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LOT 3342
Two Rare Patches for the Sino-American Cooperation Organization (SACO), Including a Rare “Dragon Anchor” Patch - Both
of the included patches are associated with the Sino-American Cooperation Organization (SACO); also known as the Sino-American
Special Technical Cooperative Organization, the SACO was established in 1943 as a joint Nationalist/American operation headed up
in tandem by the chief of Chiang Kai-Shek’s secret police and the commander of the U.S. Navy’s intelligence outfit in China. The SACO
served as an intelligence gathering/sharing organization as well as a training center for Chinese guerrilla forces operating in Japanese
occupied territory and other tasks. The smaller patch (3 inches in diameter) is embroidered, with four mounting snaps on the back, with
a pennant marked “???!!!***” on an anchor set inside a Nationalist Chinese star. The larger patch (5 1/4 inch diameter) is embroidered
silk, with a rope border around a red and green dragon perched on a blue anchor, with lightning emerging from its head. Also included
with the group are two photographs of military men (sans visible rank insignia, as often seen in OSS photos) wearing identical dragon
patches on their uniform jackets.
CONDITION: Excellent, with minor handling marks overall. Both patches show fine detail and color.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3343
Grouping of Items from the U.S. Naval Group China and Sino-American Cooperation Organization (SACO), Including
Two Large Naval Group/SACO Patches - Established in 1943, the Sino-American Cooperation Organization (SACO, aka the Sino-
American Special Technical Cooperative Organization) was a joint Nationalist/American operation headed up in tandem by the chief
of Chiang Kai-Shek’s secret police and the commander of U.S. Naval Group - China, the U.S. Navy’s intelligence outfit in China. The
SACO served as an intelligence gathering/sharing organization as well as a training center for Chinese guerrilla forces operating in
Japanese occupied territory and other tasks. While the Organization ended in 1946 with the departure of Naval Group China, the
Chinese components of SACO were active participants in the Chinese Civil War, and the Americans were accused of complicity in
their actions by the Communists. The group includes two large patches (one leather, one embroidered cloth), 6 inches in diameter,
with “U.S. NAVAL GROUP CHINA” around a fouled anchor, Nationalist Star, and a pennant marked “???!!!***”, a small enamel pin
bearing the SACO logo, a leather “blood chit” style patch (9 5/8 inches wide, 7 inches tall, marked “U.S.N./(anchor)/Shanghai, China”
on the front and “Robert/Charles/Leonhauser/1945/YMS 468/U.S./NAVY” on the back) a dual-language name tag for “R.E.Stouffer, Jr.”,
a pair of USN Lieutenant Junior Grade shoulder boards, and two photos, one of a pair of navy men (one, in uniform with no visible
rank insignia, is identified on the back as Lt. JG Ralph Stouffer, Jr.) and one of a radio bullpen (marked on the back as being the SACO
communication office in Shanghai in 1945). Records indicate that Ralph Stouffer Junior was born in Chicago and was a lawyer in
civilian life, and Robert Leonhauser as a Metalsmith 3rd Class aboard the minesweeper YMS-468, which was active in the Pacific and
around Okinawa during the war and remained at work around Korea and Singapore afterwards.
CONDITION: Very good overall, with mild wear and stains. The SACO pin is missing the clutch back.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 3344
Scarce Sino-American Cooperation Organization (SACO) Service Medal with Certificate and Related Medals - The Sino-
American Cooperation Organization (SACO, AKA the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization) was established
in 1943 as a joint Nationalist/American operation headed up in tandem by the chief of Chiang Kai-Shek’s secret police and the
commander of the U.S. Navy’s intelligence outfit in China. The SACO served as an intelligence gathering/sharing organization as well
as a training center for Chinese guerrilla forces operating in Japanese occupied territory and other tasks. The medal measures 2 1/8”
wide, with a design of shaking hands backed by American and Nationalist Flags backed by a red, white, blue and gold starburst,
with a red, white, blue and yellow ribbon. The included award certificate measures 15 inches wide by 10 1/2” tall, and an included
translation notes it has having been awarded by the Republic of China in June of 1976 to a “Mr. John N. Klos”, who has not been
positively identified. Included with the lot is a stick-pin miniature of the medal, China War Memorial medal with bar ribbon, and a
medal bar with the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal
and China Service Medal.
CONDITION: Good overall, with mild wear and handling marks. The certificate has three torn corners, and minor cracking from being
rolled or folded.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600