A Rare Yangtze Barrier Medal 1937-1938; U.S.S. Luzon Version

Bronze, obverse illustrating a scuttled ship in the waves, mountains in the background, inscribed "YANGTZE" above and "BARRIER" below, reverse inscribed "PRESENTED TO / ---- / (U.S.S. LUZON) / YANGTZE PATROL / FOR PRIVATIONS / DURING YANGTZE / BLOCKADE / 1937-38", the "U.S.S. LUZON" inscription having been erased but faint, 37 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, spotting, better than very fine. Footnote: The Yangtze Patrol, also, known as the Yangtze River Patrol Force and Yangtze River Patrol or YangPat and ComYangPat, from 1854-1949, was a prolonged naval operation to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. Initially the patrol was carried out by ships of the United States Navy's East India and Asiatic Squadrons. In 1922, the "YangPat", an abbreviated shortening of Yangtze Patrol, was established as a formal component and assigned to the Asiatic Fleet. Under the unequal treaties, the United States, Japan, and various European powers, especially the United Kingdom, who had been on the Yangtze, since 1897, were allowed to cruise China's rivers. They also, patrolled coastal waters, protecting U.S. citizens, their property, and Christian missionaries. The Yangtze is China's longest river, and very important for commerce. Ocean-going vessels were able to proceed as far upstream as the city of Wuhan. This squadron-sized unit cruised the waters of the Yangtze as far inland as Chungking, more than 1,300 mi (2,100 km) from the sea, and occasionally far beyond. In the early 1920's, the patrol found itself fighting the forces of deadly warlords and ruthless bandits. To accommodate its increased responsibilities on the river, the Navy constructed six new gunboats in Shanghai during 1926-1927 and commissioned in late 1927-1928 during the command of Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, Jr., to replace four craft originally seized from Spain during the Spanish-American War that had been patrolling since 1903. All were capable of reaching Chungking at high water, and two year-round. U.S.S. Luzon and U.S.S. Mindanao were the largest, U.S.S. Oahu and U.S.S. Panay next in size, and U.S.S. Guam and U.S.S. Tutuila the smallest. These vessels gave the navy the capability it needed at a time when operational requirements were growing rapidly. The Yangtze Barrier Medals, although unofficial, are believed to have been designed and initiated by personnel on the staff of the Commander of the Yangtze Patrol in the fall of 1937. They were to "commemorate" those Navy men who served on ships of the Yangtze Patrol above the Kiangyin Barrier. The Kiangyin Barrier was an obstruction of sunken ships placed across the Yangtze just below the Kiangyin Forts by the Chinese in early August 1937. The idea behind the barrier was to impede the movement of Japanese forces by ship along the upper reaches of the Yangtze. Unfortunately, after the occupation of Shanghai by the Japanese in November 1937, the Kiangyin Forts were taken by the Japanese from the land side, and a hole was blown in the barrier, permitting Japanese gunboats to continue their support of the Mikado’s infantry in their drive westward. The American gunboats above the barrier during this time included U.S.S. Luzon, U.S.S. Oahu, U.S.S. Panay (later sunk at Ho-hsien by Japanese Army aircraft), U.S.S. Palos (station ship at Chungking, and soon to be decommissioned and sold), U.S.S. Monocacy (to be bypassed by the Japanese at Kiukiang, ordered to Shanghai, decommissioned, and sunk off the Yangtze estuary by Captain, later Lieutenant General, Krulak, USMC), and U.S.S. Tutuila (later turned over to the Chinese Navy, where she was renamed in Chinese "American Origin"). There are two known varieties of the medal: one with with the scuttled ship on the obverse and inscribed "Presented to / ----- / U.S.S. Luzon / Yangtze Patrol / for Privations / during Yangtze / Blockade / 1937-38" on the reverse; the other version with a closed gate on the obverse and inscribed "Presented to / ----- / Yangtze Patrol / for Endurance / during Yangtze / Blockade / 1937-38" on the reverse. The actual manufacturer is unknown, although it was undoubtedly a Chinese entrepreneur in the Shanghai area.