SINO American Cooperation Organization (SACO)

SACO (the Sino-American Cooperative
Organiz.ation) was established during
World War 11 as a highly secret guerilla
and intelligence unit.
Uniquely, it was placed under the joint
command of General Tai Li (Head of
Intelligence in China) and American Rear
Admiral Milton Edward "Mary" Miles.
The group became known as the "Rice
Paddy Navy" and the men were called
"SACO •ngers."
SACO Tigers served hundreds of miles be-
hind enemy lines in China establishing
vital weather stations to the Pacific Fleet,
coast-watching to report on enemy
shipping, intercepting Japanese code,
furnishing targets for U.S. submarines and
aviators, rescuing downed allied airmen
and being involved in numerous other
military, medical and humanitarian
endeavors.

The approximately SACO personnel
were mostly Navy, with some Marines and
Coast Guard. The SACO Scouts and Raiders
are known today as Navy SEALS.
This was the only known operation in WWII
with a policy of total immersion. Because
they often operated behind enemy lines, the
American SACO sailors were assigned an
unseen Chinese protector to make sure
nothing happened to them. They lived,
trained and fought together, depending on
each other for survival. Their military code
name: Project Friendship.
The contributions of SACO in the liberation of
mainland China from the Japanese remains
little known in the United States because
SACO was classified for so long. But the men
and their deeds continue to be remembered,
studied and honored with a SACO museum in
Taipei, Taiwan.

The SACO medal was awarded to those who served
on mainland China between 1942-1945, issued by the
Republic of China, Bureau of Intelligence