Hawaiian Division
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active1921–1941
Country United States
Branch United States Army
Garrison/HQSchofield Barracks

The Hawaiian Division was a division of the United States Army, dedicated to the defense of Hawaii. This division was named rather than numbered, as were the Philippine, Panama Canal and Americal Divisions. It was first activated under the peacetime Square Division Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) on 25 February 1921 as the Hawaiian Division using assets of the World War I era 11th Infantry Division. It, the Philippine Division, and the Americal Division were the last three U.S. Army divisions to be named rather than numbered. Joseph E. Kuhn, then in command of Schofield Barracks, oversaw the initial organization and employment of the division.[1][2]

Square Division example: 1940 US Infantry Division. On the far left can be seen two Brigades of two Regiments each

The division retained the square division TO&E until 1941, when it was reorganized under a triangular division TO&E, and part of its former organization became the core of the new 24th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division. It included the 21st and 22nd Infantry Brigades, and the 19th, 21st, 27th, and 35th Infantry Regiments.

The U.S. Army 11th Field Artillery Brigade, at Schofield Barracks, Territory of Hawaii, in 1924

World War II

The 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions were among the first to see combat in World War II and among the last to stop fighting. The Divisions were on Oahu, with headquarters at Schofield Barracks, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and suffered minor casualties. Charged with the defense of Oahu and the Hawaiian Islands, they built an elaborate system of coastal defenses before deploying for further combat operations.

Inactivation

The Hawaiian Division was inactivated in October 1941 to provide cadre and units for the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions. These were triangular divisions with regiments of the Hawaii National Guard providing the third regiment of each division. The 299th Regiment went to the 24th and the 298th Regiment went to the 25th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division retained the Hawaiian Division’s green taro leaf shoulder sleeve insignia for wear.

Lineage

  • Constituted 1 February 1921 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Hawaiian Division
  • Activated 1 March 1921 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
  • Inactivated 1 October 1941 at Schofield Barracks

Commanders

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thayer, Bill. "Joseph Ernst Kuhn: Compilation of Entries in Cullum's Register, Volumes III to VIII". penelope.uchicago.edu/. Bill Thayer. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. ↑ http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf US Army Order of Battle 1919–1940

Sources

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