Original Items: Only One Group Available. This is a very beautiful China Marine medal grouping attributed to Lyle H. Parker. Parker enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 6, 1926 and went to Parris Island, SC for recruit training where he was assigned to the 6th Recruit Platoon. He was with the Military Police and is seen being mustered all over the United States at various military installations as well as being overseas.

There is a lot of information available on Private Parker. Most of it is able to be easily deciphered and some is unfortunately unclear with conflicting dates. Most of all we were able to find was his muster rosters and nothing on his actual service, just dates and locations. He appears to have served for at least 6 years and was seen having been in the Philippines, Guam, China and various other locations in the United States. Between this information and the rim numbered/engraved medals, it makes this grouping a great candidate for further research.

The Items included in this grouping are:

-U.S. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal: The medal is engraved and numbered. This GCM is numbered 92463 and has a personal engraving beneath it:

LYLE H PARKER
1ST. ENLISTMENT
1926-1932

The Good Conduct Medal, each one specific to one of the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, is currently awarded to any active duty enlisted member of the United States military who completes three consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service". Such service implies that a standard enlistment was completed without any non-judicial punishment, disciplinary infractions, or court martial offenses. If a service member commits an offense, the three-year mark "resets" and a service member must perform an additional three years of service without having to be disciplined, before the Good Conduct may be authorized.

During times of war, the Good Conduct Medal may be awarded for one year of faithful service. The Good Conduct Medal may also be awarded posthumously, to any enlisted service member who dies in the line of duty.

-Yangtze Service Medal: The medal is rim numbered M. No. 3572 and is in great condition. The Yangtze Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created in 1930 for presentation to members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (and to a lesser extent, members of the United States Army). The Yangtze Service Medal is awarded for service in the Yangtze River Valley between the dates of September 3, 1926 and December 31, 1932, a period of significant unrest in the region. The decoration may also be awarded for those military service members who served on permanent duty in Shanghai, China, provided such service was in direct support of landing operations in the Yangtze River Valley (e.g. Nanking incident of 1927). The Yangtze Service Medal was declared obsolete in 1940 when it was replaced by the China Service Medal.

-Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal: The medal is rim numbered M. No. 6902 and is in great condition. It was established on 8 May 1919 as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon. A full-sized medal was authorized on 1 March 1921. The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is therefore one of the oldest medals of the United States military which is still issued to active duty personnel. To be awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, a Marine must have engaged in a landing on foreign territory, participated in combat operations against an opposing force, or participated in a designated operation for which no other service medal is authorized.

-Soochow Creek Medal: The medal is named/engraved. The reverse of the medal reads:

PRESENTED TO
LYLE H. PARKER PFC
5-10-32
FOR BRAVERY AND VALOR
BATTLE of SOOCHOW
CREEK
SHANCHAI 1932

The obverse of the “approved” medal depicts the ubiquitous “Honey Bucket” and the legend “Soochow Creek 32” and the words “For Valor”. The ribbon is very brittle and worn unfortunately.

The first Soochow Creek Medal originated in early 1932 during the hostilities in Shanghai between the Japanese and Chinese. The Municipal Council of the International Settlement proclaimed an emergency in January. The 4th Marines were stationed along Soochow Creek, which was the boundary line between the International Settlement and Chapai, to protect the International Settlement. Troops of the other nations within the International Settlement also participated. The Marines occupied these positions until June, 1932 when things settled down. In spite of being very close to action and fire between the rival forces, the Marines suffered no casualties.

In the weekly publication of the 4th Marines, “Walla Walla” dated Feb 13, 1932 issue , it states:

“ Now that the war is on, when do we get our medals”” is one of the natural questions which is being asked nowadays - particularly around Headquarters where other men have time to think about such things now and then. Well, men, here it is. The latest suggestion for a medal was struck by G. Whiz Wolfe and approved unofficially by all who have seen it. The ribbon is to be appropriately made in brilliant yellow silk - and the disc itself - well, is it appropriate?”

In the following week’s issue, February 20, 1932, is found, “Report of our Awards Committee” - The Soochow Creek medal has not been struck yet, and may never be struck...."

Initially, according to “Walla Walla”, certain men were singled out for the “award“. When the actual medals finally did become available it was noted in the April 30, 1932 issue of “Walla Walla”

“You too can join this band of heroes by putting in your name to the First Sergeant. Perhaps you are wary, having put in for an all night pass several days ago that never materialized. Have no fear; the delivery of these medals is guaranteed. Of course you will find that you owe two dollars for it payday; but pay day is still a long way off and that will be just two dollars that Jensen or others of his ilk won’t get.”

“The famous Soochow Creek Medal comes in two finishes; gilt and bronze each suspended by a ribbon in the true Soochow colors. There will be only one batch of medals struck, so if you want one, put in your name before the first of the month.
The rallying cry is “get them while they are hot”. Not only are they hot now, but they will remain that way for several years to come.

Think of the lies you can tell your grandchildren about this famous award.
No palpitating breast is complete without one.”

The other items included in this group are:

-Ribbon Bar: The bar consists of 3 ribbon for Good Conduct, Yangtze Service and Marine Corps Expeditions

-Shooting Badges: One is a “MARKSMAN” bar, Expert Rifleman Badge, Sharpshooter Badge and a “ladder” type badge wit the bars “Pistol-D”, “Rifle-A” and “Rifle”.

This is a wonderful grouping with the ever so elusive Soochow Creek medal!

Comes ready to display in your China Marines displays!

The following is what we could find about Pvt. Parker:
-October 1926: He was assigned to the 6th Recruit Platoon aboard Marine Corps Recruit training Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.
-January 1927: He is sent to the Service Company, First Regiment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, Security Detachment, Post Police Shed, Military Police.
-April 1927: He is still mustered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia and was still assigned to a Security Detachment at the Post Police Shed, the Military Police.
-May 1927: Quantico, Virginia, Security Detachment, Post Police Shed, Military Police.
-December 1927: He musters at the Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-January 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-March 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-May 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-July 1928: He musters at the Marine Detachment, Rifle Range, Camp Plunkett, Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Camp was and still is controlled by the Massachusetts Army National Guard. During World War I, the site was leased from the Bay State Rifle Association by the United States Navy. The area then became known as Camp Plunkett and wooden barracks and mess halls were erected on the site. After the war, the land was returned to the association. In 1926, and at a cost of $64,000 dollars, the land was bought by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On March 1 of that year, Governor Alvin T. Fuller named the camp in honor of the former governor Curtis Guild, Jr. “in consideration of [his] public service and intimate connection with the military forces of the state and nation.”
-September 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-October 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-December 1928: Portsmouth Naval Prison, Marine Detachment
-February 1929: He musters at the Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He goes on furlough from the 9th to the 28th
-March 1929: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.
-April 1929: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.
-May 1929: He qualifies as a Marksman at Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.
June 1929: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.
-November 1929: He was mustered aboard the USS Henderson as a part of the Overseas Detachment enroute to Manila, Philippines. He was on ship from November 1 to November 30 and was assigned as a Messman while onboard. The first USS Henderson (AP-1) was a transport in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. Named for Marine Colonel Archibald Henderson, she was launched by Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 June 1916.
-December 1929: Overseas Detachment, On Board USS Henderson Enroute To Shanghai, China