Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is an impressive flag which was more than likely produced before the US entrance into WWII. This flag would have been flown for the current (at the time) Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 – October 20, 1950) was an American statesman, lawyer, and Republican Party politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in U.S. foreign policy by serving in both Republican and Democratic administrations. He served as Secretary of War (1911–1913) under President William Howard Taft, Secretary of State (1929–1933) under President Herbert Hoover, and again Secretary of War (1940–1945) under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, overseeing American military efforts during World War II.

The field and boat flag of the Secretary of War were exactly the same as the field flag of the Secretary of the Army, except for its dimensions. The field and boat flag was made of wool bunting, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet 9 inches on the fly, though due to aging and shrinkage, the flag now measures about an inch shorter with all measurements. (The same material and dimensions applied to all field and boat flags authorized by Army regulations.) For Assistant Secretaries of War, the field of the flag was white and the stars were red (identical to the current field flag of the Undersecretary of the Army).

The flag is in really good condition when you consider the age and wool materials in which it was constructed from. There are scattered moth nips throughout the red field as well as age toning on the canvas hoist and other white areas. The details are still highly visible and easily discernible.

This is a wonderful flag and is a perfect display size for your war room!

The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation between 1781 and 1789. Benjamin Lincoln and later Henry Knox held the position. When Washington was inaugurated as the first President under the Constitution, he appointed Knox to continue serving as Secretary of War.

The secretary of war was the head of the War Department. At first, he was responsible for all military affairs, including naval affairs. In 1798, the secretary of the Navy was created by statute, and the scope of responsibility for this office was reduced to the affairs of the United States Army. From 1886 onward, the secretary of war was in the line of succession to the presidency, after the vice president of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate and the secretary of state.

In 1947, with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947, the secretary of war was replaced by the secretary of the Army and the secretary of the Air Force, which, along with the secretary of the Navy, have since 1949 been non-Cabinet subordinates under the secretary of defense. The secretary of the Army's office is generally considered the direct successor to the secretary of war's office although the secretary of defense took the secretary of war's position in the Cabinet, and the line of succession to the presidency.