ETO or PTO ?

[G26ster]

CBI - China Burma India theater. As the Japanese spread out across China into Indochina (modern Vietnam and neighbors) they invaded Burma and threatened to invade India which was still an British Colony. The British had their hands full trying to stave off not only the Japanese, but deal with the internal threat of near revolution of the population of India who saw it as a chance for independence. America provided manpower, equipment and supplies to the Nationalist Chinese via the Burma Road and DC-3 flights over the mountains. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the forerunner of the modern CIA) mounted what was to be America's first attempt at Guerilla warfare in occupied Burma.

The long story short is that most people today do not realize that the groundwork of what happened in Vietnam was a direct result of the Japanese expansion into Indochina which was a french colony prior to WWII. To understand the CBI theater action you have to understand what was going on in that area of the world long before the Japanese invaded Manchuria.

As a side note, the American OSS was relatively successful in mounting that guerilla war against the Japanese using the many local tribes of the Burma countryside. Its too bad that they forgot the lessons and success of 1942-1945 just 20 years later when we blew it in Vietnam.

Thanks TR. As a kid, and scale modeler, my favorite was always the P-40 (Kittyhawk, Tomahawk, Warhawk) that Gen. Chenault and the Flying Tigers flew during that campaign. Of course I wasn't into M1 Carbines back then, but as WWII was only over for a few years then, I was very much interested in the subject. I see we are in the same area. Perhaps we can get together some time, and you can educate me further in these carbines. After all, I too am retired, and come to think of it, pretty tired too

[jimb16]

Merril's Marauders, Chindits, Ghurkas, Chenault, Vinegar Joe Stillwell, Chang Chia Chek....... You guys should all be familiar with those names. ALL CBI...... And our secret base in Shang Gri La!

[Thumper]

ETO for me, my Dad was there, 387th Inf Div.
Regards: Thumper

[Hercules Powder]

Pacific Theater… My dad severed in the Navy Sea Bee’s on Attu in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska after the Battle of Attu rebuilding/maintaining the landing field. His was issued a M1 Carbine, but doesn’t remember the manufacturer.

As well as all those that severed during WW 2 I think we also need to remember the people on the home front that did their part helping with the war effort.

If not for the efforts of those all American that did their part was could be speaking German or Japanese today.

God has blessed the USA. Too bad we don’t take better care of it!

US Army Viet Nam Infantry. John

[sundance]

Hear hear and thanks for your service. (Actually I thought it was" here here" but I checked it out.)

[Gibbs505]

Both, My farther and some uncles served in both.