Warning of War: A Novel of the North China Marines

Warning of War

A Novel of the North China Marines

By

James Brady

There is a legend within the United States Marine Corps named “ Billy Port’s Ride”. As many legends, it has the distinct ring of truth. There are some known facts. One, there was World War II, two, there were Marines stationed in Shanghai, China at the outbreak of the war. Third, there was a “Billy Port” who had served under the command of then Major Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller in Nicaragua. Billy’s full name was Captain William Hamilton Thomas “Billy” Port. James Brady has written a novel around this story that leaves you believing this legend is more than a “story”.

Stationed in Shanghai, China leading up to WWII, Billy, apparently, was a colorful character, enjoying his status in Shanghai as an unmarried Marine, a commanding officer, and as someone from a Bostonian family of means. Billy enjoyed a lifestyle, supported by his civilian money and fostered by the pre-war atmosphere of Shanghai, the Imperial Hotel (a favorite hangout of Russian expatriates), and beautiful Chinese and Russian women.

In November 1941 an official “War Warning” had been issued and the Marines in Shanghai were preparing to evacuate by sea. Billy, evidently, was ordered to take a small group of Marines and head out to the hinterlands of China. Their mission was to gather up the Marines who were on assignment outside of Shanghai (in northern China), thus out of communication and not aware of the “War Warning”. Billy’s party left Shanghai on or about December 1, 1941. From Shanghai, Billy and his small contingent sailed on a commercial freighter to Tsingtao, then on to Tientsin. From Tientsin they traveled by rail to Peking (modern day Beijing), then began traveling by truck. They headed North from Peking early the morning of December 7, 1941, hours before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Along the way they were able to gather up some of the Marines they were searching for and were making a beeline for Russia (an ally at the time) to escape the Japanese. Their trip took them through northern China, the Gobi desert in Mongolia and to the Russian border somewhere south or southeast of Lake Baikal in Russia. The overland journey from Beijing to the Russian border was approximately 700 miles, through desert, while being chased by the Japanese Imperial Army, through warlord country, in frigid weather and without the benefit of 7-11’s, Starbucks and Holiday Inn Express. Brady does an amazing job of putting you right there during the grueling travel and firefights with the Japanese and the Mongolian warlords.

Billy’s group numbered about 2 dozen at its highest and arrived at the Russian border with about half that many (about half were lost to firefights). They actually crossed the Onon River (Russian border) under fire from the Japanese. They reached the Russians and were fed, housed and medically treated. From there it is a mystery. Billy and 2 of his group were picked up by the KGB and were never seen alive again. The rest of the group did make it back.

There is more to the story, however, I’m not going to spoil Brady’s excellent book by providing any more details. I do have to say that you can’t read this without wondering if the story is more fact than fiction. This a very different WWII story that leaves you mulling over what our previous generations actually went through during a very extreme time.