Photograph of World War II soldiers from Company D, 8th Battalion, Ft. Belvoir

Schutz Photo, American, founded 1918 · January 1943

This black and white panoramic photograph of World War II soldiers from Company D, 8th Engineer Battalion, Ft. Belvoir depicts the training class of January 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 engineer battalion insignia and the company name "CO. D, 8th BATTALION / Engineer Replacement Training Center / Fort Belvoir, VA January 1943" with handwritten inscriptions surrounding it. The furthest right image shows troops lined up in front of the barracks. The second right image depicts troops in parade. The third right image is of a smaller group of soldiers posing four deep with the Company flag. The left hand most image depicts soldiers marching in formation, and the second left image shows rows of beds in the barracks. The third left most image depicts six officers.