A superb grouping of photograph albums, insignia, and related ephemera compiled by an unidentified sergeant attached to the U.S. Army's 21st Infantry Regiment, based at Schofield Barracks adjacent to Wheeler Airfield in Honolulu. The albums are accompanied by two copies of the Hilo Tribune Herald, May 17 and 19, and June 7 and 9, 1941, placing the albums' owner in Hawaii at a minimum of only seven months before the Japanese attacks. These excellent albums contain over 350 original photographs, 2.5 x 3.5 in. to 7.5 x 9.25 in., with images showing scenes of Schofield Barracks and buildings thereat, Wheeler Airfield with aircraft parked outside the hangars to 'protect' them from sabotage, stunning images of aircraft in flight, machine gun practice and jungle training, men in uniform and on leave, military vehicles, street scenes in Honolulu and Hilo, commercial vessels, hula dancers, beaches, etc with additional images from Fort McDowell in California, Fort Slocum in New York, the Panama Canal. 175+ of the images are military in nature. The vast majority of the photos show enlisted men and NCOs enjoying their idyllic lifestyle in the year that would prove to be the 'calm before the storm'. WITH: three rolled group photos, one 16 x 6.5 in. showing men before a signed reading 'KCM REGULARS - HAWAII' and beneath a barracks sign reading: 'PERMANENT DETACHMENT BARRACKS', the second photograph 20 x 8 in., showing 'CO. H 21ST INFANTRY SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, T.H. - 1939'; the third photograph 16 x 3.5 in. showing men in uniform standing at attention before staff cars and ambulances. WITH: two 8 x 10 in. photographs of the soldier, one in uniform, along with his sergeant's shoulder insignia, overseas service bars, collar discs, Purple Heart, Good Conduct, and American Service Defense ribbons, etc. WITH: the 21st regimental history: 'The Story of a Regiment', by Capt. Judson M. Smith (Honolulu: Advertiser Publishing Co.), 1940. 148pp. 4to. in blue and green cloth. A fine history of the 21st through the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish-American War, to the current day as the author describes the regiments sojourn in its 'Mid-Pacific Paradise'. He notes: '...To and fro in the narrow entrance to Pearl Harbor sleek gray warships pass...that Fleet is safe just so long as Pearl Harbor is protected...Lethargy, indeed, insofar as it means existing combat, is imposed upon us....' This 'lethargy' would be dissipated a few months later, as Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Airfield, and the 'sleek, gray warships' of the Pacific Fleet were blasted by the Japanese attack. Overall fine condition.