In 1943, as war raged in Europe and the Pacific, Tacoma's civil defense workers and public works units practiced their response to an attack. On Wednesday night January 13th mock attacks hit each of the city's eight civilian defense zones. Boy Scouts became "evacuees" who had to be safely removed from areas threatened by unexploded bombs and contaminated with mustard gas. The Tacoma emergency preparedness drills were the first of their type held in the Pacific Northwest.(T. Times 1/14/1943, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Publicity for Community Chest. As the war heated up, Fort Lewis was used as a staging and training base for soldiers shipping out. On weekends, many of these soldiers were released for leave in Tacoma. Tacoma just did not have enough hotel rooms to accomodate them, so Mayor Harry Cain asked the citizens of Tacoma to step up and provide housing. Many churches erected makeshift dormitories with some soldiers being housed in large homes like that of the Garvins.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; Garvin, James--Homes & haunts;

In June of 1942, soldiers who spent the Saturday night at the Mason Methodist Church gather around the fire Sunday morning in the church's Club Room. There were not enough rooms in Tacoma to house soldiers on wartime weekend leave, so area churches stepped up and offered weekend dormitory housing and a hot breakfast. (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; Mason Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma;

Publicity for Community Chest. Tuesday Night Dance at U.S.O. Club at 13th and Fawcett. Some military personnel and the hostesses of the evening, from the Tacoma Junior Women's Club, belly up to the bar- an ice cream bar, that is. Every Tuesday, a dance was hosted by a different women's club.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Dance--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evening gowns--1940-1950;

On July 23, 1942, the "Gallant Lady II" heads back into dock, returning her load of merrymaking servicemen and smiling USO junior hostesses to dry land. The yacht made weekly excursions with passengers from the USO.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma);

In July of 1942, U.S.O. Junior Hostess registration was located at the United Services Organization office in Room 106 of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Avenue. Five women posed for this publicity picture at a desk under a large U.S.O. banner.The women were, left to right, Eleanor Hoyt, unidentified woman in hat, Marie Caldwell, Grace Blangy and Phyllis Graves. The junior hostesses were responsible for building morale by providing female companionship for soldiers in town, serving as dance and sports partners. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. A-7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Hoyt, Eleanor; Caldwell, Marie; Blangy, Grace; Graves, Phyllis;

In January, 1943, buses are being loaded in front of the USO at South 13th and Fawcett Streets to take servicemen to Mount Rainier for a day of skiing. The USO provided entertainment for the many servicemen stationed in Pierce County during the war.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Publicity for Community Chest. The photographer takes a grounds eye view of a friendly softball game between servicemen at the South Tacoma USO in July of 1942.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Sports;

Two wooden, covered bus loading platforms were built in January of 1943 on South 10th, between A Street & Pacific Avenue, in an effort to speed the transportation of workers to the shipyards located on the Tideflats. The sheds were to be used only in loading buses headed to the shipyards. Fares were collected when riders entered the enclosures, speeding up the loading process. The city-built structures were temporary and not meant for permanent use. The Anderson Building, home to Knapp College at 1001-05 Pacific Ave., can be seen in the background. (TNT 1/7/1943, pg. 1-alternate progress photograph)

World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; Bus stops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--1940-1950; Anderson Building (Tacoma);

Nine female attendants pose in front of the Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave. They wear matching sparkling white shirts and trim tailored slacks. The time was October of 1942, World War II was raging and many men were either enlisting or leaving their usual jobs to work in the defense industries. Women stepped forward to fill jobs traditionally filled by men.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Three female and two male attendants at the Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave., listen to a man in a suit extoll the virtues of Maxwell Petroleum products. Maxwell Corp. had a plant located on the Tideflats at 721 Alexander Ave.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Nine female attendants dressed in trim uniforms of white shirts and tailored pants listen to a man in a suit extoll the virtues of Maxwell petroleum products. The women are posed in October of 1942 in front of the sleek glass and steel exterior of the Maxwell Super Service Station.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Women employees at Ohio Ferro-Alloys Corporation. As more men enlisted or were drafted into the service, women stepped forward to take their jobs, both in offices and in non-traditional labor positions. The Ohio Ferro-Alloys Corp. was constructed on the Tideflats in 1941. They produced ferro-chrome alloys that were used for armor plate on tanks and other weapons during the war.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Ohio Ferro-Alloys Corp. (Tacoma); Metallurgical industry--Tacoma;

Salishan - Interiors and Exteriors. Hogan's will open another grocery store at the government housing project at Salishan on the corner of South 38th and Yakima Avenue. The ground is newly graded and a few automobiles are parked outside the new grocery store.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma); Hogan's Fine Foods (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lincoln Heights War Housing. The interior of one of the rooms. This appears to be part of the same room shown in D16749-17. Tables and chairs, sitting chairs and couches are seen and several magazines are shown on the bookcase at the far corner. Large double doors lead to the outside.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Lincoln Heights Housing Project (Tacoma);

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. Women are cleaning the location for the new men's lounge. The women's lounge will contain a nursery where mothers can care for their children's needs. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

U.S.O. Costume Dance. Taken from slightly above, the dance floor is filled with couples, some close and some swing style. Crepe paper streamers are strung across the ceiling.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

On November 10, 1943, the U.S. Navy was the guest of honor at a formal dance held at the USO Center at 13th & Fawcett. The Lady Lions hosted the event as a belated Navy Day celebration. Table decorations were supplied by Walt Sutter and they represented a miniature Guadalcanal, complete with boats, sand and water. In this photograph, an unidentified sailor pointed out places of interest on the "replica of a Solomon Island Coral Reef Naval repair station," while other unidentified military men and junior hostesses looked on. The location of the repair station was a "Military Secret." The Solomon Island Campaign took place from January of 1942 to August of 1945, with much of the fighting taking place on Guadalcanal and surrounding islands. (T.Times 11/8/1943, pg. 8- info. only)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

During WWII, Mrs. William Wiley kept her most treasured mementos of her husbands service in Iran in a leather-bound folder. The clipping from the U.S. Army Dispatch that she received in December of 1943 went right into the folder the day she received it. The clipping showed her husband, Pvt. William Wiley, meeting the Commander in Chief of the American Military Forces, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pvt. Wiley had fractured his leg while on duty with the Persian Gulf Service Command. The President visited the hospital in which he was recuperating. (T.Times, 12/22/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Thelma Derrickson was one of the many women hired by the Tacoma Transit Company to drive the cities busses during WWII. She was hired in September of 1942. The Transit Department was looking for women 21 to 40, preferably with a high school education, some previous driving experience and an aptitude for mechanics. They fully expected that within a short time 3/4 of their drivers would be women. (T.Times, 9/10/1943, p.1; 9/13/1943, p.5) TPL-4559

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bus drivers--Tacoma;

University Union Club Honor Roll, Mr. Ireland. An outdoor plaque lists the names of the University Union Clubs members in service titled "Honor Roll".

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

On January 3, 1940, 1,800 troops stationed at Fort Lewis boarded the "U.S.S. Republic". They were being shipped to California to take part in the largest army-navy "war game" ever held in the United States. Six troop ships carried thousands of soldiers and marines and their field artillery for a lighting sea attack on the Monterey peninsula. The navy was responsible for teaching to troops how to load, lower away, row and land a fleet of small boats through the California breakers. (T. Times 1/3/1940 p.1 & 1/4/1940 p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Loading of troops and departure of U.S. Army transport "Republic" for California. View of side of ship departing from Tacoma. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Loading of troops and departure of U.S. Army trasport "Republic" for California. About 200 soldiers wait in line on dock to enter wooden plank walkway into ship. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

An unidentified soldier uses a mirror and a razor to shave during an overnight bivouac enroute from Fort Lewis to California. Over 36,000 troops were being transported to participate in war games. The 23,000 travelling by motor vehicles would take six days to arrive, beginning travel at 5 a.m. each day and stopping at 12 noon to set up camp. The reduced travelling hours were designed so as not to disrupt motor travel completely in Washington and Oregon. (T. Times 5/14/1941)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

On May 19, 1941, unidentified soldiers try to fill the time before supper with a game of cards as they caravan from Fort Lewis to California to participate in war games. 23,000 officers and men travelled in 4,000 motorized vehicles over two routes, clogging the highways as they travelled. They would drive only from 5a.m. to 12 noon, leaving the roads to civilians in the afternoons and evenings. It would take the troops six days to reach the war games site, setting up camp each night in between. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1; 5/20/41, pg. 1-photo)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

In May of 1941, 36,000 troops deserted Fort Lewis for California to participate in war games. 23,000 of them travelled on two routes, US 97 and US 99, by caravan. The caravans were made up of 4,000 motor vehicles. The photographer rode with the first truck convoy of the 41st Division on the initial leg on the trip to west central California. The first group that day totalled 4500 men and the second 2500. They stretched out in a line of trucks 60-70 miles long. They travelled from 5 a.m. to 12 noon, glutting the highways, and then made camp until the following morning. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Unidentified soldiers says goodbye to two female friends as they prepare to take part in a military convoy. In mid May of 1941, 36,000 Fort Lewis troops set out for California to participate in war games. The logistics were the equivalent of moving a small city. 23,000 men and officers travelled in 4,000 motor vehicles of all sizes, from big 6 wheelers to jeeps. There would be two separate caravans on 2 routes, US Hwy 97 and US 99. Departures would begin May 19 and continue through the 23. The remaining troops would travel on 25 trains. The war games would be held on the Hunter Liggett Reservation, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, near Fort Ord. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Five women offer first aid assistance to a "patient" with an injured leg during practice drills for the Women's Emergency Motor Corps at the Woodbrook Hunt Club.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

In April of 1941, the 30 members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps were taking part in drills held at the Woodbrook Hunt Club grounds. In this photograph, they are practicing field first aid, rendering medical attention and constructing a rough dray for transport. The group had gotten off to a rocky start when their founder Harriet Virginia was charged with Grand Larceny. The group decided that there was a need for a female branch of the Home Defense Corps and they elected Iris Bryan to guide the group. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);