Avenger at Todd Pacific. The side of the "Avenger" has gaping holes it received in the battle of Tarawa. The man made tank crawled out of the South Pacific Sea and up to Japanese beachheads. View of large group standing in front of "Avenger" at Todd Pacific Shipyards (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

Avenger at Todd Pacific. Todd Pacific Shipyards has "Avenger", the tank used in the battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific. The tank used by the Marines, will be here for one week. View of large group at Todd Pacific Shipyards gathered to see "Avenger" (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

Avenger at Todd Pacific. Todd Pacific Shipyards will have "Avenger", the tank used in the battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific. The tank used by the Marines, will be here for one week. View of three unidentified individuals sitting next to "Avenger" (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

Navy Mothers' Club window at Penney's. A window display featuring photographs of men from Tacoma who are serving in the war, was set up by the Navy Mothers' Club in honor of Navy Day. The Navy Mothers' Club is one of the most active groups in Tacoma (T. Times, 10/26/44, p. 3).

Men--Commemoration--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma; Window displays; J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma);

United Church Service Center will be dedicating their new center, which has a recreational facility and 300 bed dormitory. The ceremony will feature four talented musicians from the medical training session at Fort Lewis. Left to right are William Hanley, Abraham Gershkowitz, Leona Louise and Jack Ringler (T. Times, 10/28/44, p. 1).

Military bands; Musicians--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma);

David Glenn Jr. is wearing his U. S. Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps uniform for his portrait studio. He is the son of David and Lily Glenn.

Military personnel--Tacoma; Military uniforms; Portrait photographs; Glenn, David L.;

This photograph of Vernon Stewart Cunningham was taken in November 1944 shortly after he received his honorable discharge from the service and returned to Tacoma. Before the war, he had been a locally successful sculptor. Among other works, he had created busts of both Mayors James G. Newbegin and M. G. Tennent. While part of a volunteer squadron involved in collecting information about Japanese defenses on Nissan Island, in the Solomons group, he was hit by enemy fire. He lost the sight in one eye and the practical use of his left hand. (T. Times, 11/7/44, p. 2). (Listed incorrectly in the T. Times as Vernon Michael Cunningham)

Military personnel--Tacoma; Eye patches--Tacoma; Purple Heart; Cunningham, Vernon S.;

Christmas Party at attended station. The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Public Telephone Station was set up in February 1943. The telephone center was used primarily by servicemen and war workers. Many war workers were recent residents of Tacoma and were unable to obtain telephone service. Materials needed for phones were being used for production of weapons and other war industries. Interior view of attended telephone station decorated with Christmas wreaths and swags for party. Unidentified servicemen and telephone staff gathered for party.

Parties--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma);

The staff at the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company public telephone station at 1109 Pacific Avenue tried to bring a little Christmas joy into the lives of servicemen stationed far from home. Wreaths and swags hung on the walls, and a Christmas tree stood against in the back corner. It was Christmas Eve day 1944 and a group of servicemen with no particular place to go crowded around the telephone station's service desk, some chatting with the operators and station attendants. Most of the phone booths for both local and long distance calls stand empty. The serviceman seated on left side can be seen reading a Life magazine. In December of 1944 "I'll be Home for Christmas" sung by Bing Crosby hit the charts for the second year in a row, and earned Bing his fifth gold record.

Parties--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma; Christmas decorations; Telephone booths--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma);

ca. 1944. War Street. Downtown display of World War II artillery and military equipment circa 1944. A serviceman, with his wife and daughter, looks over promotional information at War Bond booth: "Win a ride to Vancouver, B. C. aboard aircraft carrier 'M.S. Reaper'."

Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1944. War Street. Downtown display of World War II artillery and military equipment circa 1944. A soldier describes military radio equipment to a group of boys while youngsters climb aboard the massive weapon.

Artillery (Weaponry)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1944. War Street. Downtown display of World War II artillery and military equipment circa 1944. Among the display of various vehicles, a small prop airplane draws a large crowd. Downtown Broadway became "War Street" for a short time as many, many Tacomans were drawn to the display of Uncle Sam's military power.

Military vehicles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Airplane propellers; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1944. War Street. Downtown Tacoma display of World War II artillery and military equipment circa 1944. A soldier explains the mechanical equipment and functions of a U. S. Army tank to five women.

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Hooker Electrochemical Co. was awarded the Army Navy "E" award by Major General Joseph D. Patch and Navy Officer W. C. Gilbert. An impressive ceremony was held at plant. Music was provided by the 440th Army Service Forces. Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett was the Master of Ceremonies (T. Times, 1/10/45, p. 3).

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Flags; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Acting Mayor Val Fawcett leads the singing of "God Bless America" during a Army-Navy "E" award ceremony at Hooker Electro-Chemical Company. Employees were honored for outstanding production of materials vital to the war effort. ALBUM 14. TPL-6654

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Hooker Electrochemical Co. was awarded the Army Navy "E" award by Major General Joseph D. Patch and Navy Officer W. C. Gilbert. An impressive ceremony was held at plant. Music was provided by the 440th Army Service Forces. Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett was the Master of Ceremonies (T. Times, 1/10/45, p. 3).

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Robert E. Hutchins Funeral. Aviation cadet Robert E. Hutchins, age 20, was killed in a mid-air plane crash 12 miles north of Merced, California. His casket at Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland is surounded by flowers, several of which depict the medals Cadet Hutchins won during the war. The one to the left of the casket resembles the Army Distinquished Service Cross, the two on the right resemble the Silver Star, given for galantry in action. (T.Times, 5/19/1945, p.1; 5/21/45, p.11)

Hutchins, Robert E.; World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--Tacoma; Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland);

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);

Western Boat. Side view of YP 628. This is the second ship of its type to be built by Petrich yards. After launching in February 1945 she was outfitted for the Navy and is ready to be released to the Navy as of May 1945. (T.Times, 5/26/1945) TPL-9443

War ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Western Boat. View of stern of YP 628. This ship, built for the US Navy, was the first to be sponsored by a WAVE, Lt. Mary Salber, a senior WAVE. (T.Times 5/26/1945) TPL-9444

War ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Western Boat. View of bow and side of YP 628. This 128 foot supply cargo carrier built for the US Navy was launched by Petrich yards February 1945. She is wooden hulled and equipped with refrigerator compartments and will carry cargoes for isolated detachments. Y.P. designates a patrol craft. (T.Times 2/15/45) TPL-8882

War ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (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;

Telephone center - Camp Murray. Telephone services during WWII were not as readily available as they would be in the decades following the 40s. Personnel at Camp Murray would need to report to the designated "Telephone Center" operated by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph in order to make local and long distance calls. Often due to the high demand, there would be long periods of waiting to use the phones. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Communication facilities--Camp Murray; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma;

ca. 1945. Close-up of soldier in D18757, image 4. The young soldier has a small smile on his face in this circa 1945 handtinted studio portrait. He is wearing his Army formation uniform. Ordered by A.J. Holmes, Jr.

Military personnel; Military uniforms;

ca. 1945. Handtinted studio portrait of a young enlisted man in his formation uniform circa 1945. Ordered by A.J. Holmes, Jr.

Military personnel; Military uniforms;

Two unidentified soldiers clean their rifles and polish their boots, as a barracks cat watches intently. Tacoma observed its first peace-time Army Day in five years on Saturday April 6, 1946. A cold, southwesterly wind failed to keep thousands from flocking downtown to watch soldiers, veterans, Wacs, state guardsmen and military equipment pass in review. An open house at McChord Field attacted thousands to the air force base to inspect all kinds of military planes and weapons. TPL-6691

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barracks--Tacoma; Rifles; McChord Field (Tacoma); Armed Forces Day;

Bellarmine was one of two high schools in Washington State that offered ROTC units. Students met every day for one class period and wore their uniforms twice per week, uniforms were provided by the government. Students received class credits for joining the junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. View of ROTC rifle team learning rifle marksmanship (Cage, 1946, p. 20-21).

Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Rifles; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

In 1946, Bellarmine was one of only two Washinton high schools that offered junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Each day a full class period was devoted to some phase of theoretical or practical military training. Studies included first aid, marksmanship, map reading, and the fundamentals of marching. Uniforms furnished by the government were worn two days per week. (Cage, 1946, p. 20-21).

Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

In 1946, Bellarmine was one of two high schools in Washington State that offered Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Military training included first aid, marksmanship, map reading, and the fundamentals of marching. This portrait taken in May shows the school's statue of Mary looking down toward Bellarmine's JROTC Color Guard holding their flag and a U.S. flag, with Mount Rainier in the background. (Cage, 1946, p. 22).

Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Rifles; Flags; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officer Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);