Armed Forces Day parade marching down Pacific Avenue in May of 1951. Prominent buildings on the left include the Rust Building and (Old) City Hall. Puget Sound National Bank Building is on the right. The Seaforth Highlanders from Vancouver, B.C., (lower center) provide pipe and drum entertainment for the crowds. Besides the various marching military units, jeeps and other vehicles were present.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Armed Forces Day; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching bands--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949, a single day set aside for festivities thanking our men in uniform for their duty to our country. During this 1951 Armed Forces Day parade, three units are seen as they prepare to turn from 9th Street onto Pacific Avenue. The Seaforth Highlanders from Vancouver, B.C., Canada's championship pipe and drum band, turn the corner while two military units follow. Vern's Sandwich Shop is seen on the corner.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Scotland--Clothing & dress; Marching bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pipes (Musical instruments); Bagpipes;

An interior view at the Veterans Administration Hospital at American Lake showing an office with two desks, a typewriter, telephone and a rolling cart with patient records. A window at the far end of the narrow office has been covered with a protective wire mesh.

American Lake Veterans' Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood--1950-1960; Offices--Lakewood; Office furniture; Typewriters; Telephones;

The main gate at Fort Lewis for Farmers Insurance. The sign for the Transportation Center is to the left of the main street. The post school appears to be to the right. This 91,000 acre military encampment was "born" Jan. 6, 1917 when citizens of Pierce County voted a $2 million bond issue to purchase the land to be given to the army. It was the entry point for most army recruits stationed in the west, they came to Fort Lewis for training prior to their final assignments. TPL-8310

Military camps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

On July 29, 1950, the Tacoma Naval Station was the scene of the recommissioning of the escort carrier U.S.S. Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86), twenty days after the orders came through to "take her out of mothballs". Captain H.B. Butterfield, representing the Commander Pacific Reserve Fleet, read the directive placing the ship in commission. Captain C.W. Lord accepted command of the ship from Captain Butterfield. The Sitkoh Bay, named for a small bay in southeastern Alaska, was originally commissioned in Astoria, Oregon, on March 28, 1944. The escort carrier participated in many engagements during World War II, including Palau, the Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan. The Sitkoh Bay transported a total of 2032 aircraft, 10,716 passengers and traveled 182,618 miles before being decommissioned at the end of the war. (TNT 7-30-50, p.1)

U.S.S. Sitkoh Bay; Aircraft carriers;

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;

ca. 1943. Military band in front of the temporary Liberty bond drive building set in middle of street in 700 block of Broadway circa 1943. Lou Johnson (women's clothing) and Smith Photographs in background.

Military bands--United States;

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;

Petrich Boat Building. US Army Transportation Corps. Hull no. 8 - TP225, 96' Wooden Utility Boat, Design #333, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma.

U.S. Army Transportation Corps; Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Camp Fire Girls bond booth for war finance. During the 5th War Loan campaign, women were very active and dedicated to promoting the sale of war bonds. The Camp Fire Girls set up a war bond booth at the Winthrop Hotel. Two unidentified Camp Fire Girls sell a war bond to an unidentified young lady (T. Times, 6/10/44, p. 3).

War bonds & funds; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma);

The War Stamp Minute Maids have shown up unannounced to the Young Men's Business Club luncheon to sell war bonds and stamps. Costumed with halo hats with a "V" for victory emblem, the Maids have sold each of the business men a $100 bond and $90 in war stamps. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 7/5/44, p. 8).

War bonds & funds; Sales personnel--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; Costumes;

Fifth War Loan Campaign parade. Thousands of Tacoma residents gathered on Broadway to see the Fifth War Loan Campaign parade. The parade was arranged by Retail Men of Tacoma and held on "Infantry Day". View of Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc. float with model ship on top (T. Times, 6/16/44, p. 5).

War rallies--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

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;

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;

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.;

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.;

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;

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. 1940. Group of soldiers gathered by wash area in open field circa 1940.

Military personnel--1940-1950; Bathing; Grooming;

General Kaiser coming down gang plank from ship, Mt. McKinley, Chamber of Commerce, Armed Services Committee, Col. James Stack. A group of G.I.'s disembark from the U.S.S. Mount McKinley at the McCormick dock. They are members of the 2nd infantry division from Fort Lewis who have just returned from "Operation Miki" in Hawaii. The Mount McKinley brought home 191 Army officers and men home from the 15,000 who were involved in the training. Several other ships were expected over the next three days, bringing home more soldiers. (TNT, 11/17, 1949, p.1)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States; Homecomings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mary Jackson and Nadine Kensler serve a group of servicemen and young ladies sodas, malts and soup at the lunch counter in the United Churches Service Center at 9th and Pacific Ave. As many as 3,000 young people visited the center over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The center was open seven days a week and had facilities for bowling, billiards, ping pong, a library, a music room and overnight accommodations for servicemen on Saturdays. (TNT 4/16/1950, pg. A-4)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Counters--Tacoma--1950-1960; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma); Jackson, Mary; Kensler, Nadine;

Members of an all-African American unit from the United States Army turn the corner onto Pacific as they march down South 9th Street as part of the first Armed Forces Day Parade held on May 20, 1950. Over 2,500 infantrymen of the 9th regimental combat team of the Second division and other units from Fort Lewis took part in the huge display of military might. The troops from Fort Lewis were joined by representatives of the Navy, Marines and Air Force as well as non-military groups from local schools, fraternal and civic organizations. It was estimated that over 6,000 persons participated in the parade. Although President Harry Truman had signed Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948 calling for the desegregation of the United States' armed forces, the army did not formally announce its plans to implement the order until July of 1951. (TNT, 5/19/1950, p.1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial view of the "General M. M. Patrick", military personnel, possibly the Marines or Navy are on board the troop ship, life boats are aligned on the upper area of ship. The majority of the crew can be seen on the ship's deck, the men are wearing their uniforms, some are wearing hats and caps.

Military personnel--Tacoma; Lifeboats--Tacoma; Sailors--Tacoma; Government vessels--Tacoma; Ships--Tacoma; Aerial photographs; Aerial views;

View of L. H. Stevens, Adj. General at AGO Camp Murray, Washington National Guard, Washington State Military Department. L. H. Stevens is leaning against an automobile in his National Guard uniform.

Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms; Insignia--Tacoma; Military decorations--Tacoma; Military organizations; Men--Military service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Stevens, L.H.;

Marymount Military Academy, new east wing extension on grounds. Marymount was the only military school for boys in the state of Washington. The school was also a charter member of the National Rifle Association. The five building structure in the Lombardine Mission style was nestled in the trees on the original J. Shields estate "Shangarry," purchased by the Dominican Sisters in 1920. The Sisters ran the academic side of the school with a teacher-pupil ratio of 1-6. The academic standards were very high, while the military regimen and physical requirements were intended to mold the boys' characters.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Marymount Military Academy, new east wing extension on grounds. Marymount was dedicated to the development of its young male student's characters, using the military training to develop habits of obedience, neatness, promptness and self-reliance. Marymount was named for "Mary," the mother of Jesus, and the inspiring view of "Mount" Tacoma seen from campus. The school existed as an academic entity for 54 years, originally as a military academy for boys preschool - 9th grade. In 1974, the Dominican Sisters decided that the military, warlike aspect of the school was not the correct image for a Catholic school and the Academy became primarily a boarding school catering to the wealthy. It no longer took younger students, only those in the 6th - 9th grade and eventually took day students also. The school closed in 1976, but the Sisters retained the property for some time after that. TPL-9702

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;