Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A. and a detailed document with additional research

During their time on the frontline, the 132nd Infantry experienced some of the worst of German brutality. They were gassed and under heavy artillery bombardment constantly.

This extremely rare and museum-grade World War I American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) soldier’s personal bible was carried by a named A.E.F. soldier of the infamous “Machine Gun Company” 132nd Infantry 33rd Division.

This VERY heavily used and worn WWI soldier’s bible was carried into combat and saw action in some of the most famous battles of The Great War including The Battle of Hamel, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the 1918 Somme Offensive. The 33rd served with the Australians at the Amines sector, and was represented by units at Verdun and at the Meuse-Argonne. As a division, the 33rd Division spent 27 days in active sectors and 32 days in quiet sectors. It captured 3,987 prisoners – a record for a National Guard Division – and advanced 36 km (22 miles) against the enemy while sustaining 989 battle deaths and  6,266 wounded.

This very rare bible is one of only a handful remaining of the 132nd Infantry and is the only 132nd Infantry soldier’s bible available for sale in the public sector. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own an incredibly rare book from one of World War I’s more famous divisions.

F.W. Wise, Colonel of the Marines, was in command of the 59th Infantry during the time that our 3rd Battalion and machine gun company were attached to him. Here is his comment on their work:
”I wish to call attention to the splendid services rendered by the officers and men of the 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry, under command of Major Bullington, while attached to this regiment from October 6th to October 10th, 1918 . . . . Their service was performed under most trying conditions.”
Brigadier-General E.E. Booth has this to say about the actions our men in this engagement:
“This battalion rendered excellent service and showed the splendid material of which it is composed by performing its work without a murmur under a grilling artillery and machine gun fire, to which it was subjected for several days.”
The 3rd Battalion and the machine gun company paid dearly in the performance of their duties. Our casualties were 1 officer and 37 men killed and 11 officers and 315 men wounded and gassed. The Major, the Company Commanders of I,K,L and M and the machine gun companies were casualties. The battalion came out of the line commanded by 1st Lieut. Harry A. Yagle, who earned his promotion to captaincy by his splendid service. When the battalion rejoined the regimen, the only comment which I heard from the men was, “We gave them hell, and captured four hundred of them.”

The 132nd Infantry participated in the following major operations:
Battle of Hamel
Battle of Amiens
Second Battle of the Somme
Verdun-Fromerville
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Troyon
Grand Duchy of Luxemburg (occupation)