Chinese Commandos in Training - Detail from OSS CBI Photobook 16 - Team JACKAL, Black Ducks, Transition to Kaifeng, Part 1

The OSS website "Primer" section has a short introductory page to Detachment 202.  This photo, from that page, shows Chinese commandos at jump training given by OSS Operational Groups instructors, using a crashed C-47 airplane.

Their hats, in particular, interest us today.  Their hats and uniforms are the same as those of the eager young soldier in Photobook Page 16, introduced in previous post.

Major Wu Ping Lin

 

The Americans and their allies taught the Chinese how to jump, how to fight hand-to-hand, how to perform reconnaissance of the sort required, and how to use plastic explosives.  The objectives were to harry the Japanese, impede their transport, keep them on the defensive in China rather than in reinforcement of their other troops defending the islands of the southwest Pacific, and gather information necessary in the event of an Allied land invasion of China to defeat the Japanese.

OSS CBI Photobook 16 - Team JACKAL, Black Ducks, Transition to Kaifeng, Part 1

Scan of top half of Page 16

Still on guard for bad guys in that cave!  What's that patch on Dad's left shoulder?

I wonder if this page shows us a transition from the first HQ, from earlier pages, to Kaifeng.  See the masts of the houseboats - and that dome; what is it? - and those black blobs on the nearest houseboat.

This is as close-in as I can scan it.  Things also become more clear just from straightening the picture.  See the ripples on the water surface?  Those blobs are ducks, black ducks: two on the house roof and one at the stern.  You can see the blade of the oar that the woman is rowing, and the pole being worked by the man in the bow.

Two more houseboats are in the background.  What is the dark blob seemingly attached to the rightmost houseboat?  Maybe it is a gadget; maybe a person is holding a jar.

Some damage shows up in the enlargement, below.

Zdrojewski and Robichaud together.  Frenchie taught Dad some French; I recall it now, and perhaps it explains why he would not let me spend senior year of high school in France as an exchange student.

Details of equipment show up, below, including dog tags, shoulder patch, wristwatch (which we still have), camera, something in his shirt pocket.

Here pops up on enlargement another fine view of the carbine an strap, watch, camera, bracelet.  We have the strap and the jump bracelet.  Now, who is the proud young man bottom right?

Who is he? How come he has no insignia?  The pouch on his belt is stamped "U.S."

Notice what is behind him: a soldier in all the kit (Is it Dad?) on a Kansas mule or Chinese pony. Where are they and what is happening?

UPDATE 2023:

This is Major Wu Ping Lin.

He was on the JACKAL team for the bridges demolition.

His daughter and friends have contacted me;

I have their kind permission to post his memoir.