From Camp Lewis to Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord
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REAL LOCAL FROM CAMP LEWIS TO JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD 100 YEARS OF NORTHWEST MILITARY HISTORY AND TRADITION BY MICHEAL MCAULIFFE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MCAULIFFE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED tories and photographs from European story was from the home front. “Camp Lewis donated as a patriotic gesture, but also because were from Washington and other Northwestern 100 Years Later Camp Lewis has come a long way in 100 years. battlefronts crowded the front page of Sees Rapid Growth As Supplies Pour In: of the anticipated economic boost from the states. The “small city” on Tacoma’s American Lake the July 22, 1917, Seattle Times; stories American Lake Cantonment Rapidly Becoming camp. Driving north on Interstate 5 near Tacoma, has grown to be one of the country’s largest like “British Airmen Bomb German Small City” reported on construction of a new Following nine months of training, the 91st a sign reads, “Joint Base Lewis-McChord military installations. Since Fort Lewis, as SAerodromes” and a photo of American sailors Army camp in Pierce County. The first doughboys, as American soldiers Division was sent to Europe, where it entered (JBLM) Next 6 Exits.” The convoy of olive-drab Camp Lewis was renamed in 1927, opened its firing the huge guns on a destroyer, titled, who fought in Europe during World War combat in September 1918 in the St. Mihiel camouflaged Humvees and trucks plodding gates, it has been one of the U.S. Army’s primary “With U.S. Fleet In War Zone.” World War I In January 1917, with U.S. entry in the war I were called, marched through the gates offensive in France—the first troops from up the right lane, and the C-17A Globemaster training bases, and its troops have fought for had raged in Europe for more than two years. looming, Pierce County residents had voted for of Camp Lewis on September 5, 1917, and Camp Lewis to serve, fight and sacrifice for the cargo plane in a slow sweeping climb to the our country in every war since World War I. The U.S. had joined the struggle three months a $2 million bond to purchase 70,000 acres of began military training in the new 91st U.S. Over the next 100 years, there would be north, suddenly make sense. Six freeway exits? On February 1, 2010, Fort Lewis merged with earlier on April 6, 1917. land at American Lake, south of Tacoma. The Infantry Division. Nicknamed the “Wild West many more. Most cities along the I-5 corridor don’t have six nearby McChord Air Force Base to form Joint land was donated to the government in return Division,” the unit’s insignia of a green fir tree freeway exits. Base Lewis-McChord, or JBLM for short. While most war news was from Europe, one for the promise of a permanent army post— was appropriate, as most of the division’s men 12 REALLL REALLL 13 REAL LOCAL anti-submarine and combat air patrols over the deployment capabilities make JBLM unique The base’s proximity to deep water ports in Pacific Coast and the Northwest. The facility among Department of Defense military bases.” Tacoma, Seattle and Olympia is also key for was also one of the largest bomber training With 142 square miles of prairie, lakes, forests, transporting military equipment and vehicles bases—training B-17, B-24 and B-29 crews— rivers, beaches and jungle-like rainforest, Flint by ship. The Air Force’s 48 C-17A Globemaster and was a major transfer center for crews and says the Army can “replicate all of the necessary III planes based at McChord Field are also aircraft heading to the Pacific Theater. training environments.” vital for moving troops and equipment. Each cavernous C-17 can carry up to 171,000 McChord Field became an Air Force base on KOREAN WAR INFANTRY SOLDIERS pounds—big loads like 100 paratroopers or January 1, 1948, after the Air Force became two Apache AH-64 combat helicopters. a separate military service. In the years PRACTICED BEACH LANDINGS AT SOLO following World War II, McChord Air Force POINT IN PUGET SOUND. TROOPS PREPARED Japanese Subs, POWs and Famous Generals Base provided air defense for the West Coast and became a transport and airlift base, its FOR COMBAT IN VIETNAM BY SLOGGING JBLM’s 100-year history includes many current mission. McChord’s cargo planes THROUGH MARSHES ON “SEARCH AND interesting stories and people. In the weeks have transported troops and equipment SECURE” TRAINING MISSIONS, AS THEY immediately following Pearl Harbor, Japanese during every war since World War II and have submarines lurking off the West Coast sank flown humanitarian missions that included APPROACHED LUON MOT, A MOCK VIET several merchant ships. Major Everett “Brick” transporting Vietnamese war orphans and CONG VILLAGE WITH A MAZE OF 1,800 FEET Holstrom from Tacoma, flying an anti- relief flights after the 2004 Indian Ocean submarine patrol in a B-25 bomber out of tsunami and 2010 Haiti earthquake. OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS. McChord Field on December 24, 1941, was credited with sinking a sub that surfaced 40 Location, Location, Location Today, Special Forces Group airmen drop from miles from the mouth of the Columbia River. MH-47 Chinook helicopters into American One major reason why Fort Lewis and Lake. During infantry training exercises, eight- Although Holstrom received an Air Medal for McChord Air Force Base—now as parts of wheeled armored Stryker fighting vehicles the sinking, there’s some question if he really Joint Base Lewis-McChord—are still vital to bound across JBLM’s open prairie with hit a submarine. The Japanese have no record Covering 142 square miles—more than twice As part of a larger effort to update deteriorating America’s defense, is location. JBLM’s strategic jet-black AH-64 Apache attack helicopters of a sub sinking off the West Coast, and pilots the size of Tacoma—JBLM is home to Army military bases—and to avoid returning Camp West Coast location supports fast deployment hovering overhead. Desert training is hard to sometimes bombed whales and oil slicks infantry, Special Forces, engineering, aviation, Lewis to Pierce County—Congress authorized of troops to Asia and other locations in the find in the rainy Pacific Northwest, but JBLM mistaken for submarines. artillery, medical and intelligence units, and funds in 1926 to modernize bases that included Pacific. Its Northwest geography is another has that covered. Soldiers cross the Cascade extensive training areas and firing ranges. Camp Lewis. A small article in the September factor. Mountains to the Yakima Training Center, part Fort Lewis was a World War II prisoner of war Two U.S. Air Force airlift wings move troops, 4, 1927, Seattle Times noted the camp’s of JBLM, to train in 510 square miles of shrub- camp for more than 4,000 German POWs— supplies and vehicles around the globe in improved fortunes, reporting that, “The War According to Erik Flint, the director of the steppe desert resembling Afghanistan. many from Field Marshall Irwin Rommel’s Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircrafts. Department today announced the name of Lewis Army Museum, “Diverse training and famed Afrika Korps. According to a June 1944 Camp Lewis Wash. has been changed to Fort The base’s 40,000 soldiers, airmen and Lewis, ‘indicating the permanency of the post.’” 14,000 civilian employees contribute much to Washington, Pierce County and local During the lead up to World War II, the Today, Special Forces Group photo courtesy jblm public affairs office communities. By far Pierce County’s largest “permanence” of Fort Lewis solidified, as employer, JBLM brings $6 billion annually its buildings and infrastructure received to the state economy. More importantly, its major upgrades. By late 1941—just prior to airmen drop from MH-47 servicemen and women, military families Pearl Harbor—more than 37,000 men were and retirees are residents, neighbors, friends, training at Fort Lewis and nearby McChord Chinook helicopters into volunteers and students in communities like Field. During World War II, infantry divisions Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, DuPont, from Fort Lewis fought in North Africa, Italy, American Lake. During Puyallup and Steilacoom. France, Central Europe and many locations in the Pacific Theater. Surprisingly, Camp Lewis, now JBLM, almost infantry training exercises, didn’t see its 10th anniversary, much less this Since World War II, hundreds of thousands of year’s centennial. soldiers from Fort Lewis have continued that eight-wheeled armored legacy, fighting in the Korean, Vietnam and Origins and History Gulf wars, Iraq, Afghanistan and homeland Stryker fighting vehicles security missions. AFTER WORLD WAR I, THE U.S. ARMY SENT McChord Air Force Base is the second half of bound across JBLM’s open MOST TROOPS HOME. EVENTUALLY FEWER Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In the 1930s, the THAN 1,000 SOLDIERS REMAINED AT CAMP U.S. Army was looking for a site for a strategic prairie with jet-black AH-64 LEWIS, AND PIERCE COUNTY RESIDENTS air base to protect the Pacific Northwest’s industry and shipping, and selected Tacoma CLAMORED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO Field—a small municipal airport just north of Apache attack helicopters STATION MORE TROOPS THERE OR TO Fort Lewis. Pierce County transferred Tacoma Field to the War Department, and the new air hovering overhead. RETURN THE CAMP—CLAIMING THAT base was formally christened McChord Field THE ARMY HAD PROMISED A MINIMUM OF on July 3, 1940. 15,000 TROOPS. During World War II, McChord’s planes flew 14 REALLL REALLL 15 REAL LOCAL REAL LIFE AUSA Voice For the Army Support for the Soldier Since 1950, the Association of the United States Army has worked to support all aspects of #DrinkMarkee national security while advancing the interests of America's Army and the men and women WE’RE MORE THAN JUST who serve.