U.S. Army, Brigadier General, General Staff Corps, 1928 - George Veazey Strong.
Wool Boat Flags like this one were first authorized for the officers of the War Department's General Staff in 1923. Later, smaller versions called Automobile Flags were authorized (see ZFC3279) in 1931. This Boat Flag was used by Brigadier General George V. Strong (1880-1946), a 1908 graduate of West Point.
As a career army officer he served with distinction in World War I, during which he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the assault on St. Mihiel. After the war he served in a variety of staff and command positions, eventually attending the Command and General Staff School in preparation for his eventual assignment to the G-2 Division (Intelligence) of the General Staff and ultimately as Chief of the War Plans Division. While heading this office he was named and featured in Life Magazine, which named him one of the U.S. Army's Six Foremost Generals.
General Eisenhower described him as, "…a senior officer possessed of a keen mind, a driving energy and ruthless determination." On February 6th, 1944 he left the U.S. Army but remained employed by the War Department until his retirement in 1945.
This flag was acquired as part of a grouping of flags and uniforms belonging to General George Strong. The companion pieces acquired are an additional Major General's flag (ZFC3276) and two flags, one auto (ZFC3279), and the other personal (ZFC3277), for a Brigadier General of the General's Staff Corp. Also acquired was his full dress uniform with tails, made by Joseph A. Wilner & Co. of Washington, D.C. The uniform jacket (ZFC3291) features velour cuffs with bullion oak leaves and Major General's stars on the sleeves, and is accompanied by the uniform's dress pants (ZFC3292), a yellow general's sash (ZFC3291), and white gloves (ZFC3294). There is also an officer's waist belt with an 1872 pattern eagle plate done by William Rowland of Philadelphia (ZFC3295). The collection is completed by a pair of cavalry officers' spurs (ZFC3296), a high grade leather "Sam Browne" belt (ZFC3297), a West Point cadet's bathrobe (ZFC3298), and a red officer's sash (ZFC3299).
Strong served as Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army before WWII and was the Commanding General of the VIII Corp from 1941-42 and served as Chief of Army Intelligence from 1942-1944 when he retired.
Provenance:
• Flag made by U.S. Army Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot, 1930s.
• Used by General George Veazey Strong, 1930s.
• Acquired by James Mountain, Ashburnham, MA.
• James Mountain Collection, until 2009.
• Sold via Alderfer Auction, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2009.
ZFC Significant Flag
Sources:
UNITED STATES ARMY HISTORICAL FLAGS & COLORS, Colors & Flags for Individuals, 1923-31 Regulations, War Flags Through the Ages & Around the World, 30 September 2011, from: http://tmg110.tripod.com/usarmyh7.htm
US Army Regulations No. 260-10, Flags, colors, standards, and Guidons: Descriptions and Use, Washington, DC. War Department, 1931. P.19.
George Veazey Strong, Wikipedia, 30 September 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Veazey_Strong
George V. Strong, Military Times: Hall of Valor, 30 september 2011, from: http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=18227
Strong, George Veazey, Major General, Generals.dk ,The Generals of WWII, 29 September 2011,from: http://www.generals.dk/general/Strong/George_Veazey/USA.html
"These Are U.S. Army's Six Foremost generals." Life Magazine, 2 December 1940.pp 94-95.
