1^st Coast Artillery District

Later:

New England Frontier Defense Sector (1942)

A red projectile placed diagonally with point up and to the dexter in front of a yellow disc on a olive drab square.

Approved 22 May 1941

Reauthorized for the

New England Frontier Defense Sector

23 Mar 1942

2^nd Coast Artillery District

Later:

New York – Philadelphia Frontier Defense Sector (1942)

On and over a yellow parallelogram with the long sides at an angle of 30° bendwise and with short sides vertical, two red projectiles points up, all on an olive drab parallelogram

Approved 12 June 1941

Reauthorized for the New York – Philadelphia Frontier Defense Sector 23 March 1942.

3^rd Coast Artillery District

Later:

Chesapeake Frontier Defense Sector (1942)

Three red projectiles extending from the angles of a yellow trefoil. Projectiles are point out, two above and one below, all on a olive drab disc.

Approved 12 June 1941

Reauthorized for the Chesapeake  Frontier Defense Sector 6 April 1942

4^th Coast Artillery District

Later:

Southern Coastal Frontier Defense Sector (1942

On a yellow square, one point up, four red projectiles with points out and overlapping the corners of the square. All on an olive drab square point up.

Approved 12 June 1941

Reapproved for the Southern Coastal Frontier Defense Sector 6 April 1942.

9^th Coast Artillery District

Later:

Pacific Coastal Frontier Defense Sector (1942)

On a nine-pointed yellow star, one point up, pierced by a center disc, a red projectile point up. All on an olive drab disc.

Approved 12 July 1941, Reapproved for the Pacific Frontier Defense Sector 6 April 1942.

Panama Canal Department

A square shield with agee base, yellow in color, having on it two red Flaunches. The pattern suggests the isthmus and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the colors symbolize the original Spanish background of the area.

Design was originally approved 16 August 1922.

A modified version with a ‘PANAMA’ tab added at top (yellow letters on a red tab). This version appeared during World War II, but no official authorization has been found for this modification.

Puerto Rico Department

Later:

Antilles Department (3 April 1944)

U. S. Army Forces, Antilles (2 February 1948)

The turreted battlement of Morro Castle in red issuing from the base of a yellow shield with chamfered top corners and bordered in red.

Approved 9 September 1942, reauthorized for Antilles Department 3 April 1944 and for the U. S. Army Forces, Antilles 2 February 1948

Caribbean Defense Command

On a blue disc a white galleon with a red Maltese cross on the sail, riding on a white wave line. The galleon is symbolic of the Caribbean Area, suggesting the Spanish regime when such ships were prevalent in this area, and the Maltese cross, the insignia of Columbus, the first explorer in the area. Blue represents the color of the Caribbean Sea.

Approved 3 May 1944, reapproved 2 February 1948 for U. S. Army, Caribbean; and on 11 July 1963 for U. S. Army Forces, Southern Command.

Atlantic Base Command

A cetacean (Grampus Griseus) allied to the blackfish and whale and representative of the internationally famed “Pelorus Jack”, the grampus who acts as a pilot fish to all vessels passing through French Pass, New Zealand. This species becomes 15 feet long and is widely distributed in the seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Grampus in white placed head up on a blue disc bordered red (outer) and white (inner)

Approved 15 August 1942


 

Iceland Base Command

(Indigo Task Force)

7 July 1941

Later

Iceland Defense Forces 24 March 1947

A disc divided horizontally any wavy white and blue charged with an equilateral triangle, that portion on the white background to be red, that portion on the blue background to be white. Design in national colors suggests an ocean island, and the triangle strength.

Approved 3 September 1941, redesignated for Iceland Defense Forces 5 April 1954.
 

Iceland Base Command

(Unauthorized)

Actually the insignia of the British 49^th Division which was also stationed in Iceland (1940-43). Design consists of a white polar bear standing on ice placed against a black rectangle background. Originally the bear’s head was pointed down, but was later changed to have the bear’s head pointing upward in a more aggressive look. U. S. troops in Iceland were said to have worn this patch without authorization.

U. S. Army Forces, South Atlantic (20 November 1942-31 October 1945

A representation off the Southern Cross constellation of five white stars on a blue background within an arched border of white edged red; above wave scrolls green and yellow, below a representation of Ascention Island in yellow. The insignia suggests the home area of the base, and made in the national colors red, white and blue for the United States, and green, yellow and blue for Brazil.

Approved 18 January 1944
 

Panama (Unauthorized)

A portcullis in yellow on a scarlet oval with the long axis vertical. “Panama” appears in yellow above the portcullis. Design is a modified version of the former Panama Canal Division which became obsolete in 1936. The new patch is larger in size as well as having the ‘Panama’ added. A letter from the Adjutant General, dated 11 April 1945, rejected a request for a shoulder sleeve insignia for both the Panama Coast Artillery Command and for the Panama Mobile Force and Security Command, and instructed both Commands to wear the Panama Canal Department patch. Possibility this design was intended for one of these Commands.

Bermuda Base Command

On a blue disc over a white triangle throughout, one point upward, three golden cartouche-like leaves in triangle throughout, one point to base superimposed by a red disc. The blue represents Infantry, the white triangle is representative of a coral isle, and the golden propeller-like leaves are representative of the Air Corps, while the red disc is emblematic of the Coast Artillery and Field Artillery.

Approved 28 September 1942

Canceled 18 February 1943 – It was discovered not long after the approval of the Bermuda Base Command patch that they were not entitled to an individual patch since the Bermuda Base Command was part of the Atlantic Base Command and should wear the latter patch.


 

Labrador and Northeast Canada Command

A white igloo in front of a red Aurora above a blue base, all placed on a white disc. The design is suggestive of the area where the base is located.

Approved 4 January 1943, and amended 13 March 1944 to include U. .S. Forces in Central Canada as well.

Greenland Base Command

Three horizontal symbolic waves in blue on a white disc bordered red. Design symbolizes the guarding of the United States along the northern frontier, and the colors red, white and blue are the national colors.

Approved 4 January 1943.


 

Hawaiian Department

(Established 6 February 1913

Redesignated

Central Pacific Base Command

 14 August 1944

U. .S. Army Hawaii (1947)

U. S. Army Support Command, Hawaii (1972)

An octagon of scarlet bearing the letter “H” in yellow, the upright elements being part of a circle. The stylized “H” stands for Hawaii. The eight sides of the insignia refers to the eight islands of the Hawaii Group. The colors, scarlet and yellow, are the old royal Hawaiian colors

Approved 10 January 1922, reapproved 17 November 1944 for the Central Pacific Base Command, 15 July 1957 for U. S. Army, Hawaii and 30 November 1972 for US Army Hawaii (editor’s note. Should be U. S. Army Support Command, Hawaii)

Hawaiian Separate Coast Artillery Brigade.

On a scarlet ellipse with long axis vertical, and with a yellow border, a black silhouette of Diamond Head surmounted by a gold projectile. The oval and projectile are the distinguishing features of the Coast Artillery insignia. Diamond Head is distinctive of Oahu, the most important island if the Hawaiian group, and is the location of the first American fortifications in Hawaii, and the most prominent landmark of Hawaii seen by visitors from the mainland

Approved 8 May 1936.


 

Hawaiian Coastal Defense

(Unauthorized)

A red flower, green stem and leaves on upright yellow oval bordered green. No record is known authorizing this insignia or it’s correct title. It is possible that approval for this insignia was sought, but like several Panama designs, it was not approved. Any further information on this insignia would be appreciated.

Hawaiian Cadre

(Unauthorized, title uncertain)

Similar to the patch of the former Hawaiian Division (now the insignia of the 24^th Division) but a shield rather than a disc. Patch consists of a green taro leaf stem up piped with a red shield bordered in green. Above the shield a yellow tab bordered red and with a “Hawaiian” on it in red. NO record is known authorizing this patch, not the correct title. It has been suggested that former members of the Hawaiian Division assigned to serve as cadre for new units being inducted and trained in Hawaii, but there is nothing available to confirm this.

Eastern Defense Command

On a shield divided horizontally red and blue by a yellow partition line invected, two yellow tridents in saltire all within a yellow border. The colors red, blue and yellow are representative of the three arms composing the Eastern Defense Command viz. Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry, while the tridents and the invected partition line which suggests waves are representative of the coastal defense functions of the organization.

Approved 27 November 1943

Originally called Eastern Theater of Operations and organized 24 December 1941. Retitled Eastern defense Command 18 March 1942. Discontinued 15 March 1946.

Southern Defense Command

On a shield per bend gules (red) and azure (blue) a bend wavy argent (white). The insignia is made in national colors, and the wavy bend suggests coastal defense.

Approved 17 April 1943

The Southern defense Command was activated 17 March 1941. Headquarters of this Command and that of the Third Army were one until 25 January 1944. Abolished 1 January 1945 with the Eastern Defense Command assuming its functions.

Antiaircraft Artillery Command, Western Defense Command

A square one point up divided horizontally by a zig-zag line with two points down the lower part black and the upper part red, the latter charged with yellow conventionalized sun issuing from behind the partition line. The device, the square, is a geometric arrangement of mountains found through out the Western Defense Command and which also form the letter “W” thus being truly symbolic of the Western Defense Command ad indicating protection.

Antiaircraft Artillery Command – Eastern Defense Command

On a convex triangle point to base the stylized letter “C” between three stylized letters “A” in triangle, all gold. The three “A”s represent Anti Aircraft Artillery, and the “C” is for Command. The colors are those for artillery.

Approved 21 September 1942

Antiaircraft Artillery Command – Central Defense Command

On a olive drab pointed cartouche a similar red figure couped per saltire charged with two double headed spears in slatire throughout. To be worn points vertical. Functioning in the Second army area the two spears indicate the dual command, and the scarlet and gold represent artillery. 

Approved 7 October 1942

Antiaircraft Artillery Command – Southern Defense Command

 On an olive drab trefoil with entouche-like base, three red segments of a quatrefoil, each charged with three golden spears issuing form axis throughout, one in pale between one bendwise and one bend sinisterwise. The three pattern symbolizes the dual command with that of the Third Army, and the colors are those for artillery.

Approved 9 October 1942.