This aerial view, taken January 13, 1940, shows the Port of Tacoma piers with two docked, white transport ships. Three transport ships, the Hunter Liggett, Leonard Wood and St. Mihiel, were in Commencement Bay to transport over 7,500 soldiers from Fort Lewis to the biggest war games in US history. This is the biggest passenger embarkation in the history of the Tacoma port. The troops will invade the California coast from the sea. They will strike at an undisclosed location somewhere on the 400 mile coast between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. This will be the major offensive of the war games to be held January 15-22nd. Also in the photograph are the Co-op's white grain elevators; the waterway is crowded with log booms. The two other cargo vessels pictured are believed to be the South American freighter Coya and the Japanese freighter Koei Maru. ( T. Times 1-3-40, p. 1-article; 1-11-40, p.1-article; 1-13-40, p.1-article)
Aerial photographs; Bays--Washington (State); Commencement Bay (Wash.); Port of Tacoma (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Logs; Ships; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950;