Original Item: One-of-a-kind. The 132nd Infantry Regiment was inducted into federal service on March 5, 1941, at Chicago, Illinois, as part of the 33rd Infantry Division, and participated in divisional maneuvers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. It was relieved from the 33rd Division on January 14, 1942, and assigned to Task Force 6814, an assemblage of units gathered for immediate transfer to Australia to defend against threatened Japanese invasion. On the morning of January 17, 1942, the last train car pulled away from Camp Forrest carrying the 123 officers and 3,325 enlisted men. "Being one of the first infantry regiments to be moved overseas, the trains were guarded by F.B.I. agents." On January 20, 1942, it sailed from New York and arrived in Australia on February 27. On March 6 it sailed again, arriving in New Caledonia, where it became an infantry component of the newly created 23rd Infantry Division aka the Americal Division on May 24, 1942.

The 132nd Infantry arrived on Guadalcanal on December 8, 1942, where it engaged in combat in the Guadalcanal campaign, including fierce fighting to capture Japanese positions in the Battle of Mount Austen. The Regiment was relieved and sent to Fiji with the rest of the Americal Division to rest and refit.

The 132nd next fought in the Bougainville campaign. It arrived at Cape Torokina on January 9, 1944, and relieved the 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion, the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, and units of the 145th Infantry, which then reverted to the 37th Division. The 132nd Infantry took over that portion of the perimeter paralleling the Torokina on the extreme right flank and engaged in patrolling and in strengthening defensive positions. On April 5, 1944, after establishing patrols along Empress Augusta Bay, the 132nd successfully launched an attack to capture Mavavia Village. Two days later, while continuing a sweep for enemy forces, the Regiment encountered prepared enemy defenses, where they destroyed some twenty Japanese pillboxes using pole charges and bazookas. Later, the 132nd secured the heights west of Saua River in fierce fighting that lasted until April 18, when the last of the Japanese defenders were killed or driven off.

In 1945, the 132nd participated in the retaking of the Philippine Islands. On March 26, 1945, preceded by a heavy naval and aerial bombardment, troops of the 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry waded ashore across heavily mined beaches during an amphibious invasion of Cebu Island, at a point just south of Cebu City. Elements of the 132nd later secured Mactan Island and Opon Airfield in Cebu province. On November 26, 1945, the 132nd was inactivated at Fort Lewis, Washington.

This incredible flag measures 30 x 40 inches is of silk construction and is signed by nearly 100 soldiers in the Company L of the 132nd Infantry Regiment, 23rd Americal Division The flag has a 133rd Infantry Division insignia painted to the top center. The flag is in overall very good condition with a no holes and leather tab hang side reinforced corners. The list of names in various ink all in different handwriting are as follows:

Americal Division

Angel J. Elias - Tuscon, Arizona
Jim M. Behee - Copeland, Kansas
PFC Joseph C. Bergeron, SR. - New Orleans, LA
Des Po Currie 407 Delaware - Bend, Oregon
Jeese Wheatley - Missouri
James Byington Melaughlin Sa, Dak "Black Cat"
PFC Arthur C. Drago - Port Chester, N.Y
Floyd Wynn - Lamar , MO
PFC Carl Giles - Jetmore, Kansas
H. E. Noel - Indep, MO
Carl Fayon 708-10 - Virginia, Mich
Joe Catalano - 718 Livingston ave New Brunswick NJ
George Hackel - Topeka, Kans
Louis Yuhasz 7817 Bacor - Detroit Mich
"D-Day" Sanders - Cheraw, S.C
Bill Hunn - Wyola, Montana
M.D Bragg - Taylors, SC
Walton C. Thornton Sr. -  Screven, GA
G.J. Dendrock - Toledo, Ohio
Larry Eckstein - 1701 No Peach St Philly, PA
O. A Demarco - 1524 S. 24 St Phila, PA
E.L Ware - Fargo, Okla
Wayne Caraway - Box 1372 Leveland, Texas
Vic Dolmyer - Chicago
Sherman Whitmore - Frederick OKLA
Rex Talley - Portales New Mex
Lee H Tate - Mobile, Ala
Henry. A. Yeager. - O'fallon, Ill
Bill Leonard - 848 N 41 St Phila, Pa
K. D Warner - Gilbert, S.C
Marven Gladen - Flint, Michigan
Gonzalo Urquizu - Fontana, Calif
Wesley Shaffer - Kalamasoo, Mich
Charles Williams - Morrilton Arkansas
Tony W Oder - Columbus Ohio
Bill Bundick - Sidney Mich
Jim Micheletti - Roanoke Illinois
George Pobocik - Swartsz Creek Michigan
Lawrence. N. Stevens - Tenn
Eddie (Slant Eyes) Venables 27 Fed - Camden New Jersey
John Shaw - Pittsburgh, PA
Jose Gallegos - Watrous New Mex

Co. "L"
132 InF.
Guadal Canal
Bousainville
Leyte
Cebu
Bohol
Japan

P. Dentremont - Salem Mass
J. Doheny - N.O. La
D. Baumann - Skokie, ill
Joe Matthews - Scotia Calif
Fernand D. Giarard - 68 Winchester St Prov. R.I
John W. Thompson - Fulton Ala
George King - Ava Ill
Louis Flores - Elmonte Calif
Calvin Unca Sam Fort Duchsene Utah
Jack Saltzman - Philly, PA
Kenny Smith - New Albany Ind
Ralph Williams - Miles, Ohio
Leroy Ginavan - Marion, Kansas
Ray T. Ludow - Hebeer. Utah
Cornelius Tooley - 315 N Short st Oakland City Ind
James Wiseman - Kingston Ga (Rome Roast #1)
Lloyd E. Koppen - Jamestown N.D
R.H Green - Ausable Parks N.Y
J. Nicholson JR. - Beacon N.Y
A. L. Schultz - Ackley Iowa
T.J Epps - Athens, Ga
Walt Pifer - Marion Mich Box 45
Millard H. Bullock - Labaca Ark R. #1 Box 13
Robert L. Johnson - 7916 S. Blackstone Chicago, Ill
Ervin Sewell - Houstin Ala
Richard Cole - Mt. Sterling Iowa
G.W Knapp - Belmont Ohio
Charlie Juelberg - Route #4 Bernham Texas
Robert Bedwin - Grand Rapids Michigan
Steve Grzeskowiak - 2201 N Kimball Ave Chicago Ill
Robert Kerns -Simpson W. VA R.I
Tony Gazzuolo - 57 55th St. W. N.Y New Jersey
Rudy Desmarais - 6 Salisbury WoonSocket R.I
Joe Miles 925 Dumensnil St - Louisville KY
J. P. Daughtery - Main St Boybins, VA
James M. Childs - Pittsburgh, Pa
Victoy Pogozelic - R.D #2 Ellwood City, P.A

We have verified dozens of these names in the NARA database as having served in the Pacific theatre in WWII as part of the 132nd. What a piece of history!!!