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VINTAGRAPH • WPA • WWII • YOU MEAN A WOMAN CAN OPEN IT?

Japanese Soldier with Katana

Before my grandparents passed, my grandmother gave me a cigar box full of negatives, mostly medium format, and all without a positive to reference. I have been slowly scanning these negatives.  Most of them are related to my grandfather's service in the later years of WWII. He was stationed on Peleliu as far as I know, and worked in an air tower. I believe many of these photos were taken by his comrades and fellow service members. 
The one scanned here is quite interesting as it is definitely a mounted Japanese soldier, and appears to be posed. The original negative I possess is in pretty rough shape and different from most of the other negatives in the lot leading me to believe that it must have been given to my grandfather by someone, or perhaps captured off a Japanese during battle. My grandfather did return with several Japanese rifles which were taken from KIA Japanese, according to his account, if I recall correctly.  I don't know much about the photo other than the obvious stuff. If anyone can respond with any information at all, that would be great, as I am very curious about it. View full size.

Before my grandparents passed, my grandmother gave me a cigar box full of negatives, mostly medium format, and all without a positive to reference. I have been slowly scanning these negatives. Most of them are related to my grandfather's service in the later years of WWII. He was stationed on Peleliu as far as I know, and worked in an air tower. I believe many of these photos were taken by his comrades and fellow service members.

The one scanned here is quite interesting as it is definitely a mounted Japanese soldier, and appears to be posed. The original negative I possess is in pretty rough shape and different from most of the other negatives in the lot leading me to believe that it must have been given to my grandfather by someone, or perhaps captured off a Japanese during battle. My grandfather did return with several Japanese rifles which were taken from KIA Japanese, according to his account, if I recall correctly. I don't know much about the photo other than the obvious stuff. If anyone can respond with any information at all, that would be great, as I am very curious about it. View full size.

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Thanks

Pretty interesting. I have thought of posting this on some Japanese history pages to see if anyone knows anything more.

Before 1939

Japanese officer rank was worn on the shoulders 1911-1938, afterward on the collar until the end of the war in 1945. This officer appears to have 3 stars on his rank insignia and may be a general. Above his left chest pocket there appears to be cloth reinforcement where a bar of medals would be worn. Dusty boots, not a ceremonial sword, and an ordinary saddle and pad, so this is likely in the field. China in the 1930s? Troops in formation beyond the horse's head. Whoever he was, he looks important and fully satisfied with his position in life.

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