This capsule history of Washington state's Fort Lewis begins with its inception in the early 20th century when Tacoma-area businessmen saw an opportunity to reap financial benefits for the city by offering a large tract of land to the U.S. federal government. The birth of “Camp Lewis” soon saw an influx of “cowboy soldiers,” i.e., uniformed men familiar with horses and other beasts of burden that were necessary to run such an outpost. Many of these men improved their reading and writing skills here in preparation for battle, which relied on clear communication. With America's entrance into World War I, Fort Lewis's well-trained soldiers were sent overseas, but in the aftermath of the so-called Great War, the facility gradually fell into disrepair. Tacoma officials and residents were alarmed at the fort's decay, but an enormous push by the U.S. Army to construct roads and buildings succeeded in short order, creating an infrastructure that still largely exists today, along with the same traditions designed to build skills and camaraderie and create community for military families. Featuring excellent archival materials and photographs—particularly film footage of horse-drawn wagons and other reminders that Fort Lewis arrived just before the modern age—this is highly recommended, especially for regional libraries. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Passing the Torch: The Building of Fort Lewis 1916-1939
(2013) 20 min. DVD: $69: public libraries & high schools; $150: colleges & universities. Stourwater Pictures. PPR. Volume 30, Issue 1
Passing the Torch: The Building of Fort Lewis 1916-1939
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