Raymond S. Coon, left, of Wenatchee is being fingerprinted by Cpl. Steve A. Hayes of the Seattle Recruiting office prior to being inducted into the US Army on November 18, 1940. Mr. Coon is in the first group of 29 Selective Service volunteers to be processed in this area. When asked why he volunteered, Mr. Coon replied that he had no job, no debts, no dependents and it just seemed like a good time for his army training. By volunteering, he could select the time rather than waiting for his draft number to be called. (T. Times 11/19/1940, pg. 11)
Military personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coon, Raymond S.; Hayes, Steve A.; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Fingerprinting;
New recruits at McChord Field rest during a training session, the moment caught by a military photographer. 900 new volunteers were undergoing six weeks of rigorous training at the site of the old Tacoma Field hangar, deeded in 1938 to the US government and now part of McChord Field. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life;
A portion of the current 900 recruits pose on the tarmac near the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. The volunteers face six weeks of intensive training, including drilling. They are destined for specialized branches of the service- such as medical corps, ordnance or the air corps. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life;
Recruits drill up and down the runways of McChord Field. They are part of the current group of 900 receiving training at this location. Although never intended to serve as a training location, McChord is being utilized as such as the armed services expand in preparation for war. These volunteers will receive six weeks of intensive training at this site. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life;
Col. B. T. Burt, Commanding officer of the new recruit center at McChord Field, tests the cooking of one of the field cooks. The cook is surrounded by the officers who will run the new camp. Currently, 900 recruits are training at the Center, destined for service in specialized branches of the service. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life;
Recruits receive training at a new Recruit Center set up near the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. They will participate in six weeks of training, including the use of gas masks. The group of 900 current recruits are destined for specialized branches of the service, such as medical corps, signal corps and ordnance. They will serve a tour of duty of three years. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Gas masks;
The officers who will run the new Recruit Center at McChord Field pose for the camera. They are, left to right, Capt. Charles A Green, Capt. W.J. Herlihy, Col. B.T. Burt- Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. James R. Williams and 1st Lt. Jack E. Rowley. The center will be training new volunteers in specialized branches of the service. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Green, Charles A.; Herlihy, W.J.; Burt, B.T.; Williams, James R.; Rowley, Jack E.;
Privates B.J. Larson, William P. Biggs and Gale Sersain scrub the concrete outside the temporary headquarters of the new Recruit Center at McChord Field. Sgt. L. T. Thomas looks on approvingly. As the Air Corps and the other branches of the service struggled to expand, more centers were needed to train volunteers, and later draftees. This center was set up around the location of the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Larson, B.J.; Biggs, William P.; Sersain, Gale; Thomas, L.T.;
On November 25, 1940, Staff Sgt. James E. Phillips addressed a portion of the 900 new recruits undergoing intensive training centered at the old Tacoma Field hangar, now part of McChord Field. The Air Force Base was never intended as a training location, but as the Air Corps has expanded and the armed forces make the transition from peace to potential war, the area has been adopted for this purpose. The recruits are destined for specialized branches of the service, for example air corps, signal corps, ordinance or medical corps. They will undergo six weeks of intensive training. Unlike the selective service volunteers who serve for one year, these recruits will serve for three. (T. Times 11/27/1940, pg. 1)
Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training; Military life; Phillips, James E.;
Mock attack of 161st Infantry at Camp Murray. The 161st was Washington National Guard, part of the 41st Infantry Division that had been called into active duty on September 16, 1940. They were at Camp Murray for training and war games. The men hold signs which say "Asst. Dresser Pvt.," "Clerk and Chauffeur Pvt.," "Water Chlorination Pvt.," "Asst. Surgeon (St. Sgt.)," "Litter Squad," " Hypo Corp," and "BN. Surgeon."
Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry (Wash.);
A portion of the 1st Battalion of the 161st Regiment of Infantry is shown slogging through the rain and mud at Fort Lewis. The 161st was part of the Washington National Guard. Along with the rest of the 41st Infantry Division, they had been called into active duty on September 16, 1940. They were first sent to Camp Murray and later moved to Fort Lewis. (T. Times 12/23/1940, pg. 1) TPL-10327
Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry (Wash.);
A portion of the 1st Battalion of the 161st Regiment of Infantry is shown standing at attention at Fort Lewis. The 161st was part of the Washington National Guard. Along with the rest of the 41st Infantry Division, they had been called into active duty on September 16, 1940. They were first sent to Camp Murray and later moved to Fort Lewis. (T. Times 12/23/1940, pg. 1)
Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry, Company G (Wash.);
In December of 1940, Sgt. Jack Bergnouse, from Company G 161st Infantry, stood at attention while his comrades watched. He was modelling the battle togs and pack of the 1940 modern soldier. He posed with his helmet on, bayonet fixed and feet encased in military rubber overshoes. The battlewear was much lighter and more streamlined than that of World War I; but he was still wearing the M1917 steel "Doughboy" style helmet left over from the first World War. In 1941-42, the more protective M-1 "Steel Pot" helmet was adopted as a replacement. (T. Times 12/23/1940, pg. 1)
Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry, Company G (Wash.); Bergnouse, Jack; World War, 1939-1945--Military uniforms--United States;
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);
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);
During the April 7, 1941, Army Day demonstration at Fort Lewis, the 205th Coast Artillery unit shows off its anti-aircraft guns. Several thousand spectators attended to view the show of modern firepower. The latest military equipment would be displayed and later inspected. (T. Times 4/8/1941, pg.1)
Arms & armament--Tacoma--1940-1950; Artillery (Weaponry); Fort Lewis (Wash.);
On April 7, 1941, the gates to Fort Lewis were thrown open to allow the public to attend the 1941 Army Day and take a look at the Army's demonstration of modern warfare. Here, the 99th Anti-Tank Battalion fires its 37mm anti-tank guns at approaching tanks. Several thousand spectators viewed the one hour mock battle, which included airplanes, tanks, the 99th Anti-Tank Division, armored reconnaissance cars and the 98th Field Artillery unit with their mules. (T. Times 4/8/1941, pg. 1)
Arms & armament--Tacoma--1940-1950; Artillery (Weaponry); Fort Lewis (Wash.);
Wedding ride on muleback of Lt. Jack Murphy and his bride at Fort Lewis. Although notes dated this photograph as occurring on April 12, 1941, it is believed that this is the same wedding of Lt. Murphy that happened earlier in 1941. Lt. Jack M. Murphy married his Salt Lake City bride on February 22, 1941, but this event was not celebrated in this unique manner until March 9th, due to weather conditions. Five battery commanders are pictured above, each riding a mule and carrying the battery flag. Following them are the bride and groom, riding in wicker chairs astride a mule. A long, and probably torturous ride ensued, with the final destination of the Officers Club where a reception was held. (T. Times 3-13-41, p. 1)
Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military personnel; Mules; Weddings--Fort Lewis;
Several thousand spectators line the fields of Fort Lewis to observe the massed military might of the 1941 Army Day demonstration. Airplanes of the 99th and 116th observation squadrons would swoop and dive, followed by the 10 ton tanks, 99th Anti Tank Division, the armored reconnaissance cars of the 3rd Recon. troop and the 98th Field Artillery with their pack mules. The military men would march in an inspection parade and take part in a mock battle. The program for the public lasted one hour. (T. Times 4/8/1941, pg. 1)
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;
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);
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;
