Interwarriors of the Hawaiian Department & Division 1908-1941

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

Since the establishment of the Hawaiian Department in 1908 through the dissolution of the Hawaiian Division in 1941 just prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack, tens of thousands of American soldiers served in the Territory.  Among them were many who either were or were to become senior officers in both world wars who are well known.  George Patton is usually cited first in a discussion, followed by other WWII Army and Division commanders.  But serving in the territory year in and year out during peacetime and war were many junior officers and enlisted men who had been or were to be honored by the United States and our allies.

 

As you look through the fading photographs, yardlongs and mementos, you'll find these 'Inter-warriors' at their new duties in the Islands training new troops or garnering knowledge from experienced NCO's and officers.

 

 

Here for example is Company E of the 21st Infantry Regiment (Gimlet) at Schofield Barracks, T.H. in October of 1935

 

 

First Sergeant John Bilek with his Lieutenant and younger peacetime infantrymen wearing Hawaiian Division patches, Infantry brass and 21st Regiment DI's

 

 

Although many men in the Company, including the CO 1st LT Robert B. McCleave, are wearing marksmanship badges, not one man has a medal, except their Inter-Warrior First Sergeant.

 

 

BILEK, JOHN Sergeant, U.S. Army, DSC

Company M, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F.

Date of Action:  September 12, 1918

 

 

Sergeant John Bilek, USA Company M, 26th Infantry Regiment (Blue Spaders), 1st Infantry Division, A.E.F.

DSC (St Mihiel), French Medaille Militaire , CDG w/palm, Victory Medal w/3 clasps

Mexican Border Service, Army Team Marksmanship Medal, Marksmanship Badge

French fourragère de la médaille militaire

 

 

Still serving in WWII as a Master Sergeant with the 80th Infantry Division

 

 

This is what I deem to be an HD Inter-Warrior, another long service career Infantryman in the US Army.

 

There were many, many more in the Artillery, Engineer, Aviation & Cavalry branches who served in the Hawaiian Territory.

 

Feel free to post more examples

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Sticking with the 'Gimlet', let's move forward six years to the month prior to the Pearl Harbor attack

 

 

Here is an Infantry Company of the 21st Regiment, training at Schofield Barracks in 1941. 

 

 

Specifically, it's B Company, 21st 'Gimlet' Infantry Regiment.  Note the squad MG that they're lugging along.  What many are unaware of is that the components of this Regiment each had their own (undoubtedly 'unofficial') insignia.  I'll address these in another topic but this is the B Company Insignia line art.

 

 

As with all units in the Hawaiian Division, the 21st Regiment was a Motorized Infantry force, and one of the few in the whole US Army of 1941.

 

 

The Dodge trucks they are mounting say '21st Inf' on the doors and bumpers.

 

 

Don't believe everything you see in the movies.  Did you really believe that the whole US Army in the Pacific only had .03 Springfields?  This is an Infantry Company at Schofield Barracks prior to the 1941 attack.  Their squad weapons - M1 Garands and a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).

 

 

But they did have Springfields too and of course, the next to worthless old tin hat.

 

 

This is their Company Commander, carrying his campaign hat, walking towards the Brownie camera as one of his men snaps the photo.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

B Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment ready for inspection November, 1941

 

 

By their 1st LT, Company Commander and First Sergeant

 

 

 

Captain, USA, USMA Class of 1936

 

 

Captain Henry Mucci, B Company 21st Infantry Commanding, just prior to the Pearl Harbor attack.

 

 

Colonel Henry Mucci, 6th Ranger Battalion, 1945

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation

 

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Henry Andrews Mucci (ASN: 0-20374), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion, in action against enemy forces on 30 January 1945, during the rescue of Allied Prisoners of War from the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in the Philippine Islands. Colonel Mucci was charged with the rescue of several hundred Americans held prisoner by the enemy. It was believed that the enemy would kill or remove the prisoners when our attack was launched in that area. Colonel Mucci promptly assembled a rescue team composed of Ranger Infantry, Scouts, guerrillas and Filipino volunteers. On 28 January, he secured guides, and moved to rendezvous with the Scouts, who reported that three thousand enemy, with some tanks, were in the stockade area. He ordered the attack at dark on 30 January. The attack was launched, and within five minutes the Rangers and Scouts entered the camp, and killed the guards. Ten minutes later all prisoners were out of the camp, and were being taken to carts previously assembled. En route, our troops encountered a force about eight hundred enemy, attacked and killed three hundred. Eight enemy tanks attacking the convoy were held off by a quickly established roadblock. The convoy proceeded through the enemy-held area and completed the evacuation of the released prisoners.

 

Colonel Mucci's gallant leadership, superior professional ability and outstanding personal courage contributed immeasurably to the brilliantly executed rescue of American imprisoned by the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Mucci's intrepid leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army

 

[Salvage Sailor]

We have seen an example of a WWI DSC recipient in 1935 with the HD, and a future WWII DSC recipient in 1941 with the HD.  Let's go back to the beginning in 1909 when the 5th Cavalry was the only Army unit posted to Leilehua and the Military posts on Oahu were just cattle pastures only accessible by an arduous overland trek with no roads, and valleys filled with guava bushes and stumps.

 

One day I hope to fully identify this Quartermaster posted to Fort Shafter, T.H. (est. 1907)

The photograph was taken at the Fort Shafter Studio, circa 1909-1910

 

 

I'll wager that he was assigned there to assist and supply the 5th Cavalry at the Upper Post, Leilehua, while administering his trade at Fort Shafter to prepare for the establishment of the Army posts as they expanded across the occupied Hawaiian kingdom in the new US Territory of Hawaii (1899).

 

 

 

He obviously has had extended overseas deployments in the past decade to the Philippines and elsewhere in this period.

It's quite possible that his service career extended into the Great War and perhaps beyond.

If anyone has a lead on the identity of this Hawaiian Department Quartermaster, please chime in.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

...and lest I overlook the Air Service and their Pineapple Aero Squadrons posted at Luke Field (aka Ford Island - Pearl Harbor Naval Air Station)

 

The Commanding Officer of Luke Field, 5th Composite Group, 1936

 

 

Lt Col. Asa N. Duncan, CO of Luke Field would later become the first commander of the Eighth Air Force when it was established on 28 January 1942, upon its activation at the Savannah Air Base on that date. Promotion to Brigadier General soon followed. On 5 May 1942, when the Eighth Air Force was sent overseas, General Duncan also was ordered to the European Theater of Operations and there served as Chief of Staff, under Major General Carl Spaatz, the new commander of the Eighth Air Force – a position he was still holding at the time he was reported missing in action on November 17, 1942. General Duncan was a passenger on a B-17 travelling from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar that crashed in the ocean, killing all aboard.

 

1935 - 1936 Commanding Officer 5th Composite Group
1941 Commanding Officer 17th Bombardment Wing
1941 - 1942 Commanding Officer 3rd Air Support Command
1942 Commanding Officer 8th Air Force
1942 Chief of Staff, 8th Air Force [United Kingdom]

 

The Eighth Air force was activated as a part of the U. S. Army Air Force on 28 January 1942 at Savannah AAB, Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. The 8th was originally designated as the U.S. air element of Operation Gymnast, the early plan for the Allied invasion of northwest Africa.  As a Colonel, he was the first commander of the 8th Air Force.

 

 

Brigadier General Asa North Duncan

Birth: Born on 30 March 1892, at Leighton, Alabama.
Death: Lost at sea on 17 November 1942, while on a flight from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar.

Commissions:
Corporal, Company K, 2d Infantry, Alabama National Guard, 24 June 1916 – 5 September 1916, at the time of the Mexican Border Crisis.
1st Lieutenant, 1st Cavalry, Alabama National Guard, 27 September 1916.
1st Lieutenant, Regular Army, Air Service, 1 July 1920.

Promotions:
Captain – 1 July 1920
Major – 1 November 1931
Lt Colonel (temporary) – 12 March 1935
Lt Colonel – 1 January 1940
Colonel (temporary) – 12 August 1940
Brigadier General (AUS) – 26 February 1942

Major Campaigns:
Mexican Border Patrol
Saw service in World War I
On duty in the European Theater of Operations, 9 July 1942 – 17 November 1942.

 

Distinguished Service Medal – 1943 (Posthumously)

Citation – “For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in the organization of an Air Supply Command; the organization, training and movement of the Eighth Air Force; the planning of the Air components of two important task forces and the movement of the Twelfth Air Force. The successful engagement of the enemy by the Eighth and Twelfth Air Forces was made possible to a great degree by his foresight and efforts. His calm judgement, courage, resourcefulness and superior leadership have been an inspiration to the armed forces and of great value to his country.”

 

Legion of Merit – 1943 (Posthumously)

Citation – “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Chief of the Personnel Division, Office, Chief of the Air Corps, from September 8, 1939, to August 6, 1941. He was responsible for the plans, procedures, allotment, and assignment of all Air Force personnel during a period in which the Army Air Forces expanded more than ten-fold. His foresight, tireless effort and superior knowledge of Army Air Force personnel problems and their relation to the technical, training, and tactical aspects of the broad program enabled him to effect soundly conceived plans, and to render expert counsel and advice for carrying those plans into effect. By his outstanding ability, energy, and judgement he made a major contribution to the military program of the United States.”