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;
A group of State Guardsmen are pictured leaving the Armory and loading into motor lorries on June 18, 1942. Thirty men and one officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard had been called into active duty, the first in the state of Washington. They were travelling to the Olympic Peninsula where they would man coastal air raid warning stations. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Military vehicles;
Guardsman Irven W. Kenney kissed his mother goodbye on June 18,1942 as he left for active duty with the Washington State Guard. Emotionally looking on was his father, Lieut. Col. I. W. Kenney, a member of the staff of Adjutant General Walter J. DeLong. Irven had volunteered to go on active duty and was being sent to the Olympic Peninsula with 29 other Guardsmen to man air raid warning posts. In August of 1942 Lieut. Col. Kenney died suddenly while stationed in Ogden, Utah. His son, Irven Kenney, Jr. survived the war and returned to Tacoma where he lived for the rest of his life, dying in July of 1992. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1-picture)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Kenney, Irvin W.; Kenney, I.W.; Kenney, I.W.--Family;
On June 18, 1942, a conference regarding travel orders was taking place as the first group of Washington State Guard to be called into active duty prepared to leave the Armory for the Olympic Peninsula. Pictured left to right are Sgt. Wallace Drake, 1st Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts- detachment commander, Sgt. Tom Cutter and Sgt. James E. Collins. The men will be headquartered at Forks where they will man coastal air raid warning posts. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1-picture)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Drake, Wallace; Roberts, Wilbur E.; Cutter, Tom; Collins, James E.;
A young soldier, carrying his possessions, happily prepared to board a military transport at the Armory, bound for the Olympic Peninsula. Thirty Washington State Guardsmen and their commander were called into active duty, the first in Washington. They were leaving on June 18, 1942 for their new headquarters at Forks, where they would fan out to man coastal air raid warning posts. They would be working with the Fourth Fighter Command, US Army Air Corps. (T. Times 6/18/1942, pg. 1)
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Military uniforms--Washington State Guard; World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations;
Major Ralph Jackson of the Washington State Guard pictured deep in concentration over his paperwork. This photograph accompanied an article urging volunteering in the State Guard, headquartered at Camp Murray. The State Guard was organized in 1941 to take the place of the National Guard which had been called into active duty. This group provided the governor with a military force to be employed in protection of lives and property within the state boundaries during an emergency. Men 18- 55 were eligible to volunteer. The State Guard was recommended for those contemplating future military careers or those unable to serve in regular military duties. (T. Times 7/1/1942, pg. 5)
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;
Brig. General Walter J. DeLong and his wife and daughter Norma at Camp Murray. Norma, a junior at Clover Park High School, was the couple's middle child. They also had two sons, Walter Jr., who attended Washington State College, and Clarence, a sixth grader at Clover Park School.
Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J.; DeLong, Walter J.--Family;
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;
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;
In June of 1942, Mary Rathfon (left) and Elizabeth Morris posed with a poster encouraging employees of the Internal Revenue Department to sign up for Payroll deductions to purchase war savings bonds. "Let's hit the bull's eye! Everybody. Every Payday. At Least 10%." Miss Rathfon holds an allotment card. Lots of those cards were filled out at the IRS office at the downtown Post Office; sign ups totalled 94.9 percent. (T. Times 6/5/1942, pg. 2)
War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma); Targets (Sports); Arrows; Posters; Rathfon, Mary; Morris, Elizabeth;
Tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor on October 21, 1941. Some of the 41 tanks are pictured during the one-day exercise. 4,500 men participated in the "battle" where everything, but the shells, was real. Spearheaded by the 10-ton armored tanks, the "Blues" traveled across rolling and rough terrain to engage the "Reds" in combat. (T. Times 10/22/1941, pg. 1)
Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis;
October 21, 1941 tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor. 41 tanks, weighing 10 tons and heavily armored, would participate in military exercises against anti-tank guns. Traveling through rough terrain, the "Blues" would ford streams and knock down fences as they attemped to dislodge the strongly entrenched "Reds." They "battled" to a draw. (T.Times, 10-22-41, p. 1)
Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis;
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.
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;
On April 6, 1942, the Army held its first wartime parade in downtown Tacoma. It was held on the anniversary of the US war declaration of World War I (4/6/1917). The parade included an whole infantry of soldiers, fully outfitted. They also demonstrated their current equipment, such as these light scout cars armed with automatic rifles. (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;
On October 30, 1941, downtown businesses were closed due to the massive two hour military parade making its way downtown. Following the parade, stores would throw open their doors for a once a year United Tacoma Days sale. Here bus and or streetcar employees meet with a coordinator, possibly to go over schedule changes made to deal with the increase of downtown traffic.
Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; People associated with transportation;
On October 30, 1941, jeeps roll down Broadway as part of a massive military parade. On the left they roll past the Roxy Theater, 901 Broadway. On the right are signs for the "Motoramp Garage" (745 Commerce), Acme Cleaners and the Family Medical Center. Sidewalks were packed with parade goers.
Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobiles;
On October 30, 1941, the men of the 3rd Infantry, a division of Fort Lewis, march down the street in mass formation, suggesting the tremendous military power of the US. The line of marching men was over 6 miles long.
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 ambulances roll down the downtown parade route on October 30, 1941 as ticker tape confetti floats down from the upper story windows during the Army Parade.
Every man and vehicle in the U.S. Army's 3rd Division, stationed at Fort Lewis, was on display during the military parade held on October 30th, 1941 in downtown Tacoma. As paper, confetti and streamers rained down, the soldiers and their machines made their way toward the reviewing stand set up at South 12th Street and Pacific. Commercial and academic Tacoma were "closed" for the parade. Most stores shut their doors until after the procession and Tacoma's schools declared a special all-day "holiday". Immediately after the parade, Tacoma's merchants threw open their doors and began the 10th Annual "United Tacoma Sale", sponsored by 50 downtown retailers. (T.Times 10/30/1941 p.1)
Crowds line the street on October 30, 1941, as men and artillery pass in formation during the Army parade. Over 10,000 soldiers would take part in the 2 hour parade through downtown Tacoma.
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.
On October 30, 1941, the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Lewis took part in a huge military parade through downtown Tacoma. Men in jeeps pull artillery weapons. The Roxy Theater is on the right. The Bostwick building can be seen in the center background.
Soldiers massed together in a variety of vehicles at either the end or beginning of the October 30, 1941 Army Parade. The participants are dressed in uniform including steel helmets.
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.
