During WWII, the USOs in Tacoma did much more then sponsor dances and provide "r and r" for the troops at home - as important as those services were. This photograph from January 1943 shows "mending night" at the Tacoma USO at 415 So. 13th St. Trousers were hemmed, patches were sewn on, and caps were mended with a motherly touch and a warm smile. Left to right, back row: Mrs. John Troutt is doing some mending for Seaman Chuck McCoy while PFC Richard Botelho looks on; next is Pvt. Andrew Motes. Front row: Seaman 1st Class Dean McCullough holds the spool of thread while Mrs. Ethyle Ferris mends his cap. Marcella (Mrs. Frank) LaFleur is seen at the sewing machine and Corp. Allen Hults stands on a box while Mrs. Ruth Christensen mends the hem of his trousers. (T.Times 2/3/1943 p.16)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; McCoy, Chuck; Botelho, Richard; Motes, Andrew; McCullough, Dean; Ferris, Ethyle; LaFleur, Marcella; Hults, Allen; Christensen, Ruth; Sewing;

During WWII, the USOs in Tacoma did much more then sponsor dances and provide "r and r" for the troops at home - as important as those services were. This photograph from January 1943 shows "mending night" at the Tacoma USO at 415 So. 13th St. Trousers were hemmed, patches were sewn on, and caps were mended with a motherly touch and a warm smile. Left to right, back row: Mrs. John Troutt is doing some mending for Seaman Chuck McCoy while PFC Richard Botelho looks on; next is Pvt. Andrew Motes. Front row: Seaman 1st Class Dean McCullough holds the spool of thread while Mrs. Ethyle Ferris mends his cap. Marcella (Mrs. Frank) LaFleur is seen at the sewing machine and Corp. Allen Hults stands on a box while Mrs. Ruth Christensen mends the hem of his trousers. (T.Times 2/3/1943 p.16)

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; McCoy, Chuck; Botelho, Richard; Motes, Andrew; McCullough, Dean; Ferris, Ethyle; LaFleur, Marcella; Hults, Allen; Christensen, Ruth; Sewing;