The Kao Tsu 高舉 papers (1930-1961) contain highlights from Kao's career as naval officer for the Republic of China and deputy commander of the Quemoy Defense Command in Taiwan after 1949. It includes correspondence, certificates of appointment, awards and decorations, military photographs, writings and manuscripts, and military memorabilia.

Kao Tsu 高舉 (1911-1983) (Gao Ju 高举), born in Fujian Province, was a naval officer for the Republic of China and deputy commander of the Quemoy Defense Command in Taiwan. After graduating from the Mawei Naval Academy in 1932, he was sent abroad by the Chinese Nationalist government to study in Italy and Germany. In 1943, Kao returned from Europe and served in the Military Affairs Commission under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek. In early 1945, Kao Tsu, along with several other fellow Nationalist Chinese naval officers, was selected and sent to the U.S. Naval Training Center in Miami, Florida. Their mission was to prepare to man a squadron of warships to be transferred by the United States to the Republic of China under lend-lease arrangements. In late 1946, Kao Tsu commanded the Yung Shun, one of the four mine warfare vessels turned over to China by the U.S. Navy, which arrived at Qingdao, Shandong Province. After 1949, he moved to Taiwan with the Nationalist government and served multiple positions within the military hierarchy. In November 1956, he was appointed deputy commander of the Quemoy Defense Command. During the 1958 offshore island crisis, Quemoy was heavily bombarded by the People's Liberation Army, causing the death of three deputy commanders of the Quemoy Defense Command. Kao narrowly escaped death. At the height of the crisis, he had serious disagreements with members of the U.S. Military Assistance and Advisory Group about the best strategy to supply a blockaded Quemoy. Kao was subsequently recalled back to Taiwan and relieved of his post as the deputy commander. He retired from the military in 1965, and moved to Maryland in 1980. He died in Los Angeles in 1983.

1 manuscript box, 3 oversize boxes (3.30 Linear Feet)

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Boxes 2-4 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.