The Klamath Commandos was a private, womens military support organization operating in Klamath Falls, Oregon from June 1942 to September 1944. Members were young women, aged 18 to 28, with a family member in the armed services. Until a USO branch was established in Klamath Falls in 1944, this nationally-recognized organization provided hospitality and entertainment activities for servicemen traveling through in convoys and on troop trains. Two major activities were operation of their Service Center and the Wounded Servicemens Project, which aimed at meeting social needs of soldiers transported to Klamath Falls from military hospitals within 500 miles.
The organization was disbanded when the establishment of the Klamath Falls Marine Barracks and the Naval Air Station brought larger numbers of servicemen to the area than the organization could support.
The collection consists of three organizational scrapbooks. Materials include correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and memorabilia about the activities of the organization. Significant activities documented include the founding of the organization, building of its Service Center, development of the Wounded Servicemens Project, and the launching of the tanker S.S. Klamath Falls in Portland, Oregon. Soldiers' war experiences are also included.
BOX 1: Scrapbook dated 1942. BOX 2: Scrapbook dated 1943. BOX 3: Scrapbook dated 1944.
The collection is open for research use.
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[item identification], Klamath Commandos Scrapbooks, The Shaw Historical Library, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon.