On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. Trying out the new equipment at the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office at the City Hall Annex are, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

On March 29, 1942, some of the proud Civil Defense workers of Precinct 37 posed on and in front of the new watch tower that they recently designed and built themselves. On top are, left to right, Ralph Turco, I.A. Youngberg and Nels Olsen. Below are R.J. Carino, R.P. Fulkerson, Kathryn Nelson and Elvira Espeland. Precinct 37 covered the area lying between So. 14th and 19th streets, and "L" to Sprague Ave. The tower sat on top of a hill and commanded an excellent view of the area. The material was donated by St. Paul and Tacoma and the tower was designed by chief fire watcher Youngberg, assisted by Mr. Olsen. The emblems painted on the tower are for Civil Defense. (T. Times 4/1/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Watch towers--Tacoma;

Five year old Toshiyuki Hattori shared a copy of the book "America on Guard" with Pvt. Nat Schwartz on May 17, 1942 in a train car taking on passengers at Tacoma's Union Station. The book was the story of America's armed services - army, navy and marines. The photograph was taken as Tacoma's Japanese Americans gathered to be shipped off, with their few approved possessions, to Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno, California. Despite the fact that almost 2/3 were American citizens, Japanese Americans were considered a security risk to the nation. This and other photographs appeared under the ironic banner headline "Smiles Prevail as Japanese Leave" in the Tacoma Times. Toshiyuki was the youngest in a family of seven. The Hattoris eventually relocated to Utah. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1+; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+ by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Hattori, Toshiyuki; Schwartz, Nat;

This photograph of six year old Yukie Suekawa and Pvt. Howard L. Loudermilk at Union Station was chosen to grace the front page of the May 17, 1942 Tacoma Times with the caption "Goodbye for the Duration." As Pvt. Loudermilk adjusts the bonnet on the head of the little girl's doll, they are surrounded by a group of smiling Japanese adults. The smiles were considered the proper face to put on the hard facts that 859 Tacoma residents of Japanese ancestry were being removed from their homes and shipped by train to the Pinedale Assembly Center near Fresno California, despite the fact that many of them were US citizens. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg B8+, by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Suekawa, Yukie; Loudermilk, Howard;

Salvage for Victory meeting at Mayor's office in City Hall. Representatives of agencies interested in collecting scrap iron, rubber, waste paper and other salvageable items discuss plans for organization of a Tacoma committee with state chairman J.C. Haley and Mayor Harry Cain. Front row, left to right- Guy Thompson, Haley, Mayor Cain. Center row: Rev. H.W. Michener, J.H. Titcomb, Fred Hughes, George Russell, Elmer Nelson, J.R. Kiely. Rear: Chas. McIntyre, Ray Ecklund. The local committee would be the first to be formed in the "Salvage for Victory" program under Haley's control. The proposed committee would be made up of eight men representing local charitable agencies and three business men. Citizens with salvage materials to give to the nation's defense program would donate through one of these agencies. There was no official government agency for this purpose. Agencies represented in this picture are the Community Chest, Goodwill, St Vincent dePaul, Salvation Army, Youth Defense Committee, Volunteers of America and the Air Raid Wardens. (T. Times 3/5/1942, pg. 1, picture pg. 7; TNT 3/5/1942, pg. 8)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

By January of 1942, the new USO center at 4851 South Tacoma Way in South Tacoma was finished. It was dedicated on February 7, 1942. It was one of two new USO centers built at a combined cost of $101,60; the other center was downtown at 13th and Fawcett. The building was essentially completed by December 23, 1941, fifty days after ground breaking; however, the dedication was delayed by the late arrival of furnishings and fittings. By January the United States had officially entered WWII and the new recreation center received a lot of use over the next few years. In 1944, the center was given to Metropolitan Parks for use as the South Park Recreation Center. (TNT 2/7/1942, pg. 1) TPL-10328

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Barn dance at South Tacoma U.S.O. Tacoma girls providing hostess duties wait on the sidelines for an offer to dance.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In May of 1942, the Tacoma Women's Emergency Motor Corps held a carnival in Horsfall Hall at 801-09 South 38th Street to raise money to help the corps carry on its work. At this booth a spin of the prize wheel could win the lucky contestant prizes ranging from a Carsten's ham to a box of crackers. The slogan of the motor corps was "Keep 'em rolling on the road." The women of the corps were trained to drive and maintain Tacoma's emergency vehicles. The carnival included bingo, a jitney dance, card games, a fortune teller, and various food and game booths. (T.Times 5/21/1942)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma); Carnival games; Carnivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fort Lewis soldiers eating at a field kitchen that they have set up at Vancouver Barracks, first stop on their route from Fort Lewis to California. Beginning on May 19, 1941, and continuing through May 23rd, a caravan of 23,000 officers and men in 4,000 motor vehicles travelled in 2 separate caravans on 2 routes to participate in war games at the Hunter Liggett Reservation between San Francisco and Los Angeles. One group travelled on US Hwy 97 and the other on US 99. They travelled only from 5am to 12 noon, setting up camp the remainder of the day and freeing up the roads for civilian travel. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

Beginning on May 19, 1941, 23,000 soldiers from Fort Lewis began the trek by motor vehicle from the Fort to California for war games. They travelled in 2 caravans by 2 separate routes, one group on US highway 97 and one on US 99. The trip would take six days with the caravans travelling from 5 am til 12 noon and then camping for the remainder of the day. The shortened travel day was to free up the roads for non-military travelers. Another 13,000 troops would be making the trek by train. (T. Times 5/14/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military mobilizations; Troop movements--1940-1950;

On April 29, 1941, the 30 members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps practiced their first aid skills in a series of drills at the Woodbrook Hunt Club. Pictured, left to right, lifting "patient" Anna Eicholz are Elsie Heritage, Peggy Swenson, Lt. Minnie Winfield, Ruth Showman, Capt. Iris Bryan and Minnie Groeper. After a rocky start when the founder "Colonel" Harriet Virginia was charged with Grand Larceny, for taking money for substandard or undelivered uniforms, the group was hard at work training under the direction of an Army Sergeant. They drilled on Wednesday evenings and held First aid classes in Moose Hall on Thursdays. (T. Times 5/6/1941 p.1) Faye Langston Collection

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

After field dressing the wounds of the "patient" during drills, the members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps load her into the back of a station wagon for transport. The Motor Corps was a branch of the Tacoma Home Defense Corps. They were available in case of an emergency to provide first aid, drive, or assist in communication. (T. Times 5/6/1941, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

Five of the thirty women who were members of the Women's Emergency Motor Corps practice their first aid skills in this photograph from April 1941. Members of the corps studied emergency transportation, first aid, international Morse code, semaphore, and motor mechanics. A special aspect of their first aid training was the treatment of injury caused by chemical and gas warfare and the use of gas masks. (T. Times 5/6/1941 p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

Three members of the Tacoma Home Defense Corps take a break from drills at Woodbrook. The woman in the center is believed to be Minnie Wingfield.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Women's Emergency Motor Corps (Tacoma);

Only two of these four children running in carefree abandon in October of 1940 are U.S. citizens. The two boys on the right are English, refugees from the German bombing of their home in England. The four children are (l to r) Harold and Marian Hellyer and Sandy and Nicholas Schlee. The Schlee boys were guests at the Hellyer home in Interlaaken for the duration of the European conflict. They are just two of the hundreds of children who fled England, but they were the first to come to Tacoma. Their home in England was near a Vickers airplane factory. Their family was forced to sleep in the basement to protect themselves from nighttime bombing. While in Tacoma, the boys attended Park Lodge School and enjoyed some northwest fishing. (T. Times 10/26/1940, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Hellyer, Marian; Schlee, Sandy; Hellyer, Harold; Schlee, Nicholas;

Crowd listens to Army Swing Band from Fort Lewis during Linda Darnell Day War Bond rally at Victory Square, South 10th Street between "A" and Pacific, on July 11, 1942. Nineteen year old movie star Linda Darnell was on a USO entertainment tour of army camps and naval stations. While at Fort Lewis, she agreed to come to Tacoma and lend a hand selling war bonds. While she autographed applications for bonds, members of the touring USO revue, as well as a full Army band, entertained the crowd.

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

General view of Linda Darnell Day War Bond rally at Victory Square, South 10th Street between "A" and Pacific, on July 11, 1942. Thirteen piece Army Swing Band from Fort Lewis on stage, regular military band on street, entertaining the crowd while 20th Century Fox movie star autographs applications for war bond purchase. Hundreds of people turned out to purchase bonds and have them signed by the actress at a table at the rear of the platform. The crowd soon broke through police barriers to crowd the stage. (TNT 7/11/1942, pg. 1)

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

General view of Linda Darnell Day War Bond rally at Victory Square, South 10th Street between "A" and Pacific, on July 11, 1942. Leon Titus as well as others on stage. Man speaking from microphone in the audience. Nineteen year old movie star Linda Darnell, on a USO tour at Fort Lewis, had agreed to appear in Tacoma and autograph all applications for the purchase of war bonds. Officials at the appearance included Bill Connor and KMO announcer Verne Sawyer.

War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

Leona (Mrs. E.F.) Burton tried her hand at spotting enemy airplanes with binoculars from the deck of the Crestview Tower. She and Mrs. S.E. Peterson, right, were volunteering as civilian spotters. The tower, one of the tallest watching points in Tacoma, was formally dedicated and turned over to the Army October 29, 1942 in a ceremony at the Browns Point Community Hall. The tower was situated on a hill between Browns and Dash Points and commanded a sweeping view of the Puget Sound area around Tacoma Harbor. It was used as a unit in the aircraft warning system. (T. Times 10/28/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Observation towers;

Surrounded on all four sides with an observation deck, Crestview Tower became an essential cog in the network of aircraft warning observation towers. It was dedicated and turned over to the Army on October 29, 1942. Located on a hill between Browns and Dash Points, it was one of the tallest watching points in Tacoma and commanded a sweeping view of the Harbor. TPL-1982 (T. Times 10/28/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Observation towers;

The Civil Defense "Block Ladies" met at Stewart School, in January of 1943. In order to disseminate information quicker and facilitate civil defense training, the city was divided into "blocks." Each block had one volunteer representative who attended meetings and was in charge of getting the information out to those residing in his/her section. The representative was usually a woman, since many men were either at war or working odd and long hours in the wartime industries.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On June 19, 1942, barrels of 25 pound sand bag "mats" were placed throughout downtown Tacoma by the Public Works Department and Cub Scouts. During the early years of World War II, Tacoma, like other cities up and down the West Coast, was preparing for a possible invasion. Jack Schutzman (left) and Jack Sandstrom, both 11, were photographed on the back of a truck at 11th and Pacific placing a bag in a barrel being steadied by PWD driver William Anderson. The Washington Cigar Store and the Rust Building are in the background. Each barrel contained five bags for use in handling incendiary bombs in case of an air raid. The idea came from similar use in London. The instructions printed on the barrel were simple; place the mat over the bomb and run. (T. Times 6/20/1942, pg.1- picture)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Washington Cigar Store (Tacoma); Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Schutzman, Jack; Sandstrom, Jack; Anderson, William;

Five volunteer War Savings Bonds salesgirls, (lt to rt) Rose Colombini, Madlyn Piper, Arlene Johnson Keller, Nancy Carlson and Radie Cramer, posed with one of the Bond sales booths used in Tacoma in July, 1942. The War Bond quota for Pierce County for July of 1942 was $1,723,693. Bonds were sold throughout Tacoma from "Victory Booths" set up both inside stores and on the sidewalks in front of stores. On the first day of the sale nothing could be sold in Tacoma stores, with the exception of restaurants, from 12 noon to 12:15 except bonds. On the first day of July, Tacoma unions bought $21,000 worth of bonds. (T. Times 6/30/1942, pg. 1- picture, 7/1/1942 p.9)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Colombini, Rose; Piper, Madlyn; Keller, Arlene; Carlson, Nancy; Cramer, Radie;

Six women pose in front of the Sears Roebuck and Company building at 1148 Broadway with a July war bond thermometer chart, prepared to "heat up" the Tacoma Retail Stores Bond & Stamp Sale to be held throughout July 1942. The salesgirls each wear a cap marked "I'm Selling Stamps and Bonds." Pictured standing are, left to right, Madlyn Piper, Rose Colombini, Arline Keller,and Radie Cramer. Kneeling are, left to right, C lella McElroy and Nancy Carlson. The retail sales bond goal for July was $1,723,693. Sears opened their store on Broadway in May of 1936. They were a major retail presence downtown until they moved to the Tacoma Mall in 1981. (TNT 6/30/42, pg. 9-picture, T. Times 6/30/1942, pg. 1 & 7/1/1942, p.9)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Colombini, Rose; Piper, Madlyn; Keller, Arlene; Carlson, Nancy; Cramer, Radie; Department stores--Tacoma; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma);

Publicity for Community Chest. James and Zelma Garvin residence showing soldiers' accommodations. The Garvin's gardens were highly prized and their weekend military guest are photographed admiring the pond. The Garvins had opened up their home to soldiers on weekend leave in Tacoma.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; Garvin, James--Homes & haunts;

On June 20, 1940, soldiers crowd around the desk at the USO Center in the Rust Building. They are patiently waiting to sign up for beds. As soldiers on weekend leave from Fort Lewis during the war years poured into Tacoma; area churches, the mission and local homeowners set up makeshift dormitories to make sure they were not having to spend the night on the street.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

On June 20, 1942, smiling volunteers take soldiers' reservations for available beds. This was a typical scene at the USO center in the Rust Building on Saturdays during the war years. Temporary weekend dormitories were set up at area churches, homes and the Mission. For 35 cents a soldier could get a bed; a hot breakfast would cost 20 cents more. TPL-1974 (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In October of 1942, under the tutelage of veterans of the U.S.S. Tacoma, V.F.W. Post No. 2329, three young men from Tacoma passed the examinations for enlistment in the Army Air Corps. The young men who passed the test and were waiting to be called up to become "air cadets in training" were: (beginning 2nd from left) George L. Warter, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Warter, 4817 No. 43rd St.; Virgil F. "Bud" Walker, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Walker, 1002 So. Sprague St.; and Richard D. Foley, son of Mrs. Florence C. Foley, 720 6th Ave. Flanking the three cadets-to-be are: (left) S.J. Gabis, chairman of post No. 2329's recruiting committee; and Capt. Dewey Busch, post commander. Richard "Dick" Foley enlisted in the navy after graduating from Bellarmine H.S. He died Oct. 8, 2004. (T. Times 10/10/1942 p.3)

World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Warter, George; Foley, Richard; Walker, Virgil; Gabis, S.J.; Busch, Dewey;

When President F.D. Roosevelt called for a nationwide scrap rubber collection campaign to take place June 15-30, 1942, Tacoma's fishing fleet responded by giving up their boat bumpers to "Bump" the Axis. Rubber recycling was necessary because 92% of the U.S.'s normal supply of crude rubber had been cut off by the Japanese. On June 22, the fishing fleet turned over 800 pounds of rubber, most of it old tires that had been used on the boats as bumpers; the tires had protected the boats when docking and launching. Pictured aboard his salmon fishing boat is Anton (Tony) Tencich. He is holding the rope for the tire being lowered from his boat. Mr. Tencich, now deceased, and his wife Mary (Basich) Tencich were immigrants from Croatia-Slovenia, as were many of the local fishermen of his era. He later became a U.S. citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Tencich lived in Tacoma their entire adult lives, raised their family here and built several homes. (T. Times 6/23/1942, pg. 1) (Additional information provided by a reader)

World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tires; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tencich, Anton;

On July 23, 1942, servicemen and USO junior hostesses pose on the "Gallant Lady II." The group was preparing to depart from the Tacoma Municipal Dock for an evening of cruising and dancing under the stars. The ship made weekly cruises on behalf of the USO. The Junior Hostess Association helped soldier morale at Tacoma's USO centers by interacting with the men in sports and social events. Girls could register at the Junior Hostess Bureau in the Rust Building as part of their contribution to the war effort. (TNT 8-2-42, p. A-7-article & alternate photograph)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma);