1654

7TH ARTILLERY BATTALION COLORS.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
7TH ARTILLERY BATTALION COLORS.

3’ x 4’ double applique embroidered on red field. The 7th had long history being descended from both the 7th Coast and 7th Field Artillery Regiments. The 7th Field Artillery was organized in Texas at Fort Sam Houston while the 7th Coast Artillery was formed in 1898 at Fort Slocum in New York from what had been Battery A, 7th Artillery Regiment.
The 7th US Artillery Regiment had distinguished WWI history but would not be designated as "7th Artillery Battalion" until Oct. 1940 as part of the 1st Infantry Division.
In June 1942, the battalion staged at Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania for shipment to Europe. In August 1942, the 1st Infantry Division sailed for Scotland.
In October 1942, the division sailed for the invasion of Algeria in North Africa landing near Oran and taking part in the capture of that town. Its commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Leroy Davis, was killed by a German land mine while on a recon mission. The battalion would take part in the major battles of North Africa from Kasserine Pass through the capture of Tunis in May 1943. After a short rest, the division and 7th Artillery took part in the invasion of Sicily. During this campaign the battalion used its guns in direct fire mode to stop a German armor attack.
After Sicily was captured, the Allies were to invade Italy but the 1st Infantry Division was destined for other things and pulled into reserve and shipped to England arriving in November 1943. While tis time in England had its moments of joy and fun, the division also entered a tough training cycle in preparation for the invasion of France. They also received new equipment during this time. Seven months later, on June 2nd, 1944, the division boarded transports to sail for Normandy where on June 6th, D-Day, they landed at Omaha Beach. After taking heavy casualties, the division finally cracked the German beach defenses and moved inland. The 7th Battalion’s guns were soon landed and forward observers moved out with the infantry to call in fire support missions. The 7th Battalion moved out in front of their assigned infantry regiment (16th Infantry) due to confusion where they faced the possibility of a German tank attack. They soon pulled back to proper positions.
After the bloody fighting in Normandy, the Americans finally broke the German line near St. Lo and moved into the interior of France with George Patton’s Third Army spearheading the advance. The 7th Battalion came under German artillery fire as well as air attacks causing some unit casualties. A sizeable portion of German troops were captured at Falaise as the Allies roared across the French countryside driving the German Army remnants back towards Germany. Paris was liberated and the Seine River crossed in mass as Allied tanks raced to the German border. By September 11, the 7th Battalion was in Belgium and a few days later opened fire on Germany itself.
German resistance got tougher as new units were rushed to the front and the Allies confronted the German West Wall (dubbed the Siegfried Line). Fierce and bloody fighting involving the 1st Division took place at Aachen and the Hurtgen Forest. On December 10, 1944, the battalion was taken off the line for rest but would not have that long to relax. On the 16th, the Germans launched a massive counter-offensive in the Ardennes, soon to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.
The 1st Division was part of the American reinforcements sent to stop the German attack and they took their place in the line on the north shoulder of the German attack. Poor weather hampered the ability of the forward observers to call in artillery on German targets but the weather broke after Christmas Day. By the end of January 1945, the 1st Division was back to its former positions and ready for the offensive deep into Germany. In March, the Allied offensive to get to and cross the Rhine River began with the 7th Artillery firing 1000 rounds per day on average.
The division remained in Germany for several years after the war. Finally, in July 1955, the battalion sailed for the United States and its new post at Fort Riley, Kansas where the 1st Division remains today.
On June 20, 1964, the unit was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery Regiment.
The 7th Artillery’s flag is scarlet, the traditional color for American artillery units since the Corps of Artillery of the Continental Army was formed in 1777.
CONDITION: fine overall. (02-17547-19/JS). $600-800.