American servicemen pose beside one of the colossal chinthe -- mythical lion-guardian statues -- that line the base of Mandalay Hill in Burma. Following the Allied recapture of Mandalay in early 1945 during the China-Burma-India Campaign, troops passing through the region often visited its ancient pagodas and monuments, leaving behind informal snapshots like this one that blend wartime service with encounters with Burma's rich Buddhist heritage. Project: 218075