Pete McGill was a United States Marine Corps corporal who was stationed in Peking in 1938-9. 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 Peking, listened to war news, and rooted for the New York Yankess. He was particularly impressed with the heroic efforts put forth by Monte Pearson and Joe Gordon in Game 3 of the 1938 World Series.