Mr. and Mrs. George Hellyer open their home in Interlaaken to their English friend's children for the duration of the European War. Pictured standing in the rear are Mr. and Mrs. George Hellyer flanking their friend Mrs. Robert Schlee. The children are, center row left to right, Nicholas Schlee and Marian Hellyer; bottom row left to right, Sandy Schlee and Harold Hellyer. Hundreds of English children had been sent to the U.S. to escape the German bombing of their own country. These boys are the first to come to Tacoma. They are also some of the last to leave England as the English government has forbidden future sailings of English children. Mrs. Schlee will return home to England. (T. Times 10/26/1940, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Hellyer, George--Family; Schlee, Robert--Family;

Four children play joyously on the swings, however two of these children are seeking refuge in the United States from the German bombing of England. English schoolboys Nicholas and Sandy Schlee arrived October 24, 1940 with their mother from England. Their mother will return home but the boys will remain at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Hellyer for the duration of the war. Pictured, left to right, are Marian Hellyer (8), Sandy Schlee (9), Harold Hellyer (seated, 6) and Nicholas Schlee (10). The boys are thrilled to be in Tacoma, not for the reasons that you think, but because they hear that the fishing is great! The excited anglers will attend Park Lodge school. They are the first, and probably the last, refugee children to arrive in Tacoma. The English government had recently forbidden all sailings of children. (T. Times 10/26/1940, pg.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Hellyer, Marian; Schlee, Sandy; Hellyer, Harold; Schlee, Nicholas;

Only two of these four children running in carefree abandon in October of 1940 are U.S. citizens. The two boys on the right are English, refugees from the German bombing of their home in England. The four children are (l to r) Harold and Marian Hellyer and Sandy and Nicholas Schlee. The Schlee boys were guests at the Hellyer home in Interlaaken for the duration of the European conflict. They are just two of the hundreds of children who fled England, but they were the first to come to Tacoma. Their home in England was near a Vickers airplane factory. Their family was forced to sleep in the basement to protect themselves from nighttime bombing. While in Tacoma, the boys attended Park Lodge School and enjoyed some northwest fishing. (T. Times 10/26/1940, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Hellyer, Marian; Schlee, Sandy; Hellyer, Harold; Schlee, Nicholas;

Mrs. Robert Schlee, right, a native of London, England, poses with Mrs. George Hellyer of Interlaaken at the home of the Hellyers. Mrs. Schlee has accompanied her two youngest sons to the Hellyer home. The boys will remain at the Hellyer home during the duration of the European war. The Schlee home in England is near a Vickers airplane factory and frequently is the target of bombs. The family sleeps in the cellar. The boys are the end of a wave of English children who have sought refuge in the US and the first to come to Tacoma. They will also probably be the last, as the English government has forbidden future sailings of refugee children. (T. Times 10/26/1940, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma;

On June 20, 1940, soldiers crowd around the desk at the USO Center in the Rust Building. They are patiently waiting to sign up for beds. As soldiers on weekend leave from Fort Lewis during the war years poured into Tacoma; area churches, the mission and local homeowners set up makeshift dormitories to make sure they were not having to spend the night on the street.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

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 transport "Republic" for California. View of side of ship departing from Tacoma. (T. Times)

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;

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).

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)