A couple of Sea Scouts, from the SSS Rainbow- McKinley Hill area, give a 50 pound aluminum door the old heave-ho on July 23, 1941, tossing it into the area set aside in the 900 block of Broadway for scrap aluminum donations. The aluminum will be melted down and put to use building airplanes. Bud Christiansen, Arne Skaugset and Roy Ernsbarger helped toss the metal, a relic from an old submarine, over the wire. (T. Times 7/25/1941, pg. 3) TPL-9145

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Boy Scouts of America, Troop 42 (Tacoma); Sea Scouts (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); Aluminum;

On July 23, 1941, Cole E. Oliver and Russell N. Anderson shook hands, cementing the donation of the venerable Pierce Arrow pictured to be melted down into aluminum for the manufacture of bombers. Mr. Oliver had originally purchased the Pierce Arrow as an ambulance for his company, Oliver Taxi and Ambulance Co. Mr. Anderson, chairman of the Aluminum Drive Committee, was hoping to get 1,000 pounds of the precious metal from the vehicle. Pictured around the old ambulance, left to right, were Kenny Johnson, William E. Erickson, Cole Oliver, Russell Anderson and Tommy Burns. The city wide aluminum drive was scheduled for July 21-29th. (T. Times 7/23/1941, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Pierce Arrow automobile; Oliver, Cole; Erickson, William; Anderson, Russell N.; Burns, Tommy; Johnson, Kenny;

This venerable Pierce Arrow rolled up to the defense metal "corral" at 9th and Broadway on July 23, 1941 and was donated to Tacoma's aluminum drive by Cole E. Oliver, owner of Oliver Taxi and Ambulance Company, and William E. Erickson, who worked with him. The vehicle was purchased as an ambulance and at its prime was valued at $9,000. Aluminum Drive Chairman Russell N. Anderson hoped to get 1,000 pounds of the metal out of the car, which was made almost entirely of aluminum. Pictured around the vehicle, left to right, are Cole E. Oliver, Tommy Burns, Kenny Johnson, William Erickson, Police Officer Ross Mowre and Russell Anderson. In the background is the Music Box Theater, 902-14 Broadway, showing Clark Gable and Rosalind Russell in "They Met in Bombay." For several years in the early to mid-1920s the Pierce Arrow was manufactured with bodies cast of aluminum. This appears to be a 1926 Model 80 4-door sedan. (T. Times 7/23/1941, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Pierce Arrow automobile; Oliver, Cole; Erickson, William; Anderson, Russell N.; Burns, Tommy; Johnson, Kenny; Mowre, Ross; Music Box Theatre (Tacoma);

On July 23, 1941, Boy Scouts from Troop 42, in the Larchmont area, were pictured at 9th and Broadway with their donations for the wartime scrap aluminum drive. The boys had quite a collection of old metal, including the washing machine that they are heaving into the main dump site. A large wire enclosure was being used to corral the donated metal during the weeklong city drive. The eleven boys in the troop brought 135 donation pieces from their Southeastern neighborhood. (T. Times 7/25/1941, pg. 3; eleven boys in troop named in article)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Boy Scouts of America, Troop 42 (Tacoma); Aluminum;

On July 23, 1941, eleven Boy Scouts of Troop 42 from the Larchmont area of southeast Tacoma came downtown to contribute 135 pieces of scrap aluminum to the aluminum collection drive. The metal was needed to build bombers for the Army Air Corp. The main collection dump was at the corner of South 9th and Broadway, in front of the Music Box Theater. The Larchmont area centered near South 96th Street and Pacific Avenue; it was planned to be a select suburban community with streets named after famous colleges such as Harvard, Yale and Amherst. Boys taking part in the aluminum drive were: (in no particular order) Billy Bowlin, Walter Oden, Richard Ruth, Dickie Hansler, Don Lang, Elroy Burnett, Gerald Griffith, Raleigh Elkins, Stanley Vernon, Leslie Roley and Tomio Akimoto. (T. Times 7/25/1941, pg.3)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Boy Scouts of America, Troop 42 (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); Aluminum;

Girls on the corner of 10th and K Streets collecting aluminum for national salvage drive. In July and August of 1941, all of Tacoma, along with the rest of America, was collecting aluminum that could be melted down and used to build bombers. Overall Tacoma collected 9 tons of the precious metal. In the background is the Faith Temple, 1001 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, under construction. The building was built on a "pay as you go" basis and had only a small mortgage when dedicated November 15, 1942. (T. Times) [Also dated 07-29-1941]

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Aluminum; Flags--United States; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Faith Temple (Tacoma);

From July 21 to August 23, 1941, there was an aluminum drive in Tacoma-Pierce County to collect old aluminum for national defense. This group of unidentified, young scavengers, working at the corner of So. 10th and K St. (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way), has collected quite a pile of old pots and pans. The IGA and 20th Century stores in the Tacoma area offered war bonds as prizes for the most successful collectors. The chairman of the drive, Russell N. Anderson, declared that it takes 10,000 lbs. of aluminum to build one fighter plane. The building under construction in the background is the Faith Temple, 1001 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. It was dedicated on Nov. 15, 1942. (T. Times) [Also dated 07-29-1941]

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Aluminum; Flags--United States; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Faith Temple (Tacoma);

Two unidentified girls pause in their patriotic efforts for a snack in late July of 1941. The girls have set up a station on the corner of 10th and K Streets to collect salvaged aluminum for the city-wide Home Defense Corps aluminum drive that ran from July 21-29th. Although the United States would not enter WWll until Pearl Harbor, the government was ratcheting up national defense well before that December 7th day. The area was marked with a huge American flag. The metal wares from this site as well as others including the main bin at 9th & Broadway totaled over nine tons and was donated to the national committee to recycle into bombers. The building under construction in the background is the Faith Temple at 1001 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The structure was built for $75,000 on a "pay as you go" basis. The building site is 50 X 117 feet and the concrete walls are 12 inches thick. (T. Times) [Also dated 07-29-1941] (T.Times 7-29-1941, p. 14-article on conclusion of aluminum drive)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Aluminum; Flags--United States; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Faith Temple (Tacoma);

This photograph, taken on October 3, 1941, is of the corner of 11th and A Street, showing traffic from the shipyard into the city. The city had plans to extend Alexander Ave. across 11th Street to Lincoln Ave. to create a new route and hopefully relieve this bottleneck on 11th Street. However, federal aid would be needed to extend the road across the water covered Tideflats.The Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. had recently expanded its work force, due to military contracts, and this was causing increased traffic congestion. (T.Times 9/23/1941, pg. 4)

World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In October of 1941, long lines of automobiles crawl down Alexander Ave. at the end of the shift at the Seattle- Tacoma shipyard. The shipyard was located at the end of Alexander Ave. and there was only one way for the workers to get back into town. (T. Times 10/10/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950;

By January of 1942, the new USO center at 4851 South Tacoma Way in South Tacoma was finished. It was dedicated on February 7, 1942. It was one of two new USO centers built at a combined cost of $101,60; the other center was downtown at 13th and Fawcett. The building was essentially completed by December 23, 1941, fifty days after ground breaking; however, the dedication was delayed by the late arrival of furnishings and fittings. By January the United States had officially entered WWII and the new recreation center received a lot of use over the next few years. In 1944, the center was given to Metropolitan Parks for use as the South Park Recreation Center. (TNT 2/7/1942, pg. 1) TPL-10328

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Salvage for Victory meeting at Mayor's office in City Hall. Representatives of agencies interested in collecting scrap iron, rubber, waste paper and other salvageable items discuss plans for organization of a Tacoma committee with state chairman J.C. Haley and Mayor Harry Cain. Front row, left to right- Guy Thompson, Haley, Mayor Cain. Center row: Rev. H.W. Michener, J.H. Titcomb, Fred Hughes, George Russell, Elmer Nelson, J.R. Kiely. Rear: Chas. McIntyre, Ray Ecklund. The local committee would be the first to be formed in the "Salvage for Victory" program under Haley's control. The proposed committee would be made up of eight men representing local charitable agencies and three business men. Citizens with salvage materials to give to the nation's defense program would donate through one of these agencies. There was no official government agency for this purpose. Agencies represented in this picture are the Community Chest, Goodwill, St Vincent dePaul, Salvation Army, Youth Defense Committee, Volunteers of America and the Air Raid Wardens. (T. Times 3/5/1942, pg. 1, picture pg. 7; TNT 3/5/1942, pg. 8)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On March 29, 1942, some of the proud Civil Defense workers of Precinct 37 posed on and in front of the new watch tower that they recently designed and built themselves. On top are, left to right, Ralph Turco, I.A. Youngberg and Nels Olsen. Below are R.J. Carino, R.P. Fulkerson, Kathryn Nelson and Elvira Espeland. Precinct 37 covered the area lying between So. 14th and 19th streets, and "L" to Sprague Ave. The tower sat on top of a hill and commanded an excellent view of the area. The material was donated by St. Paul and Tacoma and the tower was designed by chief fire watcher Youngberg, assisted by Mr. Olsen. The emblems painted on the tower are for Civil Defense. (T. Times 4/1/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Watch towers--Tacoma;

In March of 1942 the civilian defense workers of precinct 37 in Tacoma gathered for a group photograph at the foot of the new fire watchers' tower that they designed and built themselves. R. J. "Rocky" Carino (at far right, with arm raised), the precinct air raid warden, was an employee of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. He talked his employers into donating the lumber for the tower. Idolf A. Youngberg, chief fire watcher for the precinct, designed the tower and superintended its construction. Precinct 37 included the area between So. 14th & So. 19th streets from "L" Street to Sprague Avenue. Standing in the tower (l to r) are Ralph Turco, I. A. Youngberg and Nels Olsen. The tower was situated on a hill, with a commanding view of the surrounding area. (T. Times 4/1/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Watch towers--Tacoma; Carino, R.J.;

On April 8, 1942, the first Washington State mobile canteen unit arrived in Tacoma. Some military personnel gratefully accept coffee and doughnuts as the rolling kitchen, one of 10 in the nation donated by Henry Ford, was put immediately into action. It was operated out of Tacoma jointly by the USO and the Salvation Army. The mobile units would serve members of the armed forces in outposts with games, magazines and writing materials. They could even show movies with a projector mounted on the rear of the truck. Major and Mrs. Alva H. Holbrook of the Salvation Army were placed in charge. She is pouring coffee and he is far right in the picture. The Holbrooks had arrived recently from Hawaii, where they had run a canteen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (T. Times 4/9/1942, pg. 9; TNT 4/9/1942, pg. 6)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Canteens (Wartime, emergency, etc.)--Tacoma; Holbrook, Alva;

Members of the USO and the Salvation Army are shown stocking the interior of Washington's first mobile canteen. The canteen, one of 10 donated by Henry Ford to the USO, arrived in Tacoma on April 8, 1942 and was immediately put into use. It would be operated jointly by the USO and the Salvation Army and would offer military personnel in the smaller stations games, magazines, writing materials, coffee and doughnuts. Mrs. A.M. Holbrook makes coffee left. (T. Times 4/9/1942, pg. 9)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Canteens (Wartime, emergency, etc.)--Tacoma; Salvation Army (Tacoma) ;

Father Gordon Toner, S.J. of Bellarmine High School and "wounded" Don Spurgin attend an unidentified victim as they practise for a possible Japanese attack on Tacoma in the emergency aid center at Bellarmine. By April of 1942, Tacoma had made extensive plans in case we became the target of Japanese bombers. Emergency hospitals were set up in each of the city's three high schools, six junior high schools and the College of Puget Sound. Funds were raised in the areas that the hospitals would serve to purchase medical supplies and equipment. (T. Times 4/25/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Emergency medical services; Disaster relief; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); War casualties; World War, 1939-1945--Medical aspects--Tacoma; Toner, Gordon; Spurgin, Don; Priests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. Trying out the new equipment at the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office at the City Hall Annex are, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

Modelling the latest in "tin hats" and armbands are Civilian Defense officers, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. The trio is posing at the Civilian Defense Volunteer office at the City Hall Annex. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This action eventually led to the removal of some 110,000 Japanese-Americans to internments camps in remote areas of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This little girl was photographed at Tacoma's Union Station as she and her family prepared to board a train to the Pinedale, California assembly center camp. 879 Japanese-Americans from the Tacoma "restricted area" left for Pinedale beginning on May 14, 1942. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

On May 17, 1942, 418 Tacoma citizens of Japanese ancestry gather at Union Station prior to being shipped to the Pinedale "Assembly Center," an internment camp near Fresno California. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 allowing the military to shortcut civil liberties and remove anyone they considered potentially dangerous from any area considered to be at risk. On March 2, 1942, the Western Defense Command unveiled its plan to banish all people of Japanese ancestry from the entire West Coast and incarcerate them in internment camps. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+ by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Japanese American families wait to board a train at Union Station. The 418 Tacoma residents are being sent to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno California, for "the Duration," until the war is over. In all, 859 people of Japanese descent left Tacoma May 17-18, 1942 for incarceration in the internment camp. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Friends bid farewell to the 418 Japanese American Tacoma residents departing by train from Union Station for the Pinedale "Assembly Center" in California. The following day, another 441 will join their friends on their way to the internment camp. The Tacoma residents are being evacuated under the veil of "national security." (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1+)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Five year old Toshiyuki Hattori shared a copy of the book "America on Guard" with Pvt. Nat Schwartz on May 17, 1942 in a train car taking on passengers at Tacoma's Union Station. The book was the story of America's armed services - army, navy and marines. The photograph was taken as Tacoma's Japanese Americans gathered to be shipped off, with their few approved possessions, to Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno, California. Despite the fact that almost 2/3 were American citizens, Japanese Americans were considered a security risk to the nation. This and other photographs appeared under the ironic banner headline "Smiles Prevail as Japanese Leave" in the Tacoma Times. Toshiyuki was the youngest in a family of seven. The Hattoris eventually relocated to Utah. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1+; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+ by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Hattori, Toshiyuki; Schwartz, Nat;

This photograph of six year old Yukie Suekawa and Pvt. Howard L. Loudermilk at Union Station was chosen to grace the front page of the May 17, 1942 Tacoma Times with the caption "Goodbye for the Duration." As Pvt. Loudermilk adjusts the bonnet on the head of the little girl's doll, they are surrounded by a group of smiling Japanese adults. The smiles were considered the proper face to put on the hard facts that 859 Tacoma residents of Japanese ancestry were being removed from their homes and shipped by train to the Pinedale Assembly Center near Fresno California, despite the fact that many of them were US citizens. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg B8+, by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Suekawa, Yukie; Loudermilk, Howard;

Army soldiers speak with a couple at Union Station. On May 17-18, 1942, 859 residents of Tacoma of Japanese descent were forced to leave their homes and board trains to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno California. They were allowed to take a few approved possessions to their new "homes." This woman, dressed in her Sunday best for the trip, is transporting an irregularly shaped parcel and a First Aid kit, uncertain about the future. One of the soldiers inspects her package. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Five year old Toshiyuki Hattori smiles at the camera over his book. At his side is military guard Pvt. Nat Schwartz. On Feb. 19th, 1942 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an executive order authorizing the military to banish anyone it considered potentially dangerous from any region considered to be at risk. On March 2nd, the plan was revealed to remove anyone with Japanese ancestry from the entire West Coast. Tacoma's turn came May 17 & 18th, 1942, when 859 Japanese Americans were shipped from Union Station to Pinedale Assembly Center near Fresno California. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Hattori, Toshiyuki; Schwartz, Nat;

Tacoma's Japanese Americans board a train at Union Station. Thirty six hours later they will arrive at the Pinedale "Assembly Center" where they will wait out the war, their presence on the coast considered a threat to national security. The relocation was peaceful, with uniformed soldiers answering questions and helping with baggage. Only a few of the Japanese Americans complained about the process. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1+)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

An unidentified army soldier goes over some last minute information with two Japanese American women being transported by train from Union Station to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno, California. Smiles hide the fear and confusion these women must be feeling as they pack up their families and few approved possessions, locking up the homes that they are leaving behind and heading into an uncertain future. The Japanese were detained under the umbrella of Executive Order 9066, allowing people considered potentially dangerous to be banned from areas considered risky. The Japanese were be detained for "the duration," until the end of the war. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

A uniformed soldier checks the baggage of the Japanese Americans boarding a train at Union Station to be shipped to Pinedale "Assembly Center." The adults are dressed in their best clothing for the trip and wear smiles, hiding the uncertainty that they must be feeling. On May 17-18th, 859 Tacomans were sent by train to the internment camp, in accordance with Executive Order 9066. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1+)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);