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 April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) unit set up machine gun emplacements on the Tacoma tideflats to protect Tacoma from a mock "attack" by planes. As night fell, powerful searchlights, located at Browns Point, near Stadium High, and on the tideflats, cut through the dark sky, locating airplanes from Gray field as they entered the air space over Tacoma. This camouflaged foxhole was placed where it could guard the Hooker Chemical plant, in the background, from attack. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg.1)
205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);
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);
Fort Lewis arranged a 3-5 hour parade of military might on May 9, 1941 in honor of Lt. General John L. DeWitt, commanding general of the 4th Army. 45,000 troops would pass in review, as well as 5,000 mechanized units. In this picture, trucks pull artillery, with 10 soldiers riding in the back of each truck. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 2; 5/9/41, pg. 1)
Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Artillery (Weaponry)--Fort Lewis;
On May 9, 1941, a large military review, the largest since World War I, was held at Fort Lewis for the benefit of Lt. General John L. DeWitt. Here, all terrain vehicles tow artillery mounted on trailers. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 2; 5/9/41, pg. 1)
Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Artillery (Weaponry)--Fort Lewis;
A three star review, the largest since World War I, was held at Fort Lewis in honor of Lt. General John L. DeWitt, the West's only 3 star General. Lt. Gen. DeWitt, commanding general of the Fourth Army, was visiting the Fort from his Headquarters at the Presidio, San Francisco. Over 45,000 troops would pass in review, as well as tanks, a blimp, artillery with its pack mules and Cavalry. During the parade, ten bands comprised of 400 musicians played continuously for the 3-5 hours. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 2; 5/9/41, pg. 1)
Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Musicians--Fort Lewis--1940-1950; Fort Lewis (Wash.); Marching bands;
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 squad of R.O.T.C. cadets from Bellarmine High School fired three volleys with their rifles at the Memorial Day service held in front of Stadium High School in May of 1941. The entire student body assembled in front of the building for 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.
Sgt. Lawrence A. Lewis, tank commander, flashes a grin at the camera despite his flour whitened face and the fact that he has just been "slain" by a Molotov cocktail. On October 21, 1941, Sgt. Lewis was one of 4500 soldiers participating in exercises where 41 tanks squared off against 37 and 75 mm anti-tank gun on the Fort Lewis reservation, near Roy. Luckily the "cocktail" contained only flour, and his be-floured face is evidence of the hit. Asked how it felt to be "killed," he replied, "It made me sneeze." (T. Times, 10-22-41, p. 1)
Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Lewis, Lawrence;
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;
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;
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.
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)
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.
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, 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.
On October 30, 1941, the troops of the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Lewis took to the streets of downtown Tacoma in a tremendous military spectacle. Over 10,000 soldiers, as well as their mechanized units, took part in an enormous Army parade. A crowd of Tacomans turned out to watch the spectacle.
On October 30, 1941, jeeps roll down the Broadway parade route as Fort Lewis shows off its military strength in a parade. Over 10,000 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division marched as well as a steady flow of tanks, artillery and mechanized machinery.
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.
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 troops of the 3rd Division's Infantry Battalion maintained close-order formation as they passed the Roxy Theater, turning from Broadway to march down South 9th Street. One of the largest crowds to ever watch a parade in Tacoma gathered to view the Army Day extravaganza. The parade of over 10,000 soldiers, with their support vehicles, stretched for over 6 miles. (TTimes 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.
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, one of the largest crowds to ever see a parade in Tacoma gathered to match a six mile long parade of military might. Pictured is a birds eye view of some of the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Lewis marching in mass formation.
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.
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)
