WW1 28th Division Veterans Organization Cap Horizon Blue

For sale is a beautiful example of a post WW1 Veterans sidecap of the 28th infantry division. This cap is outstanding, we have not found a name. Lots of medals, dating from the 20’s and 30’s, placed onto a finely made horizon blue sidecap with great bullion work.

By May 1918 the division had arrived in Europe, and began training with the British. On 14 July, ahead of an expected German offensive, the division was moving forward, with most of it committed to the second line of defense south of the Marne River and east of Château-Thierry.^[19] As the division took up defensive positions, the Germans commenced their attack, which became the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, with a fierce artillery bombardment. When the German assault collided with the main force of the 28th, the fighting became bitter hand-to-hand combat. The 28th repelled the German forces and decisively defeated their enemy. However, four isolated companies of the 109th and 110th Infantry stationed on the first defensive line suffered heavy losses. After the battle, General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, visited the battlefield and declared that the 28th soldiers were “Men of Iron” and named the 28th ID as his “Iron Division.” The 28th developed a red keystone-shaped shoulder patch, officially adopted on 27 October 1918.^[8]

During World War I, the division was involved in the Meuse-Argonne, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marneincluding the Battle of Fismes and Fismette, Oise-Aisne, and Ypres-Lys (FA) operations. During the war, it took a total of 14,139 casualties (2,165 killed and 11,974 wounded). Two individuals received the Medal of Honor: Sergeant James I. Mestrovitch, Company C, 111th Infantry; and Major Joseph H. Thompson, Headquarters, 110th Infantry.^[20] Edwin Martin wrote about the history of the division during World War I can be found in his book The Twenty-Eighth Division: Pennsylvania’s Guard in the World War.