South Carolina played a key role in World War II. Our training facilities were fundamental in producing some of the finest soldiers, sailors and aviators of the great second war. In addition, the high standards of maintenance of our airplanes and ships used in the war can be credited to South Carolina’s military facilities and the soldiers who served them.

Here are some rare photos taken in South Carolina during World War II. Some of them are candid images of recruits or soldiers in their down time and others are training photos.

1. Soldiers gather around the radio for a listen and a smoke. Columbia Army Air Base in 1941.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
2. Soldiers lying on their bunks at the Columbia Army Air Base in 1941.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
3. A Soldier from Texas admires a photo in a frame above his bunk at Columbia Army Air Base. 1941.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
4. The sign on the side of the filing cabinet at the Columbia Army Air Base says "One of the most Patriotic things you can do - is to keep your mouth shut."
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
5. A soldier at the Columbia Army Air Base in 1941 reads a letter from his sweetheart.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
6. The President of the United States lands at Parris Island in April 1943.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
7. The Parris Island Post Chapel in 1943.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
8. New enlistees at Fort Jackson, SC taking the oath. 1941.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
9. A photo of the promotional display for the 5th War Bond Rally in 1944 touts "More Bonds - Less Graves" as the slogan.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
10. The morning mail call on July 14, 1942 at Columbia Army Air Base.
USC Digital Library South Carolina and World War II Collection
11. Marines finishing training at Parris Island in 1942.
Library of Congress/LC-USE6-D-004676
12. A Marine Corps Lieutenant at Parris Island. 1942.
Library of Congress/LC-USE6-D-004761
13. Lieutenants study glider piloting at Parris Island. 1942.
Library of Congress/LC-USE6-D-004771
14. Marines at Page Field Parris Island during glider training. 1942.
Library of Congress/LC-USE6-D-004774
15. New recruits arrive at the train station on their way to Parris Island, SC in 1942.
Library of Congress/LC-USW3-002302
16. Soldiers at the Greenville Army Airbase in Greenville, SC move 2,000 lb bombs out of the revetment area in 1943.
Library of Congress/LC-USW3-035423
17. A Sergeant with the 25th service group, Air Service Command, is home on leave in Bowman, SC in 1943. Here, he's listening to his father, Mr. Riley, explain gas rationing.
Library of Congress/LC-USW3-035505
18. The men of a Myrtle Beach 25th mobile unit, Air Service Command. 1943.
Library of Congress/LC-USW3-035625
19. Myrtle Beach SC Air Service Command - a team works on an A-20 that ran off the air strip.
Library of Congress/LC-USW3-035640

Did you know that today, Fort Jackson is the largest Initial Training Center in the U.S. – training 50 percent of all U.S. soldiers? Or that Parris Island is the only Marine Corps Recruit Depot training facility on the East Coast – and the only facility in the U.S. where female Marine recruits receive training?

What did you think of these photos? Were you aware that South Carolina played such a vital role in training our military during WWII?

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