The Village Consisting of Medical Related Personnel
Most of the villagers in Heart Village were not combat personnel, but rather medical related personnel, such as doctors, nurses and technicians. There were also soldiers choosing to stay and work at the hospital after they received their treatment, instructors assigned to work on organization, civil affairs, ideology and entertainment, and handymen responsible for cleaning and disinfection.
Only for Married Soldiers
Only married soldiers could apply to live in Heart Village, whereas most single soldiers lived in the dormitories of hospitals or military bases. Some would choose to rent their own places or build a temporary house as well. It was not easy for single soldiers to get married. For one, they faced the restrictions of the marriage ban. For another, their salaries were relatively low. In the end, they usually relied on colleagues or friends to help them find future spouses. Residents of Heart Village’s weddings were usually held at the nearby military hospital. Since most of the soldiers have no elderly relatives in Taiwan, they usually had their supervisors to host the weddings. Their colleagues would not only attend but also take care of the arrangement and chores.
Women in Heart Village
Women in Heart Village had diverse backgrounds. Some were spouses of soldiers coming from Mainland China, some were from the Female Youth Corps and some were local Taiwanese marrying soldiers. Back then, many local families were reluctant to see their daughters marrying Mainlander soldiers. However, their rations and salaries, which ensured a secure livelihood, eventually convinced these local women’s families. After moving in, some of them worked at the hospital and others would manage both their households and side businesses, including operating grocery stores, doing part-time jobs and home-base piecework, to feed their families.
