Red Cross Nurses were waiting on the dock when the troopship U.S.S. General Mann arrived at the Tacoma pier #2 on October 8, 1945.The General Mann was carrying 45 officers and 5,060 enlisted men who were taken on board at Okinawa. At least 3 of the officers and 280 of the enlisted men were from the Pacific northwest. Most of the arriving men were high-point men eligible for discharge. Another transport carrying 592 officers and 4,017 enlisted men was do to arrive on October 12th.(T.Times, 10/6/1945, p.1)
World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; U.S.S. General Mann (Ship); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);
Telephone switchboard operators and clerks at the Public Telephone Center on Pacific Avenue are assisting sailors returning to the states at the end of World War II. Troop ships arrived each week at the Port of Tacoma bringing several thousand service men and women at a time. Army personnel were discharged or sent to other bases through the Fort Lewis Separation Center. Telephone centers at the Port and downtown overflowed with returning veterans who were anxious to call home.
World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma); Telephone operators; Telephone switchboards; Sailors; United States Navy;
Interior of attended station on Pacific Avenue. Looking towards the back of the Telephone Center, service men wait their turn to use the phones. They fill nearly every chair in the center and many crowd the service counter. A sign at the back says, "Welcome Home, Job Well Done". A clock and world map hang below the sign. Troop ships were bringing 500 to 3,000 service men at a time through the Tacoma port. They were discharged or sent to other bases through the Fort Lewis staging area. Several ships brought troops home through Tacoma each week until the staging area was closed January 21, 1946.
World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma); Telephone operators;
The Telephone Center at the Fort Lewis staging area. Soldiers are using the two phone booths that stand outside the corrugated metal covered building. A sign in the front window advertises Western Union. A soldier is walking toward the center along a boardwalk from the right. The phone companies have been handling many thousands of local and long distance calls of service man and women coming through the army posts and Madigan hospital center. Telephone equipment factories have only now begun to manufacture switchboards and dial apparatus instead of war materials. (TNT, 9/12/1945, clipping) TPL-10370
World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Wash.);
In January of 1946, a group of unidentified Red Cross volunteers met the troop ships bringing returning soldiers with baskets of doughnuts and bottles of milk. Because of a shortage of troop trains in the Pacific Northwest to transport soldiers to their discharge centers, and do to a lack of housing, thousands of soldiers had to stay aboard ship in the Port of Tacoma. (T.Times 1/2/1946 p.1) TPL-959
World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (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 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;
Loading of troops and departure of U.S. Army transport "Republic" for California. About 200 soldiers crowd to the ship's railing to wave goodbye. (T. Times)
World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;
During World War II, the US military was still segregated. Despite the fact that they fought side by side, servicemen of color were not allowed in the whites only USO clubs. In Tacoma, a group of prominent religious, community and civic leaders addressed this problem by opening USO #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. and dedicating it for the use of African American servicemen and women. This photograph is of an unidentified violinist and accompanist performing at USO #2.
In August of 1944, many servicemen of color turned out for dance night in the main auditorium of the USO #2, 713-15 Commerce St. During World War II, the US military was still segregated and USO #2 was sponsored by the YMCA for the entertainment of African American servicemen and women. The main auditorium was decorated with transparencies by the Washington State Progress Commission. The project was under the supervision of Bert Smyser. The auditorium was a large space that could be adapted for many uses. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma) (information provided by USO #2 brochure for Recognition Ceremony)
U.S.O. #2, 713-15 Commerce St., circa 1946. During World War II, although black and white soldiers fought side by side, the United States Army was still segregated. In Tacoma, African American service men and women had their own USO Club at 713-15 Commerce. It was dedicated on September 4, 1942 and closed late in March of 1947. The Kaufman-Wolff building where it was located had previously housed the Soldiers and Sailors Clubhouse during World War I. USO #2 was enlarged in 1944 by adding an annex in the building to the north of the original club. The enlarged structure provided the following facilities: dark room, music room, hobby room, game room, showers, sleeping accommodations, library and snack bar. It was operated by the YMCA and staffed primarily by volunteers. (brochure from Recognition Ceremony USO Number Two on 3/30/1947; photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma).
