May 24, 1943: The Boyertown Auto Body Works Awarded Coveted Army-Navy E Award

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

May 24, 1943: The Boyertown Auto Body Works is only the second company in Pennsylvania to be awarded the coveted Army-Navy E Award for their outstanding production of war materials during World War II.

The United States Marine Color Guard majestically raised an Army-Navy flag with its “E” on the company flagpole, below that of “Old Glory.” It was Uncle Sam’s way of saying “well done.”

Every man and woman in the plant proudly received a lapel pin to wear as a symbol of their great contribution to American freedom. It was a tribute to their effort and hard work in backing the American soldiers in the fighting front from James Forrestal, the Under Secretary of the Department of the Navy.

General Carl Spaatz’s mother Anna presented the award to the company. That “E” flag now proudly rests with honor in the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles.

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