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Bob mason letters - china


​From A Brief History of the 7th Marines (Bob was a member of the 7th Regiment, 3rd Battalion of the 1st Division): The 7th Marines left Okinawa on 26 September [1945] and arrived and disembarked at Tangku 4 days later...the regiment was dispersed to the following localities: Tienstsin, Chinwangtao, Tangku, and Tangshan. 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. They were instructed to prepare for any eventuality including combat with hostile units. And on occasions fighting did break out between Marines and Communist Chinese soldiers. Late in October 1945, the 7th Marines received responsibility for guarding the vital rail line between Tangku and Chinwangtao. Protection of the coal mines at Tangshan also came under the jurisdiction of the regiment. In conjunction with the safeguarding of the railroad, detachments were placed along the route in fixed positions—the most common being bridges and train stations. Their mission was to make sure that rail traffic, especially coal destined for Shanghai, moved uninterrupted along the line. The regiment remained occupied in this task for nearly 6 months. Often the outpost units were little more than the size of an average infantry squad. 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.

This link provides another account of various Marine units, including Bob's, in China...
Marine Corps History - China 1945-49

Tancoo(?), China

Oktober 2, 1945

Dear Mom, Dad, and Florence:

I suppose you have gotten my letter mailed on board ship. Now I’m here. Tangu is the port for Teintsien in Northern China. The town is about the size of Laramie I guess.

This about the same latitude as Denver. It is cold here, esp. after being where it’s hot. It was cloudy until today so I’m just beginning to warm up.

The people are all friendly enough at least to your face. The Japs were still here when we got here. However it seems that the Chinese army was here too, but the Japs wouldn’t surrender to them.

Yesterday the people had a big celebration or welcome for us. There was a big parade with their drums and cymbals, and all the big shots, and little kids, and people walking on stilts and dressed up like wild Indians. In the rear were the common people. Everyone had Chinese and American flags.

I took a little Liberty both nights I have been here. Went into town and the people cheered as we went up the street. They seem to have plenty of food & clothing, but no money to buy it with. The Jap money is no good and inflation made Chinese money so that their dollar = 1/1800 of ours.

I bought some fresh pears & apples and traded for a can of oranges.  Last night I watched a Chinese movie for a while.

There are several automobiles here, some as late model as ’40, and other transportation is one horse carts and rickshaws.

Several of the people speak broken English, and one guy about my age had a book of English he was studying through correspondence out of Shanghai.

There is a railroad here, and we use it. I am in a warehouse now between the river and tracks.

We sleep on the ground and it’s cold as hell. I have caught a cold too.

These people want to get all our money they can. Everything is $5 or $10, we bring them down [to] 10 cents or 15 cents or don’t buy it.

There is a lot of liquor here, but I’m on the “wagon” now and I heard it’s poison so I leave it alone.

I got a letter from Josephine on the ship. She writes often.

I’m out of anything to say right now so I think I’ll make some coffee and get warmed up.

Lots of Love to All,

Bob

Tell Muffet I’ll write as soon as I get settled, that I got her letters and tell her hello and that I wish her luck.

How’s school teaching?

Don’t send anything for X-mas, because I’ll probably get the other packages about then, and I might beat one home now.



Feb. 4, 1946

Dear Dad:

Well old man you kind of had me worried. I hope you’re feeling better now. I just got a letter of Jan 22nd and you had been able to sit for a while. Now for Christ sake use your head and take it easy. Don’t be afraid to use my money if you need and get to feeling well. I’ll tell you one thing right now, and I’m plenty able now to get serious, you’d better take a couple of months off because if you don’t look healthy when I get home you’re going to take a vacation. I’m tired of worrying about you not being healthy, and I know how it is – you’ve worked too damn hard and too long without a rest. You’ve got it coming and you’re going to get it.

What’s Hazel Taylor doing? I hope you’re through working for her. Have you decided yet what business we are going into. I can borrow some money to start it, and after it gets going if everything works I can still go to college. The government can send me for three years. We are going to start some business because I’m not planning on working for anyone, and so start looking around. If you want to ranch O.K., or anything that’ll pay.

I went into town today to the Red Cross. They took over an old German Embassy Club and there are bowling alleys, pool tables, a movie, dances, a snack bar, & dinner there. It’s pretty nice.

Thurs. night there’s to be a square dance and I’m planning on going. They regularly hold dances on Tues. & Thurs. nights and I’d sooner go there than a private night club, for one thing it doesn’t cost anything.

I was lucky the other day. The sergeant in charge of this detail & the officer wanted two men to do some carpenter work. They had one picked out and old pop off Mason had to ask what they wanted built. The answer was, “You’re a rancher you’ll do.” And we are to help construct a new galley as the old one burned down last week! They are awaiting arrival of materials now and in the meantime I am free from train details. I’m good at getting out of work & cold. Last month I stood guard two days and had one train guard. So far this month I haven’t done anything.

I don’t know when I’ll get home. They should hold it for awhile but for my own sake (and that’s the way I feel) I wish they’d hurry.

Write when you feel like it.

Bob


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