outcomes that exceeded expectations despite the lack of purposeful career planning. The net result was a productive career in service to God and country. His story also illustrates how Chinese culture has slowly changed to adapt to western culture over the four generations since his family’s arrival in northern California in 1851. The author notably reaches back beyond his family’s four generations in America to the family’s roots in southern China and their need to embark on the dangerous voyage to eventually settle in Marysville and Oroville, California. This historical account helps to paint a more complete picture of the Chinese immigrant story in early California that is part of the state’s rich history, culture, economy and diversity. The Gee Family roots in Oroville are marked by the Lone Sentinel that still stands firmly today after more than a century of surrounding change.