US WW1 26th YANKEE DIVISION 1917 TUNIC

This WW1 1917 tunic features a “YD” 26th Infantry Division patch on the upper left shoulder and on the lower portion of the left sleeve are three overseas stripes indicating 18 months of overseas service. 

On the right upper sleeve is a infantry badge for private first class featuring 2 crossed rifles on green wool backing 

This tunic has a 36 inch chest.

This 106 year old US WW I tunic does have some stains and some holes but for its age is pretty good shape. 

The Yankee Division, formed on July 18, 1917 and activated August 22, 1917 at Camp Edwards, MA,  was made up of National Guardsmen from the New England area. The division's commander selected the nickname "Yankee Division" to highlight the its geographic makeup.

It was also the first NG division to go into the line. Sent to Europe in WWI as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, the division saw extensive combat in France. On 21 September 1917, the division arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France. It was the second division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to arrive on the Western Front at the time, and the first division wholly organized in the United States, joining the 1st Division. 

The division had 2,135 killed and 11,325 wounded. This is about  72% of the division who had suffered death or was wounded.   

Sent to Europe once again for World War II, the division again fought through France, advancing into Germany and liberating the Gusen concentration camp before the end of the war.