World War II 32nd Infantry Regiment DUI WWII Distinctive Unit Insignia WW2

Description: Nice original World War II Distinctive Unit Insignia from the 32nd Infantry Regiment. This example has no hallmarks or any other markings, and is a pin-back device with a functional roller and catch assembly. Remains in good condition, showing signs of age, use, and wear. General oxidation throughout. The enamel is generally fine, with areas of wear and minor loss. Please see the pictures for more detail. Guaranteed 100% authentic in every respect for life. Be sure to see our other listings for more historical antiques and militaria. Be sure to follow our store as new inventory is added daily. History: The 2nd Battalion was reactivated in October 1939, by the transfer of men from units of the 7th Infantry Division, and on 1 July 1940, the remainder of the regiment was reactivated as a part of the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the 32nd was moved into defensive positions along the West Coast. As the job became apparent, the troops began intensive training as a motorized unit at Camp San Luis Obispo, California. Vast maneuvers were held in the Mojave Desert to prepare the 32nd for participation in the defeat of the German Afrika Korps, led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. A change in Allied strategy, however, turned the 32nd overnight toward a role of amphibious assaults from the Aleutian Islands to tropical jungle islands. Rushed to the Aleutians in the spring of 1943, after the Japanese had landed on Attu Island a year earlier, the regiment played a major role in retaking American soil during the Battle of Attu. It was on the Aleutian Islands that Private Joe P. Martinez, Company I, earned the Medal of Honor. Seeing his unit pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Private Martinez single-handedly charged the enemy emplacement and destroyed it. While rallying the men he was mortally wounded. Private Martinez received the Medal of Honor posthumously. After their baptism of fire in the Aleutians Campaign, the 32nd Regiment sailed to Hawaii for intensive training that emphasized amphibious landings and jungle fighting. On 1 February 1944, the 32nd Regiment assaulted Kwajalein. During five days of fighting, the 32nd, along with the 184th Infantry Regiment, eliminated all the enemy personnel on the island, with the exception of a few exhausted Japanese who surrendered. The regiment returned to Hawaii on 14 February where it went through additional intensified jungle training for an expected invasion of the Yap Island. Arriving at Eniwetok Atoll on 25 September 1944, the regiment's orders were changed and the 32nd joined General Douglas MacArthur's forces, spearheading the first landings on Leyte Island, Philippines. Fighting in swamps, tropical jungles, and over rugged mountains, the 7th Infantry Division battled over 37 miles (60 kilometers) in 60 days of the bitterest fighting in the Pacific. The regiment's last campaign of World War II started 1 April 1945 with the landings at Okinawa. During this battle, the 32nd won the nickname "Spearhead" because of its continuous attacks against the enemy. After only three days of rest after the fighting on Okinawa, the 32nd embarked for Korea to receive the surrender of all the Japanese troops south of the 38th parallel. During its campaigns through the Pacific, the 32nd Infantry Regiment traveled 16,910 miles. During the regiment's occupation stay in Korea, infantrymen obtained a preview of their future tour in the Korean War. Units of the 32nd rotated on outpost positions along the 38th Parallel. The troops formed a tight perimeter against southbound guerrilla bands and were assigned the mission of eliminating the wholesale movement of black market goods across the boundary. In December 1948, the 7th Infantry Division loaded on ships and sailed to Japan where its zone of occupation responsibility included almost half of the total land area of Japan. The 32nd replaced the 11th Airborne Division. During its stay in Japan, the strength of the regiment dropped by almost half of its authorized strength. Approved on 5 March 1929, the 32nd Infantry Regiment Unit Crest employs symbolic imagery to commemorate its origins and service on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, where it was organized in August 1916. According to The Institute of Heraldry, the Regiments parent organizations, the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, are both denoted on the canton (small square inset on shield), with the lion passant guardant indicating both Regiments fought in the War of 1812. The device superimposed on the saltire (x) in the center is a puela, an ancient Hawaiian banner with a variety of uses, including being placed in front of the Kings tent leaning against a pair of crossed spears (alia) to indicate tabu and protection. Such a puela can be seen on the royal Hawaiian arms here, the alia have been replaced by a saltire. The colors of the insignia are royal Hawaiian colors, and the crest is an ancient Hawaiian war headpiece called a mahiole. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constituted on 1 July 1916 and organized 7 August 1916 at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the 32nd Infantry Regiment was nicknamed the Queens Own Regiment by Liliuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii. It was assigned to the 16th Division in July 1918, but was relieved in less than a year and inactivated in 1921. Assigned to the 7th Infantry Division in 1940, the Regiment would see combat in four Pacific Theater campaignsAleutian Islands, Eastern Mandates, Leyte, and Ryukyus, with the Regiment taking part in the actual assault landings on Leyte and the Ryukyusand receive a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its role in liberating the island from Japanese. The Regiment was still assigned to the 7th Infantry Division when the Korean War broke out, and between 1950 and 1953 it would see action again every one of that wars named campaigns. Five Presidential Unit Citations were awarded to the Regiment, along with a Navy Unit Commendation and three Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. Recognized as a parent Regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) in 1957, the 32nd Infantry was withdrawn from it in 1987 and reorganized under the U.S Army Regimental System and transferred to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). It was then withdrawn from TRADOC in 1994. In the Global War on Terrorism, the Regiments 1st Battalion has been awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations (February 2006 to February 2007, October 2013 to July 2014) and a Valorous Unit Award (July 2009 to September 2009).

Price: 14.99 USD

Location: Greenville, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-11-20T01:14:32.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD