US Army in China 1930's

[bn1961]

Can anyone assist me with this. I can not find any info about the US Army in China in the 1930's. I recently picked up an Army Officer Dress Blue uniform and a green wool overcoat made in China and the ID tag shows 1932. I want to try and research this Officer but my time is limited. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ranger-1972]

The 9th Infantry Regiment ("Manchus") served in China during the Boxer Rebellion and the China Relief Expedition. The regimental commander, COL Liscum, was killed by a sniper as he grabbed the regimental colors from the color bearer, who had been shot. Three soldiers of the 9th were awarded Medals of Honor.

 

The 15th Infantry Regiment ("The Old China Hands") served in China during the Boxer Rebellion (arriving on 16 Aug 1900), returned to Tientsin, China in 1912, and stayed until 2 Mar 1938. They were then assigned to Ft Lewis, Washington as part of the 3rd Infantry Division. Then-colonel George C. Marshall was the regimental commander from 1924-27. Then-captain Matthew Ridgeway was a company commander. Best book on the regiment is Charles G. Finley's The Old China Hands (Doubleday 1961). A more recent book is Alfred E. Cornebies' The United States 15th Infantry Regiment in China, 1912-1938 (McFarland & Co, 2004).

 

The 31st Infantry Regiment ("Polar Bears") was deployed from Manila to Shanghai from 4 Feb - 5 Jul 1932 (returning to the Philippines).

[bn1961]

Thanks Ranger. I will look in that direction for Captain Jeter.

[Dirk]

Hi: I have some interest in the China Marines....can you PM me the name of the officer....i have some limited materials on that regiment while it was in Tientsin. if you have more time the book below is a great general history on the topic:

 

https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Infantry-Regiment-1912-1938/dp/0786419881

[Ranger-1972]

In looking at the U.S. Army Register published on 1 January 1930 (these are all available online), I found the following individual:

 

Jeter, John R. (O-16342), Born South Carolina, 8 Jan 1904

B.S. - The Citadel, 1925

2Lt of Infantry, 30 June 1925 (accepted 5 Sep 1925)

Army Staff College graduate

Infantry School, Company Officer Course, 1929

 

Subsequent editions of the U.S. Army Register show he was promoted to 1LT on 1 Aug 1931.

 

For whatever reason, he is not shown in the U.S. Army Register published on 1 January 1935, but shows up again in 1936, which indicates he was promoted to CAPT on 1 Aug 1935.

 

The 1939 edition shows that he has transferred to the cavalry, graduating from the regular course at the Cavalry School in 1938.

 

The 1942 edition shows he was promoted to MAJ in the Army of the United States (not the U.S. Army) on 31 January 1941.

 

The 1945 edition has him back in the Infantry, still as a MAJ.

 

The 1950 edition gives some additional information:

Jeter, John Randolf

Silver Star

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star (OLC)

Armed Forces Staff College CGSC graduate (1942)

BS in Chemistry from the Citadel

COL (AUS) 20 Jan 1944

COL (RA) 1 Dec 1949

 

He is still on active duty in January 1953 and January 1954, but not shown in January 1955 or January 1956 (indicating he retired). His obituary indicates he served for 30 years in the Army, so he likely retired in 1955. His obituary also shows he served in Europe during WWII as an infantry regimental commander, and in the Korean War as the G-3, I Corps. He died on 26 January, 1997 in Union, PA.

[Ranger-1972]

This site is by his grandson, and includes a picture taken by Jeter (senior) when he served in the 15th Infantry in China in 1932:

https://towncarolina.com/article/return-date/

 

"My father was born in Tientsin, China, where grandfather and his beautiful bride Sally were stationed with the storied 15th Infantry Regiment. Sometime in between the wars, Grandfather played polo with Patton. He later went on to Europe, where he fought for four years: Battle of the Bulge, at the bridge at Remagen. After the war, he served as a judge in the small Nazi trials in Nuremberg. Later, in Korea, he briefed MacArthur, and, eventually, took the fall for a superior’s faulty order, costing him a general’s star. “War,” he once told his son, my father, “is the greatest adventure.”

 

 

During WWII, he was the CO of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, from 9 July - 25 November 1944. This link tells the story of his regiment's fight in the Hurtgen Forest: http://dublinlaurenshometownheroes.blogspot.com/2010/04/forest-in-hell.html

 

By January 1945, he was assigned to the staff of the newly forming 106th Infantry Division (specific duties not indicated).

 

 

Here is an interesting story from a site on General Matthew Ridgeway, who took over command of US Forces Korea when General Walton Walker was killed.

"Ridgway now had the daunting task of turning the war effort around. His first task was to instill a sense of order to the troops, by teaching them discipline feeling that this would put his men in an aggressive disposition. Another psychological maneuver that Ridgway employed was when he fired Colonel John R. Jeter when Jeter offered cautious plans, Ridgway asked if Jeter had any more aggressive plans, Jeter responded that he did not and was sacked on the spot, this story was widely publicized and had the effect of officers under Ridgway focusing on attack from hence forth."

 

Pretty sure this is your guy!

[bn1961]

WOW, Thanks much for the info. This is a great help. You da man Ranger !!!

[Dirk]

And from their post newspaper.....

[Ranger-1972]

Amazing what's available on the Internet.

 

If you have access to ancestry.com, you likely can look him up in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census records and see where he was stationed. You may also find copies of stationing rosters on ancestry's miltiary records link. Might also consider Fold.com, which is the 'military' equivalent to Ancestry. None of those, however, are free.