U.S. Army Co. L, 139th Infantry Guidon
This small, wool, machine-sewn guidon was made for Company L, of the 139th Infantry.
They have a distinguished history beginning from its incarnation as a North Carolina Militia unit. During the American Civil War, the 139th Infantry served with the Confederate Army through the state forces of North Carolina. In WWI the federalized 139th US Infantry served with the American Expeditionary Forces and the 35th Division in Europe between 1917 and 1918. During this time the 139th Infantry was recognized for their valor and bravery and received Portugal's highest military order, the "Order of the Tower", and the "Sword of the Republic of Portugal." They were demobilized in 1919.
It was reconstituted on 28 October 1954 in the North Carolina Army National Guard, and assigned to the 30th Infantry Division. Its units were organized from existing elements of the other two North Carolina infantry regiments.
During the Pentomic reorganization of 1 April 1959, the regiment was disbanded and consolidated with the 120th Infantry, except for the 3rd Battalion, which consolidated with the 196th Armor where they became the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron.
In the 1990s, North Carolina's officer candidate school was rebranded as the 139th Regional Training Institute (RTI) at Fort Bragg, reusing the lineage, honors and heraldry of the regiment.
The 139th Regiment (RTI) trained Non-Commissioned Officers on artillery operations. Today they are a component of the North Carolina National Guard, where they serve as the training regiment and cadre for the North Carolina Military Academy.
This particular guidon was in the collections of the US Army Ranger Museum of New York City. Research is ongoing to determine the connection of this guidon to the US Rangers.
Exhibition History:
Special Memorial Day Display
Flags on Easels in the Moraga Room and Moraga annex
Presidio of San Francisco's Officers Club
Memorial Day 2003
Provenance:
• Company L, 139th Infantry, 1939- 1945.
• Acquired by 1st Lt. Arthur W. "Bud" Bresciani, U.S. Army (ret.)
• 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.
Sources: