Civilian Defense Corps Pin Badges

Every unit of the OCD had a specific pin badge (civilian-dress lapel buttons) featuring the emblem of that service. The small pins were to be worn in the buttonhole of the left lapel or pinned over the left breast.

The pin badges are very small, approximately half an inch (1/2”) in diameter. They usually feature either a brooch pin and clasp fitting or a screw post to the rear with a small disc that tightens the badge in place.

Some pin badges were made in sterling silver. The Robbins Company in Attleboro, Mass. made a large number of the screw post pin badges.

A circular badge or pin with a blue background, gold border, and a white triangle containing a lightning bolt symbol in the center.
A close-up of two small metallic components of the rear of a lapel button or pin, the other a circular part with a hole in the center.

Do you have a collection of Civilian Defense pin badges from WWII? If so, I’d be delighted to add them to this page. Send me a message via the Contact page.

Description of Lapel Emblems

The following details are taken from Appendix 12, page 131 of the manual “Legal Aspects of Civilian Protection”, OCD Publication No. 2701

Text from a document about lapel emblems, including descriptions of insignia for U.S. Citizens Defense Corps and Civil Air Patrol with details on size, use, and design.

National Security Award Civil Defense Pin Badge

The National Security Award was created in 1943 to recognize individuals who had undertaken measures of security and protection at manufacturing plants, industrial locations, transportation facilities, power plants and other utilities contributing to the war effort.

The plastic pin shown is approximately three-quarters of an inch wide.

Die-struck versions of the badge were also produced and were manufactured by the “Bastian Brothers, Rochester, NY”. The Bastian Brothers Company produced jewelry, lapel pins and medallions.