ocsfollowme Posted March 23, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 23, 2015 I picked this up on eBay a few weeks ago for $5 and posted it as an unknown home front victory patch in my "home front thread" on the forum. A fellow member gave me the correct ID. It is for the Hawaii Defense Volunteers One of many local militias formed during World War II to aid regular-duty troops, the HDV were a well-organized group of Chinese and Filipino citizen-soldiers. One heck of a rare patch indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted March 23, 2015 http://archives.starbulletin.com/96/07/09/features/story1.html A. Hawaiian Department The "Lazy H" insignia was approved in 1922, even though the department had been created a decade before. It's fairly common and gained fame as the patch seen on soldiers' uniforms in "From Here to Eternity." B. Hawaii Territorial Guard The ancestor of the Hawaii National Guard, and used between 1942 and 1947. It's thought that versions with a brown border might signify Reserve troops. C. 442nd Regimental Combat Team This is the original version of the 442nd insignia, used only between summer and Christmas 1943, and relatively rare. The Nisei troops objected to the depiction of a yellow hand clutching a bloody sword, and it was changed to ... D. 442nd Regimental Combat Team This is the 442nd patch that was adopted in December 1943. It is fairly common and much more patriotic-looking. E. Hawaii Defense Volunteers One of many local militias formed during World War II to aid regular-duty troops, the HDV were a well-organized group of Chinese and Filipino citizen-soldiers. F. Maui Volunteers A neighbor-island militia, like the Kauai Volunteers. Since these were small organizations, the patches are relatively rare. G. 24th Division The "Hawaiian Division" was formed in 1921, based at Schofield Barracks. In 1941 the organization was split, becoming the 24th and 25th Divisions. The 24th kept the insignia. I. Hawaiian Cadre As the 442nd RCT and the 100th Battalion were formed of Nisei, other Hawaiians felt left out. This combat team was formed of Hawaiians only and went to train in North Carolina. The team was broken up after a few months and the Hawaiians were scattered to other units. J. Filipino Battalion This unit was composed of Filipinos living in the U.S. who wished to fight the Japanese. There are many variations of this patch and Darr says there are reproductions available. K. Hawaii Separate Coast Artillery The guys who manned the big guns on shore. This insignia was adopted in 1936. L. Business Man Training Corps A civilian defense militia on Oahu composed primarily of white executives. M. Hawaii Rifles A cavalry militia on the Big Island composed primarily of plantation works; the insignia features a lehua flower. N. 25th Division The other half of the split Hawaiian Division. If it looks familiar, that's because it's still in use at Schofield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted March 23, 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Defense_Volunteers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted March 23, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 23, 2015 Nice! Never saw one myself until now. Well done! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectre Posted March 23, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 23, 2015 Good score! Nice Hawaiian patch details. Never heard of a couple of those definitions, thanks for posting. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted March 23, 2015 I wonder which is more rare: the patch listed above (Hawaiian Defense Volunteers) or the Maui Volunteers. Does anyone have a count on the number of people in the Maui Volunteers? Wikipedia states that 800 were in the Hawaiian Defense Volunteers. One day I hope to add the Kaui & Maui Volunteers patches to my 3rd quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted March 23, 2015 Share #7 Posted March 23, 2015 All of the Hawaiian Volunteer units are tough to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Scott Posted March 23, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 23, 2015 I have had two Maui's and O of the one that started this post I would say they are both like looking for Hens teeth.Scotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillock Posted March 23, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 23, 2015 Excellent find Steve, well done Phill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamarhooten Posted March 23, 2015 Share #10 Posted March 23, 2015 You have beat me out sir on getting this one! Nice score! This and the Kaui Volunteers are all I need for the set. Picked up the BMTC from Mr. Chatt last ASMIC and the Maui Vol. from Dr. Mort. The Dr. had a Kaui one but I had already gone broke by then! The one you just got would be a great start to a State Gaurd - State Militia - State Defense Forces patch quilt! I missed out on seing the patch on the other thread the first time around. A great find indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted March 23, 2015 Lamarhooten, I have the BMTC and this one so far. I know that there are other Hawaiian units too. It is my plan to start collecting militias, defense and state guards one day (currently own about 10 of these). Actually, the BMTC has two construction variations that I have seen. Good thing that I am not into collecting variations....just one of each insignia. In any event, they are still home front related...and I am trying to acquire as many of these as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 23, 2015 Share #12 Posted March 23, 2015 Great looking patch.Glad you got the correct ID on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted March 24, 2015 Share #13 Posted March 24, 2015 Cool ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted November 22, 2016 Picked up a 2nd one this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted March 24, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted May 27, 2018 Share #16 Posted May 27, 2018 Thanks for posting this identification ocsfollowme. I missed the original post the first time around. I too have one of these patches but never knew exactly what it was. I was guessing maybe it was a Harley Davidson production or V for Victory type award patch. I even spent a lot of time researching old Harley Davidson logos and emblems and found out the did incorporate a large V into one of their emblems which was based on the shape of their engines but none of those logos even remotely resembled this. Man, I was way off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted October 20, 2019 Share #17 Posted October 20, 2019 Here's another very rare Hawaii (Filipino) Volunteer unit patch (and chevrons) circa 1943 Filipino Naval Civilian Volunteer Force, 1943, Oahu, T.H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted June 25, 2020 Share #18 Posted June 25, 2020 From back of print: "Lieutenant General Delos C. Emmons, Commander, Hawaiian Department, and Colonel Richard Tongg, Hawaiian Defense Volunteers, review the Hawaiian Defense Volunteer troops, Oahu, Hawaii." I'm not sure what the patch is he is wearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted June 25, 2020 Share #19 Posted June 25, 2020 On 3/23/2015 at 2:51 AM, ocsfollowme said: I. Hawaiian Cadre As the 442nd RCT and the 100th Battalion were formed of Nisei, other Hawaiians felt left out. This combat team was formed of Hawaiians only and went to train in North Carolina. The team was broken up after a few months and the Hawaiians were scattered to other units. I have a question about the "Hawaiian Cadre" unit. Did this unit see any combat? Why does it share the similar insignia to the 24th Division, but is a totally separate unit? Does anyone have a link to a history of this unit? Thanks Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted March 30, 2023 Share #20 Posted March 30, 2023 I have two of these consigned to our upcoming auction. Hard to find pair of WWII Hawaii Defense Volunteers patches. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/147576625_wwii-lot-of-2-hawaiian-defense-volunteers-patches-insignia-hdv Bid on this lot and much more in April 29th, 2023 Online Spring Militaria & Collectibles Auction hosted by CNY Militaria & Collectibles Auctions LLC. Visit our website to see the catalogs, register, and make your pre-bids! www.cnymilitaria.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted June 16, 2023 Share #21 Posted June 16, 2023 Kauai Volunteer Militia - October 1942 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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