1903 Springfield photo Shanghai China 1927

[Mark in Rochester]

Shanghai, China

Color guard leads the landing party from USS Pittsburgh (CA-4) in a parade on the Shanghai Bund, circa 1927.
These Sailors are armed with M1903 "Springfield" rifles and M1911 pistols.

Information

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[Jim Tarleton]

Are those Bluejackets?

Jim

[Rick the Librarian]

The man on the left has an "eagle" on his sleeve, so they most certainly are. Sailors were a lot more used as "landing force" than they are now. The Pittsburgh was the former Pennsylvania, an armored cruiser, which was renamed to free up the name for a new battleship, the sister ship of the Arizona. These old armored cruisers served as "force flagships" towards the end of their careers. If I'm not mistaken, the ex-Pennsylvania was the same ship that was the first to have a plane take off, about 1911. The ship[ was commission in 1905 and was scrapped in 1930.

[Charlie]

It's a Rateing Badge and it's called a crow not eagle. And even more important it's a right arm rate as opposed to a left arm rate. Something that no longer exists in todays Navy.
Charlie - ADCS USN (Ret.) 1958-79

[Rick the Librarian]

It IS an eagle but is called a "crow", so you're right. I knew there was anickname but couldn't remember what it was.