Tsingtao China, now known as Qingdao and famous for its beer, was a German treaty port from 1897 to 1914 in Shandong Province. It is in the northeastern part of China on the east coast, north of Shanghai and southeast of Beijing. The city was occupied by Japan from 1914 to 1922 and again from 1938 to 1945. The city was under Chinese rule from 1922 to 1938. The US Navy Asiatic fleet used the city as a port during the 1930’s. In early June, 1949 the Peoples Liberation Army entered Qingdao and took control of the city.
After the end of the war with Japan on September 2, 1945, the U.S. Marines were ordered to participate in the occupation of certain areas of China primarily to assist Chiang Kai-shek’s government in the surrender and disarmament of Japanese troops. As part of Operation Beleaguer, the 6th Marine Division, under the command of General Lemuel C. Shepherd (later Commandant of the Marine Corps), was ordered to carry out the mission in the Tsingtao-Chefoo area. The 6th Marine Division was deactivated on March 31, 1946 and the Tsingtao command size was sized down to become a reinforced brigade. In May, 1947, after more reductions in force, the command became Fleet Marine Force, Western Pacific (“FMFWesPac”). Some Marine units remained in Tsingtao until early May, 1949. Tsingtao was also the headquarters of the Western Pacific Fleet of the US Navy from 1945-1949 and the Marines provided security for the naval facility in the northwest part of the city.
In July, 2013, almost 70 years later after the Marines landed, I visited Qingdao to see what remained of the Marines presence in Tsingtao. I was armed with old maps of Tsingtao, photos and articles from the China Marines Association newsletter, the Scuttlebutt, and information provided by Billy Parker and Hal Stephens. I also had my iPad which provided on the ground, mobile access to Google Earth, Google maps and additional research as needed. The use of location based services allowed me to track my route wherever I went.
One group of photos I used to search for then and now comparisons was a 1945 era souvenir photo packet of the 6th Marine Division which has over 20 photos of Tsingtao including division headquarters, Pagoda Pier, the Shantung College compound, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Shantung Road scenes, the enlisted men’s club, the Japanese surrender scene at the race course and others (the “Packet”).
While there are shopping centers and other new buildings or park-like areas that replaced old buildings in the old town area, the modern part of the city primarily expanded to the east which helped save many old buildings. The old town area is full of historical buildings and the architecture reflects the German presence and a few buildings are influenced by the Japanese occupations. It would have been fun to try to inventory the historical buildings but I limited my search to those that had a specific Marine use or that were part of the Marine’s landscape of the 1945-49 period. The number of buildings needed for Marine billets decreased as the size of the Marine force in Tsingtao was reduced so not all buildings were used for the entire period. The Shantung College compound described below appears to have been used throughout the Marines presence in Tsingtao.
Shantung Road
Many 1945-49 era buildings familiar to Marines still stand on Pacific (now Taiping) Road mostly east of Shantung Road (now named Zhongshan Road) as well as on Shantung Road itself going north from Pagoda Pier. Maps from the 1930’s and 40’s sometimes name Shantung Road as Chung Shan Road and sometimes it is named “Chung Shan Road (Shantung Road)” on such maps. Pagoda Pier (now Zhan Qiao) is still a prominent landmark at the foot of Shantung Road jutting out into Qingdao Bay and was my starting point for exploring the city. The walkway to the Pagoda Pier was being repaired so I couldn’t take photos of the city waterfront from there for comparison with old photos.
The building identified as 6th Marine Division headquarters in the Packet was directly on the water front just to the west of Shantung Road. The building is gone and the site is a small park. The International Club building which served as the Red Cross Enlisted Men’s Club, known as Shepherd’s Club in honor of General Shepherd, still stands on the east side of Shantung at the corner of Pacific Road. This was northeast across the street from division headquarters.
Three blocks up Shantung, the former German Navy Seaman’s Club building still stands that housed the enlisted men’s club at the northeast corner of Shantung and Hupei (now Hubei) Roads. The address is still no 17 as it was in 1945. Completed in 1902, the building looks and feels old.
A photo from the period looks east up current Fei Cheng Road from Shantung Road toward St. Michael’s Cathedral. The 1945 era photo shows that the “U.S. Bar” occupied the building on the southeast corner of Shantung Road. A photo in the Packet also shows this bar which was located at 75 Shantung Road. Today the lower level of the U.S. Bar building is a Kentucky Fried Chicken and directly west across Shantung Road is a McDonald’s.
I walked up the hill east from Shantung Road to St. Michael’s at 15 Zhejiang Road to visit this much photographed landmark. The Cathedral still looms over the city but it is not as visible as in the 1945-49 period. There are many buildings in this neighborhood from the German period.
Pacific Road
The Zhanqiao Prince Hotel is located at 31 Pacific (now Taiping) Road east of Shantung Road and is the survivor of the three buildings called the Grand Hotels which were used as a Marine billet. The two buildings labeled annexes in old photos to the east and west of the Prince Hotel are gone. Many postcards and photos of the Qingdao water front show these hotels. The annex used as the Navy/Marine Corps YMCA on Pacific Road is gone. The Oceanwide Elite Hotel is at 29 Pacific Road, next door to the east of the Prince, and appears to be of more recent construction based on comparisons of the building with old photos. I walked through both of these hotels.
A photo in the Packet shows a plaza type area on Pacific Road east of the hotels that is open to the north up to the former municipal office building from the German period. This area was full of construction during my visit so I couldn’t take a comparison photo. I walked by the former U.S. consulate on Yishui Road just northeast of the former municipal office building but couldn’t get a good photo because of trees.
I walked north from Pacific Road up Jiangsu Road. This road has many old buildings on both sides as does Guangxi Road which runs east-west. Jiangsu Road intersects with Yishui Road near the former U.S. consulate. Daxue Road (formerly University Road) is another tree- lined street full of old buildings north from Pacific Road which is the route to Ocean University. Daxue Road seems relatively undisturbed from the 1945-49 period.
Former Race Course Area
The Japanese surrendered at the Tsingtao race course on October 25, 1945. The Packet contains a photo of the event. I had hoped to do a then and now photo comparison of the surrender scene. This was impossible given the recreational and other uses of the site. Google Earth provides a good overview of the current uses of the former race course. The outline of the race course is still very evident. The stadium east across the street used by the Marines for football games is still there but has been significantly expanded upward. One of the photos in the Packet shows a football game between the 22nd Marines and 29th Marines. The press box like structure at the north end of the stadium in the photo appears to have survived.
The former Strand Hotel building on Nanhai Road at the south side of the former race course which was used as a Marine billet still stands across the street from Strand Beach (now No. 1 Bathing Beach). The outside has been changed slightly and it is still used as a hotel. This hotel was built in the 1903-1904 time frame and is identified as part of the Grand Hotels group in early tourist advertising. The beach was very popular with tourists during my visit.
I rode by the Iltis Barracks buildings several times. They were built during the German period and are just east of the former race course. These buildings were the tank battalion billet in 1945 and the tanks were parked at the race course. The buildings seem to be currently used for military purposes since there was a military guard out front.
Shantung University Compound
Google Earth provided a good overview of the large Marine billet at what was Shantung University in 1945 (the “Compound”) and now is a campus of Ocean University. These buildings were built by the Germans as Bismarck Barracks in the 1900-1909 period. As mentioned above, the Compound appears to have been continuously used by the Marines from arrival in 1945 until departure from Tsingtao in 1949.
I walked east along Pacific Road and then north up University Road (now Daxue Road) and entered the Compound by the north entrance on Hongdao Road. The rectangular area inside the Compound is very park-like with mature trees and shrubbery. I couldn’t see the buildings from one side to the other either north-south or east west because of the trees. All of the buildings in the photo in the Packet appear to have survived. There is one modern building on the northwest corner of the rectangle but otherwise no significant changes. A biology student let me into the building at the southwest corner of the compound which was occupied by the 3rd Marines when the command was FMF WestPac. Some of the exterior doors appeared to be original and the building looked and felt old. The athletic field used as a parade ground by the Marines is still just to the south of the Compound. A 1945 era map shows an officer’s club on the west side of Daxue Road just north of the Compound. I photographed several buildings that could have served that purpose.
Other Sites
I saw the former Japanese Middle School at 7 Yushan Road several times which was used as a Marine billet. This is just south and west of the Compound. The building is Japanese style architecture and was built in 1921. It is currently part of the Yushan campus of Ocean University. The Edgewater Mansions Hotel, an officer’s club and BOQ, located on Huiquan Road has survived. This modernistic style building was built in 1936. I believe it is currently an R&R facility for the Chinese military.
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The people of Qingdao were helpful and friendly. The fresh Tsingtao beer was very good. I can understand why the Marines used rickshaws in Tsingtao because, while the distances are not great, they are long enough to work up a good sweat in hot weather. I welcome any corrections and comments and will update this from time to time.
Semper Fi Fellow Marines!
Fred Greguras
August, 2013
If you have any images that you would like to include in the following gallery, please send them to TsingTaoMarine@gmail.com. Please include any info you have so that we can give your images proper credit and correct captions.
My father was in China as a 1st Lt in the Marines some time after WWII and was captured by the Chinese Communists and then shipped to Mongolia where he almost died in captivity. I never knew anything about this until a recently released priest showed up in Portsmouth VA when I was 10,11, or 12. At this time my father ran “Sea School” at he Marine barracks at NNSY. He died ~7 years ago, and I would like to find out more detail about his adventures in China and Mongolia. Any suggestions?
UPDATE: My maternal grandfather Cpl James Roy Carson (from Nashville Tennessee) was in the Marines from 1 Oct 1945 to 31 Sept 1949 he was in China a few times I know he was with the 7th Service Regiment, 1st Combat Service Group and the Amphibian Truck Company (6th Marine Division….I found some pictures he had during his time in China and some are labeled with names, I would love to share them just let me know!
My father, USMC Lt. J.J. Snyder, (retired as Col. and now deceased) was stationed in Tsingtao in 1948-49, and lived with his new bride, Donna, in the Governor’s Mansion. When the evacuation was ordered in May of 1948, my mother was 8 months pregnant with me, but she made it to Camp Pendleton before I was born. (I have always said that if I ever got a tattoo it would say, “Made in China”.) Before Mom died, I took her to Tsingtao (Qingdao) via Google Earth. She was thrilled that she could see where they lived from the street view and that she could show me where the window to their room was and the beach that they used to go to. She was amazed at how much the city has grown.
I was so excited to find this…I was in Tsingtao with my folks as a toddler and have a photo album with typical family pictures from the mid 47s to the evacuation…not pictures of the leave taking but regular shots of a young marine family with backgrounds that may be interesting to you…my folks have both passed my dad was a marine, John L. Donnell who brought my mother and me, his war baby, from California my younger sister was born in Tsingtao…my mother used to tell of exiting by plane with the baby in a laundry basket…I don’t actually remember anything except her stories and am so grateful to have that baby album…happy to share
If you have any images that you would like to include in the above gallery, please send them to TsingTaoMarine@gmail.com. Please include any info you have so that we can give your images proper credit and correct captions.
Fred G. Thx for all your contribution…My late dad, John T. DeMoss, USMC, 6th Mar Div, 22nd Marines, fought for 3 months on Okinawa starting 1 April 1945 until end of June; he was stationed in Tsingtao from 1945-1946. Somewhere I have a photo of him in Tsingtao on New Year’s day Thurs. 1 Jan. 1946. If I find it, I’ll send it. Semper Fi, John S. L. DeMoss, USMC 1970-72.
My Father Everett John Ammerman was stationed with the Marines in Tsingtao from June 1946-late 1947 or early 1948. I have his photo album from that time. An earlier post mentioned a “My Oriental Album” and that’s what this one is too. Several of the photos look like stock photos but there are also many of his fellow Marines, and I’ve submitted them the administrator for possible posting. Some of the photos feature a young Chinese boy in Marine uniform and I’m wondering if this is Cui Zhixi, or Charlie Two Shoes. I also have several letters he wrote to his family while he was there. As another comment noted, his letters describe a very routine life-no combat or danger. My dad passed away in 1987 so I cannot ask him about this time in his life, so I’m grateful to be learning a bit from this website.
Your photos have been added to the gallery. Thank you for your contribution!
Barbara, do the photos from your father have any info on the back, names or dates? I’m particularly interested in the photo of the marines with the young boy. Thanks.
I am currently posting the ship’s logs for the USS Rupertus (DD-851) for 1947 on a Facebook page called USS Rupertus dd-851 history. The Rupertus, along with the three other destroyers of Destroyer Division 152 were all operating in this area during 1947. I have tried to post pictures of the various ships that were also there along with the daily logs from my old ship, the Rupertus. The page is open to anyone with an interest in history.
My dad was sent to China after the surrender of Japan. He was with the 1st Separate Detached Marine Engineer Battalion. He was in that unit thru Guadalcanal, the Mariannas etc. He said they were sent secretly by Truman without Congressional approval. They built airstrips for Chiang Kai Shek to fight Mao. He said Chiang mostly retreated and when he did they had to destroy the airfields that they had built. He came home in May of 1946.
I have in my Father’s Navy things a brochure from the Strand Grand Hotel. The brochure has many photos of Tsing Tao and the hotel. The website here is fascinating.
My husband, Jim Sweeney, served in Tsingtao for a couple of years. He worked in the base post office, since he had experience. I have oodles of photos from his time there. Did anyone else serve or attend Mass at St. Michael’s under Father John Vos, the Dutch priest? Fr Vos even visited us here in California. What a grand guy! Semper Fi!
If you have any images that you would like to include in the above gallery, please send them to TsingTaoMarine@gmail.com. If possible, please include any info you have about the photo or document so that we can give your images proper credit and correct captions.
Please do submit your photos for posting so we can preserve more of the history of this period. Thanks
I am doing a history of my husband’s 20 years of navy service. He enlisted in late 1945 and was assigned to the USS General Lejeune (AP – 74) which was used as a troop transport ferrying occupation troops to China and Japan. This shop did carry some Marine Divisions to Tsingtao during the period of 1945- 47. if anyone remembers being a member of one of those Divisions or was a member of the ship’s crew, I would love to hear from you.
Hi, as I was growing up as a young boy I heard my mother talking about my father being stationed in China. Since then I have been recently searching this history of the Marines. He never talked about it, but the way my mom put it they were lucky to have made it out of there in 1949. I remember a not so much a silver finish but a light metal cup he had that looked like a beer mug, it was hand made, and had his outfit name on it but cant remember what it said. he enlisted August 1945 to 1950. I think I have one picture of that time, some one who took it was standing high on a hill and down below looks like military barracks all facing each other end to end. His name was James Dewey Cox JR. possibly sgt. I really enjoyed reading these posts and the pictures. Alan Cox
My father has passed 30 years now. Never new he was in China until I stumbled across an old photo that was taken at the U.S.E.M. CLUB in Tsingtao.. I googled it and found this page with the same building in the picture. He never spoke of it.
I am willing to share photo.
Hi – I came across this. My grandfather Elmer Rothenburger was in the South Pacific as a Major in the Marine Corps. He was in TsingTao with my grandmother and and my Dad was about 6. He and my grandmother had to fly in a huge transport and then went to Tsing Tao on a navy ship. My grandmother often commented that she was lucky as so many of the marine corps wives on the transport plane and ship had babies in diapers – she said the Navy was not prepared for that. My dad remembers going to the American school there. We still have the miniature football cleats that my grandfather had the locals make for my dad – the cleats are bottle caps but they are an exact copy. There were many things about that time that have shaped my family. even now. I have many of my grandfathers papers from that time including the bills for every day things. My dad had a dachsund which was the only thing that he really recalls as the dog disappeared from the yard overnight and was assumed to have been eaten. For whatever reason my grandfather took the Officer Club rug when they had to get out and it remained in a barrel in the garage for the next 40 years. If anyone remembers my grandfather that would be phenomenal. He was much loved by us and he never really talked about his time during WW2 or in China.
I was in Tsingtao in 1946, then Shanghai. I was aboard the USS Sierra when I arrived, in Tsingtao in January, 1946. I was transferred to the destroyer USS Harwood and transported on that vessel to Shanghai where I was to stay temporarily aboard the navy flagship,, USS Jason, ARH1, to be assigned later to the destroyer fleet, Task Force 38. However, when the Jason command saw that I was a licensed private pilot and trained as a navigator, they declared me essential so I remained aboard that ship which was anchored in the Wangpoo River, for over a year. We left Shanghai and went to Guam where the ship was configured to transport high level Japanese soldiers who had been convicted of war crimes back to Tokyo, Japan. We were not told of what the prisoners fate would be after arriving in Japan. I have since read that several high ranking Japanese had already been hanged in Guam. We went through an awful typhoon just before arriving in Tokyo. After Tokyo we went back to Tsingtao, China where we relieved the USS Blackhawk that was reported to have been in China for 20 years. That was in late 1947 and the Communist were fighting the Nationalist troops north of the city. Chang-kai-Shek was reported to have been headquartered somewhere within Tsingtao at that time. We remained tied to the dock there for a few months before receiving orders to return Stateside via Pearl Harbor, then to anchor in the Mare Island harbor just north of San Diego, CA.
My husband, SFC Eugene A. Bert, was in Tsingdao, China, on a covert mission with 8 other men after WWII. When the Bamboo Curtain was coming down, the Communist Chinese shelled the ship by which these 9 men were to leave. They were stranded when the ship sailed rather than be sunk. One of the group, an ensign, advised them to check the airport where they found a Curtis C47. They put gas into it and flew off toward Japan. One of the engines had to be feathered and they landed on foam in Japan. I wish I knew more but my late husband was always very secretive about this and would never mention the names of the other men “lest he blow their cover”. He was in the Army as a paratrooper (462nd Field Artillery Battalion, of the 503rd Parachute Division as radio man and forward scout) and jumped on Corregidor. He was a carrier soldier and spent his last 8 years with the White House Army Communications Agency With an above top secret clearance.
Was on Peleliu when the bombs dropped on Japan, shortly after our Marine squadron went to Singtao VMTB134 USMC was there for a few months before returning home for discharge. We lived on the air base I only flew a couple of times but the time spent in the city will always be a part of my memory. Phil Dunford
My father-in-law Frank Edward Hatten was on Pelileu and went to China with the sixth Marines.
My wife’s husband was in the Marines after WWII and was in China but never spoke of his location or duty. Recent records of his enlistment and initial deployment indicated he was assigned to the China Marines but I haven’t been able to verify that or what he may have been assigned there. His name was Robert (Bob) Heeney and was from Nebraska. If anyone on this post knew him please let us know. We are working on our ancestry to bring the records a little more up to date. Bob came home after the war and married my sister. They had 7 kids and Bob was an avid pheasant hunter. An older Brother and I ate at a Chinese restaurant in Denver when we were younger and we always ordered Tsingtau beer with dinner. Later when I was researching Bob’s records it showed he was stationed there. I served in a Top Secret outfit in the Navy during the Vietnam era and was not involved in any combat but know the secrecy was always a concern with talking about job duties. We never queried him of his duties. Well, Bob was quite a good shot with a shotgun and never missed a bird. One one hunt he wingshot a nice bird and it hit the ground, rolled, and came up running. Bob hands me his over and under and takes off after the bird. He and the bird ended up in a small creek and when we got there he was clutching the bird to his chest and was stabbing it with his hunting knife. He had a glare in his eyes that I had never seen before. After the bird was “dispatched” he looked a little sheepish about the “attack” but we assured him we wouldn’t ask anything more.
Greetings! Does anyone have any photos of USN PB-1W’s in and around TsingTao in 1948? Thank You.
Hello, our father James Vincent LaFrankie, Sr. was in the 6th from 44-48’. He passed away in 2009. I have six original “The North China Marine” newspapers. From May25, 1946 thru July 27 1946. I will try to upload some pics.
Hello. I stumbled onto this website and am amazed. My father Marine pilot Ernest H. Giusti was stationed with a portion of the VMSB 331 squadron in Tsingtao 1945-47 approx. The squadron was put up in very nice boardinghouse on the beach, owned (I think) by a Ms. Goldstein. My Mother happened to be living there at the time……and met my father there!!! If you have any info or further details to share, specific to that boardinghouse etc…..plse get in touch! jscerulean@gmail.com
I was at a French synagogue around 12/15/45. But, can’t find a picture, using google. Can anyone help? My Destroyer was the Harry E. Hubbard DD748. Thanks Abe RM3rdc
My dad was in the Marines 6th division in China. He never talked much about it, but I have a flag he brought back with names of other marines that were with him. He also spoke about a Chinese boy that the Marines were around a lot, they called the boy China boy. My dad’s name is Albert Hall Jr. He was from Wheelwright Kentucky.
My Dad was also in the Marine 6th Division in Tsingtao, China. Please check your flag for Tech Sgt Robert W. Mount. Thank you.
My dad Everett John Ammerman was with the Marines in Tsingtao from June 1946-1947 or early 1948. I have an album of photos from his time there and some feature a young Chinese boy, so perhaps they were in the same division. Please check your flag for his name. Thank you.
My dad, Harold W. “Zeke” Landis, was a corporal in the 6th Marine Division, 22d Marines, L company. I know that from the Japanese flag he had that was signed with the name and home town of all the men in his company. After he died in 2004, I sent the flag and a whole lot of other WW1 and WW2 mementos to the National Marine Corps Museum at Quantico.
A U.S. Marine from my home town of Chadron, Nebraska served at Guadalcanal in World War II and was awarded the Silver Star. Subsequent to those events of 1942, he served at Tsingtau, China in 1945. His name was Warren Umshler. He passed away in 2008. Local newspaper accounts and family documents report that in November 1945, Sergeant Umshler was “shot in the hip and lower abdomen. He was flown to Shanghai, China, where he was on a hospital ship in the harbor a week then he and other men were flown to the U.S. Navy hospital on Guam.” Since that date would have been after WWII hostilities with the Japanese, I am assuming that – if these reports are accurate – and incomplete military records I have indicate he received a “Gunshot wound, left hip and abdomen – I think such wound must have been inflicted in fighting between the Marines and Communist force in the region. However, I know little (nothing!?) about U.S. casualties as a result of this “Operation.Beleaguer.” Are you aware of any such statistics? Any assistance would be appreciated. THANK YOU!
A copy of US Marine Corps casualty cards can be requested here: history.division@usmcu.edu
My name is Jim Cole and I am 90 years young…..I was on the USS Prarie AD15, a destroyer tender and we were tied up to a dock in Tsingtao from Oct 1947 to May 1948….It was the experience of my life and the city was a huge mess and could be dangerous but was really interesting….Loved most of the Chinese people and had a lot of photos and mementos stored in a beautiful chest I bought in Shaghai, a lot of silk and many carvings, jewelry, etc. We came back to the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington and never saw the chest again….! I have many memories and thoughts about our time there and I grew up in a hurry….!
Mr. Cole: Thank you for your service. Daddy was in the Marines from Oct 1945 to Oct 1948. He spoke occasionally of his time in China, I’m assuming in the period 1946-1948, some eighteen months. I would guess he was part of the Operation Beleaguer, but I’m not sure. I seem to recall (he passed in March 20016 at age 87) his mentioning of this city, the name of which has changed somewhat and which I just found on a map, the city of Qingdao, a port city. My mother has a few pictures. He experienced no combat that he ever spoke of, and I don’t think he ever feared for his life there. He left honorably as a Staff Sergeant, I believe. I am the oldest of ten children he fathered. Sincerely, Jack David Heaton, Jr.
Hi, I’m a grad-student from Jinan University(Guangdong, China)，major in world history, my mentor is writing a book about the U.S. Marines in Tsingtao，he wants to know whether you can give him the rights to use those pictures above (maybe more) in his book, no matter what your answer is, please tell me by this email junejane679@gmail.com. Thank you very much.
Hello, would like to make contact with anyone who was in the first pioneers in china who lived in a girls school in around 1947 or 48. He was in the china marine association who met in Washington DC every year he lived in DC and worked for the CIA for about 35 years he has since passed away his name was Henry Siano thank you for any help.
I came across this site as my wife and I will be visiting QingDao (also TsingTao). My American Godfather, John S. Varner was in the Navy in the last couple of years of WWII. He lived in Bakersfield with his wife Olive. I knew them for over 40 years. I wonder if he was ever in TsingTao. Both John and Olive have passed away. Thanks for your site. Lovely to read all the posts. Bring back memories of conversations in years past. My wife and I live in Singapore.
Updated – Corrections: My father initially served with the 3rd Marine Division helping out with Guam invasion and later, the Iwo Jima invasion. They were at first, held in reserved during the initial landings on Iwo Jima. Upon they’re return back to Guam, they were being retrofitting and began the preparation of for the invasion of Japan. But fortunately the bomb was drop. Many of the Marines were sent back to the U.S. if they had enough points. But those marines that did not have enough points like my father, were sent to North China to help out with the reparations of all Japanese soldiers from North China. I don’t recall what port they initially arrived on the China Coast but would recognize the name. My father by that time was with the 1st Marines and later were station in Legation Quarters, Peking. They stayed at the Belgium Embassy and one of his new job was running the payroll and paying the Coolie gangs that were working around Peking for the U.S. Government. One of his weekly payroll runs, to pay off each gang of Coolies, just as he was reading off their names, he realized he had grabbed the wrong payroll. They were about to cause big problems for him but fortunately he had grabbed one of the larger payrolls and were able to pay everyone off. One day while on the town, now this may sound bad now, but as he and his buddy were riding in old antique black richshaw riding through one of the busiest streets of Peking, one of them got a wild hair idea to switch on each side, the Chinese men black caps that they all were wearing back then and watch the ruckus, caused from switching their caps or whatever you call them. Towards the end of their mischief, my father realized he had one extra cap and no one to put it on. And so to this day, we have here at the house, have one Chineseman cap, without a owner. One other funny story here, they had rode out to the Great Wall of China and took a lot of photos. Upon leaving, he grabbed a chunk of mud from the Wall of China to show family, friends back home, a piece from the Great Wall of China. Over the years, he would pull it out and show it to friends and family. For some reason, a family member very recently had place this partial brick of grey mud, in a baggie. After my father had died, while going through his China/Guam photos, memorabilia, etc. I found this chunk of dirt had turn into powder dirt, somehow. As I was examining this powdered dirt, I realized there’s a couple of dried out, human fossilized turds plus other organic material too !!!. And I remembered reading somewhere, immediately, that with the lack of water there, they would used many times, human body waste to build the dirt bricks and also bury their dead, that all made up the Great Wall of China. So over the years, unknown to my father and to many of his friends, family – they had in their hands, as they were handling this partial piece of mud brick, Chinese body waste best way to put it politely here. Would had love to seen my father face, if he had only known. One other story of many stories told by my father, was one of my father’s duties was to ride shotgun with another marine on top of supply train. (He prefered to tell the funny side of war rather than his bad memories that many soldiers of war had witnessed, where PTSD was entirely unknown to that generation of Americans). Before riding this Belgium made train, he had heard of past incidents where rogue criminals or Communists Chinese had tried to stop the train and pillage the small railroad cars but he never had to draw his weapon and defend himself over a year riding this weekly supply train. This train ran to a Chinese port that escapes me right now, for supplies for the 1st Marine division in Peking. On one run, it was super cold riding on top of this train. Being so cold, both of them later jump into the caboose. Before the Marines had taken over running the train, someone had looted the stove from the caboose that was being used for heat. They somehow built a fire on the caboose floor during one of their stops, being super extra careful not to expose the fire to the wooden floor of the caboose by using a large amount of dirt they had procured. When they had reached their destination, that Chinese port, both of them got sidetrack making sure that certain supplies were being loaded according to they were suppose to get from their manifest. Unknown to them, the fire in the caboose had spread to the wooden floor and the caboose went up like matchwood. Both of them were read the riot act for destroying government property and were told the cost of this caboose was coming out of their paychecks. They were very lucky to remove rest of the train from this blazing caboose. Fortunately later, the U.S. government removed all U.S. Marines station in North China and may had hampered the repatriation for that caboose. Upon leaving the Legation Quarters, my father borrowed a Legation Street sign cause of its history that it had witnessed such as the marching of the U.S. Legation Marines that were being escorted by Japanese soldiers to the Peking train station Dec. 1941, the Boxer Rebellion, and so forth. During one of his travels, he had heard of an execution 5-6 chinese men for stealing and one for helping the Japanese. He photograph their execution and watched their heads being placed in individual wooden boxes with open slanted sides, for some reason. Maybe to show the court, the accused head was lopped off, am guessing here. One last note, not one time did he witness a dog or cat on the streets of Peking. He learned that these pets became human food if caught and their meat was being sold. The only few dogs that existed were the U.S Marine patrol dogs or the few Marines pet dogs. Anyhow, my father was a student of both U.S. and world history.
I was a private in the survey section, H&S Battery,1st Battalion, 15th Marines, Sixth Marine Division and had fought on Okinawa from April 1, 1945 until the battle ended eighty-two days later.Shortly after the war ended, we were sent from Guam to Tsingtao. We were billeted in what had been a stable in the old German Barracks across the road from the Tsingtao Beer Brewery. I participated in the Japanese surrender at the race track. We were there to repatriate the Japanese and by our presence to discourage the Chinese Communists from taking the city. I stayed there until the summer of 1946. Probably the most unusual thing I experienced was, on one of the days not on guard duty, finding, with two of my friends, an abandoned golf course and clubhouse, the lockers well stocked with clubs and golf balls. A few Chinese who were living there were happy to serve as our caddies. For a few months my buddies and I had our own private golf course.
Good afternoon, my Grandfather was involved in this operation. I know this because of his Discharge paperwork. He passed away this recent January, 2018, and he is sorely missed. His name is George Elmer Vanhoy, and his rank upon discharge was PFC. He was a rifleman I believed assigned to Casual Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion. (or the last part is who he was assigned to immediately prior to discharge, its hard to tell).
Our family is from a small town in Hoke County, NC, called Ashley Heights. George lied about his age and enlisted at 16, and was sent straight to China. His entire USMC career was there basically. He never talked about China, just every once in a while would say, “we were there because of the communists.” He would have been 88 this year, and he was absolutely awesome. I do have pictures of him in uniform, but who knows where they were taken. I’ll try to get them and upload for anyone else. Thanks for the Website sir. I appreciate it.
My father was a Corpsman assigned to Co. C 6th Marine BN, 6th Marine Division. He was in Tsingtao during this time. He as been gone for almost 40 years now and spoke very little of his experience in China. I have virtually zero knowledge of the time nor pictures. His name was Harold Faith and he was from Oklahoma. If anyone has information I appreciate you sharing with me.
My father was in the Navy from 1947 to 1950 . Station in China , but not sure which ports he was at and not sure of the ship he was on other than a destroyer . I know he was on the Missouri once but don’t recall where or when. I have many pics of the areas in China that he was station . I wish I knew more to share but it was a long time ago when he told me stories of his adventures there.
The Destroyers could possibly have been the Orleck, Craig, or the USS Brinkley D. Bass DD-887 which I was on and we were there. If you go to your local VFW they will help you research your Father’s military record. Respectfully, Ray Hodges USN 1947-1954
Hello all. Presently, I am restoring a Stinson L-5 (OY-1) BuNo: 03956, that was based in Tsingtao, China between 1946-1949. Before it was brought home and surplussed out to other agencies. I am looking for any pictures of the Liaison, or Artillery Spotting squadron that was based in China during that time frame. It has been nearly 25 years of restoration to get this hulk of an airplane turned back into an airplane. Pictures, stories, anecdotes, anything along those lines would be of any help and would be greatly appreciated and will not be used for anything but reconstruction of this airplane. Thank you.
I’d love to share my father’s circa-1937, 1938 photos of Tsingtao. He has a picture of some of his crew from the USS New Mexico at a party in the Tower Hotel, a snapshot of the U.S. Navy Club there, and a photo of Japanese soldiers walking in front of an American bar called “Slick’s” that may be your American-bar-turned KFC.
My father, PFC Galen H. Freeman (GH) was in the 6th Division. I just realized this recently when copying old photos for a Veterans event. Dad didn’t talk much about China other than he worked in a post office in Tsingtao; the movie theater was multiple stories and smelled like roasted garlic; and Charlie Two Shoes. I know dad was there and came home in 1946, He did say that where he stayed the landlord (?) and wife were very strict. He died in 1991. He brought my mom home a bright orange kimono, lined with bright green and a large purple dragon on the back. When Dad sent letters to Mom, a friend of his would draw beautiful Chinese girls on the envelope to make Mom jealous. Dad was called back for the Korean War and was getting on the ship to leave when they pulled him off. He and Mom already had 3 kids and she found out that I was on the way. I would like to know if anyone remembers a Freeman, 6’5″, blonde, dimples and a ready smile.
My dad Rafael Mesa was here as a CPO with the 7th fleet during Operation Beleaguer sometime between 1945 and 1949. We had a lot of memorabilia of his time there around the house when we were kids. I think my sister still has some.
Hello everyone… My dad was also in Tsingtao, China during 1947 but I don’t know a whole lot about his time there. All he would say is that his division would take the train(s) into the mountains as far as they would go, then hike the rest of the way to pick up our American pilots before the Communists got to them, after the pilots had ditched their planes due to no fuel. He would not speak of the time there; perhaps it was too overwhelming for him. I have since discovered that the operation was called Operation Beleaguered. He was assigned to the 1st Division Marines during his time there. He has no mementos that I am aware of; if anyone has pictures, I’d love to see them posted. I’m very happy to have found this website; perhaps questions that my siblings and I have had all these years will finally be answered. Dad is now 89 and doesn’t remember a whole lot about that time, sadly, but the more I find out, the more connected to him I feel. Thank you for posting what you all can.
My father was in the Marines and it was not until he was in his 70’s that he spoke to me about it – i had no idea up to that point that he had ever been there. He never spoke of it except for that one time and has since passed away. I am only now going through my parents photographs and I have approximately a hundred pictures of his time in China. I found this website when i was googled Tsingtao which was on the back of one of the pictures. This site puts things into perspective for me and thanks to all to have contributed comments.
Glad the site is helpful. Can you scan and upload some of the photos of Tsingtao? Thanks.
My father Harold Redinger was senior corpsman with Recon co. 6th Mar Div, after the battle of Okinawa they were assigned to Tsingtao, He attended to the civilian populace as well as the American and Japanese troops, I was told that they had to rearm the Japanese troops to help maintain order but also for the Japanese troops protection from the Chinese population. Thank you for this trip and the pictures. with your permission I will save it to the genealogy disc I’m building on him.
Feel free to save it. Best, Fred Greguras.
My Sister’s husband served in the Marines and was stationed in China. He never spoke of his duty there and he passed away back in 1990. His name was Robert F. (Bob) Heeney. I stared developing a family tree a few years back and through Ancestry.com I gathered quite a lot of information of the families that we are members of. Bob got out of the Marines about 1950 or so married my sister. They had seven children and he owned a home remodeling business in Seattle, WA. As I saw several of our relatives in the past fighting in the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, Afghanistan, I remembered his silence about his service. Just recently many hints came in about him and other Heeney relatives from Ancestry.com and I noticed that one of his great grandfathers had served in the Civil War and was reportedly one of the Honor Guard at President Lincoln’s funeral. Well, I got several records of Bob’s service in the Marines and also his orders to Guam and on to Tsingtao in China. I did a little research and found this website so I had to find out more. Well, one of the first things I see is a photo (#27 in the series) on this site that looks a lot like our Bob. Not real sure as the photo is grainy but the information on the site about what the missions were at least gave us and his children a little knowledge of what Bob did in China. I still don’t know if he didn’t speak of the duty because he might have been in a type of special forces group or if he just didn’t want to speak of it, but we all respected his wishes. His great, great grandfather was named Frank Heeney and that boy couldn’t get approved to join as everyone in his town knew him and he was only 14 yrs old. So Frank took off and changed his name to Frank Haney and he lied about his age so he could join in the next country over at his new age of 16. Sounds a bit like our Bob. If anyone on the site knew him I’d just like to get a word from someone who knew him so I know I’m giving his family the right information. His Muster Roles confirm the China assignment so I’m pretty sure he was there from 1946 to 1947.Thank you, and thank you all for your service.
Fred, thanks for a great website. It has been 8 or 9 years since you posted this, and I hope it is still active. I was on a U.S. Navy transport ship as a Navy dependant as we evacuated mostly Americans from Shanghai and thenTsingtao out of China in circa March 1949. We were returning from Subic Bay, P.I. I remember climbing one of St. Michael’s twin towers, and through binoculars, seeing the fighting by someone in the hills. I don’t remember who was doing the fighting. Nationalist vs. The Red Army, or perhaps either against the Japanese. Can you recommend a source that I can research for exactly who may have been fighting at the time, and perhaps what U.S. Navy transport ships were evacuating personnel? I have a pewter beer mug given me by a Marine friend named Richard Sansom 1948-1949 (who has since passed on). A great website! I enjoyed the letters written you about experiences in the area.
The U.S.Marines in Northern China by Henry Shaw is a good source. It is available on Amazon and eBay. I suspect the Nationalists and Communists were fighting as the Japanese had retreated back into the city. Post a photo of the beer mug if you can. Best Fred.
Hello, my brother was a china marine he said his barracks was in a girls school on Roosevelt Rd. or Blvd. he was in the 1st pioneers I think? he said they had a hockey team and I remember he had some pics of a German shepherd dog they had. he belonged to the china marine association. he lived in DC and worked for the fed. gov. he died about 6 years ago and is buried in the military section of a cemetery outside of Springfield mass. I think he was discharged in 1948 and was back in again when Korea broke out in 1950. I think he said he had the same CO when he went back in as he had in china. he had many pictures but I don’t know what happened to them any help would be appreciated. Thank You.
My grandfather met my grandmother in Tsingtao China while he was in the Marines. My mother was born in Tsingtao and we are trying to locate a birth certificate or any documentation. My grandfather’s name is Ralph Herron. Does anyone remember two women named the Roger’s sisters during that time.
My father was in Tsingtao China and after he passed away in 1977 I was given some of his documents from the Marines. I have 2 of the same copies that look like a proclamation. Front has about 6 pictures and back has 4 with everything written in Chinese, I’m thinking it may be part of the packet previously mentioned. I have a flyer that has on the front “Thanksgiving with the Sixth Marine Division in Tsingtao, China, November 1945 ” with several insignias displayed.When opened on left side “Fifteenth Marine Regiment, Sixth Marine Division. It goes lists the names of the Commanding Officers, Regimental Staff and Battalion On the right side it has the menu. On the back page It has names of Division Commander, Assistant Division Commander and Chief of Staff. I also have a paper that has a list of the names of Marines along with my dad Fred Gutierrez that were promoted to Private and Private First Class. The document is missing the top that had the date. The documents I have are in rough shape and I’m looking for a place to get them sealed or protected. It is ok to post my email.
Phillip. please photograph and post the copies of these items. Thanks
Hi Fred, great website and letters. I was a teenage Navy brat on a Navy Transport that stopped in Shanghai and then Tsingtao to evacuate Americans from the area, and remember climbing one of St. Michael’s towers to see the fighting (through binoculars) in the countryside. Was I seeing Nationalists fighting the Red Army, or the Japanese, or what. As a 16 year old, I was noy too interested, Can you suggest some resources that I can research? I have a pewter beer mug given me by a deceased Marine frined named Richard Sanson with his name inscribed and the years 1948-1949
Sorry I have not submitted documents. I’m now ready. What’s the process?
I was in Tsingtao China in 1946. My memories are not as good as they used to be but I did have a silk dragon sewed into the inside of my Marine Uniform when I left. I also rode in a rickshaw and remember a good friend at base camp Soong Lin Gu. I do have some pictures I can send a few.
Wyvern thanks for your photos. They have been posted to the gallery above.
I believe my father was also in 15th marines of 6th div. artillery unit. He was in China. Second lieutenant. Any info in your files about him would be welcome. Passed away 1985
My Father Dale Gutshall was in the Marine group that liberated the concentration camp in Weisein where my mother was interred . I have pictures of them with Keith Keller
Would like to contact relation or friend who knew CNC RH Dingman stationed on USS y.w. 105 in August 1948 in Tsingtao, (Qingdao) Cheers, John B.
Would like to know the name of the pilot who flew “Dixie Boy” fighter plane and was stationed in China in 1945. I have pictures of him that he sent to my sister, believe he was from the Hammond, Indiana area. Would like to return them to his family if possible. Handsome young man and believe they were dating at the time.
My father served in the USMC, and on his second tour of duty, was stationed in Tsingtao. Believe he arrived in late 1947 and left when the city was evacuated in early 1949. His name is Harold “Bud” Kenyon and he’s originally from Bristol, VT. Now 88 years old, and of sound mind (and vivid memory), he’s been recently telling me about his time in China. In particular, since he was 21 years-old he’s wondered what became of the orphan he looked after in Tsingtao. That boy was known as “Jingle Bells.” In 1949, he wanted to take him back to the States, but his request was denied. Instead, he was advised to drop “Jingle Bells” (and his friend Charlie “Doetoe” Ling), off at St. Michael’s Cathedral. At the insistence of the nuns, he and his fellow Marine, Mike Gargano (Chicago), were told they were never to see the boys again. After doing some research, I found a photo of “SSgt Jingle Bells.” It appears his real name is Lu Wong Wo. If anyone has any information about what became of Lu and Charlie, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
As an update since my original post in December 2016, my journey to find Jingle Bells brought me to research the China Marines and, remarkably, I eventually I had the opportunity to speak with one of his classmates, Charlie “Two Shoes” Tsui. Charlie is also referenced in one of the posts below. He is now in his early 80’s, and lives in Chapel Hill, NC. If you want to learn more about that time in Tsingtao, highly recommend searching youtube for his name and watching the two-part, one-hour interview from a few years ago that was broadcast on a local NC TV station. As some may know, Charlie and his family were brought back to the US the ’80’s by the China Marines that watched over him in the barracks at the university. A book was written in 1998, as well: “Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company.” Can buy used on Amazon for less than $10. Had heard a movie/documentary was to be made of the book, but Charlie indicated it wasn’t done, yet. Unfortunately, Charlie lost touch with Jingle Bells after the Communists took over St. Michael’s Cathedral, and we still don’t know what became of him. If you have family or loved ones that were China Marines, or perhaps lived there between 1945 and 1949, suggest you see if you can pick up a copy of the book. Still searching for Jingle Bells, so if there are any leads, would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.
Hi Chris, Maybe your dad knew my dad who was about 12 years older and died in 2013 at the age of 97. My dad was 2nd Lt. or Capt. Warren P. Baker and we were there in TSINGTAO with my mom and my brother for about a year until we had to leave. My mom took my brother and I to Panama where we lived with my grandparents who were stationed at Ft. Amador in the old Canal Zone. My dad stayed in TSINGTAO until all the marines left and he went on to have a good 27 year career in the USMC. We would like to know if you dad knew of him. Thanks, Bob Baker.
A good friend of mine, George Mayes, went to USMC field wire school with me in early 1948. Upon finishing school George was sent to Tsingtoa China. I believe he stayed until Mau Ta Tsing took over China. I later got up with George in Korea. I was in 1st MarDiv signal Co and he was in 1st Marines H & S comm. section. Both of us were wounded and wound up on the same hospital ship. I kept up with George over the years but have gotten no response for several years.
My name is Juergen Boettcher. I was born in Tsingtao in 1942 and lived there with my German parents Ursula and Wolfgang Boettcher until early 1949, then in Shanghai. My parents were very friendly with a number of Marines, Tony DeGrassi is one name that I remember mentioned. We lived at the “American Beach.” My grandfather Walter Boettcher was in charge of extending the harbor before the war. In 1948 I attended first grade at the Tsingtao American School. Anyone else? Was anyone in contact with my parents?
I was 7-8 when we were evacuated from Tsingtao, My mother, baby brother and sister and 1000+ other women and children went out on the third day, [after the order was given ford all westerns to leave. ]My dad was in the Navy, in charge of the shipyards. I met the captain of the ship that took us out about 20 years ago in an art class here in Laurel MD. I know my dad said The few ships that were to stay for the 2 weeks till all could get to the harbor but their ship was being fired on constantly and when his ship was given the orders to leave it was on the 5-6th day. They waited as long as they safely could. We lived on the bay, I believe it was called Russian beach, that had the C.A.T tower on the point. our address was # 15 Upper Shan Hai Quan road. Our home was a 2 story building in a compound. We lived on second floor and an army colonel and family lived on the first floor. The house faced the beach across the road. There was not a house very close to our home. We lived in what had been a Japanese General’s Summer house. Have some pictures of that area. I also went to the American School that shared a driveway with a Chinese school. Would love to see that area today. I wonder if that area would be recognizable to me.
Can’t ask anyone about that time as my parents have passed away and my sister and brother were only 3 and 1 at the time.
Wow! My much older brother had his 3rd birthday in Tsing-Tao in 1948. Dad was in the Navy and in charge of the machine shop, I think. Mom and my brother were evacuated with the other families but Dad had to stay and help close down the base so Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t get his hands on US military stuff. I think he was there about a year longer. One of the stories I remember is how my parents Chinese “house-boy” stood on the pier and cried as they left because the Chinese people all knew what life was going to be like under Chinese rule. Sad.
Juergen, I am the daughter of Antonio (Tony) de Grassi. Can we get in touch?
My email is: ginadegrassi@gmail.com Thanks!
My dad was stationed there also. I’ll have to check to see if he was 3rd or 6th Marine Div. He is in the China Marine Association book by Turner Publishing Co. ISBN 9781563112461 His name was Robert R. Cherry. I have his scrapbook with photos. I will have to see if I scanned all of them. He is in several photos.
Mr. Greguras: I was a little emotional reading your article today. I was born in Qingdao in 1947, and left Qingdao with my parents in 1949. I am now working at Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington State. According to my parents, we left Qingdao with the last ship of the 7th Fleet. My parents rarely mention any details except that my father worked for the Nationalist Chinese Government in 1949. They did leave some old photos. Their old resident was 15 Suey Yuan Road (綏遠路15號) near a Japanese Temple with tennis courts. I briefly visited Qingdao in 2007 for the first time after I left in 1949. Amazingly I couldn’t even find the old home address. In the near future I will visit again for a longer period. Do you have any information about “the last ship left Qingdao in 1949.” My parents all past away, so I can only recall what they told me earlier. I would appreciate any information you can shed about the story in May 1949 when US Marine and the 7th Fleet left Qingdao. Thank you ~ Oliver Wang.
Thanks for sharing all of this, Fred. My dad, John R. Luther, (1918-2002) was in the Sixth in Okinawa and then North China but I don’t know if I ever knew the name of the city. He and my mom, who is still doing great at 92, used to go to the Sixth Division anuual reunions along with his buddy Bob Norman and his wife Bobbi (both gone now). If anyone has any info or memories, my family and I would love to know. When we go see my Mom tonight, I’ll share this with her and see if we can find the old albums we used to love to pore over as children. He was proud to have been a Marine, but didn’t talk much about it to us. ~ Priscilla Luther-Heft, La Canada, California.
Hi Priscilla, the 6th Marine Division was in Tsingtao, now Qingdao, so your father would have been there and would have recognized many of the places mentioned. Best ~ Fred Greguras, Los Altos, California.
My dad was part of 1300 Seabees who landed just after the end of the war was declared. We have photos that I’d be happy to scan. As I heard the story he came up from the Philippines on an Attack Transport (would love to find the name). They thought there might be 15,000 Japanese troops – approximately the same number of Marines. What he said they did not know is that a day or two before an OAS Colonel flew over the Burma Hump to deliver the terms of surrender to the Japanese General. Dad said there were 250,000 Japanese lined up along the road. It took months processing them. His unit built an airstrip on the north end and were attacked by the 8th Route Communist Army. I would love to get more details if you have them.
Hi Rex. My grandfather was stationed in Tsingtao and arrived the same time your father did. My Grandfather had a short stop in the Philippines prior to China also. He arrived in Tsingtao aboard the Samuel L. Chase. I would love to discuss and compare stories if you are interested.
Wow, what a great read and what great replies. My father was in the US Navy there is Tsingtao. Around the end of the war. My father passed years back and never talked much about his time in Tsingtao. I have a type 26 pistol of his. All I knew about the gun wa he got it while in the Navy. Until recent I haven’t given the pistol much thought. But now I know it came from Tsingtao and was taken from a Japanese solder by the Chinese. It seems that when a weapon like the type 26 was captured the locals would saw off the barrels for better use while fighting close together. Like the snob nose 38. The serial number is very low (2213). Thanks for the read and thanks to all who replied with a post… Awesome to read them all.
I was in the 22nd. A guy in the 29th brought a little boy onto the base (the university grounds). After the boy grew up he made it out and settled in this country. Does anyone remember Charley Two Shoes? And what finally happened to him?
Hello Doug,
Coincidentally I was cleaning out some stuff and came across an article about Charlie Two Shoes in the Jacksonville Daily News when he visited Camp Lejeune several years ago. I’m an newer Old China Hand having been stationed in Hong Kong in ’70~71 as a Marine Guard and an Attache in ’83 and ’86 and traveled throughout China. I was in TsingTao (Qingdao) in 1983 and 85. Anyhow if you type “Charlie Two Shoes” into Google there are quite a few articles on him. ~ S/F Chuck Dolejs, LtCol USMC (Ret), Cdolejs@usa.net, Jacksonville, NC.
Charley was last known to be in Chicago and own a large restaurant.
My Dad used to talk about being anchored off the cost of TsingTao in the Navy. I didn’t realize so many US military served there. Very interesting.
Could I get a photo of your home in Tsingtao so I can look for it the next time I go. Thanks, Fred Greguras.
Hi Fred, The address was 27 Fu Shan Road.
I can take pics of pics in our album and send to your e-mail from my iPad. You can contact me at the above e-mail? ~ Penny
Hello, I must admit I’d never heard of Tsingtao until 30 minutes ago. Long story short, I knew my Dad had been stationed in China. Shanghai was mentioned, but looking up something else, I remembered I had a newspaper clipping of when his squadron went missing for a couple of days. I have come to a brick wall trying to piece together his overseas moves from place to place, so it was a new revelation for me to see that their squadron had flown out of Tsingtao. Yay! A new base to document! But, this is confusing. Their mission took place in December of 1944, yet everything I can find (in a half hour of searching :)) only relates 1945, on, as does your wonderful website. How can I find more history of the time period in which my Father served? Thank you very much. (I don’t even know his unit, only that he was a 2nd Lt USMC pilot).
Hmmm is it possible I assumed all these years it was ’44 when, in fact, it was ’45?? The clipping is not dated. I have a lot to learn. Thanks again.
Oh good grief. I read your first couple of paragraphs over, again, this time using my brain. There is no other explanation. Wow, assuming all these years. So he must have been part of this Operation! That’s tremendous! Much more to learn. Thanks for the new leads. (I’m very sorry for the multiple replies.)
I may have pictures of your dad Patricia. My father’s collection has pictures of one of the groups taken prison. They were turned over to his company and talked about them. You can reach me at terrysayles@hotmail.com
Nice reading. My Dad was 1st Marine, III Amphibious Corp. I have many mementos of his time in Tientsin, China. Many photos with his pals and Chinese girls, A brass box with a dragon and Tientsin, China engraved on it, A leather suitcase with painted dragons and the city, a silk copy of the Ike jacket with embroidered dragons. His nickname was “Chick”. Many III Amphibious plaques made in China. I would like to find out more about his unit as the only thing he ever talked about was boot camp, and very little about his time in China. His name was Boyd Beecher Bivens.
Boyd, please post some of your fathers photos. Thanks.
Although I know from uniforms that he wore home, that he was in the 1st Marine Division, and maybe later attached to the III Amphibious, I do not know, nor can I find out, the unit he served in. He was discharged with an Honorable Discharge with the rank of PFC in September or November of 1945. I will have to get out his discharge to verify the exact date. He also had a letter of commendation from his Commanding Officer.
I do know that he was a Rifleman in his Platoon. A younger friend of his from our church, who missed WWII but served in the Marine Corps in Korea and retired as a Drill Instructor, told my brother that my Father served as a “Point Man” for his Platoon as he was raised in the Mountains of East Tennessee and was an exceptional hunter and Rifleman. There are more than three dozen photos in a very nice album that was made in China with the dragons and Tientsin, China on it. All of the photos are very sharp and clear.
What I would like to find out, is the unit/s that he was attached to and their area of service. Dad passed on 3/15/2003 from complications from COPD and pneumonia. He would have been 95 yrs old this 9/5/2018. My Father was the very best father a man could ever ask for, honorable, kind, and decent, a quiet man who did what had to be done.
Hello, My father bought a leather album that says My Oriental Album with pictures in it that I suppose are from ww2. I don’t know where to look for in information but it seems that is from a US Marine by the name Charles A. I found out that he may have been there in Tsingtao during 1946. I would like to know more information because I want to sell the album or do something with it because I think that is important. The album has a lot of pictures and other stuff.
Hi Meilynn my dad also was on Okinawa then Tsingtao with the 6th Marine division. He has also past but it was nice to hear the stories that he shared with me come back to life on this website. Machine gunner Corporal Henry Andreana 6th Marine Division.
Dear sir, I m a Chinese history researcher in Tsingtao, want to ask a question. Do you had heard the history your father told about six planes crashed of December 10th 1945, and 2 pilots were saved by Chinese? ~ Best Regards, Pan.
Does anyone know the circumstances of the December 10, 1945 six US Marine aircraft that crashed? The Associated Press report says they were dive bombers in a show of force with a total of twelve men possibly lost. AP report quotes Navy as saying they were last seen over Taku. Cause of crash was said to be bad weather, but all six aircraft? There must have been an incident report at some level.
Does anyone remember a marine by the name of Howard Bertis Atchison. I know he was trained in the 75 mm pack howitzer. On “October 23, 1944 his designation was changed from “A” Battery, 75mm Pack Howitzer Battalion, 4th Marines, Reinforced, 6th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force to “A” Battery, 1st Battalion, 15th Marines, 6th Marine Division, Fleet Force, In the Field, Authority 6thMarDiv SO-76-44 dated 22Oct44.” Signed by M. W. Baldwin, 1stLt, USMCR, Personnel Officer.
I was so excited to find your website. I had just put some pics of my father on my FB from his time in the Marines in the Pacific. He was 10 years in China, first as a young sailor, corpsman then later with the 22nd that became the 6th on Guadalcana. We too had his leather dragon album pictures stolen after he died. It was filled with pics before and after the Japanese invaded. Fortunately I still have some of the loose ones. There is one that puzzles me. It is of 3 young,Caucasian men in civies sitting on the ground in what looks like a cave. They don’t look comfortable as if they are hiding or something. Also have pictures of Shanghai where my father was also stationed.
My parents and I lived in Tsingtao 1948-1949 (communist invasion). The address was 27 Fu Shan Road. My father was the CO of VMR-153 for the Marine Corp, then…Major Richard J, Ofstad. (Marine Aircraft Group 21). Both He and my mother, Mary Ofstad have now passed on. My first memories are of living in China. I was 3. I have my parents’ photo album and 3 home movies that my dad took. 2 are black and white and 1 is color. Years ago I made the color one into a video for my mom. That one was mostly a trip to Peking with another couple. I plan to put all 3 on DVD soon. I remember many of the Marine adults that were there because we were close to them afterward in the States. Like Michael O’connell, I have memories of the house boy, the Amah, and the cook. Some Marine family names I remember are Fusan, Pope, Tatro, Lantz, Carney, Lamson-Scribner, Nielsen…….. in later years in Orange County CA my mom would meet with “The China Girls” for lunches.
Penny I just received an album that identifies a Marine named John W. Kostnick who cites that he belonged to M.A.B.2 for duty with VMR153 arriving on 21 July 1947. He also has photos of him and his “boss” amongst many others. Please feel free to contact me.
Hi Penny, I was also 3 when we arrived in TSINGTAO (my mom Marjorie, my brother Renny and me). My dad was already there and we lived in a house somewhere in the city. Maybe your dad knew my dad who was stationed in TSINGTAO after Guadalcanal. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 97. In China dad was a young 2nd Lt. or Capt. Warren P. Baker and we were there in TSINGTAO with my mom and my brother for about a year or two until we had to leave. My mom took my brother and I to Panama where we lived with my grandparents who were Navy and stationed at Ft. Amador in the old Canal Zone. My dad stayed in TSINGTAO until all the marines left and he went on to have a wonderful 27-year career in the USMC with his final assignment Chief of Staff with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa. He always told us that the marines helped rebuild the TSINGTAO beer factory that was bombed during the war. Do you have any pictures of your dad with other officers?. Thanks, Bob Baker.
Ms. Stowe, I am the historian for the Marine Corps Air Transport Association. I would like to hear more about your father’s time in VMR-153. Please give me a call sometime (252) 665-1087.
Hello Fred Greguras, I was born in Tsingtao in April 1947. My father Edward Ting was the head of No.1 Hostel which belonged to WASC (War Area Searvice Corp)at No. 20 Hui Chuan Road.His job was tending on US Marine and Navy officers and men in Tsingtao. He told me many times when he was living that there were a US Naval Traning Corp in Tsingtao that time, and he was in charge of tend upon them. Many of them became his good friends. Among them, there were Lt.Mctague, Lt.(JG)Queen, Lt.(JG) Gustafson, War Pastor Lindbergh, Sergeant Austin, Yeoman Andersen, Quartermaster sergeant Clause, etc. etc. Lt.(JG) Gustafson was also my godfather. My father kept their photos and addresses for many years until the Cultural Revolution was erupted in 1966. We were forced to destroy all these ‘evidences of crime’ by ourselves. My father was suspected a US spy and was under investigation for many years. He was undergone numerous persecutions. After the death of Mao, we got a chance and left China and settled in Spain. My father died in 2000. In his last few years he tried his best to located his Navy and Marine friends. Unfortunately,his effort was defeated. I don’t know if you know how to located these US Navy and Marine officers and men. Could you please let me know something about where and how to locate these long period lost friend (including my godfather Gustafson)? Best regards, Paul Ting – Barcelona, Spain.
Hello, Was in a charity shop over the weekend and found a small replica of an anchor and on it is written TSING TAO CHINA 1949. It just captured my attention and I googled it and saw this page. If you would like a photo of it, please email me and I’ll send it to you. ~ Kind regards Carol.
Hello and thank you for this information you gathered re. Tsingtau. I have a small replica anchor with the same markings Carol Spicer mentioned she found in a charity shop. Her message is dated 4-7-15. I would like to know if she has any more info about hers. Would it be possible for you to forward my message to her? My dad, Kenneth W. Peitz 1926-1985 was in the Navy and he brought the souvenir home. I treasure it! Thanks, Tish Stuart, Tulsa OK.
Our neighbor John Herrera was a China Marine, he passed away a month ago. Attempting to contact anyone that knew him or about him. He was a Marine sniper. Preparing to do a homage in his honor before the Monterey Park City Council, California. Any assistance would be very much appreciated. ~ Tom Guzman, home phone (323) 268-2901.
Hi, I recently found a photo album. It’s brown leather with sewn in leather trim with a gorgeous picture on front etched in to it dragons and a light house and a pier bottom corner says TSINGTAO PIER. It was an album but pics have been removed and inside page says MY ORIENTAL ALBUM THEN A WARNING OF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME. Can anyone help me with information on this? I find it interesting. Thank you.
Hello Kimberly. Today I acquired the exact same one today complete with photos and names of locations and marines in this gentleman’s unit fro 1947. I would be willing to connect with others. THX Charles
My dad, GySgt Paul Miller, USMC-Ret. was stationed at Tsingtao from 1945 to 1949 We lost him a few years back but we would talk for hours about his time I China. We talked about H&S and the radio shack. He would always bring up his “Antenna Farm” He had vivid memories that he shared with us over the years. Dad retired as a Marine in 1964 He was a US Marine and I am proud of him. ~ PO3 Keith Miller, USN-Ret.
I wasn’t a marine I was in the navy in Tsingtao in 1947 I enjoyed the time I was there I was with the last group that left Tsingtao when the com took over china I see there has been a lot of changes downtown but the old enlisted men’s club looks the same except for the paint job . would like to see Tsingtao again . would like to hear from any one that stationed at the naval barracks.
My dad, Lesley Larue Hix was a Marine private in China between 1945-1949?! He married Margarita LLado in China. Trying to find a list showing his muster back to US, looking for date actually, my mother was on the same ship. Thx, Jim.
To Lesley S. “Jim” Hix, Do you know of a Patricia Llado, who passed away in Shanghai on August 22, 1946? A very short death notice is on the back of an old newspaper clipping that I am trying to more accurately date (other than post 8/22/46 of course). I am interested in a photo on the other side, and trying to get the name and date of the clipping.
Maureen, sorry for late reply, it never showed up as a notification…almost a year?! Patricia LLado was my mother’s sister (Margarita LLado Hix). I will check with my cousins. If you don’t mind, what is the picture? Email me if you like. jim_hix_work@yahoo.com
I was at boarding school in Chefoo at the outbreak of World War II. Together with all other enemy foreigners I was transported to Weihsien and interned there until our liberation by the USAF in August, 1945. We were eventually evacuated to Tsingtao where our school group were housed in the Edgewater Mansions Hotel. We were treated so kindly by the US Navy, who arranged children’s parties on their ships. After some weeks we were transported to Hong Kong on the USS Geneva, a troop ship. Thank you USAF and USN! Would be very good to hear from anyone who recalls these events.
I was a Navy dependent in Tsingtao China but only about 3 years old. My father (Jerry O’Connell) was a corpsman. My mother always told me that we lived in Tsingtao for about 6 months but had to leave because of the Communists. I have in my hand right now a silver handmade cigarette case which reads, “COMPLIMENTS OF THE STAFF NCO CLUB, FMF WESTPAC, TSINGTAO, CHINA” To me this is a family treasure. Also, I inherited the family embossed leather with Chinese Dragon covered photo album of Marine and Navy personnel and places including our home interior and house boy. Oh, and RUPERT the family dog is in there too!
I was on the USS Kermit Roosevelt in Tsingtao in 1948 and was the last ship to leave since we were a repair ship and had to be sure that all our people got out. I was a kid 16 years old. Have good memories of my chinese girl friend. Thanks for your photos, Ben.
My father John Battaglia was on the USS Kermit Roosevelt he was a MM2ND Class. He has many artifacts of Tsingtao.
My father was in the marine third division at Tsingtao, stationed at Oahu, he was a mechanic for the 747 and also flew with Tyrone Power who was co-pilot. I am also researching and found this site amazing. I also have pictures that Tsingtao.
Would appreciate scans of photos so I can look for more places. Thanks, Fred.
My father was on the USS Taberer. I have a brown booklet with many pictures from that. That my father brought home.if anyone is interested I can take pictures of the pages and send them to someone’s email address. Some of the pictures include the municipal building, a park built by the Germans has a botanical garden, some pictures of the shoreline, war memorial monument, a residential district the Nippon consulate general, etc.
I was born in Tsingtao in 1936 or ’37 and lived through the War running away from the Japanese soldiers. My parents died when I was an infant. Eventually the Marines took me onto their base and in 1949, helped get me to the US. I would like to meet any Marines that may have been there. I am very grateful for their help, particularly Sgt. Art McCartney and Sgt. Vernon Caskey who are now deceased.
Nice to hear from you. Are you the Doctor Liu I have read about that lives in Northern California? I live in Los Altos. I tried to send you a hard copy of the paper to an address I found on the internet. Are you familiar with the China Marines Association? I attended their annual reunion in Sept and met many Marines. I can connect you to see if that will locate the Marines you mentioned. I am a Marine from the Vietnam period who visits China regularly on business and became interested in the history of their presence in China. My July trip was my first to Qingdao. I would like to go back. Many buildings from the German and japanese periods still exist. My email is fgreguras@hotmail.com. Semper Fi, Fred.
These are wonderful photos that bring back exciting memories!
Hi, Dr. Arthur Liu: I am Chinese and was born in Beijing. I met a lot of China Marine friends. I am doing interview with them. I met an old Chinese man in his 90s in July in 2016 in Beijing. He was Xin Tao News paper reporter in Qintao in those years. He said he knew your story. I have read your book and know that your story is just a beautiful story. I wonder if I can pay you a visit somewhere.
My maternal grandfather Cpl James Roy Carson (from Nashville Tennessee) was in the Marines from 1 Oct 1945 to 31 Sept 1949 he was in China a few times I know he was with the 7th Service Regiment, 1st Combat Service Group and the Amphibian Truck Company (6th Marine Division) unfortunately I have no pictures of him during his service he divorced my from my grandmother in the 1970s he passed away in Texas in 1992 when I was 5…
Arthur, there’s a book called Nan T’ung Boy Child by Albert Lyon about some US Marines that found a boy in N. China. That might be of interest for you to read. It is from the perspective of one of the Marines and his service over there and the relationship he built with the boy. His experience was 1946, I believe.
My father was in Tsingtao in 1949 aboard a Naval destroyer assigned to pick up fleeing Chinese Nationalists. I have dozens of photographs he took that look very similar to yours.
Thanks. Can I get copies of the photos so I can search for locations? fgreguras@hotmail.com
I was aboard the destroyer USS HIGBEE in 48 and 49 assigned picket duty one remember having the HIGBEE go to CHEFO to evacuate some nuns and take them to Shanghia my name is Wilbert {Bill} Sauer.
Hello Fred. My father was with the 6th division, coming from Okinawa to Tsingtao, to help help facility the surrender of the Japanese. Sadly Dad died many years ago. But what was exciting, is that he met my mom in Tsingtao. She was Swedish, with Swedish missionaries. Mom was inland in Kiaoshien at their home…when the war ended. There were no radios left, no way of knowing the war had ended…except that a US Navy pilot flew over their home, twice, and tipped his wings. Mom could even see his face, he flew so low. Mom is now 85….and would so love to meet this pilot or his family, to thank him for what it meant to them to have him fly over. They had been under Japanese occupation for 9 years…much of her youth. She was about 16 when the war ended. I have searched to try and find out what aircraft carrier must have been in tsingtao, or nearby…that this pilot flew off of. Can you be of any help? My dad was Bernard John Holmquist…Thanks! Meilynn.
Meilynn, thanks for your comment. I don’t know which carrier it was but will do some research to try to find out. Semper Fi!
Meilynn the pilot could have been from the air base there, I was with a radar squadron in 1948 stationed there, and a few of the flying tigers were there also. We left when the ballous were getting to close.
Hi Ronald. Thanks for your reply. I”m sorry I didn’t notice that you had written! I asked my mom if it could have been a flying tiger plane…but she doesn’t think so. She does remember the flying tigers and does know what their planes looked like. She was pretty sure it must have been from a carrier. It would have been in 1945. I think she left in 1947. Appreciate your help! Meilynn
Meilynn – What an amazing story! Do you have any more information about the mission in Kiaoshien? I can’t seem to find anything about it, and I’m very interested! Thanks – Catherine
Hi! I’ve just read a book about the activities of Marine Corps in China and coincidentally found this website. The plane your mom saw could be part of Marine Aircraft Group 32. “… during October, and as General Shepherd’s request, planes of MAG-32 started regular reconnaissance patrols on 26 October to check the status of the rail lines.” This is from “The United States Marines In North China, 1945-1949” by Henry I. Shaw, Jr.