My Dad was in the 21st Marines, 3rd Div at Guam and Iwo Jima and his Brother was a Gunny Sgt on a Long Tom all over the S. Pacific. So I collect USMC items. I was lucky enough to recently acquire a "China Marine" buckle with USMC 1946, Tsingtao, China, and the EGA between two dragons. I also got a ribbon bar, 6 collar insignia, a cover side button as well as a Chinese or Japanese pin. Some 2nd Div shoulder patches and a set of Green on Red chevrons that I do not know what rank they are. They are a triangle with one stripe straight across under it. The owner's name was "Harold J. Longendyre". Any info on him or what part of the 2nd was there in 1946 would be appreciated. I try to keep documentation with all my ID'ed Marine Corp items and do not sell any of them as they go to my youngest son who is named after my Dad. Richard Julius Marquette, after the battle he was a Mess Sgt. on Guam. Thank-you in advance for any help.

As I recall, the 6th Marine Division, minus the 4th Marines who were sent into Japan, occupied Tsingtao and General Shepherd, CG 6thMarDiv, supervised the Japanese surrender. One battalion of the 6thMarDiv was put ashore at Ching Wang Tao, located at the point where the "Great Wall" meets the Yellow Sea, and formed the northeastern anchor of the Marine zone. The rest of the zone extended from Chingwangtao to Taku/Tangku, at the mouth of the Po Hei River, then in a westerly direction to Tientsin, then Peking and from the latter city back to its beginning point at Chingwangtao. The intention was to keep Mao's forces north and west of our zone. I do not recall any element of the 2dMarDiv, per se, being in China, however that does not rule out by a long shot that Marines were split to the winds after WW II ended and might well have ended up in any one of several divisions and places. Marines began to withdraw to Guam in early 1947, particularly the 11th Marines (artillery regiment) and Engineers. Their purpose was to construct a camp which would house the 1st and 2d battalions of the 5th Marines as the Infantry portion of what would be the 1stProvisional Marine Brigade. We had been, in effect, forced out of North China and it became clearer each day that if we stayed there would at sometime be a major engagement with Mao's forces. See http://www.sullyusmc.com/Hsin%20Ho/Hsin%20Ho.htm as one example of a skirmish that could have and would have turned into a major engagement if the State Department had not nixed our pursuit of a regular 8th Army Unit of Mao's Army. Do you know what unit your father was in on Guam? Salute, Semper Fidelis, Sully

All Marines die in either the red flash of battle or the white cold of the nursing home. In the vigor of youth or the infirmity of age all will eventually die but the Marine Corps lives on. Every Marine who ever lived is living still, in the Marines who claim the title today. It is that sense of belonging to something that will outlive our own mortality. It is belonging to something which gives people a light to live by and a flame to mark their passing.

You asked me what outfit my Dad was in on Guam. A couple of nights ago I went thru some of his books, letters, etc. as I'm poor when remembering dates. I sent it to you and thought I'd copy it when it appeared on this site. As I'm almost 70 I try to copy everything to save for his namesake, my youngest son. As it did not appear would you please forward it back to me so I can copy it? I hope this is not too much trouble. Thank-you

Can't explain why if you sent your message to this thread it wasn't posted. In re sending me the info, I've done a search of several thousand eMails with no hits. Sorry I can't help. SF Mustang4467

All Marines die in either the red flash of battle or the white cold of the nursing home. In the vigor of youth or the infirmity of age all will eventually die but the Marine Corps lives on. Every Marine who ever lived is living still, in the Marines who claim the title today. It is that sense of belonging to something that will outlive our own mortality. It is belonging to something which gives people a light to live by and a flame to mark their passing.

Sorry this old retired guy made a typo, AGAIN Ha HA