33rd Inf. Div. Bring Back KIA Flag
I recently saw this flag posted on Ebay here in the U.S. and put a watch on it to take a closer look before the auction’s end. The flag is made from a heavy silk and has gold foil corner tabs. The long tie strings are securely in the corners. The seller really knew nothing about this flag, but thought because of the cross hand painted in the red sun center and the accompanying names listed below it that it might somehow be related to a group of Christian missionaries.
I noticed that the there were numerous fountain pen signatures listing the names and addresses of various men and suspected that the flag might have been a captured flag that was autographed by U.S. service personnel. I did a little bit of research (there is much more that can be done I am sure) and found that a few of the names belonged to fellows who were KIA from the 33rd. Inf. Div., 136th. Inf. Regt.
The names I was able to trace were from guys who lived in the mid-west which would correspond with the history of the 33rd. Bruno W. Golinski was KIA on 5-12-45 in the Philippines. Walter Schwertfegger was from IL and listed as KIA on 4-13-45. PFC Harold H. Rademacher was from MI and listed as KIA on 4-11-45. These soldiers are listed as buried in the military cemetery in the Manila, Philippines.
I noticed that the there were numerous fountain pen signatures listing the names and addresses of various men and suspected that the flag might have been a captured flag that was autographed by U.S. service personnel. I did a little bit of research (there is much more that can be done I am sure) and found that a few of the names belonged to fellows who were KIA from the 33rd. Inf. Div., 136th. Inf. Regt.
The names I was able to trace were from guys who lived in the mid-west which would correspond with the history of the 33rd. Bruno W. Golinski was KIA on 5-12-45 in the Philippines. Walter Schwertfegger was from IL and listed as KIA on 4-13-45. PFC Harold H. Rademacher was from MI and listed as KIA on 4-11-45. These soldiers are listed as buried in the military cemetery in the Manila, Philippines.
MichaelB
