1660

1ST CORPS, US ARMY FLAG.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
1ST CORPS, US ARMY FLAG.

3’ x 4’ blue over white with central blue circle with white/navy fimbration. The 1st Army Corps was formally activated in January 1918 in France following the American Declaration of War against Germany in 1917. Upon formation, Major General Hunter Liggett assumed command. First Corps at the time consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 26th, 32nd, 41st and 42nd Infantry Divisions. Several other Army divisions as well as three French divisions would fall under its command during the war.
After training with the French Army, the First Corps was soon in battle helping to stop the German offensive at Chateau-Thierry. In July 1918, First Corps began its own offensive in the Second battle of the Marne before assuming a defensive position. In early September, First Corps again attacked the Germans at St. Mihiel which eliminated the German defensive salient. After resting, the corps helped spearhead the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from late September until the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 ending World War One. The corps remained in France until late March 1919 when it was deactivated.
In July 1921, First Corps became part of the Army’s Organized Reserve and assigned to the First Army. Assigned to a base near Boston, the corps remained in effect until 1927 wen it was demobilized again. On the same day that First Corps was deactivated, Twentieth Corps was added to the Regular Army but by mid-October, the designation was changed to First Corps. The command remained inactive, however, until November 1940 when it was reactivated in Columbia, South Carolina.
Raised and filled to combat status in July 1942, the corps was deployed to Australia and would assist the defense of British New Guinea. Its two divisions, the 32nd Infantry and 41st Infantry, began an offensive to push back the Japanese defenders with the help of Australian troops crossing over the Owen Stanley Mountains. New Guinea was secured in January 1943 and the corps earned a Distinguished Unit Citation.
From February 1943 until March 1944 undertook training of newly arrived American and Allied troops while itself preparing for its next operation. In mid-April, the corps (now the 24th and 41st Infantry Divisions) landed on Dutch New Guinea at Hollandia. In June, the Japanese Army units there were defeated as well as in a subsequent operation at Biak, which was secured later in the month. Now the springboard for the upcoming invasion of the Philippines was established. For that invasion, First Corps was part of 6th U.S. Army and laned on Luzon on January 9th, 1945. The corps cut across the island isolating the Japanese units defending it from each other. Soon Manila was recaptured and the Japanese on Luzon annihilated. The corps and other troops rested and began preparations for Operation Downfall, the invasion of the Japanese mainland at Kyushu. First Corps was assigned as one of the first elements of Sixth Army to land in Japan. Thankfully, the atomic bombing of Japan ended the war.
In September 1945, the corps became part of the Allied troops occupying Japan and disarming elements of the Japanese military. By 1948 this was accomplished and First Corps was deactivated on March 28, 1950. Peace did not last long in Asia and North Korea invaded the south which led to the reactivation of First Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in early August. Deployed to South Korea, the corps along with other U.N. troops held the Pusan Perimeter later in September. Crossing into North Korea, elements of the corps captured its capital of Pyongyang. Chinese intervention soon had the U.N. forces pushed back south bit a series of counterattacks stabilized the line which remained static until an armistice was worked out in 1953. First Corps troops defended a series of positions that became famous during this time including Pork Chop Hill. First Corps would remain in South Korea until 1972.
In October 1981, First Corps was reactivated at Fort Lewis in Washington, now Joint Base Lewis-McCord. It remains at this post today with a focus on the Pacific area.
This flag has been the banner of First Corps since its initial activation in 1918. The proper manner of displaying the flag is with the blue bar on the top. The central device is also the shoulder patch of First Corps.
CONDITION: very good. (02-17547-31/JS). $600-800.