15th Infantry Regiment, Tientsin, China

[Dirk]

thanks for posting more images of items from your great collection! Like i said that customs booklet is a game changer in understanding the 15th! 

[kiaiokalewa]

Here are several non-stock photographs taken during Christmas time.  

[kiaiokalewa]

"The Golden Fleece" as Wailuna once labeled this well documented "Chung" cuff award.  It was the prime mover that prompted us to write a rather lengthy article about this award for ASMIC'S quarterly publication years ago.

 

This was exclusively and locally authorized.  The program was inspired by General Stilwell of CBI fame but at the time a Captain in the Can Do clan that spent a great deal of time gathering intell of the fight Chinese warlords and the aggressive positioning of Japanese influence throughout the region.  

 

A worthy note about the patch itself is that it's distinctively different than the early one shown in both color dye hue and execution of the hand embroidered Chung character which by the way means middle and to the puzzlement of Chinese observing them on the cuffs of the awarded soldiers.  

[Dirk]

Great Chung! And the transmittal letter is icing on the cake! Here on the right is a 15th match safe theater made

[kiaiokalewa]

In the 15th Infantry Customs Guide, "upon departure of each officer from the regiment, he will be presented with a cloisonne match box bearing the coast of arms of the regiment."  Not quite the coat of arms but close enough.  

Glad you brought this eye candy over to this thread.

[Dirk]

The back says “can do” so I am guessing this one is the presentation gift ? 

[kiaiokalewa]

I'd say so, although very generic, unpersonalized, but reliable.  

[kiaiokalewa]

San Marco Battalion on parade field.  I gather that these Italian Marines were garrison close to the 15th Infantry barracks that benefited some of the soldiers of Italian ancestry allowing two to come on board on one of their ships at the harbor.  

[kiaiokalewa]

Cap badges and collar discs worn by the 15th.

[Sargavius]

3 hours ago, kiaiokalewa said:

San Marco Battalion on parade field.  I gather that these Italian Marines were garrison close to the 15th Infantry barracks that benefited some of the soldiers of Italian ancestry allowing two to come on board on one of their ships at the harbor.  

Those are wonderful photos 

[kiaiokalewa]

"Center of Civilization" was the traditional mindset of the imperial court in its defensive posture against the barbarians.  Jumping forward to 1911 the collapse of the Qing Dynasty was at hand as the Xinhai Revolutionary Forces closed in rapidly.  Of much interest, the WD tasked the Philippine Department, an intelligence gathering mission of the warring factions.  A young second lieutenant of Company D, 12th Infantry Regiment at Ft. William McKinley was ordered to China resulting in the REPORT ON CHINA PEKING AREA.

[kiaiokalewa]

The report is jammed packed with rich insights on Northern China as a whole.  

[kiaiokalewa]

The craziest part of this report was that the Japanese where years ahead on their intell on the budding revolutionary forces throughout.  Years later and as a Major, Stilwell would submit authorative articles about these independent warlords in China to the Infantry Journal during the 1920s.  Yes, the young lieutenant that wrote the Report in December of 1911 was Joseph.  It would shape his future as expert of all things China as he dove head first into their culture.

Well versed in the Chinese Spoken Language he used the "Center of Civilization" theme as his choice to represent the Chinese Language programs insignia.  The CHUNG cuff patch symbolizes CENTER. Ultimately, Stilwell was central to the understanding of the Chinese people through their customs and language for the WD between 1911-1945.

[kiaiokalewa]

On 2/13/2026 at 11:37 AM, kiaiokalewa said:

I might as well marry up these images that I posted years ago in another thread.  Here's me and Wailuna (the Dad) at a local gunshow when I gave him this banner for his Birthday.  Dam, this had to have been at least 30 years ago!  I know, I know, its out of focus.  I'll take a better picture of it sometime soon as post it here.

 

[Dirk]

Here is a recent find….a soldier wearing the Chung patch 

[BullyMaguire]

Here is a lot of photos I found from eBay of members of the 15th infantry regiment in the 20s or 30s. There’s also a baseball team photograph as well which has all the names on the back. At least one of these photos is from World War II as you can see M1 helmets being worn. but the rest seem to be from the 20s or 30s. one of the pictures has the name ‘Henry harpwick’ and another name that is covered by the old album paper. I bought these photos and will post better pictures when I get them.