Photos & Memorabilia
From the C.B.I.
A Personal Collection shared by
S. Neal Gardner, son of the late
Page one from Maj. Gardner's War Area Service Corps (WASC) Diary for 1945 containing autographs and addresses of Chinese Commanders and other friends he served with in the CBI. This page contains the autograph of Lt. General Liao Yao-shiang, Commander of the New Sixth Army which included the 14th, 22d,and 50th Divisions.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Page two from Maj. Gardner's War Area Service Corps (WASC) Diary for 1945 containing autographs and addresses of Chinese Commanders and other friends he served with in the CBI.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Page three from Maj. Gardner's War Area Service Corps (WASC) Diary for 1945 containing autographs and addresses of Chinese Commanders and other friends he served with in the CBI.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Page four from Maj. Gardner's War Area Service Corps (WASC) Diary for 1945 containing autographs and addresses of Chinese Commanders and other friends he served with in the CBI.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Page five from Maj. Gardner's War Area Service Corps (WASC) Diary for 1945 containing autographs and addresses of Chinese Commanders and other friends he served with in the CBI.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Real Photo #1 "Not Modern Reproduction": This is a 1st generation photo manufactured around the time when the image was created. Most often from the original negative but not always. News Agency photos fall into this category.
( Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Back of Photo #1 with description and credits.
Real Photo #2 "Not Modern Reproduction": This is a 1st generation photo manufactured around the time when the image was created. Most often from the original negative but not always. News Agency photos fall into this category.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Back of Photo #2 with description and credits.
Real Photo #3 "Not Modern Reproduction": This is a 1st generation photo manufactured around the time when the image was created. Most often from the original negative but not always. News Agency photos fall into this category.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Back of Photo #3 with description and credits.
Real Photo #4 "Not Modern Reproduction": This is a 1st generation photo manufactured around the time when the image was created. Most often from the original negative but not always. News Agency photos fall into this category.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Back of Photo #4 with description of photo and credits.
A Rare Theater-Made Victory Pin with Flawless Enameling and Heavy Post & Nut. Actual size is 1" x 3/4th".
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
A Rare Theater-Made Victory Pin with Flawless Enameling and Heavy Post & Nut. Actual diameter of pin is 3/4".
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
A Rare Theater-Made Ramgarh (India) Training Center DI (Distinctive Insignia) with Flawless Enameling and Heavy Post & Nut. Actual size is 1" x 7/8"
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Chinese Officer Insignia, Infantry Major (confirmed)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Low resolution JPG Format OBVERSE REVERSE
Chinese Officer Insignia, Infantry, Rank Unknown
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Low resolution JPG Format OBVERSE REVERSE
Chinese Officer Insignia, Infantry, Rank Unknown
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Low resolution JPG Format OBVERSE REVERSE
Chinese Officer Insignia, Infantry, Rank Unknown
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Low resolution JPG Format OBVERSE REVERSE
Chinese Officer Insignia, Infantry, Rank Unknown
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Low resolution JPG Format OBVERSE REVERSE
Chinese Stamps, No Information
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Top portion of Commendation from Maj. Gen. McClure & Gen. Ho Ying-chin received by Maj. Gardner
Bottom portion of Commendation
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Christmas Program December 1944
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Inside of Program
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
A hand painted Christmas Card given to my father by two Chinese Lt. Gen., Inf.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Inside of card with personalized message.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Program for a celebration to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of the founding of the "Officer's Training Corp".
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Several well known officers listed as attendees, (Maj. Gen. C. L. Chennault, Brig. Gen. Frank Dorn, Brig. Gen. Wessels, along with numerous other dignitaries.)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Chinese Version
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Chinese Version
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Envelope holding the following two invitations.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
This looks identical to the one above. Both were in the same envelope.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Envelope holding the following invitation ....
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Gen. Tsung's party Jan 10, 1944 5:00 p.m.
Written on invitation: "An invitation to a dinner party given by a favorite Chinese Major General friend of mine".
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Invitation to Surrender Proceedings
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Invitation to a party following the Surrender Proceedings
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Invitation to a party following the Surrender Proceedings
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
A vintage original from LIFE Magazine (November 22, 1943) -- outside back-cover, heavy-stock paper -- 10.75 x 13.5 inches -- too large for my Epson & scanned in two parts,
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Bottom half.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Not an envelope, but the pink paper is glued to heavy card stock. Has been written on ... as if to correct something. Pink was used for the Victory Ribbon below, and these may be related.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Victory Ribbon intended to be worn at the Japanese Surrender Proceedings.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Commendation received from Lt. General Stilwell for outstanding services during the successful invasion of Northern Burma. This led to a Presidential Unit Citation for the Headquarters NCAC.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Actual clipping of a letter from Maj. Gardner to his parents in Mooreland, Oklahoma. The text of the letter has been transcribed and can be found here.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Hand-made Silk print intended for framing.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Hand-made Silk print intended for framing.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
The following snapshots were taken using early Kodak Kodachrome film.
Maj. Gardner, left and Maj. Jefferson Davis, at right.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Chinese Combat Command Headquarters' Staff with names
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Chinese Combat Command Headquarters' Staff
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
This is special effects image. I cropped a section from the previous photo then enlarged it and colorized Maj. Gardner and Maj. General Robert B. McClure, right. Sitting between them is Brig. General Emerick Kutschko. One of Maj. Gardner's best friends, Maj. Jefferson I. Davis, Jr. is sitting behind him to his left.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Photograph taken after the Japanese Surrender Proceedings. A translation of the writing at the top of the photo has been provided by Patrick Lucas: Literal: "Army newly reorganized 6th army officer's club opening ceremony keepsake (34 year of the Republic, 10th month, 6th day in Nanjing)"
Meaning: "Keepsake photo from the opening ceremony of newly reorganized 6th army officer's club (34 year of the Republic, 10th month, 6th day in Nankjng)".
Maj. Gardner is standing in the very center of the front row.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Entrance to the Central Military Academy in Nanking.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
View of the Entrance to the Central Military Academy from the Sun Yat-Sen Library.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Sun Yat-Sen Library on China's Central Military Academy's campus in Nanking.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
American Liaison Officers and Support Staff of the Chinese Command Command Headquarters
Sun Yat-Sen Library, Nanking
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Maj. Gardner standing in front of the Sun Yat-Sen Library in Nanking where American Liaison Officers of the Chinese Combat Command took up residence during preparation for the Japanese Surrender.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Maj. Gardner standing with Chinese Officer in front of the Sun Yat-Sen Library in Nanking
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Maj. Gardner standing with Chinese Officer in front of the Sun Yat-Sen Library in Nanking
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Two Chinese Officers in front of the Sun Yat-Sen Library in Nanking
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
American Liaison Officers with Chinese Officers
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Headquarters' Staff, Northern Combat Area Command, Northern Burma.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Maj. Gardner along with two American Liaison Officers dressed in traditional Chinese clothing.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
These photographs were colorized with software that uses proprietary algorithms to apply the coloring "transparently" allowing the natural texture and detail to remain visible. Usually photos that have been "colorized" using a paint program applies the color in a solid manner covering everything beneath.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Another variation.
Another colorized photograph of Maj. Gardner standing outside his tent in either Burma or India.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Maj. Gardner preparing to board a C-46 transport, destination unknown.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Authentic MERRILL'S MARAUDERS "greenbacks". Two official variations.
Obverse
Reverse
Lt. General Joseph W. Stilwell Limited Edition First Day Cover
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Pane of 20 stamps
See official USPS Press Release
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
Lt. General Joseph W. Stilwell First Day of Issue Stamp Ceremony Program, front & back
An image of Gen. Stilwell is embossed into a heavy charcoal folder. (Best viewed with light background)
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
First Day of Issue Stamp Ceremony Program, inside with details of ceremony & list of guests.
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
"Vinegar Joe" Stilwell ... Fighting for America in China
Collecting Card
(Personal collection of S. Neal Gardner)
