This little blue envelope was mailed in 1937 from Shanghai to a Mr. W. P. Schow in Eatonville.
This may seem like any little letter, but it’s so much more. Five days before this letter was mailed the Battle of Shanghai erupted. It lasted about three months — August 13 to November 26.
It was a bloody battle that ended up involving approximately a million troops and signified the war between Japan and China. (Click HERE for photo history of the battle.)
I think it someone in the military writing home because of the U.S. stamps and the S.S. Pres. Taft stamp. But were they part of the marines that arrived? What did they see?

Lots of questions. If anyone has any answers, please let me know.
Image courtesy of Diane Mettler.
Click on image to enlarge.