The first camp of instruction held after the War was during September, 1920, when 22 officers and 319 men went into the camp that the National Guard of Hawaii had established at Schofield Barracks while on active duty during the World War, and received regular combat training. This camp has been the favorite site for the National Guard camps since that time because of its excellent condition and position. It is equipped with water, electricity and telephones, and is easily accessible. There has been some criticism that the camp is too modern to simulate real field conditions, but because of its many advantages it has usually been chosen as the site for the annual field training of the 298th Infantry.
There were two overnight camps and practice marches held during the months of July and August, 1920, in preparation for the fall maneuvers. A fifteen-days Field Training Encampment for organizations stationed in Honolulu, was held at Schofield Barracks, H. T., from September 18 to October 2, 1920, during which time they took part in the Annual Departmental Maneuvers. The following troops participated:
Quartermaster Corps, N. G. H.
Field and Staff, 1st Hawaiian Inf., N. G.
Supply Company, 1st Hawaiian Inf., N. G.
Companies A, B, C, D and E.
There were 22 officers and 319 enlisted men present during the entire period of encampment.
10.16.1922 – 10.30.1922 Company “C” 1st Hawaiian Infantry, Schofield Barracks(Picture from Hawaii National Guard Archives)
No encampment was held during 1921 but in the fall of 1922 the National Guard troops on Oahu again went into camp at Schofield Barracks and remained the usual fifteen days. At the same time camps were also held on both Maui and Hawaii. It was the policy of the National Guard of Hawaii at this time to have the organizations on these two latter islands hold separate camps as the cost of transporting them by sea travel to one place was almost prohibitive.
In September, 1923 a fifteen days’ encampment was held by the two companies on Maui. The following month the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 298th Infantry again journeyed to Schofield Barracks to hold joint maneuvers with the regular troops. The 3rd Battalion, 298th Infantry. held its camp at Hilo, Hawaii, during November, 1923.
Due to the disorganized condition of the National Guard of Hawaii, caused by the discharge of the Filipinos, no encampments were held during 1924 . . .
The following required Fifteen-Day Annual Field Training Periods were held during this biennial period:
Owing to the discharge of more than 500 Filipinos through their technical ineligibility to be members of the Militia during the months of November and December, the Annual Encampments of all other units were cancelled. Abolishing the Annual Encampments is a most unfortunate and retrogressive step for the Territorial Guard, but could not be avoided as few units could have mustered the attendance required by Federal Regulations.
Owing to the large number of discharges of ineligible Filipinos. all camps of instruction Were discontinued for the calendar year 1924 of Infantry units. Two annual field training periods were held, however, as follows:
Ten (10) over-night camps of instruction have been held in the past year throughout the islands, the larger ones being conducted on the Punchbowl Target Range by the organizations stationed on Oahu. A total of eight (8) over-night camps of instruction and target practices have been held throughout the Guard on Oahu during the past year. Three (3) annual field training encampments of fifteen days each were held as follows:
Island of Maui, September 15-29, 1923.
Island of hawaii, November 14-28, 1923,
Island of Oahu, October 15-29, 1923,
The total number of men to attend these fifteen days encampments were nine hundred and ninety-one (991). Three annual encampments will again be held during the fall of the year 1924 at Wailuku, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; and Schofield Barracks, Oahu.
The following year all National Guard troops participated in the defense of the Islands during the great Joint Army and Navy Exercises held in the Territory from April 25 to May 2, 1925. The National Guard organizations on Oahu were given a separate mission in the defense of Honolulu from attack by sea and went into camp at the Territorial Fair Grounds on April 18th. The organizations on Maui were transported to reenforce this camp and the companies onHawaii were grouped at Hilo to defend that city from invasion. The National Guard of Hawaii carried out its assignments perfectly during this mimic war and received considerable commendation from the regular army.
On January 21, 1925, these Headquarters were notified by Headquarters Hawaiian Department that Joint Army and Navy Field Exercises would be held about April, 1925, and an invitation extended the Hawaii National Guard to furnish at least a Battalion of Infantry to assist the “Black Forces” in the defense of Oahu. At the time of receipt of this invitation, there was but one company recruited to strength all others being in a depleted condition of personnel owing to the discharge of about 60% of the enlisted men who were ineligible Filipinos. The invitation of Headquarters Hawaiian Department was accepted and a regiment of Infantry pledged for the maneuvers due to begin April 25. Immediate and strenuous efforts were made by these Headquarters and the entire remaining Guard personnel to have our ranks filled with the required numbers of intelligent recruits. A fifteen-day field training period was authorized from April 18 to May 2, with the view to intensive field training from April 18 to 24 and participation in the Joint Army and Navy Exercises from April 25 to May 2. Following are the organizations that attended the encampment and maneuvers:
During the period of the exercises (April 25 – April 27), 13 companies of Infantry. 1 Quartermaster Detachment and 1 Medical detachment were on constant duty in the Honolulu Forts Sub-sector, defending the beach line from Diamond Head Lighthouse to the center of the Pearl Harbor Channel. In addition to the above troops. 1 battalion of 4 companies of infantry was furnished the Commanding Officer Schofield Sector, as a reserve. This battalion was used during the “hostilities” in defense of the Haleiwa Sub-sector.
The following year the camps were held at Schofield Barracks and Hilo, and with the complete organization of the 298th and 299th Infantries. In 1927 a definite annual camping plan was placed in effect.
Maui Camp Scene. 10 years ago. A photograph of the 1927 Maui encampments. Paukukalo has seen a vast improvement in the 10 years since these Maui companies went into camp in 1927(Picture from the Hawaii National Guard Archives)
12. The following encampments for field training were held during the year:
Schofield Barracks, Oahu, T. H., August 13, 1927 to August 27, 1927, both dates inclusive
Wailuku, Maui, T. H, September 10, 1927 to September 24, 1927, both dates inclusive:
Hilo, Hawaii, October 1,1927 to October 15,1927, both dates inclusive:
Punchbowl Target Range, Honolulu, T. H., October 15, 1927 ‘to October 29, 1927, both dates inclusive:
The totals represent a gain of attendance of 112 over the attendance for the previous year at the annual encampments.
Service Company 298th Infantry at Schofield Barracks.Champion Musketry Squad – August 1928 Company C, 298th Infantry Annual Encampment – Schofield Barracks 21 hits – 17 targets Possible – 26 tgts. 1. N Rodrigues, 2. M. Kuramoto, 3. L. Chun, 4. L. Chang, 5. Y. Fai Lum, 6. E. Ho, 7. F Wong, 8. Ed. Young(Pictures from the Hawaii National Guard Archives)
10. The following Field Training Encampments were held during the past year:
Schofield Barracks, Oahu, August 18, 1928 to September 1, 1928, both dates inclusive:
Pankukalo, Wailuku, Maui, September 15, 1928, to September 29, 1928, both dates inclusive:
Punchbowl Target Range, Honolulu, T. H., October 16, 1928, to October 29, 1928, both dates inclusive:
The totals represent a gain of 112 over the attendance for the previous year at the annual encampments
12. The following Field training encampments were held the past year:
Fort Shafter, Oahu, from July 13, 1929 to July 27, 1929 both dates inclusive:
Schofield, Oahu, from August 10, 1929 to August 24, 1929 both dates inclusive:
Preformed Advance and Rear Detachment Duties
On account of the then pending change of station of Company “D”, 298th infantry, then at Aiea, Oahu, that organization did not attend the Field training camp held the past year.
Honolulu Park, Hilo, Hawaii, from September 14, 1929 to September 28, 1929, both dates inclusive:
Preformed Advance and Rear Detachment Duties
The 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, stationed the island of Maui was transported in two contingents, the first leaving Lahaina by inter-island steamship “Haleakala” and consisting of companies “A” and “D”, 299th infantry. The second wave, consisting of Companies “B” and “C” and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, left from Kahului, Maui on the inter-island steamship “Hualalai”.
The following units reported in their respective camps with all officers and all enlisted men present, thereby having 100% attendance during Field Training periods.
