1119 144TH US INFANTRY FLAG, 2ND BATALLION, VIETNAM ERA

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This item SOLD at 2023 Dec 03 @ 11:14UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 100.00 USD
Estimated at 200.00 - 400.00 USD
3' x 4' regulation double applique hand and machine embroidered eagle and crest on a blue field, gold fringe. The Latin slogan “PAR ONERI” on the ribbon means “Equal To The Task,” and above the Eagle is the Lone Star of Texas. The Philadelphia quartermaster depot label is undated but is no later than 1962 when the depot no longer contracted flags. The basis of the 144th Infantry formed in April 1880 when six companies of the Texas State Guard merged with the 4th Texas Infantry. Their first call to action came in 1898 when they mustered into Federal service for the Spanish American War. During this time the unit designation was changed to the 2nd Infantry, Texas Volunteers. Never being sent overseas, the regiment regained its 4th Texas name in 1903 when the state military forces reorganized. The regiment was again called to service along the Mexican border in 1916 holding a portion of the Texas side of that line. Once again called into Federal service in March 1917, the 4th Texas was combined with a portion of the 6th Texas Infantry to form the 144th Infantry Regiment. They became part of the 36th Infantry Division and were sent to France in July 1918 forming a reserve for the French. In October the regiment arrived at the front during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and they began taking casualties in their attack towards the Aisne River. By their time of removal from the battle line they had suffered the second highest casualty rate of any regiment of the division losing over 360 men. The war ending in November 1918, the 144th Regiment was back in Texas where in July 1919 they mustered out of Federal service. In between the wars, the regiment served in the state helping with citizen relief from storms, dealing with two riots and handling a strike. The coming of World War 2 in Europe brought about an expansion of the US Army in 1940 and the 144th was again mobilized at Camp Bowie in November 1940. On December 8, 1941, the unit moved to Fort Lewis in Washington defending that part of the West Coast from possible Japanese attack. In February 1942, the regiment was taken from the 36th Division to serve as an independent command and in April moved to San Francisco. Then, in January 1943, the regiment was sent to Florida to patrol the coast line before being sent to Mississippi in March 1944. During their time there the regiment provided training to new men as well as those who transferred to the infantry from other Army service branches. Trained men form this unit then went on to serve with a number of other Army divisions especially important as the casualties grew larger from November 1944 onward in the infantry ranks. In early January 1945, the regiment was back in Texas before moving to Alabama in April. They were deactivated in September. The 144th was reactivated starting in April 19467 when the Army created the 49th Armored Division and in 1959 the regiment was redesignated as the 144th Mechanized Infantry. With the Berlin Crisis taking place in 1961, the regiment was sent to Louisiana staying there until May 1962 before heading back to Texas. They then returned to state service. Between 1968 and 1973, the regiment was deactivated but remained a part of the Texas National Guard. The 144th began serving in the War on Terror in 2006 as part of the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 3rd Battalion's B Company was sent to Iraq returning home in 2007 after serving in action there. The 3rd Battalion then mobilized as Task Force Panther fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom before heading to Afghanistan in 2012 operating as Task Force Bowie. In October 2017, the 3rd Battalion was sent to Africa where they served until July 2018. Currently only the 3rd Battalion remains of the regiment and is back serving with the 36th Division as part of the 56th Brigade Combat Team. CONDITION: very good overall, minor stains. (02-19982-17/JS). $200-400.