Papers and visual materials of Anton Friedrich, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native and career soldier who served with the 15th Infantry Regiment from 1914 to 1944 with most of that time spent in Tientsin, China. The collection includes manuscripts, black-and-white and color photographs, and four reels of 8mm film. Papers consist of appointment certificates; honorable discharge certificates; membership cards from the American Legion, Freemasons, and Scottish Rite; holiday menus; and photocopy pages from a souvenir booklet of the 126th Organization Day celebration of the 15th U.S. Infantry. Also included are three pages from the newspaper "North China Star" printed November 1, 1938 along with miscellaneous original and photocopied newspaper clippings that provide information on Friedrich's unit. There is also a cardboard nameplate displaying Friedrich's name and officer rank. Of particular interest is a reflection written by Friedrich on why he became a soldier and a personal note written by a unit Captain when Friedrich retired. In the reflection, he describes visiting the Soldiers Home and Cemetery in Milwaukee and being inspired to become a soldier by the Civil War veterans he met there. Black-and-white photographs include images of the 15th Infantry in formation, the 15th Infantry Band marching in a military parade, and individual photographs of Friedrich in uniform. Some of these images are also mounted on cardboard. Of particular interest are several photographs of Chinese and Japanese soldiers performing training exercises in bunkers and marching through mountain tunnels. Also of interest are tourist photographs taken around China and images from a hunting trip to Inner Mongolia. The color photograph is from Friedrich's funeral in 1972. The four reels of 8mm film are housed in Film Cans 9-12 and feature scenes from Tientsin and the Company E base camp taken around 1920. Images of fellow soldiers and officers appear often throughout the all four films. The four films also include scenes from Tientsin. Images of vendors at the market, local farmers, and children appear often. Also included are scenes of the soldiers being playful in rickshaws and on bicycles. Film Can 9 has scenes of recreational and sporting activities on the base camp which include tug of war, track and field exercises, and leisure activities. In addition to the scenes of the base came and of Tientsin, Film Can 11 contains some home movie footage of a child sledding and of a camping trip. Friedrich enlisted in 1914 and was sent to Tientsin, China with the famed "Can Do" 15th Infantry. He continued to re-enlist and by the end of his career was promoted all the way to First Sergeant. In the 1930s he went on several hunting trips to Inner Mongolia to hunt big horn sheep. When the 15th Infantry left China in 1939, Friedrich was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington where he helped train new recruits when World War II broke out. After 30 years of service, he retired in 1944 and settled back to Milwaukee.
