Eric Queen Posted August 13, 2019 Share #1 Posted August 13, 2019 Picked this up recently from a forum member and thought it was someone interesting. Not sure I have ever seen a Marine studio portrait before with a Chinese soldier. I was leaning somewhat towards pre-war because the Marine is wearing a leather belt (not sure when those phased out) and no soldier patch (I would think the Marines in China in 45/46 would be wearing 1st/6th, etc. patches but could be wrong on that) The other mans seems to be a pre/early war Nationalist officer. Dirk leans toward post-war but just wondering what others thought. I have no true feelings either way just thought it was unique. Thanks Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted August 13, 2019 Share #2 Posted August 13, 2019 I'm leaning towards post-war, as well. Not uncommon for Marines not to wear SSI during and after WWII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted August 13, 2019 Share #3 Posted August 13, 2019 I'm also getting a 1946 ish feeling from this photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-40Warhawk Posted August 14, 2019 Share #4 Posted August 14, 2019 Also leaning postwar on this. For one thing, it almost appears as if he only has rank on one sleeve. I know it looks like there is another chevron on the opposite arm (his right, but left to the viewer), but it doesn't quite seem to match that of his left arm. Which makes me wonder if it is a flaw from when the print was made, or if it is a small scratch on the print. Because it sure looks like one side has two chevrons while the other has only one. Anyway, if there is only one chevron (and the other is indeed a scratch or artifact from the negative) I'd definitely go with postwar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themick Posted August 14, 2019 Share #5 Posted August 14, 2019 I think P-40Warhawk gives the best reasoning as to why this is post war, but only shortly after the war since the Marine is still wearing the leather belt on the greens. An odd thing about the Marine is he is wearing no ribbons nor qualification badges. A Corporal at the end of the war, he should have at least had a WWII Victory ribbon. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted August 14, 2019 Share #6 Posted August 14, 2019 Maybe a late war replacement for an air wing or 1st Marine Division? Maybe? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted August 14, 2019 Share #7 Posted August 14, 2019 I think P-40Warhawk gives the best reasoning as to why this is post war, but only shortly after the war since the Marine is still wearing the leather belt on the greens. An odd thing about the Marine is he is wearing no ribbons nor qualification badges. A Corporal at the end of the war, he should have at least had a WWII Victory ribbon. Steve If he went from the front right to China, there's a good chance he didn't receive the ribbon right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted August 14, 2019 Share #8 Posted August 14, 2019 Even those coming as stateside replacements did not always display victory ribbons in many photos, and even later in the occupation many wore no ribbons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzyzzogeton Posted August 15, 2019 Share #9 Posted August 15, 2019 If the photo is scratched, making it appear as if a single chevron is on the right sleeve, then it is the luckiest scratch ever. If you line up the photo with a straight edge, it appears that the upper tip of both "chevrons" are in alignment. Now, being a squid, I have no idea why a Marine would have different stripes on his sleeves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted August 15, 2019 Share #10 Posted August 15, 2019 Maybe there brothers Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted August 15, 2019 Thanks to all who responded. I appreciate it. Perhaps another question could be (and just thinking out loud here) do we know for sure the photo was even taken in China? There is really nothing anywhere to indicate that it was. No photography stamp, nothing. The reverse is blank accept for a hand written note "Uncle Clinton with one of his Japanese pals". Would there have been any reason for the Chinese military to have representation in occupied Japan? I wonder if it could even had been taken in the States? (a Chinese liaison officer?) I guess we will never know. I wish Uncle Clinton had a last name.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted August 15, 2019 Interesting that I could not find a single "Clinton" on Ancestry with a muster date of 45, 46 or 47. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted August 15, 2019 Share #13 Posted August 15, 2019 Eric there are several Clinton's who are Corporals but I can't find any in China, only Japan on occupation duty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share #14 Posted August 15, 2019 Interesting. I could not find a single one from those years. I must have screwed up the search criteria Could the photo have been taken in Japan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted August 15, 2019 Share #15 Posted August 15, 2019 Just found a Clinton L. Walters First Marine Ammunition Company, Seventh Service Reginent Service Command, ....I think these guys were in China...but was a Corporal Jan of 44 got into theater Jan of 45 but looks like back stateside Jan 46 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted August 17, 2019 Thanks Dirk. I took a look at that guys history and I believe he was at Montford Point. I found a bio (with photo) of another man from the unit and he was also a Montford Point Marine. I am really leaning toward this photo being taken in Japan during the occupation. Pretty interesting/unusual either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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