U.S. National Archives photos from the 1940s

"Lt.(jg.) Stanly Marlowe Smith, U.S. Maritime Service; Mrs. Marion H. Elliott Assistant Executive Secretary of the National Council of Negro Women; and Mrs. B.L. Derrick, Chairman."

Sailor asleep between 40mm guns on board the USS New Jersey (BB-62).

"U.S. Army nurses, newly arrived, line the rail of their vessel as it pulls into port of Greenock, Scotland, in European Theater of Operations. They wait to disembark as the gangplank is lowered to the dock."

"Pfc. Johnnie Mae Welton, Negro WAC, laboratory technician trainee, conducts an experiment in the serology laboratory sf the Fort Jackson Station Hospital, Fort Jackson, SC."

Dead Japanese in pillbox on Engebi Island

Wounded Pfc. Robison in stretcher on Guam after receiving blood plasma.

Cemetery for American dead at Bougainville

". troops of a field artillery battery emplace a 155mm howitzer in France. They have been following the advance of the infantry and are now setting up this new position.", 06/28/1944

Pilot of VMSB-231 at Majuro Island, Capt. John F. Adams, USMC on the wing of his plane.

Marines advance behind tank on Guam

"Pin-up girls at NAS Seattle, Spring Formal Dance. Left to right: Jeanne McIver, Harriet Berry, Muriel Alberti, Nancy Grant, Maleina Bagley, and Matti Ethridge."

This Chinese woman does a thriving business in selling cigarette butts to the poor of Kunming.

WWII: Europe: France; Civilians; "Hour of Triumph: Parisians join the parade down Champs Elysees from the Arch de Triomphe"

"Cautiously advancing through the jungle, while on patrol in Japanese territory off the Numa-Numa Trail, this member of the 93rd Infantry Division is among the first Negro foot soldiers to go into action in the South Pacific theater.", 05/01/1944

"Negro Marines, attached to the Third Ammunition Company, take time out from supplying ammunition to the front line on Saipan. Riding captured.bicycle is Pfc. Horace Boykin; and left to right, Cpl. Willis T. Anthony, Pfc. Emmitt Shackelford, and Pfc. Eugene Purdy.", 06/1944

Officers aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16) chatting in the flight deck control office.

Ens. Andy Jagger of Southampton, N.Y., describes kill made over Rabaul to Lt. H.A. March of Washington, D.C., at Bougainville airstrip. Pilots are of VF-17 squadron.

Lcdr. Horace Bristol, one of Capt. Steichen's ace photographers, goes to work, photographically recording the war, stripped to the waist.

Enlisted men relaxing during off-duty hours aboard the USS New Jersey (BB-62) OS2U's on catapults in background.

Navy TBM pilots hurrying to their planes aboard the USS Monterey (CVL-26) for strike on Guam.

Children of Naples, Italy

Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith (right) USMC takes jeep tour of Saipan airfield.

Here Pvt. Joseph Feft, Pittsburg, an Anzio beachhead casualty, manipulates his hook to move various checkers.

"Aboard a Coast Guard-manned transport., a Negro Marine, Robert Stockman, goes over his carbine with Coast Guardsmen.", ca. 02/1944

U.S. Marines catching a quick shower in hastily built showers on Namur Island.

WWII: Europe: France; "De Gaulle Leads Paris in Victory Parade"

"U.S. Army nurses, newly arrived, line the rail of their vessel as it pulls into port of Greenock, Scotland, in European Theater of Operations. They wait to disembark as the gangplank is lowered to the dock.", 08/15/1944

U.S Soldiers run painful race back to health. Getting over these foot-high hurdles is no easy task for Pvt. Ralph Johnson of Pittsburg, PA who needs the strong arm of Sgt. D. D. Gilbert of Philadelphia.

"The endless procession of German prisoners captured with the fall of Aachen marching through the ruined city streets to captivity.", 10/1944

A Marine walking guard duty on Roi Island past a line of clothes drying.

"Members of the 99th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Forces, famous all-Negro outfit, who are rapidly making themselves feared by enemy pilots, pose for a picture at the Anzio beachhead. In the foreground, head bared, is 1st Lt. Andrew Lane."

"Richard Salter, CK 3/c, a talker of a gun station, aboard the U.S.S. Tulagi (CVE-72) off the coast of southern France."

"Steward's mates joke as they dry silverware in the wardroom of U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CV-14).", 11/1944

Sailors who had heads clipped in bizarre designs during Neptune party aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3).

The crewmen of the battleship USS New Jersey watch a Japanese prisoner of war bathe himself before he is issued GI clothing.

"Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis watches a Signal Corps crew erecting poles, somewhere in France."

WWII: Europe; Brest, France; "German Officers led back after talk with Allied Officers"

Victory Garden Program. Secretary Plowing Boston Common

Part of the U.S. Navy Task Force which hammered the heart of the Marshall Is. into submission. and then anchored in the Majuro Atoll.

Kwajalein after its capture of Feb. 4, 1944, shows effects of Naval bombardment.

Barbette of 16" gun on board the USS New Jersey (BB-62). Gunners packing in bags of powder which will fire the huge shell already in gun.

"Negro GIs and American Red Cross workers, college graduates, join in some musical fun at Assam, India."

"Body of American soldier is borne on stretcher from terrain in vicinity of Malmedy, Belgium, where on or about 17 December 1944, the Germans committed many atrocities.", ca. 12/1944

"Capt. H. W. Taylor making award presentations aboard U.S.S. Cowpens (CVL 25). Fred Magee, Jr., St3/c USN, receiving commendation of the Secretary of the Navy.", 10/1944

"Marine Sgt. F. Smit.and Cpl. S. Brown.open a coconut to get a cool drink on Saipan.", 06/1944

Silhouette of Japanese Submarine that Attacked SS John A. John

Aerial of Kwajalein after the Marine invasion. The fleet in the harbor brought in supplies to set up what became one of our advanced Pacific bases.

Burial at sea for the officers and men of the USS Intrepid (CV-11) who lost their lives when the carrier was hit by Japanese bombs during operations in the Philippines.

Much tattooed sailor aboard the USS New Jersey

"Richard Salter, CK 3/c, a talker of a gun station, aboard the U.S.S. Tulagi (CVE-72) off the coast of southern France.", 08/1944

"Sgt. John C. Clark.and S/Sgt. Ford M. Shaw.(left to right) clean their rifles in bivouac area alongside the East West Trail, Bougainville. They are members of Co. E, 25th Combat Team, 93rd Division."

"Aboard a Coast Guard-manned transport somewhere in the Pacific, these Negro Marines prepare to face the fire of Jap anese gunners."

WWII: Europe: France; "German POWs - Paris sees the Germans go"

"Negro assault troops await orders D-day to attack enemy shortly after they had come ashore at Saipan in the Marianas.", 06/1944

Japanese prisoner being transferred to the USS Hornet (CV-12) after Navy planes had shot down the plane that was evacuating him from Saipan.

Insignia of Marine Squadron 217, based on Bougainville

"Surgical ward treatment at the 268th Station Hospital, Base A, Milne Bay, New Guinea. Left to right: Sgt. Lawrence McKreever, patient; 2nd Lt. Prudence Burns, ward nurse; 2nd Lt. Elcena Townscent, chief surgical nurse; and an unidentified nurse.", 06/22/1944

Aerial of US invasion of Engebi Island in Eniwetok atoll. Flares (left) signal fleet to lift bombardment so that landing craft may scuttle to beaches.

It's homeward bound and every foot of the huge transport is utilized by the veterans as they pass the time away.

"Marine Sgt. F. Smit.and Cpl. S. Brown.open a coconut to get a cool drink on Saipan."