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: