IBM World War II Production Awards
IBM Endicott Award Program: December 15, 1942 |
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Published August 30, 2021
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Recognizing IBM Endicott and Poughkeepsie World War II "Home Teams"
History of the Army-Navy Production "E" Award
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In 1906, the Navy instituted an award for excellence which has been known ever since as the Navy "E". First awarded for excellence in gunnery, the "E" was later extended to include outstanding performance in engineering and communications. This honor, neither lightly bestowed nor easily won, soon became--and has remained--a matter of deep pride to the men in the Service who receive it.
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When the rising tide of war in Europe and Asia made the speedy production of war equipment a decisive factor in the cause of world freedom, the "E" award was extended to embrace those plants and organizations which demonstrated excellence in building ships, weapons, and background equipment for the Navy.
Then came Pearl Harbor, and with it a demand for war production such as the world has never known. Production ... a typical American job ... became the one and only concern of everybody outside the armed forces themselves. There came a general awareness that our fighting forces and the men and women of American industry are partners in the great struggle for human freedom. There came to all true Americans a grim and enduring resolve to work and fight together until Victory in that struggle is final and complete. From that high resolve was born the Army-Navy Production Award, which stands today as our fighting forces' joint recognition of exceptional performance on the production front ... recognition of the determined, persevering, unbeatable American spirit which can be satisfied only by achieving today what yesterday seemed impossible. Extract from Award Program Held in Endicott on December 15, 1942
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The critical nature of the "non-combat" machines produced by Endicott is hard to over-estimate.
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History of Army-Navy "E" Awards Presented to IBM
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To Endicott IBM Plant:
Army-Navy "E" Award ... November 21, 1942 Second Award (Star) ............. August 28, 1943 Third Award (Star) ......................... May 27, 1944 Fourth Award (Star) ........ November 25, 1944 Fifth Award (Star) ........................... July 21, 1945 |
To Poughkeepsie IBM Plant:
Army-Navy "E" Award . September 18, 1943 Second Award (Star) ..................... April 8, 1944 Third Award (Star) ................ October 21, 1944 Fourth Award (Star) ....................... June 2, 1945 |
Program Presented to the IBM Endicott Team on December 15, 1942