15th Infantry Regiment, Tientsin, China

[kiaiokalewa]

Here's a great little collection of 15th IR related insignia and pics.  It's not everyday you see the athletic awards and notably one that sports Army vs. Marines!  

 

Enjoy

[kiaiokalewa]

Here's a stunning piece I picked up nearly 35 years ago and gifted to my best friend.  It has now made its full circle back to me and it's as beautiful as it was the day I gave it to him.  I'll post better image of the reverse, pin assembly and hallmark later.

[kiaiokalewa]

Might as well put this one here too.  I picked this one up at about 15 years ago at the Portland ASMIC Convention pre- Covid days with my Dad.  I traded with Bob Chatt on this piece and as the story goes this one came from the famed Dr. L.A. Scipio II collection.  He had great taste that parallel his awesome Mess Jacket holdings at one time.  Truly a rare gem from Tientsin crowd. 

[Allan H.]

These are all incredible pieces, and it has been a treat to get to view them. Thanks for sharing. I especially like the 15th Infantry DUI with the ruby in the dragon's mouth. It is a stunner, but none more so than that 15th Infantry Ladder Badge.

 

Allan

[KurtA]

So many great things I have never seen before.  

[manayunkman]

Thank you for posting.

 

That brooch is out of this world.

[trenchbuff]

Beautiful!  Really appreciate you sharing it on the forum.

[kiaiokalewa]

Decided to crack up the frame to see the engraving/hallmarks on some of these local made "gongs" as Wailuna would call them.  Typically the five toed royal dragon would be completely superimposed over  the shield if the Distinctive Insignia was made incountry plus the stone within it mouth are reportedly verified to be a Ruby Gem Stone.

[kiaiokalewa]

Regimental DIs made back at the "Flagpole" dont have the legs as part of the dragon just like the sterling piece in the Art Deco brouche.

[kiaiokalewa]

Reverse side images of the two shooting awards.  One is engraved while the other simple has a chop mark of the artisan responsible for forging the Peking Rifle badge.  

[Blacksmith]

Hmmm...  Of all of the topic areas I thought I might one day post in, this was not one.  :)

 

I recently bought a box of military items - mainly ephemera - all to the same soldier.  He was in the 15th IR in China.  In the box is an envelope of Chinese money, a multi-color cloth belt with a small leather "purse" on it, a couple of China yard-longs, medals, loads of paperwork, and other 'odds and ends'.  

 

As I don't see a lot of 15th IR China items, I thought I would share this one photo; hopefully that is alright.  

 

It is just the middle portion of one of the yard-longs, a DUI, and a picture of their baseball team.  Not sure if the baseball picture was taken in China, or elsewhere.  Thank you.

[kiaiokalewa]

1st Bn, 15th Infantry Regiment,  Baseball photograph is dated 8•8•39.  The Battalion did ended its long tenure with China after boarding the USAT Grant on March 2, 1938.  After 22 days at sea, the transport landed in Tacoma, Washington.  From there the troops moved to Fort Lewis, Washington.  There it remained until it fell under the umbrella of the 3rd Division  and eventually moved to Fort, Ord, California.  So, that athletic pix would fit into their time at Fort Lewis.  

 

The roll out is stunning and would dearly appreciate you posting all of it.  Even in segiments would be awesome.  Please do add everything and anything you might have as it relates to this ole' China Hand.  Always look forward to seeing stuff on the "bookend" of the Tientsin assignment.

[danimal03]

killer items!  I have always like pre-WWII China service-related items.  If I were to start a new collecting genre, it would be here.

[Blacksmith]

1 hour ago, kiaiokalewa said:

1st Bn, 15th Infantry Regiment,  Baseball photograph is dated 8•8•39.  The Battalion did ended its long tenure with China after boarding the USAT Grant on March 2, 1938.  After 22 days at sea, the transport landed in Tacoma, Washington.  From there the troops moved to Fort Lewis, Washington.  There it remained until it fell under the umbrella of the 3rd Division  and eventually moved to Fort, Ord, California.  So, that athletic pix would fit into their time at Fort Lewis.  

 

The roll out is stunning and would dearly appreciate you posting all of it.  Even in segiments would be awesome.  Please do add everything and anything you might have as it relates to this ole' China Hand.  Always look forward to seeing stuff on the "bookend" of the Tientsin assignment.

 

Thank you, so much, for the information.  I did the best I could to get the entire unit yard-long in one photo.  I used the "pano" feature, but didn't have a dolly to keep it steady, so you can see where I rotated the camera a bit.  It messed the flag and inscription up a bit - sorry about that.

 

I also have a (more than) yard-long of the American barracks there in Tientsin - it's actually about five feet long, and nearly impossible to get a usable picture of.  As such, I took one picture of the center of it, just to give a glimpse.  

[Blacksmith]

Here is the center section of the barracks aerial view.

[everforward]

Great thread…..those DUIs are fantastic…!

[China Marine]

Here is an image I thought I would share. 

 

Photo of US Army, Company I, 15th Infantry, Tientsin, China (circa 1921).

 

Commanding Officer seated front row, center is Chester Morse Willingham (who also commanded the 311th Infantry of the 78th Division in WWII). 

Willingham is seated next to Frederick Harris - the gentleman who is circled.

 

The original photo is held in the archive of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, VA and was donated by Mr. Harris.

[kiaiokalewa]

Some editional ole' China Hand related badges.  Yes, the 15th Infantry badge is identical to other post #3.

[kiaiokalewa]

The reverse side

[kiaiokalewa]

Both of the 15th Infantry Regiment badges where made in Tientsin, China, but by two different vendors.  I'll take images of the two together and post them here.

[ludwigh1980]

Outstanding thread. China related U.S. militaria very seldom comes up for sale. To see it all together is quite a treat. 

Thank you to all who have contributed. 

[kiaiokalewa]

Here they are side by side.  The Arnold patina really draws out its badges features.  The strike on the two badge are identical and maybe YUCHANG acquired the die after Arnold got out of the business.

[kiaiokalewa]

It been a little while since I've last posted in this thread but I think you guys would appreciate seeing this.  Here's a great portrait studio photograph of some old China Hands in '02 Dress Blues.

[kiaiokalewa]

The soldier to the right in that portrait wears a lid complete with 15th Infantry Regiment Insignia on it.

[kiaiokalewa]

I think the pictures here will speak for themselves.