SACO Flag

From the new George H.W. Bush Gallery

SACO Flag

Pennant designed by U.S. Navy officer Marion Miles, representing his personal motto, “What the hell”: The flag and motto were adopted by the Sino American Cooperative Organization (SACO), a U.S. naval intelligence unit stationed in China. When Japanese ships began shelling the Chinese island of Hainan in 1938 an American destroyer with Miles aboard was ordered to protect American missionaries who were ashore. The Japanese signaled the approaching destroyer that the port was closed. To their dismay Cdr Miles raised this pennant as the destroyer placed itself between the Japanese ships and the shore. The confused Japanese stopped their bombardment and the missionaries were evacuated later that day.