First Chinese seamen granted shore leave in wartime America. Chinese seamen on United Nations' vessels may now obtain shore leave in American ports. Heretofore, because of the large number of desertions by Chinese crew members, alien seamen of Chinese nationality have been detained on board when their ships touched American ports. As a result of conferences between representatives of the Chinese Embassy, the Recruitment and Manning Organization of War Shipping Administration, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, Chinese seamen may now be granted shore leave if guarantees are given that they will not desert. Lee Ah Ding (left) and Yee Chee Ching, Chinese seamen from a British freighter, try typical American food for the first time. Yee took a hot dog in stride, but Lee refused to have anything to do with this strange foreign food. He did, however, drink a Coke with relish [graphic].

First Chinese seamen granted shore leave in wartime America. Chinese seamen on United Nations' vessels may now obtain shore leave in American ports. Heretofore, because of the large number of desertions by Chinese crew members, alien seamen of Chinese nationality have been detained on board when their ships touched American ports. As a result of conferences between representatives of the Chinese Embassy, the Recruitment and Manning Organization of War Shipping Administration, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, Chinese seamen may now be granted shore leave if guarantees are given that they will not desert. Lee Ah Ding (left) and Yee Chee Ching, Chinese seamen from a British freighter, try typical American food for the first time. Yee took a hot dog in stride, but Lee refused to have anything to do with this strange foreign food. He did, however, drink a Coke with relish [graphic]. Gruber, Edward, photographer. United States. Office of War Information. still image Nitrate negatives. gmgpc 1942 Sept. eng Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at United States New York. Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c31717 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8b07385