Chungking

A Soldier’s Son – Life During War

Jeff

“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” — George S. Patton

NOTE: You can read the introduction to this series HERE:


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Life is often drastically altered during war time, but some measure of normal routine needs to be maintained while the machinery and events of war take their toll on the soldiers and the native populations.


A group of Chinese men pull a sampan along the inlet or river way
A group of Chinese men pull a sampan along the inlet or river way
size – 3.25 x 2.25 including white space


NOTE: A couple of the workers are wearing abbreviated, wrap-around “shorts” which seem to expose their posteriors. Whether this is customary garb for the time or due to the hot and/or humid weather, I am not sure. [ See close up below ]

Pictured below is a group of soldiers and Chinese villagers heading out to do some reconnaissance work as a joint mapping party.


A mapping party of villagers and soldiers head out to do some reconnaissance
A mapping party of villagers and soldiers head out to do some reconnaissance
size – 3.25 x 2.5 including white space

Daily routines do continue during war to the extent possible. This is a picture of a Chinese story teller near Chungking. The people are gathered around, but look at the photographer as the picture is taken (Circa 1944.)


A village story teller takes a moment to pause for the picture.
A village story teller takes a moment to pause for the picture as his audience looks on.
size – 2.5 x 3.25 including white space

 

NOTE — All photographs are “for sale.” Anyone interested in purchasing photographs should contact me via the JBRish.com contact email, i.e. JBRish [dot]com [at] gmail[dot]]com

 
DISCLAIMER — Many of the photographs I will be presenting as part of this series are very small and/or very old. In order to enable proper viewing, I scan the images and enhance them to the extent possible using Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop software. These images are not manipulated to remove or modify the content. The enhancements are strictly to provide contrast, bring out details and to render black and white areas in more natural tones. Nothing has been removed or added. I will provide approximate measurements of the actual photographs as they may seem larger than actual size because of the digital presentation.


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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2019 – JBRish.com


Soldier’s Son – Chungking Univeristy – 1944

Jeff

“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” — George S. Patton

NOTE: You can read the introduction to this series HERE:


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Many of the photographs in today’s selection were taken in China circa 1944. By that time the war may have taken a turn in favor of the allies and perhaps there was great optimism that they would prevail, but I am not sure.

This series of photographs demonstrates how, even during wartime, there is a desire to achieve some sense of normalcy and for many they forge ahead with day-to-day life.


A view of the Yangtze River and Chungking, China circa 1944
A view of the Yangtze River from somewhere in Chungking, China – June, 1944
size – 4.75 x 3.60 square including white space

It is obvious from some of the markings that this picture (above) is well traveled as indeed it is 75 years old. At first I thought the two whitish rectangular objects (left) were defects in the photograph, but upon closer inspection, they appear to be attached to poles which are part of the structure. There is a dark blemish on the left-hand white rectangle


A photograph of US Soldiers with Chinese friends at the University in Chungking, China
“A photograph of US Soldiers with Chinese friends at the University in Chungking, China
size – 2.125 x 1.60 including white space

These students at the University of China developed a friendship with the American soldiers. Martin Ross is second from the left.


Martin Ross at the University of Chungking, China
I cannot be too sure where this picture was taken, but it was grouped with others taken at the University of Chungking in China and thus I assume that is the location of this picture.
size – 1.75 x 2.375 including white space



This group of soldiers is walking with a young woman associated with the University of Chungking.
size – 1.75 x 2.375 including white space

In this picture, the soldier on the right appears to be an officer. There is a notation on the back of the photograph “Chungking Univ. Feb, 1944 – Shoppin Pak” whether that is a name or not, I have no idea



Martin C. Ross with Bernard Liu
size – 1.75 x 2.375 including white space

My father always had a fondness for children. He enjoyed doing magic tricks and playing ball with them. It is curious to me that this Chinese boy was named Bernard on the back of the photograph. Whether that is an Americanization or not we will never know.

I wonder, if by any chance, this person named Bernard is still alive and if he would remember my father.

“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away” – Terry Pratchett

My father was not a cigarette smoker as far as I was aware so it is surprising to me that he has one in this photograph. He did enjoy cigars which were usually El Producto Coronas.

 

NOTE — All photographs are “for sale.” Anyone interested in purchasing photographs should contact me via the JBRish.com contact email, i.e. JBRish [dot]com [at] gmail[dot]]com

 
DISCLAIMER — Many of the photographs I will be presenting as part of this series are very small and/or very old. In order to enable proper viewing, I scan the images and enhance them to the extent possible using Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop software. These images are not manipulated to remove or modify the content. The enhancements are strictly to provide contrast, bring out details and to render black and white areas in more natural tones. Nothing has been removed or added. I will provide measurements of the actual photographs as they may seem larger than actual size because of the digital presentation.


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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2019 – JBRish.com


Soldier’s Son – Chungking and rural China

Jeff

“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” — George S. Patton

NOTE: You can read the introduction to this series HERE:


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This is an interesting series of photographs that are small in size, but represent the period of history in World War II China circa 1944. I will indicate the approximate size: width x height


A scene in Chungking, China circa 1944
A scene in Chungking, China circa 1944
size – 2.25 x 2.52 square including white space

The photograph above is simply labeled, “some scene in China – Chungking.” It has a stamp indicating that it was passed by US Army Examiner, 23150.


A Chinese peasant working with his Ox in a field
A Chinese peasant working with his Ox in a field.
size – 3 x 2.5 including white space

The picture above had no annotation, but simply shows a peasant farmer working in the field with his ox.


A Miao Tribesman in China, circa 1944
A Miao Tribesman in China, circa 1944
size – 3 x 2.25 including white space

I have to admit that reviewing these pictures gives me pause. It is almost as if I am watching something that should be kept secret; that I am intruding in the lives of others even though they have most likely passed on. The photo above is labeled on the back as one of a “Miow Tribesman” [This is most likely a misspelling and the correct spelling is Miao Tribesman].

The man in this photograph looks as though he was young-ish, but has had a hard life. Who knows what happened to him or how he spent the years after the war? Perhaps he is somewhat bewildered by a non-Asian person with a camera.

Today the Miao ethnic group lives in southern China among other ethnic groups. The Miao generally live in mountainous areas away from urban centers. Apparently they have also migrated to other Asian nations such as Thailand and Vietnam. Read more about the Miao at — The Miao Minority

Interesting fact — The Hmong are actually a subgroup of the Miao and although China recognizes the Hmong as Miao, they are not technically the same. REFERENCE

A picture of the Miao constructing a runway surface in 1945 can be seen HERE


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NOTE — All photographs are “for sale.” Anyone interested in purchasing photographs should contact me via the JBRish.com contact email, i.e. JBRish [dot]com [at] gmail[dot]]com

 
DISCLAIMER — Many of the photographs presented as part of this series are very small and/or very old. In order to enable proper viewing, I scan the images and enhance them to the extent possible using Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop software. These images are not manipulated to remove or modify the content. The enhancements are strictly to provide contrast, bring out details and to render black and white areas in more natural tones. Nothing has been removed or added. I will provide measurements of the actual photographs as they may seem larger than actual size because of the digital presentation.


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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2019 – JBRish.com