In June of 1945 three unidentified women prepared to send Father's Day messages to servicemen from the special Post Yarns mailing center in Tacoma's Rhodes Department Store; an unidentified clerk working in the booth took their addressed messages. Rhodes joined with the Saturday Evening Post magazine in a special wartime Father's Day offer. The Saturday Evening Post made copies of Post Yarns, a pocket size version of their magazine, available at the department store; Rhodes provided free delivery for the miniature magazine - with a personal note from the sender.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Fathers & children;

Miss Mary Conolly, at the center wearing a nurse's cap, helped care for the 50 refugee children that were brought to Tacoma on the S.S. Admiral Eberle on September 25, 1945. The ship carried over 4,500 army officers and men, Red Cross workers, liberated American civilians, Filipino immigrants and a USO troupe back from the Pacific war theater. The Tacoma Red Cross took in, and cared for the children that were on the ship by converting their bandage and dressings room into a nursery for them. The Junior Red Cross arranged for donations of new toys so that each child took away a toy when they left - the first toy many of them had ever owned. (TNT, 9/29/1945, p.9)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Refugees; Conolly, Mary

Interior of attended station on Pacific Avenue. Looking towards the back of the Telephone Center, service men wait their turn to use the phones. They fill nearly every chair in the center and many crowd the service counter. A sign at the back says, "Welcome Home, Job Well Done". A clock and world map hang below the sign. Troop ships were bringing 500 to 3,000 service men at a time through the Tacoma port. They were discharged or sent to other bases through the Fort Lewis staging area. Several ships brought troops home through Tacoma each week until the staging area was closed January 21, 1946.

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma); Telephone operators;

Telephone switchboard operators and clerks at the Public Telephone Center on Pacific Avenue are assisting sailors returning to the states at the end of World War II. Troop ships arrived each week at the Port of Tacoma bringing several thousand service men and women at a time. Army personnel were discharged or sent to other bases through the Fort Lewis Separation Center. Telephone centers at the Port and downtown overflowed with returning veterans who were anxious to call home.

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Tacoma); Telephone operators; Telephone switchboards; Sailors; United States Navy;

The Telephone Center at the Fort Lewis staging area. Soldiers are using the two phone booths that stand outside the corrugated metal covered building. A sign in the front window advertises Western Union. A soldier is walking toward the center along a boardwalk from the right. The phone companies have been handling many thousands of local and long distance calls of service man and women coming through the army posts and Madigan hospital center. Telephone equipment factories have only now begun to manufacture switchboards and dial apparatus instead of war materials. (TNT, 9/12/1945, clipping) TPL-10370

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Public Telephone Center (Wash.);

Red Cross Nurses were waiting on the dock when the troopship U.S.S. General Mann arrived at the Tacoma pier #2 on October 8, 1945.The General Mann was carrying 45 officers and 5,060 enlisted men who were taken on board at Okinawa. At least 3 of the officers and 280 of the enlisted men were from the Pacific northwest. Most of the arriving men were high-point men eligible for discharge. Another transport carrying 592 officers and 4,017 enlisted men was do to arrive on October 12th.(T.Times, 10/6/1945, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; U.S.S. General Mann (Ship); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Colonel Harry P. Cain, Mayor of Tacoma and future US Senator (at left in photo) at arrival of the troop transport USS Admiral Eberle on September 25, 1945. The mayor had arrived home on September 16th. Jerry Geehan is to Cain's right, along with a man tentatively identified as T/Sgt. Sterling Hendricks of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a radio reporter. Hendricks was the high point man aboard the ship, with a total of 175 points on two war fronts, and had the honor of being the first man of the nearly 5000 veterans ashore. He was awarded a $100 war bond. (TNT 7-26-45, p. 8) ALBUM 13.

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military demobilizations; U.S.S. Admiral Eberle (Ship); Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Geehan, Jerry;

Aerials and aboard U.S.S. Admiral Eberle. The Eberle docked at Port of Tacoma piers September 25, 1945, the first troop transport to dock at Tacoma since 1938. She brought 134 officers and 4,369 enlisted men back from the Pacific. (T.Times, 9/20/1945, p.14)

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military demobilizations; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; U.S.S. Admiral Eberle (Ship); War ships--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Aerials and aboard U.S.S. Eberle. The Eberle, her decks crowded with soldiers returning from the Pacific, is landing at the Port of Tacoma piers. The City of Tacoma sent out an official welcoming boat to escort the Eberle into port. The Red Cross will be there supplying milk and doughnuts. (T.Times, 9/22/1945, p.1) TPL-2004

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Military demobilizations; World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--Tacoma; U.S.S. Admiral Eberle (Ship); Warships--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Semper Fidelis Club (Marine mothers). Seven women are wrapping presents. The Semper Fidelis Club, mothers of Marines, are again conducting a drive for funds to be used in sending Christmas boxes to Marines overseas. Last year's drive was very successful. They plan to send at least 1,500 boxes with an approximate value of $2.00 each. L-R, Mrs. George E. Hazen, Isabella D. Parker, Mrs. Stratton, Eileen M. Kronmiller, Mrs. Walter Richmone, Mrs. Howard Martin and Mrs. W.N. Koch.(T.Times, 9/5/1945, p.7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Women--Organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parker, Isabella D.; Kronmiller, Eileen M.; Koch, Sadie;

On August 15, 1945, thousands lined the streets of Tacoma to cheer marching troops in a parade celebrating the surrender of the Japanese and the end of the war in the Pacific. Receiving special applause were the members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC.) They marched smartly in straight lines in regulation uniforms, representing the 150,000 American women who served in this uniform during World War II. Two thousand marchers tramped the 18 block course, up Broadway and down Pacific. Taking part in the parade were men and women from all branches of the service, shipyard workers, veterans, members of fraternal lodges and Scouts. (T.Times 8/16/1945, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Victory celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In January of 1946, a group of unidentified Red Cross volunteers met the troop ships bringing returning soldiers with baskets of doughnuts and bottles of milk. Because of a shortage of troop trains in the Pacific Northwest to transport soldiers to their discharge centers, and do to a lack of housing, thousands of soldiers had to stay aboard ship in the Port of Tacoma. (T.Times 1/2/1946 p.1) TPL-959

World War, 1939-1945--Peace--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);