An unidentified Washington State Guardsman scans the skies with binoculars, searching for enemy aircraft. He leans his chair back against the wall of the primitive observation post. The soldier was part of a special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Wa. State Guard, sent to the Olympic Peninsula on active duty to serve as spotters of enemy aircraft.

Washington State Guard (Tacoma);

Pfc. Harry Anderson reports by phone to the Fourth Fighter Command on July 15, 1942 from a typical post in the rugged hills of the Olympic Peninsula. He was phoning in the report via the State Forestry lines. The sign on the hut read "State Division of Forestry Telephone." Pfc. Anderson was part of a special detachment of Washington State Guard serving as enemy aircraft spotters on the Peninsula. All of the posts were connected by telephone so that they could call in all reports of airplanes seen or heard. (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Anderson, Harry; Telephones;

First Lt. Wilbur E. Roberts (center), commander of the special duty detachment of the Washington State Guard, points out items of interest to Brig. General Walter J. DeLong (right), state Adjutant General, and an unidentified officer on a July 1942 inspection tour of detachment headquarters. The special detachment consisted of 32 men from the Guard assigned to active duty as spotters of enemy planes. Their first field headquarters was a commandeered school building in Forks, a mill and logging town in W. Clallam County. It housed the administrative center and supplied housing for those soldiers not at observation points. Sign on school building reads "Field Headquarters, 4th Washington Volunteer Infantry. Washington State Guard. (unreadable) Detachment." (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); DeLong, Walter J. ; Roberts, Wilbur E.;

From a beach post, Pvt. Bernard Sweeney looked seaward through field glasses, searching for enemy aircraft. As the waves rolled in, Pfc. Charles Cooper stood guard fully armed. The pair were part of a volunteer special detachment of the 4th Volunteer Infantry, Washington State Guard, serving as lookouts in July of 1942 on the Olympic Peninsula and reporting back to the Army's Fourth Fighter Command. The members of the detachment were all from Tacoma and most were under draft age. They were armed mainly to protect them from cougars and bears in the wild. TPL-1986 (T. Times 7/28/1942, pg. 3- picture; TNT 8/2/1942, pg. 1)

Washington State Guard (Tacoma); Sweeney, Bernard; Cooper, Charles;

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)

Two unidentified soldiers clean their rifles and polish their boots, as a barracks cat watches intently. Tacoma observed its first peace-time Army Day in five years on Saturday April 6, 1946. A cold, southwesterly wind failed to keep thousands from flocking downtown to watch soldiers, veterans, Wacs, state guardsmen and military equipment pass in review. An open house at McChord Field attacted thousands to the air force base to inspect all kinds of military planes and weapons. TPL-6691

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barracks--Tacoma; Rifles; McChord Field (Tacoma); Armed Forces Day;

Western Boat. Side view of YP 628. This is the second ship of its type to be built by Petrich yards. After launching in February 1945 she was outfitted for the Navy and is ready to be released to the Navy as of May 1945. (T.Times, 5/26/1945) TPL-9443

War ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Robert E. Hutchins Funeral. Aviation cadet Robert E. Hutchins, age 20, was killed in a mid-air plane crash 12 miles north of Merced, California. His casket at Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland is surounded by flowers, several of which depict the medals Cadet Hutchins won during the war. The one to the left of the casket resembles the Army Distinquished Service Cross, the two on the right resemble the Silver Star, given for galantry in action. (T.Times, 5/19/1945, p.1; 5/21/45, p.11)

Hutchins, Robert E.; World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--Tacoma; Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland);

Petrich Boat Building. US Army Transportation Corps. Hull no. 8 - TP225, 96' Wooden Utility Boat, Design #333, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma.

U.S. Army Transportation Corps; Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Petrich Boat Building. US Army Transportation Corps. Hull no. 8 - TP225, 96' Wooden Utility Boat, Design #333, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma.

U.S. Army Transportation Corps; Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

US Army Transportation Corps. Hull no. 8 - TP225, 96' Wooden Utility Boat, Design #333, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma. Docked under the 11th Street Bridge. Petrich Shipbuilding was located on the City Waterway. TPL-8025

U.S. Army Transportation Corps; Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; Waterfronts--Tacoma; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

United Church Service Center will be dedicating their new center, which has a recreational facility and 300 bed dormitory. The ceremony will feature four talented musicians from the medical training session at Fort Lewis. Left to right are William Hanley, Abraham Gershkowitz, Leona Louise and Jack Ringler (T. Times, 10/28/44, p. 1).

Military bands; Musicians--Tacoma; Building dedications--Tacoma; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma);

Avenger at Todd Pacific. The side of the "Avenger" has gaping holes it received in the battle of Tarawa. The man made tank crawled out of the South Pacific Sea and up to Japanese beachheads. View of large group standing in front of "Avenger" at Todd Pacific Shipyards (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

Avenger at Todd Pacific. Todd Pacific Shipyards has "Avenger", the tank used in the battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific. The tank used by the Marines, will be here for one week. View of large group at Todd Pacific Shipyards gathered to see "Avenger" (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);

Christmas Party at attended station. The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Public Telephone Station was set up in February 1943. The telephone center was used primarily by servicemen and war workers. Many war workers were recent residents of Tacoma and were unable to obtain telephone service. Materials needed for phones were being used for production of weapons and other war industries. Interior view of attended telephone station decorated with Christmas wreaths and swags for party. Unidentified servicemen and telephone staff gathered for party.

Parties--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma);

Studio picture of soldier for Times. Private Inder Chhabra, a native of India, now serves in the U. S. Army. Pvt. Chhabra received his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of CA and speaks four languages. He is stationed at Fort Lewis in the radio section of Headquarters Battery Field Artillery (T. Times, 5/5/44, p. 1).

Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma; Chhabra, Inder;

War bond campaign. No fireworks will be seen this 4th of July, but the War Fund drive is in full swing during the last few days of bond sales. Six year old Charles Ray Fowler, is being helped by two unidentified War Bond Salesmen, they have just finished counting 7,500 white pennies which are being exchanged for a war bond. The white pennies were made of zinc-coated steel. They were issued in 1943 to conserve copper for the war, and were collected by his grandfather. The War Bond sales wagon can be seen in background (T. Times, 7/1/44, p. 14).

War bonds & funds; Fourth of July celebrations; Fowler, Charles Ray;

Red Cross Board Members. The American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter assisted the nation with the War Fund Drive by setting their quota at twice the amount as last years, in order to help support the war effort. View of American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter Board Members.

War bonds & funds; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Fifth War Loan Campaign parade. Thousands of Tacoma residents gathered on Broadway to see the Fifth War Loan Campaign parade, which was organized by the Retail Men of Tacoma and held on "Infantry Day". Parade Marshal was Reno Odlin, State Chairman of War Finance. View of Birchfield Boiler Inc. float with their employees in their work clothes (T. Times, 6/16/44, p. 5).

War rallies--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma);

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.);

New reserves in uniform stand on bleachers at Fort Lewis in late June of 1950. They would undergo refresher training on combat techniques taught by seasoned veterans.

Military reserves; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

New reserves pose for the camera at Fort Lewis in June 1950. Nineteen men stand at ease awaiting the photographer's instructions. By October of that year, Fort Lewis was a major enlisted reservist training center, the only one of its kind on the West Coast. Reservists were given intensive combat refresher training by combat veterans. (TNT 10-22-50, p. A-11)

Military; Military reserves; Photographers;

Members of the Radiological Defense Division of the Tacoma Civil Defense Corps gather at the home of Dr. Stevens S. Sanderson (center), division chief, to plan their work in the event of an atomic attack. The Division was responsible for designing a procedure for defense against radioactivity should Tacoma be hit by an atomic bomb. Training classes were designed and implemented for local personnel to lead technicians into radioactive areas, offer medical aid, monitor radioactivity, and defend against atomic attacks. The Division was responsible for immediate survey work following an attack and control of decontamination monitoring instruments. US involvement in Korea had only heightened the fear of atomic attack and civil defense organizations were active all over Tacoma. (TNT 1/9/1951, pg. 10-see article for names)

Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Sanderson, Stevens S.;

Civil Defense Night, sponsored by Elks Lodge 174, at the Elks Club. Lloyd Wynans, Exalted Ruler, appointed Harold Duncan, Leading Knight, to preside at the meeting intended to help coordinate civil defense divisions and further the Elks aim to support, uphold, and defend the American way of life. Wynans stated that adequate civil defense requires thousands of residents volunteering time and energy to minimize death and casualties in the event of a disaster. The film "Pattern for Survival" was shown. Civil defense officials, headed by Mayor John Anderson and Civil Defense Director Frank S. Evans, were in attendance. The Elks Temple underwent a $80,000 remodel the previous Fall, with over half of it going to renovations on this hall. One of the changes was the new wall to wall Saxony Wilson broadloom carpet in green and ivory. (TNT 1-22-1951, pg. 5) TPL-8450

Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Soldiers and female volunteers, wearing "hostess" ribbons, gather around the piano on March 10, 1951 for a song fest at the United Churches Service Center, sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches. The young lady atop the piano sings loud and clear as she wears a borrowed serviceman's hat. The center offered recreational services for soldiers stationed in the Tacoma area.

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Pianos; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; United Churches Service Center (Tacoma); Korean War, 1950-1953--Social aspects--Tacoma; Korean War, 1950-1953--Military personnel;

Members of the Radio Club of Tacoma, Inc. The Tacoma Club was one of the oldest radio clubs in the US, having been organized and in continuous operation for more than 35 years.The Club was relied on heavily by the Communications Division of Civil Defense and expected to facilitate communication in the case of an emergency. The Club members were fully trained and licensed amateur radio operators. The Club owned its own equipment consisting of two complete transmitting and receiving stations, one used for Civil Defense emergencies and one for Red Cross emergencies. In addition, they owned four auxiliary lighting units for nighttime emergencies and 15 members had mobile communication units in their cars. The emergency frequency band used by the Club was monitored 18 hours a day by Mrs. Irma Aufang. The constant monitoring was made possible by a "squelch" receiver, developed by Max Bice and Dick Engh- engineers at KTNT. The receiver remained silent unless activated by the "squelch" receiver signal initiated by an emergency. Members are- back row, left to right: Ernest Ripola, Roy Devigh, Sid Sowers, Engh, Dale Cook, Alex Braidwood, President of the Club, Richard McDonald & Art Paul. Row behind transmitters: Ray Estep, Bruce Ross, Dr. F.C.J. Spike, Charles Emigh & Walt King. Seated: Mrs. Aufang. In front of transmitters: Charles Aufang, Tacoma Emergency Co-ordinator, Bice, Cliff Osborne, Jr., Gene Dodge & Ralph Upright. (TNT 4/29/1951, pg. A-19)

Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Radio Club of Tacoma, Inc. (Tacoma); Aufang, Irma; Bice, Max; Engh, Dick; Braidwood, Alex; Aufang, Charles;

Intersection at Ft. Lewis for Farmers Insurance. In the center of the picture is the Red Cross field office. To the left of the field office is the Post Exchange. A sign in front of the field office points to the left, the direction of the Reserve Headquarters.

Military camps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

A volunteer offers advice during the servicemen's game of checkers at the United Churches Service Center at 9th and Pacific, sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches. The center, under the direction of Rev. Loyal H. Vickers, was in its seventh year of operation and provided recreation for about 12,000 persons a month. In addition to recreation, the center also offered religious instruction for the young people of Tacoma. (TNT 4/16/1950, pg. A-4)

Soldiers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military uniforms--United States; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Checkers; Board games;