Topic: Barracks - Michigan Digital Library Portal - Michigan Memories Search Results

11. Fort Wayne (Historic Restoration)

Description:: Two men in Civil War era uniforms raise American flag in front of barracks at Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan. "Michigan’s historic Fort Wayne, located on the narrowest point of the Detroit River, is named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, the fort was built in the 1840s to protect Detroit from British invasion following the strife of the 1838 Patriot War in Canada, originally constructed of earth and wood, the fortifications were rebuilt in masonry during the Civil War, but the fort has never mounted cannons, as peace came to the international border and remains to this day, Fort Wayne has served the military as a training center, home to infantry regiments, supply depot, prisoner of war camp, and major induction center, it was a source of work for the unemployed during the Great Depression, a place of confinement during the Red Scare of 1920, and home for those displaced by civil unrest in Detroit during the 1960s," from book description of "Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne" by James Conway, David F. Jamroz.
Notes:: Collection located at the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. To schedule an appointment to view the original image, order high resolution copies, or seek permission to use an image, contact the Walter P. Reuther Library Audiovisual Department at reutherreference@wayne.edu., Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, and This metadata was created by Wayne State University Library system based on original description by the Walter P. Reuther Library
Date Issued:: 1979-05-31T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Wayne State University. Libraries and Walter P. Reuther Library
Collection:: Virtual Motor City

12. Interview of Virginia Emrich on her experience running Red Cross recreation clubs in Australia for U.S. troops during WWII

Description:: In the second of two oral history interviews, Virginia Emrich describes her service in the American Red Cross during World War Two. Emrich says that she was sent to Australia in 1944 and then to Manila in June 1945 where she was quartered in a bombed-out building with indoor toilets and showers, but with little privacy. Emrich remembers regularly hearing gunfire and bombs as U.S. troops tried to dislodge the Japanese, setting up a recreation hall for the 11th Airborne Division and regularly suffering earthquakes and tropical rains. She says that she was never hungry during her time in the Red Cross, but was often homesick, cold and tired and always sustained by the conviction that she was doing something worthwhile. Emerich says that she was sent to Japan in September 1945 to open recreation clubs for U.S. occupation forces and that although she enjoyed her time in Japan, she finally asked to be shipped home to care for her aging mother.
Date Issued:: 1983-06-11T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Michigan State University. Libraries
Collection:: Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project