1941-1948 Hawaiʻi Territorial Guard

The year ending June 30, 1942, finds our great nation at war, the Hawaii National Guard still in Federal service, and the Hawaii Territorial Guard (“Home Guard”) organized and activated on December 7, 1941, and in active Territorial service since that date.

– 1941-1942 Annual Report pp. 8

HAWAIl TERRITORIAL GUARD

Authority for Organization

Authority lor the organization of the Hawaii Territorial Guard (“Home Guard”) was provided by Act 84, Special Session of the 1941 Territorial Legislature, approved October 29, 1941.

Organization, Activation and Active Territorial Service

The Military Department corresponded with many clothing firms, both local and mainland, with a view to purchasing uniforms for the new’ Territorial unit or units. The original idea of this organization was to secure enlistments from various sections of Oahu, and drilis were to be held weekly, but there would be no pay involved. However, the December 7th sneak attack on the Island of Oahu by the Japanese changed this entire program. At 10:30 A.M. on that eventful morning, Governor Joseph B. Poindexter authorized the activation of the Hawaii Territorial Guard and the calling of it to active service of the Territory by the following quoted ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR:

“ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR

WHEREAS the Territory of Hawaii has been, and is now being invaded, I, JOSEPH B. POINDEXTER, Governor of Hawaii, do hereby call out the territorial militia, and I do hereby place in the active service of the Territory so much of said militia as may be determined and selected by the Adjutant General of the Territory of Hawaii;

FURTHER, I do hereby authorize the said Adjutant General to organize and constitute a Hawaii Territorial Guard from such of the said militia as may volunteer for service and enlist therein, and immediately upon the organization of the Hawaii Territorial Guard, or any unit thereof, I do hereby also place it in the active service of the Territory.

DONE at Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, 10:30 A.M. this 7th day of December, 1941.

(Seal of the Territory of Hawaii)

(SGD) J. B. Poindexter Governor of Hawaii

By the Governor (SGD) Chas. M. Hite Secretary of Hawaii”

It was planned that the University of Hawaii ROTC would be the nucleus for the Hawaii Territorial Guard and in anticipation of this, General Order No. 3 of the Office of the Territorial Director of Civilian Defense, dated December 7, 1941, was issued as follows:

“OFFICE OF THE TERRITORIAL DIRECTOR OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE

HONOLULU, T. H.
GENERAL ORDER NO.3
December 7, 1941

By virtue of the authority in me vested by the Governor of Hawaii I do hereby order as follows:

All members of the University of Hawaii R.O.T.C. unit are hereby ordered mobilized at the University of Hawaii and are to stand by for further instructions.

By Order of
(S) E. L. Doty
Edouward L. Doty
Territorial Director of Civilian Defense.”

General Order No.4, Office of the Territorial Director of Civilian Defense, also dated December 7, 1941, placed Colonel P. M. Smoot, Inf., in command of the ROTC Units on the Island of Oahu (This in addition to his duties as The Adjutant General of Hawaii and Territorial Director of Selective Service), and directed that he proceed immediately with the organization of the same as a Territorial Guard. This General Order No.4 reads as follows:

“OFFICE OF THE TERRITORIAL DIRECTOR OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE

HONOLULU, T. H.
GENERAL ORDER NO.4
December 7, 1941

By virtue of the authority in me vested by the Governor of Hawaii I do hereby order as follows:

1. Col. P. M. Smoot, Adj. General of Territory of Hawaii, is hereby placed in command of all R.O.T.C. units on the island of Oahu and is to proceed immediately with the organization of the same as a Territorial Home Guard.

By Order of
(SGD) E. Doty
Territorial Director of Civilian Defense.”

The Hawaii Territorial Guard was activated under enemy fire on December 7, 1941, with quarters in the Honolulu Armory and Iolani Barracks, Honolulu. By the evening of December 7, 1941, guards were posted around the Honolulu Armory, Iolani Barracks, Iolani Palace, Washington Place (the Governor’s official residence) and at public utility installations within and without the city.

Activation of the Hawaii Territorial Guard was effected by the following quoted General Orders No.1, dated 8 December 1941, from Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard:

“HEADQUARTERS HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD

National Guard Armory

Honolulu, T. H.

8 December 1941
GENERAL ORDERS)
)
NO.1)

1. The following unit, activation of which was authorized in this Territory by General Order No.4, Office of the Territorial Director of Civilian Defense, dated 7 December 1941, is activated effective 7 December 1941.

UNIT

Hawaii Territorial Guard

(Home Guard)

PERMANENT STATION

Territory of Hawaii

2. This organization will be under the direction of The Adjutant General of the Territory of Hawaii for its employment and training.

By Order of the Governor.
(SGD) P. M. Smoot
P. M. SMOOT,

Colonel, Infantry,

The Adjutant General.

OFFICIAL:
HAROLD J. KEELEY
Major, Infantry
Chief of Staff
DISTRIBUTION C NO. OF COPIES

General Orders No.2, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 8 December 1941 announced:

“Colonel P. M. Smoot is designated the Commanding Officer of the Hawaii Territorial Guard in addition to his other duties and with the concurrence of the Commanding General, Hawaiian Department, U. S. A.”

HTG Units and Orders Affecting their Control

The first units of the Hawaii Territorial Guard organized were enumerated in General Orders No.3, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 7 December 1941, as follows:

“HEADQUARTERS HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD

National Guard Armory

Honolulu, T. H.

7 December 1941
GENERAL ORDERS)
)
No.3)

1. In accordance with authority contained in General Orders 1, this Headquarters, dated 7 December 1941, the following named units of the Hawaii Territorial Guard will be organized with stations as indicated:

Territorial Guard Headquarters and Headquarters Company with station in Honolulu. Major Harold J. Keeley is assigned as Chief of Staff of the Territorial Guard.

First Battalion, consisting of Companies A, B, C, D, and Headquarters Detachment, with headquarters in Honolulu. Major Charles R. Frazier, Jr., Infantry, is assigned to com­ mand this battalion.

Second Battalion, (less companies F, G, and H) with Headquarters in Wahiawa. Major A. S. Harrington, U.S.A. (Retired), is assigned to command this battalion.

Third Battalion, (less companies Land M) with Headquarters in Honolulu. Captain J. A. O’Rourke, Infantry, is assigned to command this battalion.

2. The enlistment, organization, administration, equipment, maintenance, and discipline shall conform to existing laws governing and pertaining to the National Guard and con­ tained in the Military Laws of the Territory of Hawaii, except as specifically provided otherwise in Act 84, Special Session 1941.

3. An initial payroll to be submitted as of 15 December 1941 will serve as the initial roster, and will show the date of entrance on duty for each officer and enlisted man.

By order of Colonel SMOOT:
(SGD) Harold J. Keeley
HAROLD J. KEELEY,
Major, Infantry,
Chief of Staff.

(SEAL)

OFFICIAL:

C. STANFORD COST,

Major, A. G. D.,

Adjutant

DISTRIBUTION D”

In compliance with General Orders No. 20 of the Office of the Military Governor, dated 11 December 1941, the HTG was placed under the command of the Provost Marshal, Hawaiian Department. Such General Order reads:

“GENERAL ORDERS

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 20 11 December 1941

The Hawaiian Territorial Guard is placed under the com­mand of the Department Provost Marshal and the Commanding Officer, Hawaiian Territorial Guard, will report to the Department Provost Marshal for instructions at once. By order of the Military Governor:

(SGD) Thomas H. Green
Lt. Col., J.A.G.D.
Executive”

The Governor of the Territory of Hawaii was granted the following authority by the Military Governor with reference to the Hawaii
Territorial Guard:

“GENERAL ORDERS

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 28 15 December 1941

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Military Gover­ nor of the Territory of Hawaii, I do authorize the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii to continue to call out the territorial militia and place so much of it in the active service of the Territory as may be determined and selected by the Adjutant General of the Territory of Hawaii.

Further, I do authorize the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, and said Adjutant General to continue to organize and constitute a Territorial Home Guard from such of the Militia as may volunteer for service and enlist therein, and immediately upon the organization of the Territorial Home Guard, or any unit thereof, to place it in the active service of the Territory.

By order of the Military Governor:
(SGD) Thomas H. Green
Lt. Col., J.A.G.D.
Executive”

General Orders No. 20 of the Office of the Military Governor was rescinded by General Orders No. 44, of the same office, dated 26 December 1941. This latter order placed the HTG under the command of the Commanding General, Hawaiian Department and provided:

“GENERAL ORDERS

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 44 26 December 1941

x x x x x x x x

Section III. HAWAIIAN TERRITORIAL GUARD.-1. General Orders No. 20, placing the Hawaiian Territorial Guard under the command of the Department Provost Marshal, is rescinded.

2. The Hawaiian Territorial Guard is hereby placed under the command of the Commanding General, Hawaiian Department, and the Commanding Officer, Hawaiian Territorial Guard, will report to the Commanding General, Hawaiian Department for instructions at once.

x x x x x x x x”
General Orders No. 6 (Corrected Copy), Force Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 20 January 1942, provided the following listed activations and new designations:

“C-O-R-R-E-C-T-E-D C-O-P-Y
DESTROY ALL OTHERS
GENERAL ORDERS) FORCE HEADQUARTERS HAWAII
) TERRITORIAL GUARD
NO.6) Honolulu, T. H., 20 January 1942

1. In accordance with the verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, H.T.G., Company G, 2nd (Oahu) Battalion, is activated, effective 14 January 1942.
2. In accordance with the verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, H.T.G., 1st (Hawaii) Battalion, less Company C and D, is activated effective 17 January 1942.
3. Units of this organization will be designated as follows:

Old Designation

Force Headquarters and Headquarters Company, H.T.G.

First Battalion, H.T.G.

Second Battalion, H.T.G.

Third Battalion, H.T.G.

New Designation

Force Headquarters and Headquarters Company, H.T.G.

First (Oahu) Battalion, H.T.G.

Second (Oahu) Battalion, H.T.G.

Third (Oahu) Battalion, H.T.G.

Reserve Battalion, H.T.G.

First (Hawaii) Battalion, H.T.G.

Abbreviation

F. Hq. & Hq. Co., H.T.G.

1st (0) Bn., H.T.G.

2nd (0) Bn., H.T.G.

3rd (0) Bn., H.T.G.

Res. Bn., H.T.G.

1st (H) Bn., H.T.G.

By order of Colonel SMOOT:
HAROLD J. KEELEY,
Lt. Col., Infantry,
Executive Officer.

OFFICIAL:
(SGD) Merson L. Skinner

MERSON L. SKINNER,

Major, Infantry,

Force Adjutant.
(SEAL)”

The battalion on the Island of Hawaii, with headquarters in Hilo, activated January 17th, had an initial roster of 11 officers and 193 enlisted men

By paragraph 1, General Orders No.7, Hq., HTG, dated 22 January 1942, the 1st (0) Bn., HTG, was inactivated effective 1200 noon that day and all personnel of the battalion were attached also 1200 noon that day to Force Headquarters and Headquarters Company, HTG.

The activation of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st (Oahu) Reserve Battalion, Hawaii Territorial Guard, effective as of 1 February 1942, was published in General Orders No. 11, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 20 February 1942. This Reserve was organized for training a reserve component of the HTG, and the initial strength was 84 enlisted men, under the supervision of two officers and a few selected noncommissioned officers. This Reserve was composed of the best cross-section of Honolulu’s business men.

General Orders No. 15, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 4 March 1942, states:

“Confirming verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, Hawaii Territorial Guard, Force Medical Detachment, Hawaii Territorial Guard, (F. Med. Det., H. T. G.) is activated, effective this date.”

Force Medical Detachment had an initial strength of 3 officers and 25 enlisted men.

In compliance with General Orders No. 17, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 10 March 1942, the “Recruit Detachment, H. T. G.” was immediately organized and had an initial roster of 30 enlisted men.

A Provisional Company was activated by the following quoted extract from General Orders No. 18, Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 10 March 1942:

“Confirming verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, Hawaii Territorial Guard, a Provisional Company at Headquarters, Hawaii Territorial Guard, is activated and attached to F. Hq. & Hq. Co., H.T.G., effective this date.”

This order was amended by General Orders No. 20, Hq. HTG, dated 12 March 1942, to read as follows:

“Confirming verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, Hawaii Territorial Guard, a Provisional Company at Headquarters, Hawaii Territorial Guard, is activated and attached (less Provisional Platoon) to F. Hq. & Hq. Co., H.T.G., effective this date.”

A Guard Company at Headquarters Hawaii Territorial Guard was activated effective 1 April 1942 by authority of General Orders No. 22, Hq. HTG, dated 27 March 1942.

Letter from Headquarters Hawaiian Department, Ft. Shafter, T. H., Subject: “Hawaii Territorial Guard,” dated 26 April 1942 (file AG 324.5), addressed to five command groups of the Hawaiian Department, provided:

“All members of the Hawaii Territorial Guard (except certain officers to be designated by the Commanding Officer, Hawaii Territorial Guard, with the concurrence of the Commanding Generals of the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions) now attached to the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions, will be released from such attachment not later than 30 April 1942. Upon such release they will revert to Territorial controL”

The following listed inactivations and reactivations were announced in the paragraphs of General Orders No. 23, Hq. HTG, dated 1 May
1942, quoted:

“1. The 2nd (0) Bn., H.T.G., is inactivated effective 1 May 1942 .

2. The 3rd (0) Bn., H.T.G., is inactivated effective 1 May 1942.

3. Effective 1 May 1942, 1st (0) Bn., H.T.G., (less Bn. Hq., Bn. Hq. Det., and Co. C and Co. D) is reactivated.

4. Guard Company, H.T.G., is inactivated, effective 1 May 1942.

5. Provisional Company, H.T.G., is inactivated, effective 1 May 1942.”

Changes in Commanding Officers

Col. Smoot Relieved by Col. Lindeman: In view of the fact that the National Director of Selective Service directed that no State or Territorial Director may accept any other office while serving as such, except that of the Adjutant General of such state or territory, the following ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR was issued relieving Colonel Smoot of command of the HTG and naming a successor:

“ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR

WHEREAS it is necessary that Colonel Perry M. Smoot, Commanding Officer of the Hawaii Territorial Guard and Director of the Selective Service System of the Territory of Hawaii, be relieved of his military duties as Commanding Officer of the Hawaii Territorial Guard, and I having appointed him to this command as The Adjutant General of Hawaii by my order of the Seventh of December, 1941, he is hereby re­lieved from command of the Hawaii Territorial Guard, to be effective the 31st day of January, 1942.

WHEREAS it is necessary that I name a Commanding Offi­ cer of the Hawaii Territorial Guard, vice Colonel Perry M. Smoot, relieved to assume his duties as Territorial Director of Selective Service, I do hereby appoint Lieutenant Colonel Philip F. Lindeman, Infantry, Hawaii Territorial Guard, as its Commanding Officer, effective the First day of February, 1942. Colonel Lindeman shall be responsible for the training, equipment and administration of the Hawaii Territorial Guard.

x x x x x x x x”

Colonel Lindeman announced in General Orders No.8, Hq. Hawaii Territorial Guard, dated 1 February 1942, that he had that date assumed command of the Hawaii Territorial Guard.

Col. Lindeman relieved by Major O’Brien: Under date of 26 May 1942 (General Orders No. 25, Hq. HTG, same date), Major Ray J. O’Brien, Inf., assumed command of the Hawaii Territorial Guard, vice Lieutenant Colonel Philip F. Lindeman, Inf., who was relieved to accept a commission in the Army of the United States.

– 1941-1942 Annual Report pp. 13-20

The War Department, in offidal correspondence to the Governor, had urged the reestablishment of the Hawaii National Guard and had offered the Territory an allocation of troops. It was imperative that the newly appointed Adjutant General take over command of the Territorial Guard, for the purpose of inactivating these units and to reestablish the Hawaii National Guard on the effective date of his appointment August 4, 1946.

Accordingly and upon Executive Order of the Governor of Hawaii dated 1 July 1946, Colonel F. W. Makinney, USA, Ret’d., was placed in command of the Territorial Guard effective 0001 hours, 2 July 1946 relieving Brig. General James Huey.

– 1946-1947 Annual Report pp. 4

I-The Twenty-Fifth Legislature in its regular 1949 session enacted Act 116, appropriating moneys from the territorial insurance fund for the payment of workmen’s compensation claims of national guardsmen, It also passed Act 152, which amends section 13091, R.L.H, 1945, pertaining to organization of the Hawaii Territorial Guard. Present federal law (Sec, 194, Title 32 U.S.c.) prohibits maintenance of state troops except in time of war. Several states are sponsoring repeal of this provision, The territorial law as amended, will permit prompt organization of the Hawaii Territorial Guard when the federal legal obstacle is removed.

– 1948-1949 Annual Report pp. 47

The major activity of the staff judge advocate during the past year consisted of prepa ration of legislation for submission to the 1951 Iegislature. The possibility that the Hawaii National Guard might again be called into the federal service motivated the passage of Act 37. which permits the appointment of officers of the Hawaii Territorial Guard to the Armory Board; similarly language was added to the approprilltion for the military department to provide for the allocation of funds between the Territorial Guard and Hawaii National Guard in the event of federalization.

– 1950-1951 Annual Report pp. 30-31

HAWAII’S STATE GUARD

“Pursuant to authority contained in Section 355, Revised Laws of Hawaii 1955 and Public Law 364, 84th United States Congress, the Hawaii State Guard is constituted as a State Defense Force to be organized, maintained, and with mission as defined below:’ Thus is created a new unit of the Defense Forces of the State of Hawaii.

The lead quotation in the above paragraph is an abstract of General Orders No. 22, dated 14 April, 1961, issued by the Adjutant General of Hawaii, Major General F. W. Makinney. It activates, in cadre, a unit which came into being a few hours after the bombs were dropped on Oahu on December 7, 1941, as the Hawaii Territorial Guard.

The Hawaii Territorial Guard (HTG) was mobilized to replace the Hawaii National Guard which had been called into Active Federal Service. The Territorial Guard supplemented the regular armed forces for many months. guarding vital installations throughout the island of Oahu until relieved hy reinforcements from the mainland. The unit was then placed on drill status so that its memhers might return to their regular
employment. After the capitulation of the Japanese government, the Hawaii Defense Volunteers, a unit of the Organized Defense Volunteers, Central Pacific Area, U.S. Army, became a separate battalion of the Territorial Guard in September, 1945. The Territorial Adjutant General then was the late Brig. Gen. James E. Huey, under Governor Stainback. The Territorial Guard was commanded by Col. Samuel M. Fuller.

The HTG was again called into active service hy the Governor of Hawaii during the tidal wave disaster of April 1, 1946. The unit remained on drill status until 1948.

During the latter part of 1948, at a meeting with General Makinney and his staff, the members of the deactivated Territorial Guard who were present, were informed that the Reserve Forces, Hawaii National Guard, would be formed, and that all memhers of the HTG who so desired would he enrolled in rank and grade as members of the RF-HNG. . .

– 1961 December The Hawaii Guardsman pp. 6