![]() ![]() It was a blow to not only the 1st Marine Division, but all Marines stationed in China to withdraw from China. The withdrawal of the 7th Marine Regiment occurred in early 1947, with the regiment sailing back to the US the 3rd and 5th of January. Furthermore, the "unfriendly troops" in the Seventh's area were more aggressive than they were around Peiping or Tientsin." Many of them had to bivouac in pup tents in the snow- miserable enough to most anyone but particularly to these men, many of whom had lived in the steaming tropical heat of the South and Central Pacific islands for as much as two years or more. The men of the Seventh Marines weren't so lucky in Chinwangtao, down where the Great Wall of China meets the sea. It was a comfort broken only by occasional patrols and railroad-escort details through a countryside raided by "bandits", "guerrilas", bona fide Communists, or other threats. The First Marines and attached artillery in Tientsin and the Fifth with their artillery support in Peiping lived in considerable comfort, billeted in steam-heated buildings. If after knocking off the Nationalist units in the area, the Communists decided to seize the three mentioned important cities, combat-weary Marines would be under fire again. The battalions of the division's artillery regiment, the Eleventh Marines, were attached to the infantry regiments as they had been during combat- for no one knew what might come to pass. "The First Marine Division's three infantry regiments, the First Marines, the Fifth Marines, and the Seventh Marines, were stationed in Tientsin, Peiping, and Chinwangtao respectively. Sledge (who had seen heavy combat already with the 1st Marine Division) was diverted to China after the fighting stopped on Okinawa. The duty was lonely and dangerous with the men not having, at least initially, adequate quarters, clothing, or rations to endure the harsh winter of North China."ħth Marines guard a train on the Tientsin-Chinwangtao RailroadĮ.B. Often the outpost units were little more than the size of an average infantry squad. The regiment remained occupied in this task for nearly 6 months. Their mission was to make sure that rail traffic, especially coal destined for Shanghai, moved uninterrupted along the line. In conjunction with safeguarding of the railroad, detachments were placed along the route in fixed positions- the most common being bridges and train stations. And on occasions fighting did break out between Marines and Communist Chinese soldiers. They were instructed to prepare for an eventuality including combat with hostile units. Under LTC Gormley, the 7th Marines succeeded in bringing to an end the fighting that sporadically erupted between the Communists on one side and the Japanese and their Chinese allies on the other.Although technically the fighting had stopped in China, Marines did not come to view their assignment there as one normally associated with a peacetime garrison force. "Upon arrival, the 1st Battalion received further orders sending the unit to Chinwangtao on 1 October 1945. (courtesy of "A Brief History of the 7th Marines", Div HQ, USMC, Washington DC)Īccording to the History of the 7th Marines, Marines on parade through Tientsin, China October 1945 The 7th Marine regiment left Okinawa on Septemand arrived in Tangku, China Septemaccepting the surrender of the Japanese Octoin the Tientsin-Tangku-Chinwangtao areas. There was a 3-fold reason why thousands of US Marines were diverted to Northern China following the surrender of the Japanese 2 September, 1945 ġ) to accept the surrender and disarm Japanese troops 2) to reinforce the Nationalist political party's dominance over a surging Communist party andģ) to act as a buffer both in ideals and politics against Soviet imperialism. Extending from 1818- 1949 the USMC had activity in China. (courtesy of "A Brief History of the 7th Marines,Div HQ, USMC, Washington DC)įew people know about the long history the US Marine Corps has had in China. HOPEH Area of Operations, 1st Marine Division It is the author's opinion that this flag was given to the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Marines who occupied the Chinwangtao region of Northern China starting in October 1945. It was given to me as a gift when a family was getting rid of their father's War items. ![]() I'm really proud of this artifact, and have never seen another one like it. ![]()
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