September 1942. New York City. "First Chinese seamen granted shore leave in wartime America. Chinese seamen on United Nations vessels may now obtain shore leave in American ports. Heretofore, because of the large number of desertions by Chinese crew members, alien seamen of Chinese nationality have been detained on board when their ships touched American ports. As a result of conferences between representatives of the Chinese Embassy, the Recruitment and Manning Organization of War Shipping Administration, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, Chinese seamen may now be granted shore leave if guarantees are given that they will not desert. Lee Ah Ding (left) and Yee Chee Ching, Chinese seamen from a British freighter, try typical American food for the first time. Yee took a hot dog in stride, but Lee refused to have anything to do with this strange foreign food. He did, however, drink a Coke with relish." Really, a hot dog with relish probably would have been better. Photo by Edward Gruber, Office of War Information. View full size.
  BUY PRINT    September 1942. New York City. "First Chinese seamen granted shore leave in wartime America. Chinese seamen on United Nations vessels may now obtain shore leave in American ports. Heretofore, because of the large number of desertions by Chinese crew members, alien seamen of Chinese nationality have been detained on board when their ships touched American ports. As a result of conferences between representatives of the Chinese Embassy, the Recruitment and Manning Organization of War Shipping Administration, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, Chinese seamen may now be granted shore leave if guarantees are given that they will not desert. Lee Ah Ding (left) and Yee Chee Ching, Chinese seamen from a British freighter, try typical American food for the first time. Yee took a hot dog in stride, but Lee refused to have anything to do with this strange foreign food. He did, however, drink a Coke with relish." Really, a hot dog with relish probably would have been better. Photo by Edward Gruber, Office of War Information. | Click image for Comments. | Home | Browse All Photos