Description
This fantastic battle scarred American flag measures 40” on the hoist by 72” on the fly (the standard size carried by most mobile infantry units in WW2) and it shows many months of hard use and field wear overall. On the hoist, in pencil, is written “Flag was carried into Germany Jan. 9, 1945 Cpl. R.H. Wilkinson 61st Armd. Inf. Bn U.S. Army.”
It was found in a Winston-Salem, North Carolina estate sale along with several uniform items, letters and documents belonging to Wilkinson. There are several penetrations that appear to be projectile damage and the once vivid colors have faded a bit into more muted tones. Overall it is in very strong condition and would be no problem to frame or hang as-is.
This unit participated in the Battle of the Bulge, among many others.
The U.S. Army’s 62nd Armored Infantry Battalion (AIB) was a component of the 14th Armored Division, activated in late 1942 and reorganized in 1943 from the 62nd Infantry Regiment, serving in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Known for its role in fierce fighting, particularly in Alsace where Company C was overrun, the battalion provided mechanized infantry support, engaging German forces in intense combat, often alongside tanks, as part of the 14th Armored Division’s “Bulldog” division.
