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108TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT FLAG

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
108TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT FLAG

3’ x 4’ double applique embroidered on red field with gold fringe, unit crest, circa WW2. This regiment has a long lineage dating back to 1840 when it first formed as a Pennsylvania infantry company in the 1st Volunteer Regiment with the nickname National Guards. In October 1916, the regiment was converted to artillery and were redesignated as the 2nd Filed Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard. The American entry into World War One brought the unit back into federal service but under the designation of the 108th Field Artillery Regiment as of July 1917. They trained in Georgia and became part of the 53rd Filed Artillery Brigade and attached to the 28th Division. In April 1918, the unit was posted to a new camp and in may were sent to England arriving there on May 31, 1918. They were soon sent to France where they received French 155 Millimeter cannons on which they trained for a couple months. After completing this training, they joined with the 28th Division in combat operations in August 1918.
While most of their combat time was with the 28th Division, the 108th Artillery also supported the 82nd Division during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 108th received its unit crest in 1926. With the war clouds gathering once more in Europe, the unit was called back into active service for a year in February 1941. That temporary service became much longer with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into the war. In 1942 the unit changed somewhat. The Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 108th Field Artillery became Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 193rd Field Artillery Group. 1st Battalion 108th Filed Artillery became the 193rd Field Artillery Battalion and 2nd Battalion became the new 108th Field Artillery Battalion.
Once again part of the 28th Infantry Division (basically a Pennsylvania National Guard command), the 108th Field Artillery used 155 Millimeter howitzers as they fought from Normandy across France to the borders of the German Reich where they and the 28th Division became heavily engaged in the Hurtgen Forest where the division suffered heavy casualties. After being pulled from the line to rest and receive replacements, the division was sent to what was known as a “quiet sector” of the line along the Our River in the Ardennes. On December 16th, it was anything but quiet when three German armies launched the Battle of the Bulge offensive.
The 108th Field Artillery were supporting the 109th Infantry Regiment, one of three maneuver regiments of the 28th Division on the southern end of the Our River line. German units bypassed American strongpoints and were soon rampaging in the American rear and attacking the artillery where the gunners picked up their rifles and fought as infantry. Battery A of the 108th along with battery A of the 107th Field Artillery came under German attack the next day stopping the Germans cold after fierce fighting. However, with their flanks turned the guns could no longer stay in place and so the unit pulled back. This was one of the times of heaviest fighting for the gunners in the war.
Back home after the end of the war the 108th Field Artillery Battalion was reorganized with elements of the 108th Battalion and HHB 193rd FA Group in November 1946.
Their flag is red which has been the traditional color of Army artillery since the later 1700s. The flag is unique in that within the chest of the eagle there is no spot for the location of the unit’s crest; rather it is filled in with feathers. The crest is instead placed above the eagle’s head.
CONDITION: good-very good overall, several holes and separations along top edge field, fringe is discolored to greenish tint. (02-17547-34/JS). $600-800.