Cotton Rising Sun Flag with Eight Signatures (1946–1949)

Flag ID: FG-041

Flag Facts

• Material: Cotton, printed (parade/household grade).
• Dimensions: 34 × 39 cm (hoist × fly).
• Inscriptions: Eight dated entries spanning Apr 28, 1946 → Aug 18, 1949 with hometown notes across MI, WI, IL.
• Condition/Use: Handling wear consistent with a personal keepsake rather than formal storage.
• Provenance signal: Cluster around Midwestern U.S. veterans; at least two signers tied to the 136th Infantry Regiment (33rd Infantry Division) during early occupation.

Occupation Context — what the 33rd/136th actually did

After Japan’s formal surrender (2 Sep 1945), Allied occupation under SCAP prioritized demobilization, weapons collection, and civil stabilization. The 33rd Infantry Division redeployed from Luzon to Honshū in late Sep 1945. Its 136th Infantry Regiment (“Bearcats”) transitioned from Luzon operations to occupation duty in the Kansai interior (Ōtsu/Kyoto–Osaka axis) and was inactivated at Ōtsu on 5 Feb 1946. Typical tasks for 33rd/136th in late 1945–early 1946 included area security, supervision of demobilization and repatriation, facility and depot guards, and liaison with local authorities under Eighth Army/SCAP guidance.

What this small cotton Rising Sun was (likely) used for

Small printed Rising Sun flags were common commercial patriotic items before 1945 and widely available during the occupation via curio shops and barter. They were not service-issue ensigns; they functioned as souvenirs and portable mementos. The multi-year, stateside inscriptions indicate the flag was brought home and circulated among a veteran network for additional signatures at visits or reunions.

Network & Provenance Signals (links among the eight)

• Muskegon, Michigan cluster (Jul 21–Aug 1 & Jul 31, 1946): Robert G. Hansen signs on 21 Jul and 1 Aug 1946; Laurin H. Hansen signs 31 Jul 1946 — three entries within 12 days, same city → strong local nexus. LHH is documented 33rd/136th; RGH served in 100th Inf Div. Family relation is plausible but unconfirmed.
• IL/WI loop in 1948–1949: Delbert R. Swanson (Walnut, IL — 30 Mar 1948), Arthur G. Jones (Earlville, IL — 13 Aug 1949), Lavern F. Sedbrook (Glen Haven, WI — 18 Aug 1949) — the artifact remained active within a Midwest veteran circle.
• Same-date pair (28 Apr 1946): John A. Anderson (Superior, WI) and John Y. Helmer (Woodstock, IL) share the date but are ~500+ km apart → treat as non-co-located signings (likely personal demobilization dates or coincident dating).

Signature Profiles (FGP IDs locked)

✅ Laurin H. Hansen — FGP-LHH-01

Born 1925 MI – Died 2012 MI; ASN 36871981. 33rd Inf Div, 136th Inf Regt (Anti-Tank Co → MP). Occupation Japan 1946 documented. Flag: 31 Jul 1946, Muskegon, MI.

✅ Robert G. Hansen — FGP-RGH-01

Born 1919 MI – Died 2005 MI; ASN 36176005. 399th Inf Regt, 100th Inf Div; later photographer. Flag: 21 Jul & 1 Aug 1946, Muskegon, MI.

✅ Lavern F. Sedbrook — FGP-LFS-01

Born 1920 WI – Died 1990 WI; ASN 36222507. 136th Inf Regt; 1944 hospital admissions; discharge 1945. Flag: 18 Aug 1949, Glen Haven, WI.

✅ Delbert Richard Swanson (“Richard”) — FGP-DRS-01

Born 1925 IL – Died 2022 IL; U.S. Army service in the Philippines. Flag: 30 Mar 1948, Walnut, IL.

✅ John Younker Helmer — FGP-JYH-01

Born 1925 IL – Died 2005 NV; ASN 36483577. Army Air Forces; Aviation Cadet → Flight Officer; Class 44-G. Flag: 28 Apr 1946, Woodstock, IL.

✅ John A. Anderson — FGP-JAA-01

Born 1923 WI; residence Douglas County (Superior, WI); ASN 16050509. Enlisted 1942; Co. D, 136th IR, Staff Sergeant (1945). Flag: 28 Apr 1946, Superior, WI.

⚠️ Lawrence E. Scott — FGP-LES-01

Born 1913 IL; ASN 31211019. Technician 5th Grade, 105th Station Hospital (Det. of Patients); 1944 diagnoses noted. Occupation-Japan service not yet verified. Flag: 25–31 Jul 1946, Quincy, IL.

✅ Arthur George Jones — FGP-AGJ-01

Born 1924 IL – Died 2000 NV (burial CA); ASN 16145718. Army, Ordnance Dept; enlisted 1942, discharge 1945. Flag: 13 Aug 1949, Earlville, IL.

Source-Criticism Note

• Division/regiment timing and locations align with standard U.S. Army histories for the 33rd Infantry Division and the 136th IR (occupation duty late 1945–early 1946; inactivation at Ōtsu, 5 Feb 1946).
• SCAP policy tasks (demobilization/disarmament/civil controls) per U.S. Department of State overview; unit-level daily orders vary by locality.
• Presence of 136th personnel in Japan corroborated by Library of Congress veterans’ listings (example referenced below).
• Wakayama landing records indicate entry points used by 33rd-related shipping during initial occupation movement.

Additional Views (details)

Portraits of the Signatories

Sources & References

• Occupation and Reconstruction of Japan, 1945–1952, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. (SCAP policy overview)
• SCAPIN-2 (Directive No. 2), Office of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers — demobilization instructions.
• 33rd Infantry Division (United States) and 136th Infantry Regiment (United States) — standard unit histories (assignment to 33rd; inactivation at Ōtsu, 5 Feb 1946).
• GlobalSecurity.org — 2-136 IN lineage summary (postwar inactivation at Ōtsu and subsequent assignments).
• USS Elmore (APA-42) — Wakayama landing with 33rd Division troops, 25 Sep 1945.
• Library of Congress Veterans History Project — Clare V. Chamberlin (example of 136th IR veteran listing).
• Reports of General MacArthur — strategic framework for occupation operations.
• Occupation of Japan 1945–1950 — movement notes (I Corps/33rd Division).
• Fold3 — Laurin H. Hansen photo archive, contributed image (user uploaded, ca. 1944).
• Garland Funeral Homes — Delbert Richard Swanson obituary, 2022 (portrait source).

Original FlagGeek publication · Source status: LIVE. Research text and evidence retained from the Blogger export.

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