On May 15, 1943, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company was awarded the coveted Army/Navy "E" pennant in an outdoor noontime ceremony, blessed with perfect weather. At the time, the company had been in operation in Tacoma for about 15 years. They stepped up production here to include chemicals needed for wartime. An unidentified man was pictured speaking to the audience while other dignitaries stand on the stage . (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E" award ceremony on May 15, 1943. L - R Capt. James R. Tague, USN, Fred C. Shanaman, vice president of the company, and Col. Arthur J. Ericcson, US Army, raised the pennant on the staff to the strains of "Anchors Aweigh." The pennant was presented by the Navy to Penn Salt for efficiency in the production of vital wartime chemicals. [T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16; TNT 5/17/1943,pg. 1-picture)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

On May 15, 1943, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company was presented with the coveted "E" pennant for efficiency in the production of vital chemicals for wartime uses. Holding the "E" pennant are two U.S. seamen and back of the pennant are, left to right, Capt. James R. Tague, Col. Arthur J. Ericcson, Col. Clarence B. Lober, and Fred C. Shanaman. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982; Tague, James R.; Ericcson, Arthur J.; Lober, Clarence B.;

Masons at "Scrap Iron Acres," located near the Pacific Match Co. Nine men are dressed in overalls and other work clothes with wheelbarrows loaded with scrap metal to be reused for active war purposes. Each Sunday, organizations would volunteer their time and labor to sort the scrap and load it out for shipment.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits--1940-1950; Fraternal Organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Three women, one a uniformed driver, and a man with a camera in an Army "Duck" amphibious vehicle on Broadway in front of the Winthrop Hotel. For War Finance Committee. [Also dated 04-27-1943]

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War Finance Committee (Tacoma); Amphibious vehicles--1940-1950; Military vehicles--1940-1950;

Reno Odlin, left, president of Puget Sound National Bank, in War Finance Committee booth at 9th and Broadway on April 29, 1943. He is busily selling $5,000 war bonds to Union representatives Harry Satterlee, center, Sec. Teamsters Local 313, and Charles Grover, Millmen's Local #1689. Large contributions from labor helped put Tacoma over the top, raising over $10 million in the second War Bond drive. Sound truck and Winthrop Hotel in background. [Also dated 04-27-1943] (TNT 4/30/1943, pg. 22)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War Finance Committee (Tacoma); Military vehicles--1940-1950; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Satterlee, Harry; Grover, Charles; War bonds & funds;

Program coverage. U.S.O. Unit #2. A group of African American soldiers are sitting on stage looking out at the audience. In the 1940's, the military service was still segregated and the USO club on Commerce St. was intended for servicemen of color. [Also dated 02-29-1943] TPL-1958

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

Program coverage. U.S.O. Unit #2. A group of women standing and seated. Lady seated in front on left has a badge stating: Senior Hostess, U.S.O., No.2, Tacoma. USO #2 was located at 713-15 Commerce St. and was intended for use by servicemen of color. [Also dated 02-29-1943]

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

By 1943, there were five USOs in Tacoma. Because the United States Armed Services were still segregated, African American enlisted men had a separate U.S.O. This photograph from March 1943 is of a group of service men and hostesses at U.S.O. #2 which was located at 715 Commerce St. (Also dated 02-29-1943]

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

In 1943, although they fought side by side, the Army was still segregated. African American servicemen has their own USO Club in Tacoma, the U.S.O. #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. For Mothers Day in 1943, the black community of Tacoma tried to make the men feel at home by inviting them to a special church service. In honor of the holiday, the Lincoln High School a-capella choir (in robes) also presented a special program. (T. Times 5/8/1943,pg.7)

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

The Lincoln High School a-capella Choir (pictured) presented a special program for Mothers Day, May 9, 1943, at the USO Club #2. Since the Army was still segregated in World War II, this Club was intended for African American servicemen. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Choirs (Music); African Americans--Social life--1940-1950;

During the war, different organizations and companies would take turns entertaining the military men at the USO Clubs. On the last day in February, 1943, Northern Pacific played host at the 13th and Fawcett USO. Soldiers appear to be crowding behind a piano for a sing-a-long. (photograph damaged at right side)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

A man dressed as a train engineer has captured the attention of many soldiers crowding the room as Northern Pacific plays host at 13th and Fawcett USO.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway hosts and hostesses at 13th & Fawcett U.S.O. Several of the hosts and hostesses are holding lanterns and Northern Pacific logo signs. Different social organizations and companies would take turns acting as hosts at the USO Clubs. [Also dated 02-28-1943]

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Group portraits--1940-1950;

Portrait of Ted Bishop and his wife taken outside Turner Richards' Photography Studio. Mr. Bishop is wearing a sailor's uniform in this February, 1943 photograph.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma; Bishop, Ted--Family; Turner Richards Studio (Tacoma);

May 11, 1943 review of Junior ROTC at Bellarmine High School. Portrait of dignitaries including priests, instructors, military officials and a woman. Over 300 guests witnessed the inspection and review. The event held soon after Mother's Day honored the mothers of the cadets and started with a military field mass and breakfast. This was followed by the military review on the school campus. (T.Times, 5/11/1943, pg. 11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

The Bellarmine ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) Color Guard was photographed during the May 11,1943 ROTC unit inspection and review. Left to right: Robert L. Erickson, John M. Carey, Douglas Johnson, and James Buchanan. At the all male Catholic high school, military drill was compulsory for sophomores and juniors. Bellarmine was the only high school on the Northwest coast with a ROTC unit. (T.Times, 5/12/43, p. 3-picture, 5/11/1943,pg.11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military art & science--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mrs. Clyde Best was one of several defense worker mothers who was honored by the Tacoma Times on the nation's second wartime Mothers Day in May of 1943. Mrs. Best had a husband serving in the Army who was stationed in Africa and an eighteen year old son, James Gibson, who had been in the Army three months. (T. Times 5/8/1943 p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Best, Clyde--Family;

Tacoma honored its war-worker mothers of service men for Mother's Day, May of 1943. Mrs. Marietta Fleck was a welder at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Company. Her son James Albert Nickerson had been an instructor of trainees in the infantry at Salina, Kansas, but his present location was unknown. He had been in the service six years and had two brothers in the Marines. (T. Times, 5/8/43, p. 1, 4 & 5) TPL-1972

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Fleck, Marietta; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People;

Early in May of 1943, a quintet of adventurous Tacoma lasses posed in front of the locomotive at Union Station that was their first step to going "over there." The local women left Tacoma May 6th for the new training center at Monticello, Arkansas, to begin basic training in the year old Womens Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC.) They are, left to right, Agnes Dittbenner, Mary Dittbenner, Ellen V. Vail, Marie J. Stith and Grace Garner. They travelled in a special car along with 47 other potential privates from Washington and Oregon. Over 150,000 American women served in the Army Corps in World War II. (T. Times 5/7/1943, pg. 8; TNT 5/7/1943, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma); Dittbenner, Agnes; Dittbenner, Mary; Vail, Ellen; Garner, Grace; Stith, Marie;

Five local women pause to pose for the camera at Union Station prior to leaving Tacoma May 6, 1943 to begin their careers as members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Pictured are, left to right, Agnes Dittbenner, Mary Dittbenner, Ellen V. Vail, Tacoma recruiter Dorothy Kerr, Grace Garner and Marie J. Stith. The bill authorizing the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps was enacted on May 14, 1942. By August of 1943, there were over 50,600 women in the WAACS. In August of 1943, in recognition of their service, the WAAC was converted to the Womens Army Corp, a bona fide part of the United States Army. (T. Times 5/7/1943 p.8; TNT 5/7/1943, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma); Dittbenner, Agnes; Dittbenner, Mary; Vail, Ellen; Kerr, Dorothy; Garner, Grace; Stith, Marie;

An unidentified soldier uses a mirror and a razor to shave during an overnight bivouac enroute from Fort Lewis to California. Over 36,000 troops were being transported to participate in war games. The 23,000 travelling by motor vehicles would take six days to arrive, beginning travel at 5 a.m. each day and stopping at 12 noon to set up camp. The reduced travelling hours were designed so as not to disrupt motor travel completely in Washington and Oregon. (T. Times 5/14/1941)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

On May 19, 1941, unidentified soldiers try to fill the time before supper with a game of cards as they caravan from Fort Lewis to California to participate in war games. 23,000 officers and men travelled in 4,000 motorized vehicles over two routes, clogging the highways as they travelled. They would drive only from 5a.m. to 12 noon, leaving the roads to civilians in the afternoons and evenings. It would take the troops six days to reach the war games site, setting up camp each night in between. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1; 5/20/41, pg. 1-photo)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

In May of 1941, 36,000 troops deserted Fort Lewis for California to participate in war games. 23,000 of them travelled on two routes, US 97 and US 99, by caravan. The caravans were made up of 4,000 motor vehicles. The photographer rode with the first truck convoy of the 41st Division on the initial leg on the trip to west central California. The first group that day totalled 4500 men and the second 2500. They stretched out in a line of trucks 60-70 miles long. They travelled from 5 a.m. to 12 noon, glutting the highways, and then made camp until the following morning. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Unidentified soldiers says goodbye to two female friends as they prepare to take part in a military convoy. In mid May of 1941, 36,000 Fort Lewis troops set out for California to participate in war games. The logistics were the equivalent of moving a small city. 23,000 men and officers travelled in 4,000 motor vehicles of all sizes, from big 6 wheelers to jeeps. There would be two separate caravans on 2 routes, US Hwy 97 and US 99. Departures would begin May 19 and continue through the 23. The remaining troops would travel on 25 trains. The war games would be held on the Hunter Liggett Reservation, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, near Fort Ord. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Five women offer first aid assistance to a "patient" with an injured leg during practice drills for the Women's Emergency Motor Corps at the Woodbrook Hunt Club.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

In April of 1941, the 30 members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps were taking part in drills held at the Woodbrook Hunt Club grounds. In this photograph, they are practicing field first aid, rendering medical attention and constructing a rough dray for transport. The group had gotten off to a rocky start when their founder Harriet Virginia was charged with Grand Larceny. The group decided that there was a need for a female branch of the Home Defense Corps and they elected Iris Bryan to guide the group. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

In April of 1941, members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps practice First Aid on the grounds of the Woodbrook Hunt Club. Pictured, left to right, are Martha Corliss, Elsie Heritage, Helen Glans, Lt. Gertrude Stevens, Helen Corbin, Sgt. Margory Hannum and patient Minnie Groeper. The 30 members of the group also studied emergency transportation, Morse code, semaphore, motor mechanics, map reading and emergency communication. They were training to offer aid as needed in an emergency. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 1) (photo copy courtesy of the collection of Faye Langston)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

The Women's Emergency Motor Corps drills at Woodbrook. After an inauspicious beginning with a bogus group, the National Service League Motor Corps for Women, Tacoma's unit split from the parent organization and became part of the Home Defense Corps. The local group, under the leadership of Capt. Iris Bryan, was called out for field maneuvers at Woodbrook Hunt Club. The exercises would cover motor transportation, ambulance driving, First aid and semaphore. (T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

Members of the Tacoma Home Defense Corps take a break and enjoy some coffee. Pictured, left to right, are Sgt. Claire Janacek, Capt. Iris Bryan, Florence Madsen, Lt. Helen Glans, Helen Corbin and Peggy Swenson. Photograph was taken on April 29, 1941. TPL-3852.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma); Janacek, Claire; Bryan, Iris; Madsen, Florence; Glans, Helen; Corbin, Helen; Swenson, Peggy;