Description:

REGIMENTAL COLORS OF THE 372ND (BLACK) INFANTRY REGIMENT
A magnificent relic of the segregated African American 372nd Infantry Regiment which served in both World Wars as part of the French Army, a large interwar period flag, 61 x 55 in., constructed of blue silk with beautiful gold fringe at the top and bottom. Embroidered at the center is the Great Seal of the United States, a bald eagle clutching an olive branch and a bundle of silver arrows in its talons, with an escutcheon over its chest bearing a white and red diagonal stripe through the center, a red hand and a castle wall on either side. The red hand indicates the regiment's assignment to the ‘Red Hand Division' of the French 157th Infantry Division. The brilliantly detailed eagle holds a white scroll in its beak, reading: ‘Fidelis Et Paratus' (‘Faithful and Ready'). Above the scroll are three separate embroidered images, including an upraised hand grasping a sword, the Capitol building with golden rays emanating from it, and arrows emerging from a leaf. Beneath the eagle is a second scroll, reading: ‘372nd Infantry Regiment'. Well-preserved with vivid colors. The right edge bears thin tears with no other apparent damage, in overall near mint condition. Displayed in a fine light brown wooden frame, granting the flag the phenomenal presentation it is due. This regiment was originally formed as part of the 93rd Division in January 1918 and saw action on the Western Front in the Champagne region during World War I. It was later demobilized in 1919. By 1925 the regiment was mobilized once more as part of the National Guard and split into three battalions. The entire unit was ordered to New York City as part of the Eastern Defense Command following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Postwar the unit was broken up, resulting in the creation of the 38th Ordnance Battalion and the 3582nd Transportation Company. To this day there stands a monument in Monthois in honor of their fighting in the Champagne region, during which time they suffered 579 casualties. In hard fighting between October 28 and November 7, 1918, the 372nd won great distinction and honor. The French citation for their heroics reads, in part: ‘…During these nine days of hard fighting you have progressed nine kilometers through powerful organized defenses, taken nearly 600 prisoners, 15 guns of different calibres, 20 minenwerfers, and nearly 150 machine guns, secured an enormous amount of engineering material, an important supply of artillery ammunition, brought down by your fire three enemy aeroplanes…' An exceptional, very important historic relic.

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August 15, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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