The National Guard, which in time of peace is controlled by the various states of the United States, was called up for federal service on August 27, 1940. This was well before the actual declaration of War. To fill the void created by the this action, an act of Congress passed on October 21, 1940 authorized the states and territories of the United States to form local defense forces. Most states did create these forces and they performed duties during the War. These included maintaining order, guarding coast lines and important installations and assisting in event of emergencies or disasters. I am illustrating examples of insignia worn by some of these units and hope to add other examples as they become available.

California State Guard 1942-1945	Colorado State Guard 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Heather Vogel)	Connecticut State Guard 1940-1946	Florida State Guard 1943-1947 (Courtesy: Heather Vogel)	Georgia State Guard 1942-1947

Hawaiian Volunteer Unit Oahu Defense Volunteers 1942 (1)	Iowa State Guard 1941-1943	Iowa State Guard 1943-1947	Kansas State Guard 1941-1947	Maine State Guard 1941-1944

Maine State Guard Variation(Courtesy: Heather Vogel)	Maine State Guard Reserve 1942-1946	Massachusetts State Guard 1941-1947 (Courtesy: Janice M Flagg)	Massachusetts State Guard 1944-1947 (Courtesy: Lars Kleine)	Maryland State Guard 1941-1947

Michigan State Troops 1941-1947 (Courtesy: Lars Kleine)	Minnesota State Guard 1941-1947	Mississippi State Guard 1941-1947 (Courtesy: Heather Vogel)	Missouri State Guard Headquarters 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)	Missouri State Guard 1st Regiment (2) 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)

Missouri State Guard 1st Aero Squadron 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)	Missouri State Guard (Field)(3) 1st Regiment 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)	Missouri State Guard (Field) 1st Aero Squadron 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)	Missouri State Guard (Field) Headquarters Troop 1942-1947 (Courtesy: Jackie Sproat)	Nebraska State Guard 1943-1947

New Hampshire State Guard 1941-1947	New Jersey State Guard 1941-1947	New Mexico State Guard 1941-1947 Courtesy: Heather Vogel	New York State Guard 1940-1947	North Carolina State Guard 1941-1947 Courtesy: Heather Vogel

Ohio State Guard 1941-1947	Pennsylvania Minute Men Brassard Insignia 1943-1946	Pennsylvania Guard 2nd Regiment. 1944-1946 (Courtesy: Lars Kleine)	Pennsylvania Guard 10th Regiment. 1944-1946	Pennsylvania Guard 1st Cavalry Sq. 1944-1948 (Courtesy: Lars Kleine)

Pennsylvania Guard Reserve	Puerto Rico State Guard 1945-1946 (4)	Rhode Island State Guard 1941-1947	South Carolina Defense Force 1941-1947 Courtesy: Heather Vogel	Tennessee State Guard 1941-1947

Texas State Guard 1941-1947 (Courtesy: Lars Kleine)	Texas Defense Guard 1940-1943 Courtesy: Heather Vogel	Utah State Guard 1941-1946	Vermont State Guard 1941-1947	Virginia State Guard 1944-1947 Courtesy: Heather Vogel

Washington State Guard 1941-1947	West Virginia State Guard Courtesy: Heather Vogel	Wisconsin State Guard 1941-1947

NOTES:

1. The Oahu Defense Volunteers were organized but not accepted into the Hawaiian State Guard. (John Patton)
2. Similar patches exist for the 2-4 and the 6th Regiments with those numbers rather than 1.
3. Missouri had two patch designs for their units one for wear on the service uniform and the other for field uniforms. Similar field patches exist for the 2-4 and the 6th Regiments with those numbers rather than 1.
4. Puerto Rico was not a state of the United States. Despite that the official name of the local defense force was the Puerto Rico State Guard. This patch was adopted late in 1945 and may be postwar.