1509 WW2-KOREA ERA 13TH ENGINEERS BATTALION FLAG.

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This item SOLD at 2023 Nov 03 @ 17:45UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 150.00 USD
Estimated at 300.00 - 600.00 USD
3’ x 4’ regulation Philadelphia QM depot labeled double applique hand and machine embroidered eagle and Crest on a red field, white fringe. The 13th Engineer regiment was established in 1921 from a nucleus of the old 5th Engineers. From then until February 1, 1936 the unit acted as the school regiment for the Engineer School at what is now Fort Belvoir, Virginia. As World War II raged in Europe, the 13th was reactivated at Fort Ord, California on July 8, 1940. By February 1941, the 13th Engineer battalion took part in maneuvers in central California. They sailed for the Aleutians in April 1943 and helped to open the Massacre Bay beachhead on May 11, 1943. One of the most famous battles on Attu took place when the men of the 13th Engineers stopped a Japanese Banzai charge on Engineer Hill. When the smoke cleared, there were 239 enemy dead. In 1944 the engineers fought their way from Attu to Kwanjalein Island, the latter being cleared of pill boxes, bomb shelters, and gun emplacements in six days. On October 20, 1944, the battalion landed on Leyte. Here Alpha Company was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for its outstanding combat operations in keeping the main supply route open. On April 1, 1945, the men of the 13th were part of the initial landing forces on Okinawa. Here, the unit took part in some of the most vicious fighting in World War II, sealing nearly 600 caves and blasting out others. In September the 7th Infantry Division sailed for Korea to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces there. The 13th was stationed near Seoul and performed construction missions in support of the Division. In December of 1948, the 13th Engineer Battalion left Korea for Japan, and remained there until the outbreak of the Korean War. On the 15th of September, 1950, Bravo Company landed with the First Marine Division at Inchon and won the Navy Distinguished Unit Citation. The remainder of the Battalion participated in the capture of Seoul, with the 7th Infantry Division. On October 29, 1950 the 7th Division made a second landing on the beaches of Iwon, deep in North Korea, an invasion which was to carry elements of the 13th Engineers almost to the Yalu River on the Manchurian border. When the Chinese reinforced the North Koreans, the 7th Division and the 13th Engineers were forced to evacuate to Pusan. In February 1951, the 13th fought as Infantry in the Pusan breakout. They inflicted many casualties, but received heavy casualties, and were placed in reserve. In August, the 13th Engineers and the 7th Infantry Division went on a limited offensive that resulted in the capture of Old Baldy & Hill 851. Later, they participated in the fighting at Heartbreak Ridge & the Punchbowl. From February 1952 to July 1953, the 13th Engineers took part in many projects in addition to their normal combat duties. They contained floods, built installations for the Division Command Post, laid minefields, and improved roads. During the heavy fighting on Pork Chop Hill in 1953, Corporal Dan D. Schoonover, in charge of an engineer demolition squad attached to an infantry company, won the Medal of Honor. Realizing that the heavy fighting and intense enemy fire made it impossible for him to carry out his mission, he voluntarily employed his unit as a rifle squad, and forging up the steep, barren slopes, participated in the assault on enemy bunkers. Corporal Schoonover's heroic leadership during two days of heavy fighting, superb personal bravery, and willing self-sacrifice inspired his comrades and saved many lives, reflecting lasting glory on himself and upholding the honored traditions of the military service. Corporal Schoonover is one of only thirteen members of the Corps of Engineers so honored in all of U. S. Army history. When the war ended, the 13th Engineers were faced with the monumental task of reconstruction, repair of roads, nets, flood control, and numerous other projects. The 13th remained with the 7th Division until inactivated April 2, 1971, at Fort Lewis, Washington. CONDITION: very good overall, couple small holes in field. (02-19982-23/JS). $300-600.