On November 25, 1940, Staff Sgt. James E. Phillips addressed a portion of the 900 new recruits undergoing intensive training centered at the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. The Air Force Base was never intended as a training location, but as the Air Corps has expanded and the armed forces make the transition from peace to potential war, the area has been adopted for this purpose. The recruits are destined for specialized branches of the service, for example air corps, signal corps, ordinance or medical corps. They will undergo six weeks of intensive training. Unlike the selective service volunteers who serve for one year, these recruits will serve for three. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Phillips, James E.;

A portion of the 1st Battalion of the 161st Regiment of Infantry is shown standing at attention at Fort Lewis. The 161st was part of the Washington National Guard. Along with the rest of the 41st Infantry Division, they had been called into active duty on September 16, 1940. They were first sent to Camp Murray and later moved to Fort Lewis. (T. Times 12/23/1940, pg. 1)

Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry, Company G (Wash.);

On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) unit defended the Tacoma's industrial coast from a mock military attack by airplanes. Men wearing gas masks fire machine guns from dugouts in the sand, camouflaged by nets. Part of Hooker Chemical plant, 605 Alexander Ave., is pictured in the background. [Also dated 04-19-1941] (T. Times) TPL-797

205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Raymond S. Coon, left, of Wenatchee is being fingerprinted by Cpl. Steve A. Hayes of the Seattle Recruiting office prior to being inducted into the US Army on November 18, 1940. Mr. Coon is in the first group of 29 Selective Service volunteers to be processed in this area. When asked why he volunteered, Mr. Coon replied that he had no job, no debts, no dependents and it just seemed like a good time for his army training. By volunteering, he could select the time rather than waiting for his draft number to be called. (T. Times 11/19/1940, pg. 11)

Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coon, Raymond S.; Hayes, Steve A.; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Fingerprinting;

On March 9, 1941, Lt. Jack M. Murphy and his bride were given a strange welcome by the 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion officers at Fort Lewis. Following an old artillery custom of giving a newly wedded couple a ride on a caisson or gun carriage, the officers of the Battalion, lacking such equipment, strapped two wicker chairs to one of the battalion's mules and gave their new officer and his sweetie a bumpy ride around the post. The five battery commanders, on mules, carrying their battery flags preceded the couple. The pair were followed by other officers and some of their wives, also on mules. The end destination was a reception in the couple's honor at the Officers' Club. (T. Times 3/13/1941, pg.1) (not taken at the same event as D10861 images 5 & 9)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Mules; Murphy, Jack M.; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis);

The largest collection of military might since World War I was paraded on May 9, 1941 for the benefit of Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt. Gen. DeWitt was the commanding officer of the 4th Army and the West's only three star General. In a parade that lasted over three hours, 45,000 troops passed in review with the 41st Division in the lead, followed by the 3rd Division, IX Corps, tanks, a blimp, and the always amusing Field Pack Artillery mules. Officers accompanied their units on horseback and the Cavalry brought up the rear of the parade. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 2; 5/9/41, pg.1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Mules; Fort Lewis (Wash.); 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis);

The student body of Stadium High School assembled in front of their school as a squad of R.O.T.C. cadets from Bellarmine High School fired three volleys with their rifles at the Memorial Day service held in May of 1941. During the solemn ceremony, special tribute was paid to the 11 Stadium alumni who lost their lives in WWI. (T. Times 5/30/1941 p.1)

Military training--Tacoma; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officers Training Corps--Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Memorial Day; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma;

A military brass band gave the 41st Division, Fort Lewis baseball team a royal sendoff on August 12, 1941 when they left Tacoma's Union Station for Wichita, Kansas. They were going to Wichita to represent Washington state in the national semi-pro baseball tournament. The team from the Army's 41st had finished third in the Washington state championship series that was held that year in Everett. The teams that came in first and second, the Lake Washington team from Seattle and the Everett Pilchuks, were unable to attend the tourney. (T. Times 8/13/1941, pg. 13- names in caption)

Washington National Guard, 41st Division (Camp Murray); Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad cars; Military bands;

The president and treasurer of the Edward B. Rhodes American Legion auxiliary purchase their fourth $100 war bond from Puget Sound National Bank on October 26, 1942. Pictured left to right are Mrs. C. Burrows, Lillian Burrows, an unidentified bank official and Merle Yost. (TNT 11/6/1942, pg. 4)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Sgt. Wallace Drake instructs Pfc. Paul Young, second from left, and another unidentified Guardsman in the silhouettes of enemy aircraft. The men were part of a special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard, on active duty in July of 1942 as enemy aircraft spotters on the Olympic Peninsula. The men were serving as the eyes and ears of the Fourth Fighter Command, responsible for the air defense of the Pacific Northwest. TPL-796 (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Drake, Wallace; Young, Paul; Silhouettes;

In July of 1942, the Tacoma Times accompanied Brig. General Walter DeLong on an inspection tour of the special detachment of the Washington State Guard serving as enemy aircraft spotters on the Olympic Peninsula. They returned with photographs like this one of a sentry watching the skies with a spyglass, on the alert for enemy aircraft. All reports would be relayed to the Army's Fourth Fighter Command, responsible for the air defense of the Pacific Northwest.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Guards; Watchmen;

Members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary gathered at the Yacht Club on May 4, 1943 to pose for a publicity shot. They were gathering forces with the US Coast Guard to give instructions for cleaning the waterfront. During the May 7, 1943 fire fighting drill, they met at the Tacoma Yacht Club Harbor to remove fire hazards under the docks. They worked from their boats, armed with grappling hooks, pike poles and other gear. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 3)

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (Tacoma);

Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary posed at the Yacht Club on May 4, 1943. They were joining the regular US Coast Guard to direct fleet activities during the waterfront defense clean up drive. Pictured in the front, left to right, are Howard Trefrey, Radnor Pratsch and V.H. Van Horn. Back row: Bertram Bradley, Charles Ogden, Dr. J.E. Lerum and Bartlett Rummell. (T. Times 5/6/1943, pg. 3)

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (Tacoma);

Junior high school students worked four hour shifts as part of World War II all-school-at-war activities to raise money to buy war bonds and stamps. Students at Jason Lee High School purchased a Jeep with funds raised. Two soldiers flank a smiling group of teenagers who have crammed together atop the Jeep with a sign noting their accomplishment, "Whoopee". (T.Times, 4/19/1943, p.14.) TPL-8328

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile;

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command was in Tacoma for an inspection tour of the State Guard units. Pictured left to right are local officers of the State Guard. They are believed to be Capt. Walter Morris, Major George Nelson, Commander of the 2nd Battalion and Tacoma Station, and Major James McGee, Camp Murray regimental personnel officer. (T Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

In January of 1943, Capt. Bernhard Groth of the US Army's Ninth Service command came to Tacoma on an inspection tour of the Tacoma State Guard. 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 and Maj. James McGee. (T.Times 1/21/1943, pg. 14)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

October 21, 1941 tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor. American involvement in war was growing closer and major Army centers like Fort Lewis stepped up military exercises. 4500 soldiers participated in a grueling tank v. anti-tank guns "battle," the first of its kind on the Pacific coast.

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma;

Standing in front of a portrait of General Douglas MacArthur and behind a giant "V" for victory, Lois Mae Smith sang at the war bond rally held on March 31, 1942. She was flanked by Bruce Stewart, a boy scout from Jason Lee Junior H.S. and Kenny Strom, a sea scout. At the "Defense Rally for Business Men," Tacoma's business leaders pledged to sell bonds amounting to 2% of their previous year's gross sales. Over $170,000 in pledges were turned in at the rally, and the drive expected to reach a total of over $300,000. TPL-1971 (T. Times 4/1/1942, pg. 1)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Smith, Lois Mae; Stewart, Bruce; Strom, Kenny; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

Officers greet one another in December of 1941 at the annual Christmas banquet for Company D, 116th Medical Regiment, Washington National Guard at Camp Murray.

Washington National Guard, Company D, 116th Medics (Tacoma); Banquets--Camp Murray; Holidays--Camp Murray--1940-1950;

Brig. General Walter J. DeLong, state Adjutant General, and his daughter Norma DeLong at Camp Murray. Norma was entering her junior year at Clover Park High School. She was the middle child in the DeLong family. (T. Times 6/20/1942, pg. 5)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J.; DeLong, Walter J.--Family; DeLong, Norma;

On June 18, 1942, a group of soldiers was pictured leaving the Armory in motor lorries for the Olympic Peninsula. They wave and smile at the camera from the rear of the lorry as it pulls away. The group of 30 Washington State Guard soldiers had been placed into active duty and ordered to proceed to the Olympic Peninsula to man air raid warning posts. All of the men had volunteered for the positions. They were under the command of Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts and would be headquartered at Forks, in southwest Clallam County. (T. Times 6/18/1942, p.1-picture)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Military vehicles;

On October 30, 1941, all the stores downtown closed in the morning as Tacoma turned out for a massive parade of pre World War II military might. Over 10,000 men from the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Lewis marched as well as a parade of mechanized strength. One of the most impressive sights was the mobile kitchens where military cooks prepared food as they moved down Broadway during the two hour parade. Here soldiers receive coffee in the early morning hours prior to the parade kick off.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On October 30, 1941, over 10,000 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Lewis marched down Broadway in a tremendous military spectacle, the largest Army parade ever seen in Tacoma. The men march in step in mass formation, suggesting the enormous military power of the US. (T. Times 10/30/1941 p.1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On October 30, 1941, the Army parades showing its military muscle. This was the greatest military spectacle to date in the Northwest. On the left is the Cameo Theater, 1128 Pacific Avenue.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Men and artillery wait patiently for their turn to parade on October 30, 1941. The Fort Lewis show of military might was over 6 miles long and took two hours to pass.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On October 30, 1941, people stride across the ground liberally scattered with papers at the military parade, composed mostly of the 3rd Infantry from Fort Lewis and their tanks and fire power.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On April 6, 1942, Tacoma was host to the first wartime parade through downtown Tacoma. It was held on the 25th anniversary of the U.S. war declaration of World War I (4/6/1917.) It also demonstrated the fitness and readiness of the Army and its equipment. The focus of the parade was a full regiment of infantry, completely equipped with steel helmets, packs and gas masks. In this photograph they are led by a military band and stretch out down the street as far as the eye can see. The Army Parade wound its way down Broadway and Pacific Ave. Missing were the usual photographers, news photographers were allowed to only take shots that were of no value to the enemy. (T. Times 4/6/1942, pg. 1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Marching--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma;

General Kaiser coming down gang plank from ship, Mt. McKinley, Chamber of Commerce, Armed Services Committee, Col. James Stack. The Second Infantry division troops have returned from "Operation Miki" maneuvers in Hawaii. Approximately 15,000 Fort Lewis men participated in the "invasion". A Red Cross stand provided milk, coffee, and doughnuts through the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. One of the Fort Lewis Dairy delivery trucks and another vehicle with loudspeakers on top of the cab stand behind the tables with apples and milk for the service men. (TNT,11/17/1949, p.1) TPL-10358

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States;

Mass meeting of drug store owners for Tacoma Civil Defense. The local druggists and pharmacists completed final civil defense plans to aid in maintaining a flow of medical supplies to secondary hospitals and clearing centers in the event of a disaster. Seated, left to right, are key members of the organization Frank S. Evans (Director), J.E. Sohlberg (President of the Tacoma Association of Pharmaceutical Service), Don Heerema, Dorothy Haaga, Dr. J. Morrison Brady, R.A. Taylor, Bob Failor and Everett Riser. Standing are drug store owners and pharmacists of the area. (TNT 2/23/1951, pg. B-4)

Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Pharmacists--Tacoma--1950-1960; Drugstores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Evans, Frank S.; Sohlberg, J.E.; Heerema, Don; Haaga, Dorothy; Brady, J. Morrison; Taylor, R.A.; Failor, Bob; Riser, Everett;

Intersection at Ft. Lewis for Farmers Insurance. At the center of the picture is the Post Transportation Offices, to its left is the Baggage Room. The street sign reads Pendleton Ave.

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