Photograph by
Schutz Photo, American, founded 1918
Subject of
Coles, Alphonso C. Jr., American, 1920 - 2019
8th Engineer Battalion, American, founded 1916
Date
February 1943
Medium
ink and photographic gelatin
Dimensions
H x W: 10 x 34 in. (25.4 x 86.4 cm)
Description
This black and white panoramic photograph of World War II soldiers from Company D, 8th Battalion, Ft. Belvoir depicts the training class of 1943. The class photograph takes up the top half of the photograph and is made up of a posed group of soldiers in uniform standing and sitting on bleachers five deep. The front row holds a flag with a dark background and light colored letters that read [RTC / 8D]. Between the RTC and the 8D is a castle. The flag is mounted on a pole which is held horizontally by soldiers in the front row. The bottom half of the photograph is divided into seven sections; six smaller inset images and an empty space with the company name and engineering insignia [CO. D, 8th BATTALION / Engineer Replacement Training Center / Fort Belvoir, VA. February 1943]. The furthest right image shows a line of troops. The second right image depicts a group of troops in front of a cluster of buildings. The third right image shown another grouping of soldiers posed three deep. The three left hand images show clusters of soldiers in different groupings. There is a handwritten inscription at bottom center with the company motto: [Motto / Always Finish / If a task is once begun / Never leave it till its done. / be the labor great or small, / Do it well or not at all.].
The lyrics to four songs are handwritten in blue ink across the back of the photograph.
Place depicted
Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
panoramas
portraits
Topic
Men
Military
Photography
World War II
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alphonso C. Coles, II
Object number
2014.253.4
Restrictions & Rights
Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50f6505f8-85e0-419c-bedd-da58f5bfa279

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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