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.;

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;

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 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;

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;

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;

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;

ca. 1940. Group of soldiers gathered by wash area in open field circa 1940.

Military personnel--1940-1950; Bathing; Grooming;

ca. 1940. Group of solders stuffing sacks with straw - buildings and woods in background.

Military personnel--1940-1950;

Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. The new Governor of Washington would be reviewing the 3,200 selectees of the 3rd Division, accompanied by tanks and vehicles. The afternoon would be spent in close inspection of artillery.

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Artillery (Weaponry);

Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. A military band stands at rest while a dirigible flies overhead. The hills are covered with nearly a thousand seated spectators, present to view the show of military might. The 3rd Division, over 3,000 strong, would be parading for Washington's new Governor Langlie. The afternoon would be spent on close inspection of artillery and vehicles. (T. Times 3/6/1941, pg. 1)

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Airships;

The curriculum at Marymount Military Academy at 423 152nd Street East in Spanaway encompassed a wide variety of activities including music, shooting and horseback riding. This photograph of the Academy's cadet band appeared in the Tacoma Times in February of 1941. Marymount opened in 1923 as a Catholic military boarding school for boys ages 6-16, the only institution of its kind in the state of Washington. Enrollment began to fall off in the late 1960 and early 1970s and the school closed in 1976. (T. Times 2/26/1941, pg. 41- names in picture caption)

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

On March 9, 1941, Lt. Jack M. Murphy and his bride were given a strange welcome by the 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion officers at Fort Lewis. Following an old artillery custom of giving a newly wedded couple a ride on a caisson or gun carriage, the officers of the Battalion, lacking such equipment, strapped two wicker chairs to one of the battalion's mules and gave their new officer and his sweetie a bumpy ride around the post. The five battery commanders, on mules, carrying their battery flags preceded the couple. The pair were followed by other officers and some of their wives, also on mules. The end destination was a reception in the couple's honor at the Officers' Club. (T. Times 3/13/1941, pg.1) (not taken at the same event as D10861 images 5 & 9)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Mules; Murphy, Jack M.; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis);

Wedding of Lt. A. W. Pribnow and Betty Fry at Fort Lewis. Mock wedding on mule back. The color guard and buglers march ahead of the wedding couple that ride in chairs strapped to either side of a mule's back. The Officers Club can be seen in the background. Reviving an old artillery custom, the newly married couple is paraded on the battalion's equipment. The equipment is usually a gun carriage, but in the case of the 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion, the parade equipment is a mule. (not the same event as D10861 image A)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Mules; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis); Pribnow, A.W.; Fry, Betty;

Wedding of Lt. A. W. Pribnow and Betty Fry at Fort Lewis. Mock wedding on mule back. The couple rides in chairs tied to either side of the mule's back. It is an old tradition that newly wedded officers and their brides are given a ride by their artillery battalion on the unit's caisson or gun carriage. The 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion, lacking such equipment, was giving the tradition a fresh look by riding the couple on two chairs lashed to a mule's back. (not the same event as D10861 image A)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Mules; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis); Pribnow, A.W.; Fry, Betty;

The 98th Field Artillery (pack) Battalion was formed in 1940 at Fort Lewis. It was one of only five battalions in the U.S. Army that handled mules. The mules were used to transport artillery where mechanized units could not go. A mule is created by breeding a male donkey to a female horse. The resulting mule has greater endurance, is stronger and less excitable than a horse. The line of mules in the back of the photograph seems to be feasting at feed stalls. The ones in the front are tied to a rope. The mules at Fort Lewis were used during World War II. Conscription was running high and most of the men assigned to the battalion had never worked with mules. (T.Times 2/26/1941 p.3; 3/8/1941, pg. 8)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Mules; 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis);

On February 17, 1941, soldiers at Fort Lewis took a break from their work caring for the mules to admire a white goat. Mules were used by the 98th Field Artillery to pack into areas not accessible by motorized equipment.

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Goats; Mules--Fort Lewis;

Chapel at Fort Lewis. The chapel was built in 1934 at a cost of $90,000, part of a six year, five and 1/2 million dollar improvement project funded by the federal government. The chapel is a two story brick structure with a colonnaded entry and a rose window. The inside was suitable for worship of all faiths. (T.Times 2/26/1941 p.3)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.; Chapels--Fort Lewis;

Two men stand at attention by a row of vehicles, while another man takes their picture. These vehicles are possibly the armored all terrain scout cars of the 3rd Reconnaissance Troop. The armor plated vehicles were able to roll over any kind of terrain at great speeds. Fort Lewis was the headquarters for the 3rd Division, regular army. Since last September, they have been joined by the 41st Division, National Guard. By the summer of 1941 with the selective service act in full force, Fort Lewis is expected to swell to 50,000 soldiers, making it the fourth largest city in the state- right behind Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. (T. Times 12/26/1941, pg. 3)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military facilities--Wash.;

Permanent barracks and buildings at Fort Lewis as they appeared in February of 1941. In 1916, Pierce County presented the federal government with 70,000 acres of land to be used as a military post for mobilization of troops in World War I. The post was known as Camp Lewis. After the war, the camp was dismantled. In September of 1927, it was renamed Fort Lewis and scheduled for 10 years of enlargement and development. The impending entry into World War II had sparked even more development. (T.Times 2/26/1941 p.3)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Barracks--Fort Lewis; Military facilities--Wash.;

Permanent barracks and buildings at Fort Lewis. By summer of 1941, over 50,000 soldiers were scheduled to be stationed at Fort Lewis, making it the fourth largest city in the state. It ranked in population just below Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. Fort Lewis was already the headquarters of the 3rd Division regular Army, but since last September, they had been joined by the 41st Division National Guard. (T. Times 2/16/1941, pg. 3)

Fort Lewis (Wash.); Barracks--Fort Lewis; Military facilities--Wash.;

Two Army trucks were photographed on February 10, 1940 at Camp Murray showing the contrast between old and new models. The vehicle at left is one of 23 new General Motors trucks which had recently arrived at Camp Murray for use by the National Guard. Next to it is a circa 1917 truck which was used in the World War (I) to haul equipment and troops. Brig. Gen. Maurice Thompson, adjutant general at Camp Murray and Harry H. Watson, assistant to the state quartermaster, stand in the foreground. The three men in the rear were not identified by the News Tribune. (TNT 2-18-1940, 9-A) (filed with Argentum)

Military vehicles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Camp Murray (Wash.); Thompson, Maurice W., 1878-1954; Watson, Harry H.;

Two Army trucks at Camp Murray showing the contrast between old and new models. (filed with Argentum)

Military vehicles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Camp Murray (Wash.);

Two small boys dressed in military outfits stood bearing arms under the watchful eye of two men, one in uniform, on Big Buddy Day, Feb.22,1940, at Marymount Military Academy. Marymount, a Catholic boys' school near Spanaway, was the only military school in the state of Washington and a charter member of the National Rifle Association. Big Buddy Day was an annual event where boys and men could participate in shooting, riding, swimming, basketball and exhibitions such as this one. Students ranged from preschool (age 6) to 9th grade. The school, which was run by the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, was small, with an total enrollment that was usually under 100. The man in uniform at the far left is Jim Cashion, a Marine Reserve commanding officer employed by Marymount. The little soldier to the right is Robert H. Gilroy, Jr., with his father, Robert, Sr., behind him.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway; Gilroy, Robert H.; Cashion, James;

Two small boys dressed in military outfits stood bearing arms on Big Buddy Day, Feb.22,1940, at Marymount Military Academy. Marymount, a Catholic boys' school near Spanaway, was the only military school in the state of Washington and a charter member of the National Rifle Association. Big Buddy Day was an annual event where boys and men could participate in shooting, riding, swimming, basketball and exhibitions such as this one. Students ranged from preschool (age 6) to 9th grade. The school, which was run by the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, was small, with an total enrollment that was usually under 100. The little soldier to the left is Robert H. Gilroy, Jr., with his father, Robert, Sr., seated beside him.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway; Gilroy, Robert H.;

Big Buddy Day Marymount Military Academy. Norton Clapp, left, with tennis racket shakes hands with a young tennis player over the net on the academy's tennis courts. Building in background. Big Buddy Day was an annual event at the Academy where men and boys could participate in sports and programs together. The school had rigid standards in academics and athletics. The teacher-student ratio was 1-6. By 1974, the military designation and uniforms were dropped and the school became primarily a boarding school catering to the wealthy.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Big Buddy Day at Marymount Military Academy. Two men with three boys on horseback near grove of fir trees. Big Buddy Day was an annual event at the military school where men and boys participated together in shooting, riding, swimming, basketball and other events. Marymount was the only military school in the state of Washington and was run by the Dominican Sisters, a teaching order.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Big Buddy Day at Marymount Military Academy. Guitarist surrounded by large group of singing men and boys. Big Buddy Day was an annual event at the Academy, where men and boys joined together to ride, shoot, swim, play basketball and participate in group activities. Marymount was a military boarding school for boys ages 6-16. The school had high academic standards and was dedicated to developing the character of students. Many former students went on to hold high offices in government, business and education.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Big Buddy Day at Marymount Military Academy. Two young men shooting rifles from ground position at rifle range. Group of men and boys crowd under wooden shelter to observe activity. Big Buddy Day was an annual event at the school. As military school students, the boys were expected to develop as marksmen and athletes. School enrollment fluctuated over the years, but the school was designed to accomodate no more than 150 students from ages 6-16. The school closed in 1976, a victim of declining enrollment and increased costs.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Big Buddy Day at Marymount Military Academy. Group of men and boys at rifle range. Big Buddy Day was an annual event at the military academy where men and boys joined together to show their skills at shooting, riding and swimming. The Academy existed for 54 years. In was dedicated in May of 1923 as St. Edward's Hall, Marymount. In 1974, the school dropped its military aspect and became a boarding school catering primarily to the wealthy. The school closed in 1976.

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;