Garfield Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

132nd Infantry Monument

2nd Ill.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

1. 132nd Infantry Monument Marker (east-facing side)

Inscription. [East-facing side:]
A tribute
to those of the
132nd Infantry
(2nd Ill.)
who gave their lives
in the service
of our country
[North-facing side:]
Organized Dec. 21, 1875
Service

War with Spain
(Cuban occupation)
1898-1899

Mexican border
1916

World War
1917-1918

[West-facing side:]
World War II
Guadalcanal
Bougainville
Leyte P.I.
Cebu P.I.
1941-1946

[South-facing side:]
Engagements
(World War)
Albert • Brabant
Hamel • Dun-sur-Meuse
Harbonniers • Consenvoye
Mort Homme • Bois de chaume
Forges • Dannevoux
Bois de Fays • St. Hilaire
Bois de Foret • Butgneville

Erected 1926 by 132nd Infantry Welfare Association.

Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Spanish-American • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #20 James A. Garfield, and the Spirit of the American Doughboy - E. M. Viquesney series lists.

Location. 41° 52.882′ N, 87° 43.219′

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W. Monument is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Garfield Park. It is on South Hamlin Boulevard north of West Washington Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. The marker is in Garfield Park, located a short walk northeast from the intersection of Hamlin and Washington. Touch for map. Monument is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial monument is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Midwest Athletic Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Garfield Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Garfield Park Natural Area (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Talking Tree Project (approx. 0.2 miles away); Habitats: Home for Wildlife (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Garfield Park Natural Area (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this monument. This marker was dedicated by the 132nd Infantry (known as "Old Second," after its original Illinois designation) in honor of the military unit's 50th anniversary. Subsequent dedications were held to honor 132nd members who died in World War II.

The monument was originally topped by a copper statue of a doughboy, designed by Ernest Moore “Dick” Viquesney,

132nd Infantry Monument (north-facing side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

2. 132nd Infantry Monument (north-facing side)

a Spanish-American War veteran. However, that monument was damaged sometime between the 1960s and 1980s, and with its head missing and one of the arms crushed, it was eventually placed in storage. In 2004, the statue was rehabilitated and rededicated inside Chicago's newly renovated Soldier Field, near Gate O, about seven miles east-southeast of this location. Evidence of the doughboy statue’s original placement can be seen in the remnants of its metal base that sticks out a short way out of the top.

Regarding 132nd Infantry Monument. The 132nd U.S. Infantry traced its roots to the some of the first Illinois troops to enlist in the Civil War in 1861. Known as the 2nd Illinois during the Spanish-American War and World War I, it was enveloped into the U.S. military and fought as part of the Americal Division in the Pacific theater. Following World War II, the regiment was re-assigned back to the 33rd Infantry Division of the Illinois National Guard, and in 1954 it was consolidated into the 131st Infantry Regiment.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia: 132nd Infantry Regiment (United States). (Submitted on March 26, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Soldier Field: Spirit of the American Doughboy. From Landmarks Illinois, a photo and brief history of the doughboy statue that once stood atop the 132nd Infantry

132nd Infantry Monument (west-facing side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

3. 132nd Infantry Monument (west-facing side)

Monument in Garfield Park and is now inside Chicago's Soldier Field, near Gate O. (Submitted on March 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. Chicago Park District: American Doughboy Monument.

Excerpt: "Composed of copper alloy sheet metal with a hollow interior, the sculpture did not hold up well against vandalism. Sometime between the 1960s and the early 1980s, vandals crushed one of the figure’s arms and completely destroyed its head. After the damaged sculpture sat in storage for decades it was fully repaired and conserved in 2003. At that time, the Chicago Park District installed the Spirit of the American Doughboy in a new and prominent location near Gate O at Soldier Field."

(Submitted on March 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

4. The Men of “L”— Company-L.com. We are a non-profit honoring the WWI soldiers of Company L of the 132nd Infantry. Our website has extensive information of the men and their operations. We also seek their descendants to provide them with often unknown details of their WWI experience. (Submitted on June 22, 2024, by Ronald Miller of Chicago, Illinois.)

Additional commentary.
1. WWI Company L of the 132nd Infantry
We are a non-profit honoring the WWI soldiers

132nd Infantry Monument (south-facing side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

4. 132nd Infantry Monument (south-facing side)

of Company L of the 132nd Infantry. We have a website with extensive information of the men and their operations. We also seek their descendants to provide them with often unknown details of their WWI experience. https://company-l.com Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted June 20, 2024, by Ronald Miller of Chicago, Illinois.

132nd Infantry Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

5. 132nd Infantry Monument

Hamlin Street, the western border of Garfield Park, is in the rear.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024

6. 132nd Infantry Monument

The Garfield Park Fieldhouse, with its golden dome, is in the background, somewhat obscured by trees.

American Doughboy statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 7, 2023

7. American Doughboy statue

The statue, which originally topped the 132nd monument, is today prominently displayed inside the concourse of Soldier Field, near its south entrance at Gate O.

132nd Infantry Monument dedication image. Click for full size.

Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily News collection; courtesy of Chicago Historical Society, 1926

8. 132nd Infantry Monument dedication

Caption: "Uniformed soldiers surrounding the One Hundred Thirty Second infantry memorial and saluting."

132nd Infantry lieutenants and one captain, 1918 image. Click for full size.

Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily News collection; courtesy of Chicago Historical Society, 1918

9. 132nd Infantry lieutenants and one captain, 1918

Caption: "Group portrait of Fred C. Durstein, Harry L. Dutch, Oswald F. Becker, Oscar L. Dorman, Robert K. Thompson, H. E. B. Rassmussen, Ernest B. Dickson, George W. Hartell, and Peter F. Stainszewski, lieutenants, and Captain Harry R. Chadwick 132nd Infantry, posing in two rows for a photograph at Camp Logan in Houston, Texas."

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.