The Eagle and the Dragon: The United States Military in China, 1901-1937 (Contributions in Military Studies) [Hardcover]

Dennis L. Noble (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1990 | ISBN-10: 0313272999 | ISBN-13: 978-0313272998

In 1900, US troops were part of an international force that helped crush the Boxer uprising in China. When the troops were withdrawn, one infantry regiment was left behind, marking the beginning of a sporadic build-up of all branches of the US military in China. This book examines the lives of the men who served in China from 1901 to 1937, and it marks the first effort to understand how the peace-time military lived on a foreign station. It offers a glimpse of the people serving in the US armed forces on the outposts of an empire, and a chance to view how the US military reacted to its role as a colonial occupying force. Focusing on the social aspects of the armed forces rather than on strategy and tactics, Noble explores how servicemen and their families lived within a culture that was completely foreign to them. An introduction provides a brief social and historical look at the country in which these men found themselves, as well as an account of the build up of military units in East Asia. The following chapters explore such topics as the men who served in China, the nature of their duty, their off-duty pursuits, how they perceived China and its people, and why some military men chose to remain in East Asia. Working from both new and existing material, including interviews, oral histories, and questionnaires, Noble presents a portrait of the men who served. In addition to a large bibliography of oral histories and other materials, the book includes a group of photographs taken by former servicemen in China.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Relatively few books have focused on the US armed services during peacetime. Noble makes a significant contribution to knowledge of the peacetime military in this study of the American marines, sailors, and soldiers who served in China from the end of the Boxer Rebellion to the Marco Polo Bridge incident of 1937. His examination of their activities ranges from an analysis of the type of enlisted men and officers who applied for China duty, to their daily military regimen and extracurricular activities. Along the way, Noble debunks several myths about peacetime duty in the Middle Kingdom. His research has been hampered by the government's policy of keeping military personnel records closed for a century. Still, diaries and newspapers, published by the units in China, have provided Noble with a wealth of information. It is difficult to fault his research or his conclusion that a great deal can be learned about how the military will act in wartime by studying it in peacetime. This would have been an even better book had a more thorough job of proofrading been done. All levels." Choice

About the Author

DENNIS L. NOBLE is a part-time Instructor at Peninsula College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 269 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group (October 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313272999
• ISBN-13: 978-0313272998
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,179,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About This Book..., August 31, 2010

By 

Theseus "theseus" (US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eagle and the Dragon: The United States Military in China, 1901-1937 (Contributions in Military Studies) (Hardcover)

Navy blue cloth over boards with gold details; sewn binding.

239 pp; a few pages of b&w photographs.

End Notes at the end of each chapter; 20 page Bibliography; index.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines
Troop and Stomp: The Duty Day and Routine
"A Marvelous Existence": Off-Duty Hours
Among the "Heathen Chinee": American Servicemen's Perceptions of China and the Chinese
Going Asiatic: Servicemen Who Remained in China
Land the Landing Party: Incidents Requiring a Show of Force
Taps: Conclusion