China-Burma-India Theater Artwork - Army Historical ...

The China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of World War II offered a new set of challenges for U.S. forces. Often referred to as the “Forgotten Theater,” the CBI ... Skiptocontent Facebook Twitter Instagram AboutUs Foundation Museum Programs&Events 2021AHFAnnualMeeting VolunteerStoriesfromHome ArmySoundbites VirtualPostcardsforSoldiers PublicPrograms&Events OnPoint:TheJournalofArmyHistory Leadership Staff StateImpact MediaRoom Registries Careers ShowYourSupport WaystoSupport WaysToGive Membership DonorRecognition ContactUs HostYourEvent MuseumGroupTickets GroupTourPlanningGuide HistoryCenter Shop Menu AboutUs Foundation Museum Programs&Events 2021AHFAnnualMeeting VolunteerStoriesfromHome ArmySoundbites VirtualPostcardsforSoldiers PublicPrograms&Events OnPoint:TheJournalofArmyHistory Leadership Staff StateImpact MediaRoom Registries Careers ShowYourSupport WaystoSupport WaysToGive Membership DonorRecognition ContactUs HostYourEvent MuseumGroupTickets GroupTourPlanningGuide HistoryCenter Shop DONATE AboutUs Foundation Museum Programs&Events 2021AHFAnnualMeeting VolunteerStoriesfromHome ArmySoundbites VirtualPostcardsforSoldiers PublicPrograms&Events OnPoint:TheJournalofArmyHistory Leadership Staff StateImpact MediaRoom Registries Careers ShowYourSupport WaystoSupport WaysToGive Membership DonorRecognition ContactUs HostYourEvent MuseumGroupTickets GroupTourPlanningGuide HistoryCenter Shop Menu AboutUs Foundation Museum Programs&Events 2021AHFAnnualMeeting VolunteerStoriesfromHome ArmySoundbites VirtualPostcardsforSoldiers PublicPrograms&Events OnPoint:TheJournalofArmyHistory Leadership Staff StateImpact MediaRoom Registries Careers ShowYourSupport WaystoSupport WaysToGive Membership DonorRecognition ContactUs HostYourEvent MuseumGroupTickets GroupTourPlanningGuide HistoryCenter Shop TheChina-Burma-India(CBI)TheaterofWorldWarIIofferedanewsetofchallengesforU.S.forces. Oftenreferredtoasthe“ForgottenTheater,”theCBIhadauniquefeelduetothevariousnationalinterestsinvolvedaswellasthedifficultterrainoftheregion. WithJapansteamrollingthroughmuchofSoutheastAsiaintheearly1940s,British,ChineseandAmericantroopsundertookthetaskofhaltingJapaneseexpansioninthearea. InMarch1942,JapaninvadedBurmaandcaptureditscapital,Rangoon. ThisvictoryeffectivelycutoffanylandroutestoChina. LieutenantGeneralJoseph“VinegarJoe”StilwelltookcommandofChinesetroopsand,withBritishcooperationandAmericanairandgroundunits,hopedtodrivebacktheJapaneseandreestablishanoverlandlinktoChina. TheUnitedStatesbelieveditsassistancetoChinawouldenableChiangKai-shekandtheChinesetoregaintheirstrengthandovercometheJapanesepressure. Unfortunately,China’sforceslackedtheorganizationandtrainingtospearheadtheoperations. Furthermore,inadditiontodefeatingtheJapanese,theBritishwerealsoconcernedwiththethreattotheirnationalinterestsinIndia. TheterrainoftheCBITheaterwasnolesschallengingthanthepolitics. Theregionhadfewmodernroadsorrailways. ThemajorityofoperationstookplaceinNorthernandCentralBurma,wherethelandscapewasdominatedbydenselywoodedmountains,scatteredstreams,andotherobstacles. Monsoonseason,whichbeganafterApril,wascharacterizedbyconstantrainfortwoorthreemonths. Theheavyrainturnedthefewavailableroadsintoquagmiresandledtoconditionsthatalloweddiseasessuchasmalariaanddysenterytothrive. Nevertheless,facedwithsuchhardships,AmericanandAlliedforcesremainedindefatigable. AmericanengineersconqueredthedifficultterraintocompletetheStilwellRoad,whichwasconnectedtotheBurmaRoadtoreestablishcontactwithChina. Otherunits,suchasMerrill’sMarauders(laterknownasthe475thInfantryRegiment),successfullyengagedJapaneseforcesonmanyoccasions,oftenwhileoutnumberedandbehindenemylines. Today,the75thRangerRegimenttracesitslineagetoMerrill’sMarauders. BeggarssurroundtwoAmericansoldiersonthestreetsofanunnamedIndiancityinJohnG.Hanlen’sundatedwatercoloronpaper,India.(ArmyArtCollection) AnambulancestrugglesinthemuddyjungleterrainofBurmainHowardBaer’s1945oiloncanvas,BurmaMud.(ArmyArtCollection) InHowardBaer’s1944oiloncanvas,MoonoverBurma,doctorsworkontwowoundedsoldiersinafieldhospitalsomewhereinBurma.(ArmyArtCollection) AJeeppassesaChinesesentryasitentersanAmericancampinJohnG.Hanlen’s1944ink/washonpaper,LittleFortBenning,China.(ArmyArtCollection) Postnavigation ←PreviousPostNextPost→ AboutTheArmyHistoricalFoundation TheArmyHistoricalFoundationisthedesignatedofficialfundraisingorganizationfortheNationalMuseumoftheUnitedStatesArmy.Wewereestablishedin1983asamember-based,charitable501(c)(3)nonprofitorganization.WeseektoeducatefutureAmericanstofullyappreciatethesacrificesthatgenerationsofAmericanSoldiershavemadetosafeguardthefreedomsofthisNation.OurfundinghelpstoacquireandconserveArmyhistoricalartandartifacts,supportArmyhistoryeducationalprograms,research,andpublicationofhistoricalmaterialsontheAmericanSoldier,andprovidesupportandcounseltoprivateandgovernmentalorganizationscommittedtothesamegoals. 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