Combat· U.S. Occupation of North China
Tientsin-Peiping Road clearing
Securing the overland routes between the occupied cities was an early and recurring task for the Marines in Hopeh.
An engineer detail from the 1st Marine Division, covered by a rifle platoon for protection, was sent out from Tientsin to clear obstructions from the Tientsin-Peiping road and open the way for military traffic between the two cities. The work exposed the Marines to the hazards of a countryside contested by Communist guerrillas, where roads, bridges, and rail lines were frequent targets of sabotage. The detail completed its task at the cost of a few wounded, an early sign that even routine engineering and route-clearing duties in North China carried real danger. Keeping the arteries between Tientsin, Peiping, and the coast open would remain a core Marine responsibility throughout the occupation.
Record no. 600