Five soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery sit on the ground in from of a small tent, mess kits in hand, at Brown's Farm, Nisqually, Washington, on August 15, 1932. TPL-7094

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

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery lead a line of horses along a fenced road at Brown's Farm, Nisqually. TPL-7100

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

In May of 1918, World War I soldiers in two trucks with "War Camp Community Service" banners pulled up in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Clubhouse. The Clubhouse was located in the Kaufmann-Wolff Building at 714-16 Pacific Ave. The building was designed by Farrell and Darmer, Architects, and also included 713-15 Commerce St. It was formally opened April 5, 1918 by the War Camp Community Service. The opening ceremony included speeches and a dance, but this was the last time the club was open to women or officers. It was strictly for the use of enlisted men. The address was later home to the Rhodes Post of the American Legion and the World War II USO Club for Servicemen of Color. The War Camp was created in 1917 to provide social activities in areas where servicemen spent their off duty time. BU 13,189, G68.1-108 (TDN 4/6/1918, pg.2) TPL-1675

Soldiers & Sailors Clubhouse (Tacoma); War Camp Community Service (Tacoma);

Non-commissioned Officers Club. This one-story building with extended covered wraparound porch served as the Non-commissioned Officers Club at Camp Lewis circa 1920. The commissioned officers had their own separate building. G69.1-152 TPL-10307

Military facilities--Camp Lewis;

Tacoma ushered in the new decade of 1900 with a huge 4th of July celebration. It was estimated that 50,000 people poured into town for the big event. Festivities turned to disaster on the morning of the 4th when an overcrowded streetcar plunged into the ravine at South 26th and C Streets instantly killing 37 passengers and maiming many others on board. Some of the planned activities proceeded including this military drill on July 5th. Members of the Washington National Guard, Co. H, 1st Regiment, Spokane, under Capt. M. M. Richardson, receive the silver loving cup for the best drilled company in the regiment from Colonel Weisenberger. Guardsmen stand at parade rest along the 1100 block of Tacoma Avenue South where a crowd has gathered for the award ceremony. (TDL 7/6/1900, p. 8).

Military training; Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1900-1910; Fourth of July celebrations; Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

ca. 1932. Undated photograph, believed to be taken around 1932, of a military parade down Broadway; buildings include Hopper-Kelly Co. on left (764 Broadway), Winthrop Hotel (773) and Ted Brown Music (755) on right.

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma;

Perched high above the flight deck of the U.S.S. Lexington on the 8-inch guns of the forward turrets, these young women do not appear at all nervous during their visit to the aircraft carrier in December, 1929. The Navy did permit tours of the ship which was tied up at Baker Dock from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930, to provide power to the City of Tacoma. Schoolchildren and Boy Scouts were among those who visited the large ship. On December 23, 1929, Freda Gardener, of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Ethel Haasarud, RKO cashier, and Naomi Dykeman, head usher, Fox Rialto, were present to promote the Chamber of Commerce's big dance for the Lexington's enlisted men to be held on December 26 at the Greenwich Coliseum. They would be the judges awarding prizes to the most handsome, most happy and best dancer present at the dance. TPL-1774 (T.Times, 12-23-29, p. 1)

L.M. Phillipotts, seaman second class, sights a five inch broadside gun from the deck of the New Mexico directly on City Hall during a gun drill July 22, 1927. The U.S.S. New Mexico, flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was in Tacoma's harbor until the first of August. The battleship was commissioned in May of 1918 and spent the first World War close to the U.S. In 1919, she steamed to Europe and escorted President Woodrow Wilson home from the Versailles peace conference. After playing a prominent role in World War II, she was decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap. (TNT 7/22/1927 p.1)

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd (later Rear Admiral), the "Conqueror of the North Pole," poses with a Franklin car on February 5, 1927 during his stay as Tacoma's guest. Commander Byrd stands beside the car with Gus Ledbetter at the far right. The man in the center is not identified. He would be speaking on February 5th at the First Baptist Church about his career as a noted aviator and explorer. He was riding a crest of fame created when he and Floyd Bennett proclaimed to the world that they had flown over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. The remainder of his life, after 1928, would be devoted to his exploration of Antarctica. He died in 1957. (TNT 2/5/1927 p.1; Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)

On July 20, 1939, as part of Tacoma's Washington State Golden Jubilee celebration, six Navy dreadnoughts, the powerhouses of the Pacific Fleet, entered Commencement Bay at 8:30 in the morning and dropped anchor at the mouth of the Puyallup River. The ships and their 8,000 men and officers would be in Tacoma for the Jubilee celebration and depart on Monday, July 24th. The six battleships, the USS California, USS Pennsylvania, USS Arizona, USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi and the USS Idaho, were available for tours 1-4 p.m. through Sunday. They also provided searchlight shows in the evening and their crews took part in the water carnival races. On December 7, 1941, the California, the Pennsylvania and the Arizona were stationed at Pearl Harbor. The California and the Pennsylvania were damaged; the Arizona was destroyed, with the loss of 1,104 personnel. TPL-9081 (TNT 7/20/39, pg 1-article)

During World War II, the US military was still segregated. Despite the fact that they fought side by side, servicemen of color were not allowed in the whites only USO clubs. In Tacoma, a group of prominent religious, community and civic leaders addressed this problem by opening USO #2 at 713-15 Commerce St. and dedicating it for the use of African American servicemen and women. This photograph is of an unidentified violinist and accompanist performing at USO #2.

This undated photograph appears to have been taken at the USO club #2, the Tacoma club reserved for servicemen and women of color. Second from left was Tacoma Mayor C. Val Fawcett (acting 1943-45, elected 1946-50) and on the far right is Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg of Temple Beth Israel.

The 70 piece Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest performed in front of the temporary bandstand, topped with unfurled flags, at the USO Music Festival held July 28, 1946 at Point Defiance Park. The young orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Francis Aranyi, was one of the favorites of the 7,000 concert viewers. (TT 7/27/1946, pg 2 and 7/28/46, pg 1; TNT 7/27/46, pg.1 and 7/29/46, pg. 1& 2; Photo by F.L. Powell, YMCA, Tacoma)

Military Band plays outdoors with two tubas and a flute. Tents and coniferous trees are pictured in the background.

"Camp Hankens - 1935." Group of soldiers pose with tents in the background.

Crown gathered around man speaking in front of industrial architecture. In the distance, a man appears to be installing a utility pole.

ca. 1926. American Lake Veterans Hospital. Large Prairie-style building with columned front porch. Original structures built in 1923. (filed with Argentum)

Hospitals--Lakewood--1920-1930; American Lake Veterans Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood;

ca. 1932. Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, escort to the Governor, circa 1932. (WSHS)

Military personnel--1930-1940; Horseback riding; Horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma);

Leonard Weber, left, of Tacoma and Carl Uppman of Gig Harbor didn't attempt to put on their gas masks during the July 1934 Citizen's Military Training Camp (CMTC) exercises at Camp Murray until after the wind had whipped some of the tear gas being used for training in their direction. They received a teary eyed lesson in military preparedness. In the 1930s, young men interested in military careers could volunteer for summer training camps operated by the army. Camp Murray is at the southeast end of American Lake and is still headquarters for the Washington National Guard. (T. Times 7/13/1934, pg. 1)

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weber, Leonard; Uppman, Carl;

It's every man for himself as young uniformed men reach for dessert outside of the Camp Murray enlisted men's Mess Hall during the July 1934 Citizen's Military Training Camp (CMTC). The pie is going fast and there doesn't appear to be enough for all. The summer training camp combined the CMTC, ROTC and Officers' Reserve Corps for the first time. The purpose of the summer training was to acquaint young men with the armed forces in case they needed to be called up during wartime. (T. Times 7/13/1934, pg. 1) TPL-10378

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Soldiers seated at bench-style tables in mess hall during the July 1934 Citizen's Military Training Camp (CMTC) at Camp Murray. During the 20s and 30s, young men interested in military careers could obtain valuable experience at these camps. The work was hard, but the food was plentiful and good. The camps were intended to bridge the gap between a large wartime standing army and green military recruits. (T. Times 7/13/1934, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1941. Fort Lewis soldiers demonstrate artillery techniques on the main parade ground in this 1941 photograph. The base chapel can be seen in the background at left. The citizens of Pierce County donated the land for a federal military base in 1917. Camp Lewis was named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The named was changed to Fort Lewis in 1927.

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Chapels--Fort Lewis; Artillery (Weaponry )--Fort Lewis;

The United States fleet visiting Tacoma. View of two battleships in Commencement Bay from Northeast Tacoma looking toward the city. Ships seen in the distance over the druins of a wharf and log boom. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

United States fleet visit to Tacoma. Four battleships in Commencement Bay near the Port of Tacoma. View is taken from Northeast Tacoma and shows Mount Rainier in the background. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

United States fleet visits Tacoma. Four battleships in Commencement Bay near the Port of Tacoma. Mount Rainier is visible in the distance. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

The 148th Field Artillery Band at the Washington National Guard encampment in 1936, "Camp Wesley LLoyd." The band is led by long-time drum major Steve Monland (spelled Moreland in the Richards records,) in front with baton. Members are standing in a field with trees, tents, and small buildings in the background at Camp Murray. (T. Times 6/17/1936, pg. 1)

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel--1930-1940; Military bands; Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. Band (Tacoma);

Washington National Guard encampment, "Camp Wesley Lloyd." 148th Field Artillery, Battery E Field Telephone group. Soldiers standing by supply tent.

Camp Murray (Wash.); Military personnel--1930-1940; Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. (Tacoma)

Citizens Military Training Camp, the C.M.T.C., at Camp Murray. Group of young men in civilian clothing drinking coffee and eating donuts. Some of the new arrivals are wearing tags on strings around their necks. Camp buildings in background. These young citizen volunteers will soon be donning uniforms and learning about military life as they take part in training as soldiers. The C.M.T.C. provided a body of trained young men that could be called into duty if needed. (T. Times 7/9/1936, pg. 14).

Citizens Military Training Camp--Tacoma; Camp Murray (Wash.); Washington National Guard (Tacoma); Military camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Third Division Reunion at Fort Lewis. Military unit on parade grounds. The 3rd Division, American Expeditionary Force, fought three major engagements in France: at Marne, St. Mihiel, and Argonne- Meuse (T. Times 7/15/1937, p 1).

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

Army Day. Iva (Mrs. Wesley) Lloyd with a group of women and a young girl standing under an oak tree. Mrs. Lloyd is the widow of the late US Congressman Wesley Lloyd. The Lloyds lived in Tacoma at 3919 No. 34th. The 1936 annual encampment of the Washington National Guard was named "Camp Wesley Lloyd" after the late congressman. It was held in June of 1936 at Camp Murray.

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Lloyd, Iva;