Posted 11 years ago
dizbean
(1 item)
WW II Japanese flag signed by the 98th Division 390th Infantry Medical Detachment
MY Uncle brought it home after serving as a medic. MY uncles name isn't on the flag so I assume he bought the flag and had all of the squad sign it with most giving their US addresses. Around the inner circle of the sun it depicts each leg of their tour complete with pictures drawn in ink of the mode of transportation that got them from one place to the next. The 1st drawings are of the Liberty Bell and a Locomotive train leaving Philadelphia Nov., 1942 that goes to New Cumberland, Harrisburg, Pa. From there a train to Camp Breckinridge, Ky. Then a drawing of an army truck leaving a building with the medic logo taking them to Tennessee for Maneuvers from Sept-Nov 1943. Then drawings of a tent and 2 pigs and under it says Camp Rucker, Ala.. Then next to a soldier walking it says Fort Lawton, Wash., April 13, 1944. Next a drawing of a ship named the S.S. Lurline, April 24, 1944. Next another ship and it says Honolulu, May 4, 44 and May 5, 44. Next above the words Port Allen, Amphibious it shows a ship. It looks like the kind that transports troops close to the shore and the front drops down and the troops charge onto the beach. Next above the words, Oahu, T H, May 25, 44, there are 2 what look like palm trees and a woman lying on a beach, above her it says Honolulu, Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian. Above that a woman wearing a hula skirt and bathing suit top waving with the words, Aloha Hawaii Sept 7, 45 Jungle Training Assault School.
Next a drawing of a ship the S.S. Burleigh, Sept 11-12, 45. Above that it shows the International Date Line, then Saipan Sept 19, 45, next to a drawing of a palm tree that looks to be bending by strong winds. Then next it says Wakayama Bay, Honshu, Japan Sept 27, 45 and finally Taisho Airdrome Osaka. In the very middle under 98th Division, Med. Det., 39th infantry is a drawing of the medicine insignia and across from that 2 crossed rifles and directly under centered is what looks like a patch with an Indian head with feathers. I believe it is Iroquois
The flag is approx. 29 in x 42 in and is in excellent condition. It does have a brown mark about a 1/4 in long and wide with a tiny pin head size hole. There are a total of 136 signatures but 3 guys signed twice. Most of the men either gave their name with the state and city they lived in the US and some gave their home addresses as well Among the 133 names are the signatures of the officers and they are as follows:
Colonel Inf- W. B. Means
Lt. Col..- Harold N. Fields
Major M.C.- Carl A. Ender
Major M.C.- Corbin H. Crouch
Captain M.C.- C. P. Addison
Captain M.C.- Walter Chimiel
Captain M.C.- James H. Erwin
Captain M.C.- B.K. Jones
Captain M.C.- Gordon L. Neligh
Captain M.C.- H.G. Olin
1st Lt.- Harold E. Baily
1st. Lt.- Jack Hammerburg
1st. Lt.- Thomas M. Fain
1st. Lt.- Otto P. Thurmbach
