[Album of Original Photographs Documenting the World War II Military Service of Corporal Quock C. Mar at the Desert Training Center and in the Pacific Theater]
[Various locations, including Iwo Jima: ca. 1944]. [19] leaves, illustrated with 135 black-and-white silver gelatin photographs in mounting corners, most 3.25 x 2.25 inches, plus Mar's "Neptunus Rex" card, also mounted. Oblong quarto. Contemporary black textured leather, string tied, with "Photographs" in gilt on front cover. Very minor edge wear. Photographs in excellent condition. Near fine. Item #3969
A unique and very well-preserved photographic record of Chinese-American service during World War II, showing Corporal Quock C. Mar in the Pacific Theater and during training at the Desert Training Center. The album documents the service of Corporal Quock Choy Mar of Sacramento, California (1916-1984), with the pictures beginning during a training session, likely some time into Mar’s career as he had achieved the rank of Corporal by 1944, with many photographs of Mar in the desert setting of the training center. Mar is pictured there with several other Asian American and white soldiers. One photograph shows Needles High School in California, which is in close proximity to the Desert Training Center.
The album then shifts to show Mar’s service in the Pacific Theater. Mar crossed the international date line on January 14, 1944 en route to either Nouméa or Guadalcanal aboard the USS West Point. The last thirty-five-or-so photographs, comprising the last several pages of the album, show Mar and other soldiers at Iwo Jima - exploring wreckage on a battlefield, showing the airfield, and the entrance to the 3rd Marine Division cemetery on the island. The exact division in which Mar served is unknown. Early photographs at training camp appear to suggest he may have served as a medic, but the photographs in the Pacific setting, including several with Mar holding a machine gun, suggest that he served with the Army infantry.
Overall the album provides a compelling photographic record of Mar’s service as one of the 13,000 Americans of Chinese ancestry who served during the conflict. Many of the photographs show Mar with other soldiers, and the album as a whole is worthy of further study for those interested in Chinese-American contributions to the war effort and the degree to which Chinese-Americans were integrated within military units. .
Price: $2,400.00