"End of an Era"

Conclusion

During World War II, the Sioux Ordnance Depot's leadership hired many historically underrepresented groups of people to meet the labor demands of the war effort. These employees became "highly valued" for their contributions during the nation's labor shortage but also because of their impacts at the Depot.[1]

Women took on traditionally masculine roles at the Depot. Although this caused concerns in the community, their labor helped the Depot to meet its missions during the war. They continued to be highly-valued employees in the post-war era, as the Depot's Personnel Division kept many of them employed. Their stories show the national importance of the Sioux Ordnance Depot during World War II.

Similarly, the Depot's employment of people of varying races and ethnicities during the war shows its national importance to the World War II narrative. The Depot's leadership hired a racially and ethnically diverse body of employees to fill many of the job openings created by the labor shortage. The African American soldiers from the Quartermaster Training Companies, the Italian and German prisoners of war from the battle front, and the Japanese Americans from the incarceration camps helped to keep the Depot running throughout the war. Their return to the region, continued employment, and legacies demonstrate the value of their labor in this history.

17 men and women pose next to a train car with a palette of boxes behind them. The Commanding Officer stands in the middle of them. The image is in black and white.

Commanding Officer Cyril P. Williams and employees of the General Supply Division stand by the last shipment to leave the Depot, 1965. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

A smiling woman wearing a dark skirt stands outside next to a building with the number 7 on the side.

Annie Takamatsu was a Depot employee during World War II, c.1942-1945. Image Courtesy of Sharon Bartlett.

A man in a military uniform stands next to a forklift holding a large bomb shell. Another man sits on top of the forklift in the driver’s seat. There are many additional bombs surrounding this one.

Military official with bombs. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

38 men and women in three rows pose for a picture inside a building. A military officer and a man in a suit hold an award in the center of the front row.

Employees of the General Supply Division who won the Depot's Safety Award, 1962. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

A man in a military uniform stands next to another man in a police uniform outside a building.

Military and Civilian Guards. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

While the Depot seemed to have secured enough personal with these groups, the war continued to impact the available labor supply. Many officials turned to the "reservoir of competent labor" to be found among people with physical disabilities.[2] Despite society's negative perception of disability, these employees helped to contribute to the Depot's war effort. After the war, people with disabilities continued to find employment at the Depot with the help of the federal government's initiatives. The increased number of employees with physical disabilities earned the Depot national recognition in the post-war era and shows the significance of their employment int he Depot's history.

The government intended the Sioux Ordnance Depot to be a temporary military installation during World War II, but the employees that the Personnel Division hired during the war allowed the Depot to remain open for another twenty years. In June 1967, when the Depot finally closed, the community called it "the end of an era," but the employees continued to gather every few years to celebrate their memories and experience.[3]

The Sioux Ordnance Depot was an important military installation in Nebraska during World War II. After hiring people of historically underrepresented groups, the Depot's leadership saw them as highly-valued employees because of their contributions to the war effort during the national labor shortage. These laborers had a great impact on the Depot and its memory.

41 men gather for a photograph in a warehouse behind a sign that reads, “100% Participation in U.S. Savings Bonds.”

Depot Employees, 1961. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

A uniformed guard sits at a desk in an office. Windows reveal the Depot property outside behind him.

A guard in the Depot's main gate office. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

Three men wearing dirty coveralls stand around a piece of machinery in a shop. They each hold a piece of paper.

Three Depot employees holding award certificates, 1963. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

Four employees load large bombs onto a train car, while another employee watches from behind them.

Employees loading ammunition. Cheyenne County Historical Society, Sioux Army Depot Collection.

Endnotes

[1] Larry L. Mahlman, “History of Sioux Army Depot: Sioux Army Depot, Sidney, Nebraska, 1942-1967,” December 1966, Sioux Army Depot Collection, Cheyenne County Historical Society, Fort Sidney Museum, Sidney, Nebraska, 28.

[2] “Employers Overlooking Handicapped in Search for Men, Sawtell Says,” Scottsbluff Daily Star-Herald, March 24, 1944.

[3] “End of an Era – Sioux Army Depot Closes Today,” Sidney Telegraph, June 30, 1967.

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Published: January 15, 2025 Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Author: Tatiana Moore Painter, UNK Graduate Student

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