Philippines

1945 · réf. 61658 — Manila P.I.: 25th Infantry Division 1945. Folio. 9 x 13 in. 92 pp unpaginated. consisting of illustrated title introduction leaf and then 176 numbered illustrated panels 2 to a page tracking the campaign. Blue publisher’s cloth colour plate title mounted on front cover w/ 25th Division “Tropic Lightning” badge minor dustsoiling slight fraying a little thumbing still a VG bright copy. First edition of this fascinating and well-illustrated graphic novel regimental history executed by the artist while serving with the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division and filled with drawings depicting the life of a doughboy fighting the Japanese across Luzon. The book covers the 35th “Cacti” 27th “Wolfhounds” and 161st Infantry Regiments the famous Battle of Balete Pass offering an essential first-hand visual record while they set the combat record of 165 consecutive days. The record would not be broken until later when the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Division went 235 consecutive days in combat operations during the Vietnam War in 1966. Rutherfoord 1919-2001 was a commercial artist from Roanoke VA who served from 1942-1946 in the 25th Infantry Division and later as commercial artist in New York who also illustrated a number of titles in the popular Little Golden Books series as well as later a successful painting career in and around Roanoke. 25th Infantry Division, hardcover