U.S. 75 Ranger Guidon, 1941-1945

U.S. Army Infantry Guidon, Co. F, 75th Infantry - First "Ranger"

This is a first issue guidon of the US Army Rangers. Its design is based on U.S. Army "Model 1931" Infantry Company Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry. The 75th Rangers were a development of "Merrill's Marauders," who fought an unconventional, guerilla-style campaign against the Japanese Army in Burma during World War II. The unit took heavy casualties, was disbanded and the remaining elements reorganized as the new "Army Rangers". Elements of the 75th participated in the liberation of the survivors of the Bataan "Death March" from Japanese POW camps in 1945 in the Philippines.

This guidon was mistakenly offered at auction in Nov. 1997, as a Vietnam-era 75th Ranger guidon. The guidon was acquired under this misunderstanding. But during a visit the following, spring to the US Army Department in downtown Washington, D.C., the personnel of the flag archives disclosed to Ben Zaricor that this flag was an original World War II guidon of the 75th, the first Ranger regiment. Date: 1944/45.

Machine stitched with a stitched/sewn crest/emblem (2 rifles and text: "RANGER F 75"). The flag is attached with a sleeve. Framed (outside dimensions 24.5 x 32).

Exhibition History

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0290)
United States Army Model Of 1931 Infantry Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry (Rangers)

Special Memorial Day Display
Flags on Easels in the Moraga Room and Moraga annex
Presidio of San Franciscos Officers Club
Memorial Day 2003

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0290)
United States Army 1931 Model Infantry Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry

Provenance:
• Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry, 1941/45.
• U.S. Army Ranger Museum Collection of New York City, until 1997.
• Sold via Butterfields & Butterfields Auctions, San Francisco, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997.


ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

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US Army Regulations No. 260-10, Flags, colors, standards, and Guidons: Descriptions and Use, Washington, DC. War Department, 1931.

75th Ranger Regiment (United States), Wikipedia, 13 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_Ranger_Regiment_%28United_States%29

75th Ranger Regiment Lineage, Lineage And Honors Information, 13 November 2011, from: http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0075ra.htm

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

CSG
USAG
4March1921

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	27
Length of Fly	19.75

Stripes
Size of Hoist	2

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	24.5
Frame Length	32

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Crest/Emblem
Description of Crest/Emblem	2 rifles + Text : "RANGER F 75"

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Stitching
Stitching	Machine
Comments on Stitching	Machine stitched with a stitched/sewn crest/emblem (2 rifles and text: "RANGER F 75").

Attachment
Method of Attachment	Sleeve

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Excellent
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1941-1945

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0290) United States Army Model Of 1931 Infantry Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry (Rangers) Date: About 1944/45 Medium: Cotton; machine stitched Comment: Prior to World War I, infantry companies did not carry guidons, flags of that style being reserved for mounted forces. However, as the military flags became utilized more for ceremony than for combat, the infantry guidon was created for close order drill. The new infantry guidon was the same size as those carried by mounted units but was dark blue with the infantry insignia (crossed muskets) in the center with company letter and regimental designation within the crux of the crossing barrels. In 1931, in accord with their ceremonial role, guidons were reduced in size from the 27 hoist by 41 fly dimension that had been the standard since 1833 to 20 hoist by 27 fly. The 75th United States Infantry had been designated as such in World War I. In World War II it was revived and sent to the China-Burma-India Theater, where it acquired the nickname Merrill's Marauders for their guerrilla tactics in the jungles of Burma. Reconstituted during the Vietnam War, the unit was designated as Rangers in recognition of their earlier, World War II service. Company F was the first Ranger Company to be formed in WWII. In 1965 it was reformed in Vietnam and served with distinction. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0290) in 1997 from the U.S. Army Ranger Museum Collection of New York City. Special Memorial Day Display Flags on Easels in the Moraga Room and Moraga annex Presidio of San Franciscos Officers Club Memorial Day 2003 Parade Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry (Rangers) Date: About 1944/45 Comment: This standard U.S. 1931 infantry company parade guidon bears a special designating honor. The blue field with white crossed muskets and the letter F and number 75 identify it as the company guidon of Company F, 75th United States Infantry. However, in addition it bears the special Rangers service distinction of the 75th U.S. Infantry. Called Merrill's Marauders during World War II, the 75th continued its distinguished service in Vietnam, gaining recognition as an elite force. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0290) in 1998 from the former U.S. Army Ranger Museum. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC0290) United States Army 1931 Model Infantry Guidon, Company F, 75th U.S. Infantry Date: About 1944/45 Medium: Cotton; machine-stitched Comment: Prior to World War I, infantry companies did not carry guidons, a type of flag reserved for mounted forces. However, as military flags came to serve more for ceremonial purposes rather than as practical guides for troops in combat, an infantry guidon was created for close order drill. The new infantry guidon was the same size as those carried by mounted units but was dark blue in color. It bore the infantry insignia (crossed muskets) in the center with the company letter and regimental designation within the V of the crossing barrels. In 1931, in recognition of their ceremonial rather than combat role, guidons were reduced in size from the 27 hoist by 41 fly dimensions that had been the standard since 1833 to 20 hoist by 27 fly. The 75th United States Infantry had been designated as such in World War I. In World War II it was revived and sent to the China-Burma-India theater of South-East Asia, where it acquired the nickname Merrills Marauders for its guerrilla tactics in the jungles of Burma. Reconstituted in 1965 during the Vietnam War, the unit was designated as Rangers in recognition of their World War II service. Company F had been the first Ranger Company to be formed in that war. In served with distinction in Vietnam where this particular guidon was carried. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0290) in 1997 from the U.S. Army Ranger Museum Collection of New York City.