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);

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;

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);

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);

The Tacoma, Washington State Guard units were hosts to the Seattle, Washington State Guard units at the State Armory in late May of 1946. This was the last official ceremony for both units. The re-establishment of the Washington National Guard is expected in the near future. Seated left to right are: Nelson, Hamilton, McMorris and White. In back we have, left to right, Middlesworth and Cronander (T. Times, 5/28/46, p. 1).

Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms;

ca. 1931. Residence at 2517 So. 13th St., Tacoma. For Mrs. C. H. Glassco. The home of Charles H. and Minnie Glassco, built around 1920. Photo circa 1931 shows two men and one woman sitting on the front steps, an American flag flying above their heads. One of the men is in military uniform.

Marymount Military Academy, Spanaway, Washington in January of 1937. Built by the Dominican Sisters, Marymount was the only military school in the state of Washington. It existed for 54 years, originally as a military academy for boys ages 6-16 and later as a boarding school catering to the wealthy. The school closed in 1976. The buildings then housed the mother house for the sisters and a retirement location for them as well. The school was later sold to Harold LeMay, the owner of a Pierce County trash and recycling business and an avid collector of antique motor vehicles.

3 young ladies looking at cannon of U.S.S. Lexington, December, 1929. The Navy did permit some tours of the ship which had come to Tacoma to assist in the production of auxiliary power. These young women appear intrigued at the size of the Navy's firepower. They had persuaded the ship's officers to lower the 8-inch guns so that they could more closely view the muzzles. Ethel Haasarud, Freda Gardner, and Naomi Dykeman were the panel of judges of the "Supreme Beauty Court of Tacoma." These ladies would choose the most handsome, most happy, and best dancer at the big Chamber of Commerce dance for enlisted personnel of the Lexington on December 26th. TPL-005 (T.Times, 12-23-1929, p. 1)

From mid-December, 1929 to mid-January, 1930 the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington used its enormous generators to provide electricity for the city of Tacoma. It took four powerful navy tugboats assisted by three Foss tugs to push the 33,000 ton vessel into position at the Baker Dock. A severe drought had greatly reduced the amount of electricity available to Tacoma from the city's hydro-electric dams. During its month long stay the Lexington generated enough power to furnish 25% of the city's power needs. (T.Times, 12-16-29, p. 1)

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd, left, the first man to fly over the North Pole in an airplane, poses with Tacoma capitalist and explorer Gen. James M. Ashton. Comm. Byrd was in Tacoma on February 5, 1927 to speak at the First Baptist Church about his flight on May 9, 1926 over the North Pole. The two men had much in common. Both men had a military background, Byrd was a Naval officer and Ashton founded Washington's calvary (later known as Troop B, Wa. National Guard.) Both were arctic explorers. In 1922, Ashton at the age of 63 embarked on a 7 month trip on the schooner Iskum to areas of Siberia never seen by a white man. Gen. Ashton published his adventures in 1928 in a book called "Ice Bound." The pair drove about the city and paid a visit to Ashton's home, "Ashtonhill," at 403 No. 11th St. (Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)

These are the non-commissioned officers of the 146th F.A. at Camp Dent, the 1930 encampment of the Washington National Guard held at Camp Murray in June of that year. G69.1-144

Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. (Tacoma); Military personnel; Military uniforms;

Twelve non-commissioned officers from the 146th F.A., E Battery, pose in the grassy fields of Camp Dent, the 1930 Washington National Guard encampment on the grounds of Camp Murray. All are in uniform with several wearing whistles and chains. They were participating in the annual summer maneuvers which occurred in the last two weeks of June. G69.1-146

Washington National Guard, Battery E, 146th F.A. (Tacoma); Military personnel; Uniforms; Camp Murray (Wash.);

On February 5, 1921, soldiers at Camp Lewis enjoy reading at the Liberty Library located near the camp's Hostess House. Books, magazines and newspapers were supplied without charge. The Liberty Library opened in November of 1917 with 6000 donated books. The collection had grown to roughly 50,000 volumes a mere six months later. Books were supplied through the auspices of the American Library Association. Camp librarian Arthur Beardsley later indicated that the library had circulated 62,682 volumes in a camp with approximate population of 7094 in 1921. An 40-foot square addition to the original one-story library was made about 1918 as the library needed more space for materials and for patron usage. This addition was a periodical reading room, perhaps shown above, which was attached to the center of the original building. Racks for 150 periodicals and about 50 newspapers were provided and good chairs and tables furnished by the Army and its friends. (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-29-22, 10E) TPL-10309

Soldiers' libraries--Camp Lewis; Libraries--Camp Lewis;

Close-up view of recessed entryway of newly constructed building located at Camp Murray in January of 1928. See B17968 for general view of concrete building. G77.1-004

Camp Murray (Wash).; Doors & doorways--Camp Murray;

Once Camp Lewis became officially designated as a Fort in September of 1927, money was appropriated to build permanent structures including new barracks. The exteriors of these new living quarters look nearly complete although landscaping is non-existent.

Barracks--Fort Lewis; Building construction--Fort Lewis--1920-1930;

U.S.S. Lexington tied up at old Baker Dock below Stadium Bowl, December, 1929. Power cables are attached to her side. Tacoma received an early Christmas present as the large aircraft carrier was used as an auxiliary power plant to lend a helping hand to the City suffering from severe drought conditions. During its one month stay, it provided over four million kilowatt hours of electricity to a city whose residents had been utilizing candles, kerosene lamps, and living with dim streetlights and smaller night shifts. The Lexington made its last power deliveries to Tacoma on January 16, 1930, and departed for San Francisco the following day. TPL-1936; G71.1-117.

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma;

Four soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery rest on the ground in a field at Brown's Farm, Nisqually. Horses and equipment behind them. Photograph taken on August 15, 1932. TPL-7095

Soldiers--1930-1940; Military life--1930-1940;

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery in a military encampment at Brown's Farm, Nisqually. TPL-7097

Military camps--1930-1940; Military life--1930-1940; Soldiers--1930-1940;

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery lead horses through a gate in a fence at the military camp on Brown's Farm, Nisqually. TPL-7098

Military life--1930-1940; Military camp--1930-1940; Horses;

Group of soldiers fro the 10th Field Artillery sit in a field at Brown's Farm, Nisqually, eating from their mess kits. Tents and wagons in background. TPL-7099

Military life--1930-1940; Soldiers--1930-1940;

In November of 1919, the battle scarred World War I tank Ermentrude was in Tacoma for a recruitment drive. Posing with her in front of the offices of the Tribune Publishing Co. (711-13 St. Helens Ave.) were her travelling corps, left to right, Pvt. James G. Hall, Sergeant Joseph Appleby and Capt. Edgar Dade Gunning. Gunning was in charge of the tank and Hall was the pilot. Appleby had served overseas with the tank, which was a veteran of 18 fierce battles fought in St. Mihiel and Argonne. (TDL 11/20/1919, pg. 10) G70.1-005 TPL-10065

Tanks (Military science)--1910-1920; Armored vehicles--1910-1920; Hall, James G.; Appleby, Joseph; Gunning, Edgar Dade; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--Tacoma ; World War, 1914-1918--Recruiting & Enlistment; Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

On board the U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier known as the "Queen of the Flattops,"in mid-December, 1929, were those instrumental in bringing emergency power to Tacoma. L-R, Chief Engineer Lt. Cdr. H.L. White, General Electric (maker and owner of the generators) representative Robert E. Lee, Utilities Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, City Light Supt. Llewellyn Evans, Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbegin (appointed in March of 1929 to replace the resigning Melvin G. Tennent), and ship commander, Frank D. Berrien. Tacoma experienced a severe shortage of electricity due to drought conditions; the Lexington, with its enormous generators, would deliver over 4 million kilowatts or about 25% of the city's power. TPL-1775. ALBUM 16.

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; White, H.L.; Lee, Robert E.; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Newbegin, James G.; Berrien, Frank D.; Power shortages--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier, who came to the aid of the City of Tacoma and provided electricity from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930. The ship was berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton with Capt. Frank D. Berrien in command. The fourth Navy ship to bear that name, she had been built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Mass. Her overall length was 888 feet and she had four turbo-generators. TPL-1937

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States;