Brig. General Walter J. DeLong and his wife and daughter Norma at Camp Murray. Norma, a junior at Clover Park High School, was the couple's middle child. They also had two sons, Walter Jr., who attended Washington State College, and Clarence, a sixth grader at Clover Park School.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J.; DeLong, Walter J.--Family;

On June 18, 1942, a group of soldiers was pictured leaving the Armory in motor lorries for the Olympic Peninsula. They wave and smile at the camera from the rear of the lorry as it pulls away. The group of 30 Washington State Guard soldiers had been placed into active duty and ordered to proceed to the Olympic Peninsula to man air raid warning posts. All of the men had volunteered for the positions. They were under the command of Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts and would be headquartered at Forks, in southwest Clallam County. (T. Times 6/18/1942, p.1-picture)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Military vehicles;

Guardsman Irven W. Kenney kissed his mother goodbye on June 18,1942 as he left for active duty with the Washington State Guard. Emotionally looking on was his father, Lieut. Col. I. W. Kenney, a member of the staff of Adjutant General Walter J. DeLong. Irven had volunteered to go on active duty and was being sent to the Olympic Peninsula with 29 other Guardsmen to man air raid warning posts. In August of 1942 Lieut. Col. Kenney died suddenly while stationed in Ogden, Utah. His son, Irven Kenney, Jr. survived the war and returned to Tacoma where he lived for the rest of his life, dying in July of 1992. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1-picture)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Kenney, Irvin W.; Kenney, I.W.; Kenney, I.W.--Family;

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.;

Sgt. Wallace Drake instructs Pfc. Paul Young, second from left, and another unidentified Guardsman in the silhouettes of enemy aircraft. The men were part of a special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard, on active duty in July of 1942 as enemy aircraft spotters on the Olympic Peninsula. The men were serving as the eyes and ears of the Fourth Fighter Command, responsible for the air defense of the Pacific Northwest. TPL-796 (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Drake, Wallace; Young, Paul; Silhouettes;

In July of 1942, the Tacoma Times accompanied Brig. General Walter DeLong on an inspection tour of the special detachment of the Washington State Guard serving as enemy aircraft spotters on the Olympic Peninsula. They returned with photographs like this one of a sentry watching the skies with a spyglass, on the alert for enemy aircraft. All reports would be relayed to the Army's Fourth Fighter Command, responsible for the air defense of the Pacific Northwest.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Guards; Watchmen;

An unidentified Washington State Guardsman scans the skies with binoculars, searching for enemy aircraft. He leans his chair back against the wall of the primitive observation post. The soldier was part of a special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Wa. State Guard, sent to the Olympic Peninsula on active duty to serve as spotters of enemy aircraft.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

Pfc. Harry Anderson reports by phone to the Fourth Fighter Command on July 15, 1942 from a typical post in the rugged hills of the Olympic Peninsula. He was phoning in the report via the State Forestry lines. The sign on the hut read "State Division of Forestry Telephone." Pfc. Anderson was part of a special detachment of Washington State Guard serving as enemy aircraft spotters on the Peninsula. All of the posts were connected by telephone so that they could call in all reports of airplanes seen or heard. (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Anderson, Harry; Telephones;

First Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts (center), commander of the special duty detachment of the Washington State Guard, points out items of interest to Brig. General Walter J. DeLong (right), state Adjutant General, and an unidentified officer on a July 1942 inspection tour of detachment headquarters. The special detachment consisted of 32 men from the Guard assigned to active duty as spotters of enemy planes. Their first field headquarters was a commandeered school building in Forks, a mill and logging town in W. Clallam County. It housed the administrative center and supplied housing for those soldiers not at observation points. Sign on school building reads "Field Headquarters, 4th Washington Volunteer Infantry. Washington State Guard. (unreadable) Detachment." (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J. ; Roberts, Wilbur E.;

From a beach post, Pvt. Bernard Sweeney looked seaward through field glasses, searching for enemy aircraft. As the waves rolled in, Pfc. Charles Cooper stood guard fully armed. The pair were part of a volunteer special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard, serving as lookouts in July of 1942 on the Olympic Peninsula and reporting back to the Army's Fourth Fighter Command. The members of the detachment were all from Tacoma and most were under draft age. They were armed mainly to protect them from cougars and bears in the wild. TPL-1986 (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3- picture; TNT 8/2/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Sweeney, Bernard; Cooper, Charles;

On July 15, 1942, members of the special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Wa. State Guard, relaxed in the large classroom inside the Forks, Wa., school building they used as a dormitory. The school had been commandeered to serve as Field Headquarters for the group. They were serving in active duty as the eyes and ears of the Army's Fourth Fighter Command. When on duty, they manned lookouts on the beach and in the woods, watching and listening for enemy aircraft in some of the nation's most rugged country. (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

First Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts, center, goes over some paperwork with Brig. General Walter J. DeLong (left) and another unidentified officer at the special detachment headquarters in Forks. Gen. DeLong was an inspection tour of the field headquarters of the detachment of the Washington State Guard. Lt. Roberts was the detachment's commander. They had been sent to some of the wildest country in the US to serve as spotters for enemy aircraft. TPL-1758

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J. ; Roberts, Wilbur E.;

In July of 1942, Pfc. Vern A. Reishus of Tacoma gazes westward watching for enemy aircraft, from an observation post built by the Washington State Guard on the Sekiu River bridge, located on the coastal road from Port Angeles to Neah Bay. The Guard's assistance was requested by the Army's Fourth Fighter Command, charged with the aerial protection of the Pacific Northwest. In June of 1942, thirty one members of the newly organized 4th Volunteer Infantry, Wa. National Guard, departed from Tacoma's Armory for active duty in one of the nation's most rugged areas. They were posted as lookouts on the Olympic Peninsula. (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Reishus, Vern; Observation towers; Bridges--Olympic Peninsula;

Fort Lewis chapel, photographed during wedding of Lt. Robert Stanley Dollar (of the West Coast shipping family) and Nancy Ferguson of San Francisco. During the war years, the chapel was the sight of many weddings as soldiers prepared to depart overseas.

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Chapels--Fort Lewis;

The president and treasurer of the Edward B. Rhodes American Legion auxiliary purchase their fourth $100 war bond from Puget Sound National Bank on October 26, 1942. Pictured left to right are Mrs. C. Burrows, Lillian Burrows, an unidentified bank official and Merle Yost. (TNT 11/6/1942, pg. 4)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Lillian (Mrs. Wilfred) Burrows, center, president of the Edward B. Rhodes American Legion Auxiliary purchases a $100 war bond on October 26, 1942 from fellow member Merle (Mrs. William K) Yost, of Puget Sound National Bank. This was the fourth bond that the group had purchased. Mrs. C. Burrows, left, treasurer of the organization smiles her approval. (TNT 11/6/1942, pg. 4)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Three women pose with a War Bond behind a KTBI microphone in January of 1943. In the background are an aerial view of Tacoma and a scenic shot of young women posing in a daffodil field.

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio stations--Tacoma; KTBI Radio Broadcasting Station (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command was in Tacoma for an inspection tour of the State Guard units. Pictured left to right are local officers of the State Guard. They are believed to be Capt. Walter Morris, Major George Nelson, Commander of the 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station, and Major James McGee, Camp Murray regimental personnel officer. (T Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command came to Tacoma on an inspection tour of the Tacoma State Guard. He said that he was well pleased with the training and appearance of the Tacoma units. Groth was pictured here discussing a firearm with an enlisted man of the Regimental Service Company. Those military men with faces shown are, left to right, Regimental Sgt. Major John Hudson, Capt. Walter Morris, Capt. Groth, Sgt. DeWitt Rowland of Regimental Hdqtr, Maj. George Nelson- commander 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station and Maj. James McGee. (T.Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command came to Tacoma on an inspection tour of the State Guard units. He said that he was well pleased with the training and appearance of the Tacoma units. The men in this photograph are unidentified, but they are believed to be members of the State Guard.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command was in Tacoma for an inspection tour of the State Guard units. Pictured left to right are officers believed to be Major George Nelson, Capt. Walter Morris, Maj. James McGee and and unidentified guardsman. (T Times 1/27/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command came to Tacoma on an inspection tour of the State Guard units. He said that he was well pleased with the training and appearance of the Tacoma units. Groth was pictured here discussing a firearm with an enlisted man of the Regimental Service Company. Those military men with faces shown are, left to right, Regimental Sgt. Major John Hudson, Capt. Walter Morris, Capt. Groth, Sgt. DeWitt Rowland of Regimental Hdqtr, Maj. George Nelson- commander 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station, Capt. (Dr.) Edwin Muir and Maj. James McGee. (T.Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

Members of Tacoma's Washington State Guard unit, including a canine member, prepare for an inspection January 20, 1943 by Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service Command. The four legged member is Bingo Hathaway, technical sergeant, grade II; his promotion to that grade being recently announced by the Captain of F Company. He is detailed as "Morale Sergeant." In the photograph, he stands at attention at the rear rank of his outfit. He can also stand "at ease" and march with the company on command. Owned and trained by Sgt. Jack Hathaway, he has earned his own uniform, adorned with his stripes and the official crest of the WSG. (T. Times 4/22/1943, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Working dogs;

Junior high school students worked four hour shifts as part of World War II all-school-at-war activities to raise money to buy war bonds and stamps. Students at Jason Lee High School purchased a Jeep with funds raised. Two soldiers flank a smiling group of teenagers who have crammed together atop the Jeep with a sign noting their accomplishment, "Whoopee". (T.Times, 4/19/1943, p.14.) TPL-8328

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile;

The 1,050 students at Jason Lee School in 1943 became personally involved in supporting the war effort. Many worked a 4-hour shift after school in local factories and shops to raise money for war bonds and stamps. From the start of the school year in September to April of 1943 when this photo was taken, the Jason Lee students bought over $4,400 in war bonds. This is the fifth jeep they helped buy for Uncle Sam. (T.Times, 4/19/1943, p.14; TNT 4/19/1943, pg.4)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile;

A delegation representing the 1,080 students at Jason Lee posed perched on and around the fifth jeep the student body helped buy for the war effort. Many had paper routes, did odd jobs or held down a four hour after school job to raise the funds to buy war bonds and stamps. From the start of the school year in September to April of 1943 when this photo was taken, the Jason Lee students bought over $4,400 in war bonds. The "Minuteman Schools-At -War" program was only one of many that helped finance the war. (TNT 4/19/1943, pg 4; T.Times, 4/19/1943, p.14.)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile;

Photograph of the Coast Guard and the Tacoma Waterfront Defense Committee cleanup of the waterfront in April of 1943, to prevent fires. Abandoned shacks and houses were demolished and burned. A fireman and a Coast Guardsman are pictured bringing up the hose connection in case of emergency. The ground is strewn with building materials and debris. These would be sorted through for materials that could be salvaged for the war effort. (T.Times 4/28/1943 p.1-picture)

Military organizations--Tacoma; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1940-1950;