Early in May of 1943, a quintet of adventurous Tacoma lasses posed in front of the locomotive at Union Station that was their first step to going "over there." The local women left Tacoma May 6th for the new training center at Monticello, Arkansas, to begin basic training in the year old Womens Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC.) They are, left to right, Agnes Dittbenner, Mary Dittbenner, Ellen V. Vail, Marie J. Stith and Grace Garner. They travelled in a special car along with 47 other potential privates from Washington and Oregon. Over 150,000 American women served in the Army Corps in World War II. (T. Times 5/7/1943, pg. 8; TNT 5/7/1943, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma); Dittbenner, Agnes; Dittbenner, Mary; Vail, Ellen; Garner, Grace; Stith, Marie;

Five local women pause to pose for the camera at Union Station prior to leaving Tacoma May 6, 1943 to begin their careers as members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Pictured are, left to right, Agnes Dittbenner, Mary Dittbenner, Ellen V. Vail, Tacoma recruiter Dorothy Kerr, Grace Garner and Marie J. Stith. The bill authorizing the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps was enacted on May 14, 1942. By August of 1943, there were over 50,600 women in the WAACS. In August of 1943, in recognition of their service, the WAAC was converted to the Womens Army Corp, a bona fide part of the United States Army. (T. Times 5/7/1943 p.8; TNT 5/7/1943, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Tacoma); Dittbenner, Agnes; Dittbenner, Mary; Vail, Ellen; Kerr, Dorothy; Garner, Grace; Stith, Marie;

Government officials visiting Clover Park High School. Classroom with adults seated at desks. Many women are dressed in coveralls and are wearing bandanas. Clover Park offered a program for civilian and military education related to the war effort .

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

State and local education leaders and Army officers pose on February 13, 1943 at the opening of the Clover Park vocational shop program to train women as mechanics for the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot. Thirty women were enrolled in the "mechanic learner program." Present at the opening were, left to right, Capt. E.A. Rose, Olai Hageness, John Maas, Iva Alice Mann, Sam Rehn, Mrs. H.E. Liebe, Lt. C. L. Booth, Mrs. Pearl Wanamaker, Ed Erickson and A.G. Hudtloff. (T.Times, 2/18/1943, p. 2)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Government officials visiting Clover Park High School. Classroom with adults seated at desks. Many women are dressed in coveralls and are wearing bandanas. Clover Park offered a program for civilian and military education related to the war effort .

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On February 16, 1943, the Clover Park Vocational School began its first classes for women learning to be auto mechanics. This pictured group checking under the hood of a dented military vehicle was on hand for the opening ceremonies. They are, left to right, Lt. C.L. Booth, Capt. F.A. Rose, Ed Erickson, Mrs. Pearl Wanamaker and A.G. Hudtloff. There were 21 women in the first class. (TNT 2/17/1943, pg. 19) TPL-10379

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ruth Zdillae (right), home on furlough, dropped into the Army Recruiting Office in the Washington Building on February 25, 1943 to talk about her love for the Army life. She was stationed as a cook at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Jean Hunnewell (left), in charge of WAAC recruiting here, was on duty. Miss Pauline Gregoryk, who had stopped in for information, was so impressed that she signed up for duty. (T.Times, 2/26/1943, p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Zdillae, Ruth; Hunnewell, Jean; Gregoryk, Pauline;

Army maneuvers. Soldiers at Ft. Lewis wearing camouflage, carrying packs, canteens, and ammunition belts train with a small cannon or machine gun are training at a mock village. (T.Times, 8/27/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Camouflage--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Equipment & supplies--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma;

Army maneuvers. Soldiers at Ft. Lewis wearing camouflage are training with a rifle. Several soldiers look on. (T.Times, 8/27/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Camouflage--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Equipment & supplies--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma;

ca. 1943. One year old Pat Finnegan prepares for a military 1944 in these photos taken for New Years. He cries as Mom and Dad put a World War II helmet on his head and a rifle in his hands.

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Finnegan, Pat;

ca. 1943. One year old Pat Finnegan for New Year's. One-year old Pat Finnegan sits on the couch with a toy rifle, a real rifle, a soldier's hard hat, and a toy lamb and dog.

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Finnegan, Pat;

ca. 1943. One year old Pat Finnegan for New Year's. One-year old Pat Finnegan looks over the edge of the couch with toy animals, a toy rifle and a real rifle near by. A Christmas tree stands in the corner of the family's living room.

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Finnegan, Pat;

Tacoma Day Nursery, interior view. The Tacoma Times has sponsored the Jack Spratt Club in conjunction with the War Food Committee to lessen food waste during the war. Children at the Day Nursery may sign the Jack Spratt pledge. Several young boys and girls are seated at child sized tables eating. A kitchen is seen through a doorway at the back of the room. (T.Times, 8/27/1943, p.10)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Day care; Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma);

Tacoma Day Nursery, interior view. Several young boys and girls are seated at child sized tables eating in this photograph from July of 1943. The childred are permitted to join the Jack Spratt Club to help reduce waste food during the war sponsored by the Tacoma Times in conjunction with the War Food Committee. (T.Times, 8/27/1943, p.10)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Day care; Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. War Housing, Lincoln Heights. Development of new one-story houses. The area is newly graded with paved streets. Format: 7x11". TPL-6416

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln Heights Housing Project (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. War housing. Lincoln Heights. View of housing from side of paved road. Arney's Safeway on right.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln Heights Housing Project (Tacoma);

War housing. Salishan. 2000 units located on Portland Ave. Newly built one-story housing units, single-family, duplexes and four-family units. Newly graded. (T.Times, 1/21/1943, p.1; 2/25/1943 p3; and 8/26/1943, p. 21)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);

War housing. Salishan. 2000 units located on Portland Ave. Newly built one-story housing units, single-family, duplexes and four-family units. Newly graded. (T.Times, 1/21/1943, p.1; 2/25/1943 p3; and 8/26/1943, p. 21) TPL-8214

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);

WWII war housing, Salishan. Its name derived from the Council of Indian Tribes of Puget Sound Region, Salishan is the single largest residential housing project yet attempted in Tacoma. It consisted of 2000+ structures on 188 acres located between East 38th St. and East 51st St. and between Portland Avenue and the eastern City limits. The large building in the foreground has been identified as the Salishan community center. It later became part of Lister Elementary School. (T.Times, 1/21/1943, p.21; 2/25/1943, p.31; and 8/26/1943 p.21) TPL-4030; TPL-6417 (Additional information provided by a reader)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);

War housing, Salishan. Salishan is the single largest residential housing project yet attempted in Tacoma. Located between East 38th St. and East 45th St. and between Portland Avenue and the eastern City limits. (T.Times, 1/21/1943, p.21; 2/25/1943, p.31; and 8/26/1943 p.21) TPL-4030

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);

Salishan War Housing. Exterior view of a building with a small sign at the corner, "Manager's Office". Salishan is a government war housing project.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);

Salishan War Housing. Ordered by War Housing. Small log and concrete bridge, three boys (two in bathing suits) sitting on far rail in this August, 1943, photograph. Tall trees are behind them and they are looking down behind them. Foreground shows a dry creek bed. The street has been identified as East 44th St. just west of East T. TPL-8218 (Additional information provided by a reader)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma); Residential streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Four men examining an old water heater that has been smashed flat by a pile driver at the scrap agency, "Scrap Iron Acres". Scrap metal for war effort. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pile driver at scrap agency. Four men processing old metal water tanks through a pile driver at the scrap pile, known as "Scrap Iron Acres", behind Pacific Match Company to break them up for vital metal needed in the U.S. war effort. The pile driver was loaned by the Industrial Engineers and Contractors with volunteers from Iron Workers' and Pile Drivers' unions. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pile driver at scrap agency. Men are processing old metal water tanks through a pile driver at the scrap pile behind Pacific Match Company, "Scrap Iron Acres", to break them up for vital metal needed in the U.S. war effort. The pile driver is on loan from the Industrial Engineers and Contractors with volunteers from Iron Workers' and Pile Drivers' unions. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pile driver at scrap agency. Men processing metal tanks through on-site pile driver at "Scrap Iron Acres". One man operates the power machinery while others hold the salvaged tanks under a guillotine type structure. The impact sends dust into the air. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pile driver at scrap agency. Men processing metal tanks through on-site pile driver at "Scrap Iron Acres". One man operates the power machinery while others hold the salvaged tanks under a guillotine type structure. The impact sends dust into the air. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Large group portrait of workers, men, women and children, at scrap agency, "Scrap Iron Acres", where salvaged metal was flattened by an on-site pile driver to be used for the war effort. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Large group portrait of workers, men, women and children, at scrap agency, "Scrap Iron Acres", where salvaged metal was flattened by an on-site pile driver to be used for the war effort. (T.Times, 6/28/1943, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Women Block Leaders at scrap pile. Group of women and children sitting on a railroad flat car holding sign: "U.S. Government Scrap Pile. Do Not Transpass" (sp.). Scrap pile and two-story building in background. Photograph taken circa 1943.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Salvage--1940-1950; Recycling--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices);