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;

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;

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;

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);

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;

New recruits at McChord Field rest during a training session, the moment caught by a military photographer. 900 new volunteers were undergoing six weeks of rigorous training at the site of the old Tacoma Field hangar, deeded in 1938 to the US government and now part of McChord Field. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)

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

Recruits drill up and down the runways of McChord Field. They are part of the current group of 900 receiving training at this location. Although never intended to serve as a training location, McChord is being utilized as such as the armed services expand in preparation for war. These volunteers will receive six weeks of intensive training at this site. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)

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

The officers who will run the new Recruit Center at McChord Field pose for the camera. They are, left to right, Capt. Charles A Green, Capt. W.J. Herlihy, Col. B.T. Burt- Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. James R. Williams and 1st Lt. Jack E. Rowley. The center will be training new volunteers in specialized branches of the service. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Green, Charles A.; Herlihy, W.J.; Burt, B.T.; Williams, James R.; Rowley, Jack E.;

Privates B.J. Larson, William P. Biggs and Gale Sersain scrub the concrete outside the temporary headquarters of the new Recruit Center at McChord Field. Sgt. L. T. Thomas looks on approvingly. As the Air Corps and the other branches of the service struggled to expand, more centers were needed to train volunteers, and later draftees. This center was set up around the location of the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Larson, B.J.; Biggs, William P.; Sersain, Gale; Thomas, L.T.;

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.);

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;

Two units of segregated U.S. Army troops. An African American unit is followed by a white unit in the Armed Forces Parade on May 20, 1950. This was the first Armed Forces Day parade. It was a combination of the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. It was estimated that 6,000 persons participated in the parade. Over 2,500 infantrymen of the 9th regimental combat team of the Second division and other units from Fort Lewis passed in review. Reserve units also played an important part in the event including the National Guard, Marine Corps, Naval Reserve, Army Reserve and Bellarmine R.O.T.C. (TNT, 5/22/1950, p.1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; African Americans--Tacoma--1950-1960; African American soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cpl. Goro Tomisato, Battalion D, 11th AAA, poses for this sepia studio portrait on August 19, 1950. Tomisato, a Japanese American stationed at Fort Lewis, is wearing dress khakis.

Military personnel--Tacoma; Military uniforms; Men--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma formed a Civilian Defense force, proposed for a force of 150 individuals. Here, Tacoma City Clerk Josephine Melton, left, administered the oath of office to 30 auxilliary police. The men had completed a six-week training course, including first aid, police, and firearms courses. Names are listed in the newspaper. Ordered by Frank Evans. (TNT, 10/29/1950, p.15)

Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Melton, Josephine; People associated with health & safety;

Third Division Reunion at Fort Lewis. Military unit on parade grounds in front of officers' quarters. Troops mark the anniversary of fire baptism in the World War, 19 years ago. Division was organized November 1917. (T. Times, 7/15/1937, p. 1).

Events - Military Events - Military Reunions - Fort Lewis - 3rd DivisionFacilities - Military Facilities - Washington - Fort Lewis

Crowds gather to view Fort Lewis on Army Day, 1937. On Army Day, the military played host to the surrounding community showing off their installation and equipment. Large group of people gathered on field in front of brick buildings and post chapel. Chapel designed by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects. (T. Times).

Fort Lewis (Wash.);