J.T. Swan, center, Bos'n First Class, introduces recruits D.R. Turk (left) and A.G. West to the art of knot tying. The trio were photographed aboard the battleship USS New Mexico on July 22, 1927. The New Mexico was in port in Tacoma until August 1st. Guests were invited to view the flagship of the Pacific fleet in the afternoon. Commissioned in 1918, the battleship served in both World War I & II before being sold for scrap in 1947. (TNT 7/22/1927 p.1)
On March 12, 1924, Maj. General Edwin Burr Babbitt and his new bride, the former Miss Maud Ainsworth of Portland, returned from their two week honeymoon in Southern California to their newly remodeled home at Camp Lewis. Gen. Babbitt was Camp Commander and during his absence for his wedding and honeymoon, his grim and neglected bachelor quarters had been transformed into this neat, if unpretentious, home. The crowning glory was the bulb garden in front, planned by Gen. Babbitt for his new bride. (TNT 3/13/1924, pg. 11) G69.1-160 TPL-10313
Camp Lewis (Wash.); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; Babbitt, Edwin Burr--Homes & haunts;
Mounted artillery in semi-circle, probably at Camp Lewis. The Great War was over but this shining array of military might provided a reassuring sight for soldiers and civilians alike. G69.1-166
Unidentified building at Camp Murray as photographed in June of 1921. Railroad tracks located close by would make transporting men and equipment easier. Camp Murray was the home of the Washington National Guard and was located near American Lake. TPL-6466; G77.1-012
Arsenal at Camp Murray. The Arsenal was built on the grounds of Camp Murray in 1915 and nearly a hundred years later, is now the museum of the Washington National Guard. Here historical artifacts are collected and preserved to inspire and educate past and present Guardsmen and citizens alike. TPL-6467; G77.1-010
On February 24, 1922, ten Army personnel stood in front of a large truck which contained a wireless telephone and radio system with Magnavox speakers. A sign on the truck indicates that it belongs to the "Rock of the Marne Division," a nickname for the famed 3rd Infantry Division. The men and vehicle were at Camp Lewis. Army officers had planned back in November of 1921 to obtain a receiver and amplifier for radio concerts and were testing this process through Magnavox. By early February of 1922 Camp Lewis was able to hear music and daily news from San Francisco and weather reports from ships far out at sea. Arrangements would be made to transmit the music of the Camp Lewis military bands through space to areas far away. G69.1-164 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-31-21, A-12-article; TNT 2-1-22, p. 1-article) TPL-10311
Military personnel--Camp Lewis; Trucks--Camp Lewis; Signs (Notices);
Camp Lewis' 44th Infantry was noted for its fine athletes. Their tug-of-war team, under the direction of athletic officer Capt. Booth, had defeated teams from the Navy, Marines and the Bremerton Naval Shipyard in recent contests. In August of 1918 the 44th Infantry tug-of-war team posed with one of their many trophies. The shiny trophy is displayed on a large, thick coil of rope. Camp Lewis was host to a big track and field meet August 21-22nd, 1918. Although tug-of-war was be one of the events in competition, the outcome was not published in the News Tribune. The 44th Infantry was, however, the top point holder at the end of the meet with 59 points overall. (TNT 8-6-18, p. 11-article; TNT 8-22-18, p. 11-article) G69.1-156
On October 30, 1941 troops of the 3rd Division's Infantry Battalion maintained close-order formation as they passed the Roxy Theater, turning from Broadway to march down South 9th Street. One of the largest crowds to ever watch a parade in Tacoma gathered to view the Army Day extravaganza. The parade of over 10,000 soldiers, with their support vehicles, stretched for over 6 miles. (TTimes 10/30/1941 p. 1)
Crowds line the street on October 30, 1941, as men and artillery pass in formation during the Army parade. Over 10,000 soldiers would take part in the 2 hour parade through downtown Tacoma.
On October 30, 1941, downtown businesses were closed due to the massive two hour military parade making its way downtown. Following the parade, stores would throw open their doors for a once a year United Tacoma Days sale. Here bus and or streetcar employees meet with a coordinator, possibly to go over schedule changes made to deal with the increase of downtown traffic.
Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; People associated with transportation;
Tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor on October 21, 1941. Some of the 41 tanks are pictured during the one-day exercise. 4,500 men participated in the "battle" where everything, but the shells, was real. Spearheaded by the 10-ton armored tanks, the "Blues" traveled across rolling and rough terrain to engage the "Reds" in combat. (T. Times 10/22/1941, pg. 1)
Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis;
Major Ralph Jackson of the Washington State Guard pictured deep in concentration over his paperwork. This photograph accompanied an article urging volunteering in the State Guard, headquartered at Camp Murray. The State Guard was organized in 1941 to take the place of the National Guard which had been called into active duty. This group provided the governor with a military force to be employed in protection of lives and property within the state boundaries during an emergency. Men 18- 55 were eligible to volunteer. The State Guard was recommended for those contemplating future military careers or those unable to serve in regular military duties. (T. Times 7/1/1942, pg. 5)
A young soldier, carrying his possessions, happily prepared to board a military transport at the Armory, bound for the Olympic Peninsula. Thirty Washington State Guardsmen and their commander were called into active duty, the first in Washington. They were leaving on June 18, 1942 for their new headquarters at Forks, where they would fan out to man coastal air raid warning posts. They would be working with the Fourth Fighter Command, US Army Air Corps. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations;
On June 18, 1942, a conference regarding travel orders was taking place as the first group of Washington State Guard to be called into active duty prepared to leave the Armory for the Olympic Peninsula. Pictured left to right are Sgt. Wallace Drake, 1st Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts- detachment commander, Sgt. Tom Cutter and Sgt. James E. Collins. The men will be headquartered at Forks where they will man coastal air raid warning posts. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1-picture)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Drake, Wallace; Roberts, Wilbur E.; Cutter, Tom; Collins, James E.;
A group of State Guardsmen are pictured leaving the Armory and loading into motor lorries on June 18, 1942. Thirty men and one officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard had been called into active duty, the first in the state of Washington. They were travelling to the Olympic Peninsula where they would man coastal air raid warning stations. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Military vehicles;
Group picture of 30 Washington State Guardsmen and their commander, the first in the state to be called into active service. In the foreground is 1st Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts, Commander. The men are part of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard. They departed at 8:20 a.m. on June 18, 1942 in motor lorries for the Olympic Peninsula where they will man air raid warning posts. They will work with the Fourth Fighter Command, US Army Air Corps. The men will be headquartered at Forks, a logging and lumber town in Clallam County. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 2-picture, names in caption)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Roberts, Wilbur E.;
Permanent barracks and buildings at Fort Lewis. By summer of 1941, over 50,000 soldiers were scheduled to be stationed at Fort Lewis, making it the fourth largest city in the state. It ranked in population just below Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. Fort Lewis was already the headquarters of the 3rd Division regular Army, but since last September, they had been joined by the 41st Division National Guard. (T. Times 2/16/1941, pg. 3)
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Barracks--Fort Lewis; Military facilities--Wash.;
Permanent barracks and buildings at Fort Lewis as they appeared in February of 1941. In 1916, Pierce County presented the federal government with 70,000 acres of land to be used as a military post for mobilization of troops in World War I. The post was known as Camp Lewis. After the war, the camp was dismantled. In September of 1927, it was renamed Fort Lewis and scheduled for 10 years of enlargement and development. The impending entry into World War II had sparked even more development. (T.Times 2/26/1941 p.3)
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Barracks--Fort Lewis; Military facilities--Wash.;
Chapel at Fort Lewis. The chapel was built in 1934 at a cost of $90,000, part of a six year, five and 1/2 million dollar improvement project funded by the federal government. The chapel is a two story brick structure with a colonnaded entry and a rose window. The inside was suitable for worship of all faiths. (T.Times 2/26/1941 p.3)
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Chapels--Fort Lewis;
Wedding of Lt. A. W. Pribnow and Betty Fry at Fort Lewis. Mock wedding on mule back. The couple rides in chairs tied to either side of the mule's back. It is an old tradition that newly wedded officers and their brides are given a ride by their artillery battalion on the unit's caisson or gun carriage. The 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion, lacking such equipment, was giving the tradition a fresh look by riding the couple on two chairs lashed to a mule's back. (not the same event as D10861 image A)
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Mules; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis); Pribnow, A.W.; Fry, Betty;
Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. A military band stands at rest while a dirigible flies overhead. The hills are covered with nearly a thousand seated spectators, present to view the show of military might. The 3rd Division, over 3,000 strong, would be parading for Washington's new Governor Langlie. The afternoon would be spent on close inspection of artillery and vehicles. (T. Times 3/6/1941, pg. 1)
Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Airships;
In December of 1940, Sgt. Jack Bergnouse, from Company G 161st Infantry, stood at attention while his comrades watched. He was modelling the battle togs and pack of the 1940 modern soldier. He posed with his helmet on, bayonet fixed and feet encased in military rubber overshoes. The battlewear was much lighter and more streamlined than that of World War I; but he was still wearing the M1917 steel "Doughboy" style helmet left over from the first World War. In 1941-42, the more protective M-1 "Steel Pot" helmet was adopted as a replacement. (T. Times 12/23/1940, pg. 1)
Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry, Company G (Wash.); Bergnouse, Jack; World War, 1939-1945--Military uniforms--United States;
On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) unit set up machine gun emplacements on the Tacoma tideflats to protect Tacoma from a mock "attack" by planes. As night fell, powerful searchlights, located at Browns Point, near Stadium High, and on the tideflats, cut through the dark sky, locating airplanes from Gray field as they entered the air space over Tacoma. This camouflaged foxhole was placed where it could guard the Hooker Chemical plant, in the background, from attack. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg.1)
205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);
A portion of the current 900 recruits pose on the tarmac near the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. The volunteers face six weeks of intensive training, including drilling. They are destined for specialized branches of the service- such as medical corps, ordnance or the air corps. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life;
The U.S.S. Laffey was on display at Tacoma Municipal Dock after being hit by five Japanese kamikaze planes and four bombs in an attack 30 miles north of Okinawa. The crew suffered 103 casualties--32 dead and 71 wounded. The destroyer, "riddled like a sieve above the water-line"--the hull and superstructure twisted by the impact, was drydocked at Todd Shipyards for repairs. In 1946, she participated in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini. (T.Times, 5/26/1945, p.1; Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IV, pp. 16-19).
U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Municipal Dock (Tacoma);
Destroyer U.S.S. Laffey at 11th St. The USS Laffey was on display at Municipal Dock. The destroyer survived an attack by six Japanese suicide planes and two bombs sixty miles off Japan. The hull and superstructure were grotesquely twisted by the impact. (T.Times, 5/30/1945, p.9)
U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Municipal Dock (Tacoma);
Destroyer U.S.S. Laffey at 11th St. Miss Marie Ruedin and Miss Doris Long inspect the battle-scarred aft gun turret of the U.S.S. Laffey. The destroyer was on display at the Tacoma Municipal Dock after it was hit by six Japanese suicide planes and two bombs. F 1/C Maurice Miller, showing the damaged gun to the women, was on the forward deck gun when Laffey was struck. One of his companions was killed, one wounded. (T.Times, 6/1/1945, p.1)
U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Ruedin, Marie; Long, Doris; Miller, Maurice;
