A Soldier’s Son – Life Goes On Even in Wartime

April 16, 2020April 18, 2020Jeff

“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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Like many soldiers perhaps, my father rarely spoke about his activities during World War II in China or his stint in Korea. I could tell that he didn’t want to speak about war-related topics. There were a few scarce stories or answers to inquiries and I will try to share them when they are appropriate.

What is striking throughout human history is that even during time of war, people try to maintain some sense of normal life. Civilians in warring countries and soldiers seek to create the familiar by recognizing holidays and other cultural benchmarks.

The picture below shows a group of GIs having a party. It must have been a treat to have two women in attendance and it is hard to tell whether the GIs wanted to get into the photo or get closer to the women.

size – 3.5 x 4.75 including white space

The back of the photograph is annotated: Miss Gerry Lennox, Miss Elenor (probably Eleanor) Liss – Red Cross Girls…and some men on on our Christmas party. There is a stamp by the Army Examiner indicating that the photograph does not contain compromising information. Dec 24, 1943

The officers were celebrating Christmas in a somewhat different fashion; a formal dinner. Both Chinese Army dignitaries and American Army Officers were in attendance.

size – 3.5 x 4.75 including white space

The back of the photograph is annotated: General and Mrs. Shang Shen leading the march to dinner Christmas Eve at Victory House – Chungking, China. Behind them Major General Hearn. Dec 24/43

NOTE: I found a reference to a Thomas Guerdon Hearn and as it turns out, it is the same person in the photo above.

Civilians in countries ravaged by war also try to carry on in a more normal manner. The picture below is quite puzzling to me as it shows a Chinese family at what seems to be a wedding. The taller fellow in the back row is my dad. Why he was there and what was his connection to the family is an unsolvable mystery.

I do know my father was friendly with a number of Chinese families and he would give chocolate to some of the young children. He always had a warm spot in his heart for the Chinese people and even retained some of the language which he was eager to put on display every time we went to a Chinese restaurant.

Chinese wedding party with Martin C. Ross, back row - center, in attendance

size – 2.5 x 3.75 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 – 2020 – JBRish.com

A Soldier’s Son – US Troops in Hawaii (1934 +/-)

July 8, 2019September 8, 2019Jeff

“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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When I was a teenager, I heard my father talk about being stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Among his photos were a number of pictures taken in Hawaii including those of celebrities and his buddies at work and play.

FDR visited Hawaii in 1934 and I believe the photograph below was taken during that trip. One of his sons sits next to him in the car.

FDR and his son (Probably Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr.) visit Hawaii – 1934

size – 4.5 x 2.75 square including white space

NOTE – While there was no annotation on this photograph, there are similar pictures in the historical archives such as this one linked below.
https://www.gettyimages.dk/detail/news-photo/welcoming-of-the-president-franklin-roosevelt-and-his-son-news-photo/107424161

Presidents aren’t the only noteworthy visitors to meet and greet America’s troops. Young Shirley Temple also visited soldiers in Hawaii.

Young Shirley Temple visits American soldiers in Hawaii
size – 4 x 2.8 including white space

While this cannot be verified, my assumption is this photograph of Shirley Temple with a glass of soda was taken during that same trip. The photograph was sitting alongside the others.

Shirley Temple with a glass of soda and what appears to be a puppy
size – 2.75 x 4.5 including white space

Also bundled with the photographs above, was this picture which I am also “guessing” is of actress Sonja Henie who was with Shirley Temple during her visit to Hawaii. Any information to correct the record would be appreciated.

Sonja Henie visiting Hawaii with Shirley Temple.
size – 2.75 x 4.5 including white space

NOTE – This page (link below) contains a different photograph of Sonja Henie with Shirley Temple –
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/246539-pineapple-army-the-wolfhound-pack-27th-infantry-regt-schofield-barracks-th/

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

Soldier’s Son – Chungking Univeristy – 1944

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019Jeff

“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
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

A group of soldiers walking with a woman associated with the Univ. of Chungking,

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

Marty Ross always loved children - this picture of him with Bernard Liu.,

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.

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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A Soldier’s Son – Introduction

February 15, 2019May 5, 2019Jeff

“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

Martin C. Ross’ final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery

My father was a soldier and he loved the army. He was a gritty guy and had little or no fear. This isn’t to say he was mean or aggressive; he wasn’t. He had a big heart and he was kind and generous.

My grandparents were Polish/Russian immigrants who came to America in the early 1900s to have a better life. They didn’t have it easy. As Jewish immigrants they faced much antisemitism and discrimination.

Over time, they learned English although they continued to speak Yiddish at home. During the depression my father spent time in a place he told me was an orphanage. He was forced to live away from his parents and family. He never forgot this chapter of his life and it had a profound effect on him.

The grave of Martin C. Ross, Arlington Cemetary

My father Martin Ross and my mother, Beatrice have dinner – circa 1952

As a small child, all I knew was that my father was a soldier. I have to say that he wasn’t the only one in the army. We were all “in the army.” My mother had to put up with a lot as my father went off to war in Korea and left us at home. This wasn’t the only effect the army had on our lives. Like many military families, we moved quite a bit. It seemed to me it was every three or four years.

My father Martin Ross’ photo shortly after retiring from the Army in 1960

My father amassed a large number of military photographs during his career as a soldier. The reason I am starting this series is to share pictures I have related to life in the army, China during World War II, the Korean War and related topics. I have no children and these archives will be “tossed” when I die. I am hoping to share these with those who may be interested in military history or life during these eras.

The offerings in this series will not have any specific organization. I will publish the photographs and whatever notes are on the pictures as I get to them. I note approximate size: length x height as this proves pertinent.

To start the series, I offer the following…

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When my father was in China and Burma (now Myanmar) during World War II, entertainers would visit the troops from time-to-time to help them get a bit of relief from the wartime drudgery. Joe E. Brown (1891-1973) was a popular comedian and movie star. He was a very talented expressionist who would make faces with his rather large mouth.

Here is a picture of Joe E. Brown entertaining the troops in China. Notice the picture of Chiang Kai-shek behind him.

Joe E. Brown entertaining the troops in China during World War II

Notation on the back of the above photograph written by Martin C. Ross

Brown was accompanied by Harris Barris** who also appears in the picture above as well as the picture below which shows the two men mixing with the troops after the performance.

Harry Barris and Joe E. Brown mingling with the troops after the performance

* “Chiang Kai-shek, also known as Generalissimo Chiang or Chiang Chungcheng and romanized as Chiang Chieh-shih or Jiang Jieshi, was a politician and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China between 1928 and 1975, first in mainland China until 1949 and then in Taiwan until his death. – Via

** “Harry Barris was an American popular singer and songwriter, and is one of the earliest singers to use “scat singing” in recordings. Barris, one of Paul Whiteman’s Rhythm Boys, along with Bing Crosby and Al Rinker, scatted on several songs, including “Mississippi Mud,” which Barris wrote in 1927″ Via

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

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JBRish.com – quips & queries

A life of musings, queries, quips and quandaries

Martin C. Ross

A Soldier’s Son – Life Goes On Even in Wartime

A Soldier’s Son – US Troops in Hawaii (1934 +/-)

Soldier’s Son – Chungking Univeristy – 1944

A Soldier’s Son – Introduction