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;

The Tacoma Times honored defense worker mothers of active servicemen on our nation's second wartime Mother's Day in May of 1943. On page 1 was this picture of Mrs. C.W. Greening, mother of one of Tacoma's most famous servicemen Major Ross Greening, a pilot with the heroic Tokyo Air Raiders, led by Jimmy Doolittle. Mrs. Greening was employed by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Tacoma plant in the payroll department. Her son had been one of the pilots in the top secret raid on mainland Japan on April 18, 1942, that slowed down the Japanese war machine and gave a boost to American morale. The land based 16 B-25s took off from the deck of the aircraft carrier Hornet and carried out the war's first bombing raid on Japan. All but one of the aircraft crash landed or the crew bailed out. Major Greening and his crew bailed out and reached China safely. In 1943, he was stationed in North Africa, where he was shot down and captured in July of 1943. He survived the war and continued in a distinguished military career until his death in 1957. (T. Times 5/8/1943 p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Greening, C.W.--Family; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People;

In May of 1943, Mrs. Hazel Fuhrman was doing her bit for the war effort by working as a shipfitter's helper. Her 18-year-old son was serving in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in aviation ordnance school at Norman, Oklahoma. This photograph, and six other pictures of war-worker mothers of active service men, was published in the Tacoma Times on May 8, 1943 for the nation's second wartime Mother's Day. (T. Times, 5/8/43, p. 1, 4 &5) TPL-8036

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuhrman, Hazel;

In May of 1943, the Tacoma Times honored its defense industry mothers on the nation's second wartime Mothers Day. Mrs. Ralph Macklen was employed as a shipfitters helper. Her son, Sgt. John J. Macklen, was serving with a medical corps at Camp Maxey, Texas. (T. Times 5/8/1943 p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Macklen, Ralph--Family;

Service mothers in Defense Plants. Lunch served at many tables outdoors at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company on May 8, 1943, to honor the war-time workers on Mother's Day who are mothers of service men. (Penn Salt) (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Luncheons--Tacoma;

Service mothers in Defense plants. During the Second World War many women took on non-traditional jobs to support the war effort. Mrs. E.L. Clevinger was a burner's helper in a defense plant. She and other women involved in defense work were honored at a special ceremony on Mother's Day in 1943. Her son, Corp. George Clevinger, had just left Tacoma after a furlough with his family. He was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La. (T. Times, 5/8/43 p.1, 4 & 5) TPL-8035

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Mothers; Clevinger, E.L.--Family;

Exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with one of the plant's gardeners in overalls and cap admiring the iris bed. Penn Salt was located on the Tacoma tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway. TPL-8556

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Two men are pictured hard at work, the one on the right reading a gauge, in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two male and one female employees are pictured in May of 1943, hard at work at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two employees are pictured in May of 1943 with drums of chemicals manufactured by Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. The man is jotting down notes on a clipboard.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. are photographed loading a freight railroad car with barrels of chemicals for shipment. During World War II, the company manufactured chemicals vital to the war industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker in leather gloves was photographed working on a piece of machinery in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company inspecting pressure gauge. During World War II Penn Salt produced chemicals important in manufacturing ammunitions products. (T.Times, 2/23/44)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two men wheel barrels of chemicals on dollies, preparing to load them for shipment at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "PennSalt," during World War II, manufactured chemicals for use in the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A group of workmen posed in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

An unidentified couple poses in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker with oil can at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company plant. After the war Penn Salt would return to manufacturing household and industrial goods: chlorine, hydrogen gas, caustic soda, sodium arsenate, sodium and potassium chlorate, and sodium hypochlorite. (T.Times, 2/23/43)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--1940-1950;

A man is working with machinery in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "PennSalt" manufactured chemicals for use in other industries. During World War II, they stepped up production to include chemicals needed to make ammunitions.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

One of the business offices was photographed in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "Penn Salt" manufactured chemicals used by other industries. During World War II, they increased production to included chemicals needed by the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In May of 1943, workers at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. move barrels of chemicals on dollies. Many of these barrels will be shipped to the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1943 the United States celebrated the second wartime Mother's Day of WWII. Hundreds of local mothers took jobs in Tacoma's industrial plants to help the war effort. Women employees like these photographed at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. helped the company that year achieve the coveted "E" pennant for efficiency in production. During the war, much of the American work force was composed of women who had replaced the thousands of men serving in the Armed Forces. (T.Times 5-8-43, p. 1-article)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with man in overalls and cap reading gauges and dials on Boiler No. 2 Control Panel. Also shown are paper readouts, other gauges, a clock and pipes with turn-off valves.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Worker at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company inspecting pressure gauge in May of 1943. During World War II Penn Salt produced chemicals important in manufacturing ammunitions products. (T.Times, 2/23/44)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Three security officers were photographed in May of 1943 outside of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A male and a female worker were photographed during their regular daily tasks in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

One of the gardeners poses proudly with his irises in May of 1943 outside one of the factory buildings at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. During World War II, the factory manufactured chemicals necessary for the war effort.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. were pictured in May of 1943 with a machine that appears to be filling drums with chemicals. "PennSalt" manufactured chemicals for many industries, including the defense industries.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two men are photographed working on a piece of machinery at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing plant in May of 1943.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A worker is photographed at his job at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. in May of 1943. The company produced chemicals, some of which were necessary for the war effort.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;