Historic Iowa National Guard Flag Restored and Returned to Display

A very special American flag has been restored and returned to a museum in Eastern Iowa.

World War II Flag Restored

CBS2 reports that an American flag that was carried by the 133rd Infantry Regiment of the Iowa Army National Guard during World War II has been returned to the Grout Museum District in Waterloo. The flag underwent restoration work in Minnesota. Museum officials say that the flag has been cleaned, stabilized, and preserved in a pressure mount to help protect it while it is on display, according to CBS2.

Where Was the Flag Carried During World War II?

CBS2 reports that, according to research, the flag was the first American flag carried into the European Theater by the U.S. Army during World War II, when the regiment landed in Belfast on January 26th, 1942. The flag was donated to the Grout Museum by  Waterloo native Brigadier General Howard J. Rouse, a former commander of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, according to CBS2. 

The Legacy of the 133rd Infantry Continues Today

During World War II, the 133rd Infantry earned the nickname, 'Ironman Battalion', after serving more than 600 days in combat, according to CBS2. Today, the legacy of the 133rd Infantry lives on through the 1st Battalion of the 133rd, headquartered in Waterloo.

CBS2 reports that funding for the flag restoration came from a $4500 grant from the Cedar Falls chapter of the  National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Additional matching funds were provided by several local veterans organizations.