A U.S. Navy sailor walks the sun-shaded weather deck of a warship serving on the China Station, circa 1930s. In the years before World War II, American naval vessels patrolled Chinese coastal waters and rivers as part of the Asiatic Fleet, protecting American interests and citizens during a period of regional instability. Canvas awnings like the one shown here helped crews cope with the intense tropical heat during these long overseas deployments. Project: 218181