Pete McGill

Pete McGill was a United States Marine Corps sergeant who was stationed in Beijing in 1938-39. In Beijing he observed what he could of Japanese troop movements around China, learned a few useful Mandarin phrases (including a terrible profanity), drank, whored, reflected on the shifting fortunes of the American legation in Beijing, listened to war news, and rooted for the New York Yankees. He was particularly impressed with the heroic efforts put forth by Monte Pearson and Joe Gordon in Game 3 of the 1938 World Series.

In the spring of 1939, McGill was transferred to Shanghai.