As shadows edge out into Pacific Avenue, they blend with the marching military units and vehicles during the 1951 Armed Forces Day parade. Everyone has paused, perhaps for the start of the parade. Honor guard is at front, followed by large groups of soldiers and other servicemen.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Armed Forces Day; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two of the Canadian troops at Fort Lewis wear berets while they carve several hams on November 24, 1950. The main body of the 25th Canadian infantry brigade and the Canadian Army's Special Force came to Tacoma aboard toop trains starting in October 1950. The troops, all volunteers, were scheduled to stay at Fort Lewis through the winter barring an assignment by the United Nations. The 2nd battalion of the Princess Patricias, a Calgary-based Canadian light infantry outfit of 900 men, were scheduled for overseas departure late in November. The unit continued its training at Fort Lewis before leaving for Korean duty. (TNT, 10/20/1950, p.C-3; 11/15/1950, p.24)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Soldiers--Canadian; Meat; Korean War, 1950-1953--Military life;

Military police for layout story, Times, Earl Floathe. A man wears the arm band and helmet of the Military Police while talking on a specialized telephone and reviewing notes in this photograph from February of 1949.

Military police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Communication devices; Telephones;

The Washington National Guard had just received government supplies and weapons, which would be used by the National Guard in future military maneuvers. The large shipment was sent to Camp Murray, and more equipment was expected to arrive. View of hundreds of jeeps which would be used to transport National Guardsmen and government supplies (T. Times, 10/9/47, p. 2).

Military vehicles--Tacoma; Jeep automobile; Militias; Washington National Guard (Tacoma);

Activities at the United Churches Service Center at 9th and Pacific. High school seniors and college girls volunteered at the center that offered recreational activities for servicemen and religious instruction for young Tacomans. A group of young people play billiards in this photo. The center was open seven days a week and offered information to servicemen on local church services, but also had facilities for television viewing, a library, ping pong, billiards, snack bar, a wide variety of table games, a music room, and bowling. (TNT 4/16/1950, pg. A-4)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Billiards--Tacoma; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma);

A volunteer hands out pool cues and billiard balls to servicemen at the United Churches Service Center, sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches, at 9th and Pacific. The center, under the direction of the Rev. Loyal H. Vickers, provided religious instruction for young Tacomans and recreational facilities for the area's 30,000 servicemen. The Council allotted $12,000 from its budget to support the center. In addition to providing recreation, the center arranged banquets, skating parties, cruises and provided weekday Bible study for Tacoma young people. (TNT 4/16/1950, pg. A-4)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billiards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billiard balls; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma);

John Lyman, Fort Lewis soldier from Chicago, plays tunes while servicemen and teenage volunteers gather around the piano to sing popular songs at the United Churches Service Center at 9th and Pacific. In its seventh year, the center was providing recreation for 12,000 people a month. It was open from 10 a.m. to midnight every day, and all night on Saturday to provide overnight housing for servicemen. A waffle party at 9:30a.m. Sunday morning was provided for the servicemen along with transportation to the church of their choice. (TNT 4/16/1950, pg. A-4) TPL-10386

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Pianos; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma); Lyman, John;

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 to allow citizens to come together on a single holiday to thank our men in uniform for their service to our country. In this photograph of the May 1950 Armed Forces Day parade military units from Fort Lewis are marching south on Pacific Avenue. The camera's image offers a view of the facades of the buildings in the 900 block of Pacific. The Rust Building with 12 stories is at the end of the block. Awnings and fire escapes hang from many of the buildings. All the buildings in the 900 block of Pacific were demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the Park Plaza North Parking Garage.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of the barbershop in the remodeled Canteen at Veteran's Administration Hospital. The Canteen was in a quanset-hut style building on the hospital grounds. The barbershop has been furnished with an older-style barber's chair, round mirrors over the cabinets, and side-chairs in the waiting area. Hair tonic and other toiletries line the counter behind the barber's chair and a cash register sits on the other cabinet.

American Lake Veterans' Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood--1950-1960; Barbershops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Cash registers;

Pvts. Thomas Bennett, Duane Yenior and Clayton Palmer are shown relaxing at the North Fort Lewis Army Personnel Center in early February, 1953. Colleen Kelly, program director for Service Club #3, holds a selection from the Center's well-stocked library of records. Service Club #3 was just one of several service clubs on base; they offered planned entertainment each evening including dances and movies. The Army Personnel Center started operations this month at North Fort Lewis after its transfer from Fort Lawton. Commanded by Col. Edward Schmitt, it handles thousands of inductees and personnel to be assigned to the Far East. (TNT 2-17-53, p. 7) TPL-10394

Military personnel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kelly, Colleen; US Army Service Clubs (Tacoma); Phonographs; Sound recordings; Fireplaces;

Portion of east wing extension, Marymount Military Academy, ca. 1963. Marymount was the only military school for boys age 6-16 in the state of Washington. Dedicated in 1923, the school was run by the Dominican Sisters, a Catholic teaching order. Marymount was specifically designed as a small boarding school with enrollment generally capped at 150; however, when enrollment dipped even lower, it was decided to close the school in 1976.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway

This is the Grand Rapids PG-98 gunboat about a month before her launch date of April 4, 1970. She was the 11th of 12 gunboats built for the US Navy by Tacoma Boatbuilding. Susan Ford, young daughter of Rep. (later President) and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford of Michigan, was the ship's sponsor. The Grand Rapids was named after the hometown of Rep. Ford. The vessel would be commissioned the USS Grand Rapids on September 5, 1970 and be decommissioned on October 1, 1977. Photograph ordered by US Steel. (www.navsource.org/archives)

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Camp Draper, the June 1934 training encampment for the Washington National Guard, held at Camp Murray. Artillery is lined up on a plain for training exercises.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel; Arms & armament; Artillery (Weaponry)--1930-1940;

Military personnel lounge on the grass listening to a speaker located under the tent at the June 1934 Washington National Guard encampment at Camp Murray. The encampment was held each year to train the guard in military exercises. In 1934, the encampment was named "Camp Draper." The Wa. National Guard was established in 1884 under Territorial Governor Watson C. Squire to protect the state, preserve law and order and support the national armed forces.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel; Washington National Guard (Wash.);

A show of Washington National Guard military force for what appear to be invited guests at the 1934 training encampment at Camp Murray. A tractor pulls a wagon loaded with artillery operators, all seated with their arms crossed in the same way, and also the cannon mounted on a wheeled carriage. Three of these units cross the parade grounds.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel; Arms & armament; Artillery (Weaponry)--1930-1940; Washington National Guard (Wash.); Caissons (Vehicles);

Military parade of might at the 1934 Washington National Guard encampment at Camp Murray, the "Camp Draper." These vehicles appear to be early tanks. A military band stands at one side of the parading vehicles.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel; Washington National Guard (Wash.); Military bands; Armored vehicles; Arms & armament--1930-1940;

Exterior of recently completed brick quarters for bachelor officers at Fort Lewis. Colonial-style architecture with pedimented entry and keystone element above windows. Over a period of six years, the federal government has expended $5,500,000 at the Fort and provided employment for thousands. The development program is scheduled to be completed by the end of 1934. Over 80 buildings, in brick, stucco and steel, have replaced the ramshackle wooden structures at the Fort, making it one of the principal US encampments. (T. Times 11/23/1934, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Officers' quarters--Fort Lewis; Barracks--Fort Lewis;

Newly constructed officers' housing at Fort Lewis. Cluster of Colonial-style, two-story brick houses with covered entries and side bays. Each home will be occupied by one officer and his wife. The construction of this housing was part of a six year, five and one half million dollar development program at Ft. Lewis. All construction was scheduled to be completed by the end of 1934, making Ft. Lewis one of the principal U.S. encampments. (T. Times 11/23/1934, pg. 1; 11/24/1934, pg. 5) (WSHS)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Officers' quarters--Fort Lewis;

Baseball Team, Battery "F," 143rd Field Artillery California National Guard, Camp Lewis. July 17, 1925. (WSHS)

Camp Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; California National Guard, Battery F, 143rd Field Artillery (Camp Lewis); Baseball players--Camp Lewis--1920-1930;

1938 Army Day at Fort Lewis. A soldier demonstrates the use of a rifle to several people attending the World War I anniversary event. Once a year, the army base threw open its doors to show their current state of national preparedness to defend the country. (T. Times 4/6/1938, pg. 1)

Arms & armament--Tacoma--1930-1940; Artillery (Weaponry); Fort Lewis (Wash.);

C.M.T.C. awards ceremonies at Fort Lewis. Four young soldiers carrying ceremonial flags, the color guard, prepare to leave tent area. 250 youths lived in the tents while enrolled in the Citizens Military Training Camp. The goal of the annual encampment was to educate a ready group of young men, trained to serve in the military if needed. The nation could maintain a state of military readiness without a large standing army. (T.Times, 8/4/1938, p. 1).

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Citizens Military Training Camp--Fort Lewis;

C.M.T.C. awards ceremonies. The Citizens Military Training Camp at Fort Lewis attracted an enrollment of 250 youths. Here, a mother and two young women watch as three trainees make adjustments in the field artillery. (T. Times, 8/4/1938, p. 1).

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Citizens Military Training Camp--Fort Lewis;

Army Day at Fort Lewis marks the 21st anniversary of the United States entry into the World war. Corporal Gerald Roeder, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, explains how the theodolite instrument determines wind velocity. (T.Times, 4/6/1938, p.1).

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Meteorology; Meteorological instruments--1930-1940;

Young men in a trench are trained in the use of artillery during the July 1934 Citizen's Military Training Camp (CMTC) at Camp Murray. During the 20's and 30's, young men interested in military careers could receive training in summer camps. These camps filled the gap between a large standing army and totally untrained volunteers. In 1934, for the first time, the camp combined training for the CMTC, ROTC and Officers' Reserve Corps. (T. Times 7/13/1934, pg. 1) TPL-8614

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma's famous Troop B demonstrates some trick riding at the 1935 Washington National Guard encampment at Camp Murray, Camp A.H. Hankins. A guardsman on a horse jumps over three of his fellow national guard members, posing mischievously under umbrellas. Troop B is actually designated as the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard and it is the oldest military organization in the state. This group is part of the 7,000 enlisted men and 600 officers taking part in the 15 day field training. (T. Times 6/12/1935, pg. 1)

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel--1930-1940; Horseback riding; Horses--Jumping (Horsemanship); Horses--Show jumping; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma);

Army Day at Fort Lewis, April 6, 1936. 30,000 visitors were expected to take advantage of this annual opportunity to view Ft. Lewis peacetime activities. Included in the festivities was a review of the troops. Soldiers assembling for parade. Groups are gathering on street lined with young trees and 3-story, brick buildings. Wooden buildings are in the background. (T. Times 4/6/1936 & 4/7/1936, pg 1)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Soldiers;

Army Day at Fort Lewis. Military unit on parade grounds. Memorial monument and several 2-story, brick buildings in background. (T. Times 4/6 & 4/7/1936, pg.1)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Soldiers;

Field artillery. Four radio operators with equipment set-up in an open field.

Military - U. S. Army - Military Units - Field Artillery - Radio OperatorsEquipment - Military Equipment - Communication Equipment - Radio Equipment

The massed colors of all the regiments in the Third Division are held at attention before the crowd at the Third Div. Review at Fort Lewis on May 13, 1937. (T.Times 5/14/1937, pg. 1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Military standards;

Fort Lewis Third Division Review, held May 13, 1937. Front view of military tank, with two soldiers visible through openings beneath the gun turret.

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Tanks (Military science)--Fort Lewis;