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Some WWII Medals and Keepsakes, US Navy China Service. [1]

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Date: 2023-07-25

When my Grandpa Joe graduated from high school in 1937, he joined the Navy. Like his father and grandfather before him, he set out to see the world beyond Alton, Illinois. The following year he was home on leave, and married his high school sweetheart, my Grandma Eileen. Grandma moved into the home of her new inlaws, which was only a couple of blocks away from the house she grew up in. Grandpa returned to duty, and nine months later my uncle Joe was born. In 1939 Grandpa returned, met his baby son for the first time, and moved his family to San Diego, where he was stationed. My dad was born in 1940.

When the US entered World War II, on December 11, 1941, Grandpa was already in the neighborhood. The destroyer he served on had stopped at an American base in the Philippines. It would be a bit longer before he was able to come home again. When he finally returned for good, the war with Japan had been technically over for some time. But not everyone got to go home right away. (All of this I'm telling you here, I am attempting to tell as it was told to me by my Grandma).

He and his shipmates had been spending their time helping to put things into some semblance of order in China. China had been devastated by the Japanese invasion, which started years before Pearl Harbor and the United States becoming involved. China was also an Ally during the war; only Russia suffered heavier casualties.

Anyway, when he did finally return to San Diego and his family, he brought all sorts of interesting and beautiful things. There were figurines of carved ivory, ebony, and horn; silk fans and strings of pearls; years and years worth of letters, journals, greeting cards and newspaper clippings. Medals, awards, certificates... and some memories he simply would not share with anyone. He would talk about beautiful places he'd seen, interesting people he'd met, what the restaurants and shopping were like in Shanghai. But if he ever opened up about the real work he did while he was serving in the Pacific Theater, it wasn't to any member of his family.

I grew up seeing, touching, admiring and learning about the gorgeous gifts he'd returned with. Most of which my Uncle Joe boxed up and took away after Grandma died in 2017. Uncle Joe himself is gone now, too, and I have no idea what became of those things. But I do have a few which my Grandma herself gave to me. She wanted me to have them. She knew that I would treasure them.

Those are the things I will show you here.

A few of the medals he earned.

Another medal, together with the box it was in when it came to me. I'm not sure if it's the original box.

The Order of the Cloud and Banner, presented to Grandpa by the Chinese government.

When I first saw this medal it hung from a wide silk ribbon striped white, yellow and blue. There was a polished wood box and a certificate with writing that I couldn't read. Grandma told me that the Chinese gave it to Grandpa because he was part of an operation to find Chinese people who'd been imprisoned by the Japanese in camps outside of China, and help them get back home. To little kid Me, that sounded thrilling and heroic. I really wanted to ask Grandpa all sorts of questions about it. Grandma cautioned me against that; she'd already tried, years before. Grandpa simply wouldn't talk about it. As I got older and came to learn more about concentration camps, and what had happened in China when Japan invaded, I realized that it was possible, even likely, that my grandfather had seen things he'd never want to talk about ever again. At least, not to his family.

The reverse side, showing the number it was assigned.

This medal is also known as the Order of the Resplendent Banner, was instituted in 1935, and is still awarded by the Republic of China aka Taiwan. In World War Two it was awarded to numerous service members of various Allied Nations for their actions in support of China and it's people. It was and is awarded in nine different grades, from first to ninth, and distinguished in part by the ribbon color. Based on what I can remember of the original ribbon, this one was either eighth or ninth degree.

A silver link bracelet he bought in Shanghai.

Apparently bracelets like this were popular with servicemen who wanted something personalized for their loved ones back home. There were a number of different designs to choose from for the links; this one features scenes with pagodas, a Chinese junk, a sampan, a dragon boat, a rickshaw, a US Navy emblem, and a Chinese dragon. I can wear it, though it's a little snug fitting on me. Grandma was a very petite lady who had delicate wrists.

On the back the links are engraved in simple block letters, one word on each link- "Eileen all my love Joe" and the word Shanghai.

This brooch is set with the most beautiful, clear rose quartz I've ever seen. It was one of Grandma's favorite pieces of jewelry (which is saying a lot, her collection was huge) and something she wore often all her life long.

This silver-gilt brooch which is set with a really lovely clear rose quartz cabochon. The stone is carved with an ideogram I'm unfamiliar with.

Every time I bring these things out, to look at and hold, it's almost like being with them again. My Grandma and Grandpa. I love them so much, and I miss them.

I don't have very many pictures of my grandparents, this one is my favorite. It was taken in a coin operated Photomatic booth in 1935, on a date when they were in high school. Grandpa had cut himself pretty badly while shaving and had to put a big bandaid on it. Grandma wore a dress she'd sewn in home economics class.

Thank you for reading, it's always appreciated. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/7/25/2183084/-Some-WWII-Medals-and-Keepsakes-US-Navy-China-Service

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